Houston—
A vicious and bazaar love triangle has left a woman dead and a Fifth Ward pastor and his son in jail.Pastor Tracy Burleson is accused of hiring his son, William Fuller, to kill his wife Pauletta. Police said the murder for hire plot was all to protect the sexual relationship both men were having with another woman, Tyonne Marie Palmer-Pollard. She's charged with tampering with evidence.
Sunday, the congregation spoke out about its troubled pastor for the first time since the allegations.
First New Mount Calvary Baptist Church has a sign that still bears the name of murder suspect and pastor Burleson. Church members are shocked.
"Totally surprised," said Rev. Earl Jackson, Mount Calvary's pastor in Burleson's absence.
It was three weeks ago that Pastor Tracy Bernard Burleson is accused of hiring his son, Fuller, to murder his wife Pauletta. She was shot in the back of the head at her home. Police said it was all because both father and son were romantically involved with the same woman, Palmer-Pollard, who's accused of trying to burn the murder weapon.
"No, that's the thing, no one had any indications," Jackson said of the problems between Burleson and his wife. "That's why there's so much hurt and disappointment. No, you could have never have told me these emotions or these desires were beneath."
The church met Sunday for the first time since these allegations came to light. The congregation is grieving over the murder of Pauletta, whose name was "Paulette" to all who knew her well.
"Me and her was good friends, very good friends," said Tangelar Sneed. "I was crying, it hurts, it hurts."
Meanwhile, there's disbelief and anger that Burleson deceived so many.
"It was unbelief. We didn't want to accept it initially, didn't want to believe that it was true. But as it's sinking in... wow," said Jackson. "Like I said, there was the hurt and then the disappointment."
The church burned a week before the murder. While police have yet to say what happened, Pauletta's sister has pointed the finger at Burleson, who she said had many affairs and was looking for a way out.
Police said Burleson's mistress, Palmer-Pollard, has confirmed the multiple sexual affairs.
Meanwhile, the church family is trying to move on from this murky past.
"I'm disappointed in him," Jackson said after being asked if he was angry at Burleson. "Very disappointed... I love him, but I'm disappointed.
