Chris Boyette of CNN is reporting that Florida mega-church founder Zachery Tims was found dead on Friday in a New York City hotel room. Tims was found unresponsive about 6 p.m. Friday on the floor of a room in the W Hotel in Times Square, New York Police Department spokesman Sgt. John Bethorn said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy was conducted on the pastor and was found to be inconclusive. More tests are needed to determine the cause of death, a process that could take a few weeks, said Grace Brugess, spokeswoman for the New York Medical Examiner's Office.
Tims was the senior pastor and founder of New Destiny Christian Center, a nondenominational church in Apopka, Fla., about 15 miles northwest of Orlando. Tims founded the church in 1996, overcoming a youth filled with personal struggles, including attempted-murder charges and drug addiction.
He documented his troubles in the 2006 book It's Never Too Late, published by Charisma House.
Dozens of congregants gathered at the church Monday morning to mourn the loss of their pastor. Roses were tucked into the handles on the church's front door and tied to the sign marking the parking spot for Tims. Hundreds of condolences also poured onto the church's Facebook page. He was referred to as the "Fresh Prince" and had recently gone through a high-profile divorce from wife Riva.
Tims was the father of four children. He was 42.
Read more at CNN.
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