Daystar Abuse Allegation Investigation Closed

Police deny allegations that they were pressured to close the case

The police department investigating accusations that sexual abuse was covered up by Daystar Television Network’s founding family, Joni and Marcus Lamb, has announced it is closing the investigation with no charges filed.

Daystar headquarters (video screengrab) / Insert of Joni Lamb (video screen grab)

According to the Colleyville Police Department in North Texas, the allegations were thoroughly investigated over the last year and a half, but no one will be charged in the matter.

“The victim has not made an outcry and detectives obtained no evidence of a crime during the investigation,” said Dara Nelson, Colleyville Police Department’s public information officer, in a statement.” She said the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office closed the case due to “insufficient evidence.”

“The case is closed with no charges filed. In Texas, there is no statute of limitations for sexual assault of a child. If any new evidence emerges in this case, it will be thoroughly investigated,” she added.

Last fall, Jonathan Lamb, son of Daystar founders Marcus and Joni Lamb, and his wife, Suzy, publicly accused Daystar leaders of covering up abuse involving their daughter from several years prior.

The couple accused a Lamb family member, identified as “Pete,” of the abuse. Pete submitted to two lie detector tests, and no evidence was ever produced implicating him in the abuse, according to a statement on Daystar’s website.

Both “Pete” and Daystar denied any wrongdoing.

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“Although saddened by those who were led to believe the gossip, rumors and false allegations promulgated on social media, Daystar appreciates the love and support it has received from countless viewers and ministry partners and will continue in its mission to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ around the world,” Daystar leaders said their statement.

On May 14, Julie Roys, who broke the original story of the abuse allegations, wrote on X that police detective Nick Garcia was pressured to close the investigation.

“Jonathan [and] Suzy [Lamb] added that Garcia said he was getting a lot of pressure from higher ups to close the case [and] call Daystar’s attorneys. It will be interesting to see how Daystar reports this development,” Roys wrote.

Colleyville Police Department denies the claim.

“We can confirm that Detective Garcia did not say he was being pressured to close the case by Colleyville leadership. Additionally, we do not allow pressure from any outside person or organization to dictate the timeline or outcome of an investigation,” Nelson told MinistryWatch in response to our inquiry.

In a post on X, Suzy Lamb called the investigation closure “a formality,” adding that victims of abuse often take years to speak up. She also said “Pete” was not exonerated of the alleged abuse.

“When our child is ready to speak – she will and the case will be wide open again,” Suzy Lamb wrote. “Till then we rest and trust God to bring justice.”

In response to the allegations last fall, Joni Lamb addressed her son’s allegations, saying he had been fired from the network for performance issues.

“Rather than take any steps to improve his performance at Daystar, it seems clear now that Jonathan was focused on fabricating a smear campaign” because he was not named as the future president of Daystar following the death of his father Marcus Lamb in 2021.

“I want to assure you that all the allegations that are circulating against myself, my late husband, and other members of my family are completely false and we have already begun to take legal steps to defend ourselves and will address the accusations in a God-honoring way,” Joni Lamb wrote.

After the allegations were made public, at least six program hosts, including evangelical heavyweights Jack Graham, Jesse Duplantis, Lance Wallnau, Joyce Meyer, and Hank and Brenda Kunneman, parted ways with the network.

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