Tragic Death of Lucy Pat Curl, Wife of First Baptist Orlando Pastor
Lucy Pat Curl, the beloved wife of First Baptist Orlando pastoral care minister Bill Curl, passed away on February 5, 2025, following a brutal attack during a home invasion, according to a statement from her family.
After being removed from life support at Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, Florida, she “went on to Heaven.”
“We rejoice that she is no longer in pain,” the family statement read. “The circumstances of her passing are shocking and abrupt, and not what we would have expected or chosen. But as our Lord has forgiven us, we are asked to forgive each other.”
Lucy Pat Curl, 85, had served alongside her husband at First Baptist Orlando for a total of 52 years.
The Attack and Investigation
The attack occurred on January 31, 2025, when Ronald Dwayne Davis, 55, allegedly forced entry into the Curls’ home after posing as a community service officer.
According to the Orlando Police Department, Bill Curl returned home to find his wife severely battered inside their vehicle in the garage, where she had been pressing the horn for help. He immediately called 911.
Lucy Pat was transported to the hospital with severe injuries, including a brain bleed. Doctors placed her in a medically induced coma, noting that surgery was not possible due to her age and medications.
Per the arrest affidavit, Davis repeatedly struck Lucy Pat with what police believe was a crystal candy jar, causing devastating injuries to the right side of her head after she fell and hit a coffee table. The home was ransacked, with jewelry and coins from a unique collection stolen.
Detectives identified Davis after finding his driver’s license at the scene. He was located sleeping in a shed a few miles away.
Davis had been released from prison in June 2024 after serving a 15-year sentence for burglary of a dwelling with assault and battery, and robbery. He has a criminal history dating back to the 1980s, with more than a dozen arrests.
He was initially charged with home invasion robbery with a weapon, aggravated battery on a person over 65 with great bodily harm, and aggravated battery with a weapon. Following her death, an additional charge of first-degree murder in the commission of a home invasion was added. Davis later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.
Family’s Response and Forgiveness
In their statement, the family shared that Bill Curl plans to share the Gospel with his wife’s attacker. He intends to meet with Davis, forgive him, and show him a photo taken of Lucy Pat’s injuries.
“When asked what he would do with a picture like that, [Bill’s] response was, ‘I’m going to show it to the man who did this to her. Then I’m going to forgive him. I refuse to let his actions dictate who I am.'”
Church Leader’s Remarks
First Baptist Orlando Senior Pastor David Uth addressed the congregation on February 2, recounting the attack. He noted that Bill was counseling at a local pregnancy center when the incident occurred.
Davis gained entry by claiming to be a community service officer. When Lucy Pat asked for identification, he knocked her down.
“So, he knocks her down, she hits a coffee table-like thing and just destroys the right side of her head,” Uth said. “He starts ransacking the house and she’s screaming out, and she goes outside to the van and honked the horn to get somebody’s attention… but nobody came.”
Uth described the prognosis as grim and shared that the police chief informed him of Davis’s 40-year criminal history.
“Why did he choose her? Why? Why did it happen? I don’t know,” Uth said. “I wish I could stand here and tell you, but I don’t know… You just look up and go, ‘God, she’s one of your finest, she’s one of the best.’”
Uth highlighted the Curls’ 52 years of service: an initial 18-year stint at First Baptist Orlando, followed by 18 years as missionaries in London and Wales, and 16 years back at the church upon their return. Bill serves in pastoral care, often providing grief counseling “with Lucy Pat right there by his side.” She frequently played piano at funerals and other events.
First Baptist Orlando is a large church with around 14,000 members, holding four weekend services on its 130-acre campus.
Community Mourning
Many mourned Lucy Pat Curl online and in the community.
Her neighbor, Debora Brito Romualdo, shared on Facebook how the Curls welcomed her family with banana bread and invited them for an unforgettable lunch shortly after they moved in temporarily.
“We spent the afternoon with Bill and Lucy Pat, a sweet, elderly couple who have such rich and fascinating stories to share,” Romualdo wrote. “We left their house that afternoon feeling refreshed and deeply blessed to have such wonderful neighbors.” She also noted Lucy Pat’s brilliance as a pianist.
Friend Marc Verlander, who knew her since age four, posted that the Curls encouraged his parents to become missionaries and later led him and his family to serve with the International Mission Board in Wales for 13 years, while Bill led mission teams in the UK.
“The Curls are some of the most generous, loving, selfless people I have ever met,” Verlander said. “They have devoted their lives to Jesus and living for the glory of His name. I was, and still am, devastated that a senseless act of violence took the life of such a wonderful person.”
He added that he grieves with hope: “I’m going to see my friend again one day and we will worship our king together.”
A celebration of life service for Lucy Pat Curl was held at First Baptist Orlando on February 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
UPDATE: April 22, 2025
Suspect enters guilty plea in killing of Orlando pastor’s wife
The man accused of a deadly home invasion in Orlando, where Lucy Pat Curl was killed, has now pled guilty to the crime.
Ronald Davis changed his plea in court on Tuesday from not guilty to guilty.
Judge Leticia Marques sentenced Davis to life in prison following a guilty plea on multiple counts.
WESH 2’s Spencer Tracy was the only reporter in court when the deal went down.
Bill Curl, Lucy Pat’s husband and his children were in the courtroom as well. Curl gave an emotional testimony and forgave Davis.
Davis, 55, was accused of first-degree murder after attacking and killing 85-year-old Lucy Pat Curl in January.
Orlando police say Curl was by herself at her home on Caribbean Court when Davis knocked on her door, claiming he was a community services officer, before forcing his way inside.
Police say he then attacked Curl, knocking her unconscious. She later died of her injuries.
Davis was also facing charges connected to a 2024 burglary. The incident happened just a street over from where Curl lived.
Bill Curl is a pastor at the First Baptist Church of Orlando.
Curl says his wife spent more than 50 years working for and with her community, leaving a mark on her church.
Curl leaves behind four children, 15 grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren.
Davis has 30 days to appeal this guilty plea.
