Exclusive Brethren Suicide - Lee Wilson

Lee Wilson believed in the Exclusive Brethren. He was convinced that they were the only right position and if there were any faults, it was not the Exclusive Brethren that was wrong. Any faults belonged to certain people within the system rather than the system itself.

Lee came from a privileged Detroit USA Exclusive Brethren family. His father, Rick Wilson, was the grandson of James Taylor Jnr and was a protégé of the Neche pig farmer, James Symington. Under Symington's leadership between 1970 and 1987, Rick Wilson prospered and was even slated as a possible world leader contender. Lee was his oldest son.

Like many young men, Lee decided to go his own way and left the Exclusive Brethren fellowship while in his late teens. He fell in love and fathered two boys who were his pride and joy.

His relationship with their mother eventually fell apart and subsequently Lee successfully applied for and was granted custody of his two boys. In 2003 Lee met and married a woman who also had 2 children from a previous relationship.

It is not clear what Lee was looking for or hoping to achieve, but he made contact during 2006 with Bruce D. Hales, the current leader of the Exclusive Brethren. Lee received a letter from Bruce Hales in late May / early June 2006.

A few days later, on the night of June 9th, 2006 Lee Wilson took his own life. He was 27 years old.