Former Missouri pastor suspended after Epstein island ties revealed

Rev. Stephanie L. Remington worked as Epstein's administrative assistant and property manager on his private island for nearly a year.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:51pm

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A former Missouri pastor named Stephanie L. Remington has been suspended by the United Methodist Church after it was discovered she worked for and managed the private island of late-sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from August 2018 to May 2019. Remington claims she never witnessed any abuse on the island, but her name appears in around 1,800 documents related to the Epstein case. The church was unaware of her ties to Epstein until recently.

Why it matters

Remington's employment with Epstein, a convicted sex offender, has raised serious concerns about her judgment and leadership within the church. The Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church has suspended her pending a full review, highlighting the need for clergy to uphold the highest moral and ethical standards.

The details

Rev. Stephanie L. Remington worked as Epstein's administrative assistant and temporary property manager of his private island, Little Saint James, from August 2018 to May 2019. Epstein was arrested for sex trafficking crimes just two months later, in July 2019, and died in his cell by alleged suicide in August. Remington claims she never saw Epstein or anyone commit abuse on the island, but her name appears in around 1,800 documents related to the Epstein case. The church was unaware of her ties to Epstein until recently and has suspended her for 90 days pending a review.

  • Remington worked for Epstein from August 2018 to May 2019.
  • Epstein was arrested for sex trafficking crimes in July 2019.
  • Epstein died in his cell by alleged suicide in August 2019.

The players

Stephanie L. Remington

A former Missouri pastor who worked as Epstein's administrative assistant and temporary property manager of his private island, Little Saint James, from August 2018 to May 2019.

Jeffrey Epstein

A late-sex offender who was arrested for sex trafficking crimes in July 2019 and died in his cell by alleged suicide in August 2019.

Bishop Robert Farr

The Bishop of the Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church who placed Rev. Stephanie L. Remington on leave, pending a review by the episcopal office.

The Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church

The regional body of the United Methodist Church that oversees clergy in Missouri and has suspended Rev. Stephanie L. Remington.

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What they’re saying

“I never saw anything. I knew him for the last nine months of his life, well after he served time for the things that he was accused of doing.”

— Stephanie L. Remington

“Clergy are called to uphold the highest standards of spiritual and moral leadership. Concerns of this nature are taken seriously and require careful review.”

— The Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church

What’s next

The Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church will conduct a full review of Rev. Stephanie L. Remington's actions and ties to Jeffrey Epstein over the next 90 days to determine if further disciplinary action is warranted.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of clergy maintaining the highest ethical and moral standards, as their actions can have significant consequences for the communities they serve. The Missouri Conference's swift suspension of Rev. Remington pending a review demonstrates their commitment to upholding these principles.