'My Husband's a Pastor': Christian Influencer Breaks Down as Police Claim She Concealed Child Abuse

Christian influencer Heather Thompson Day broke down at a Texas bond hearing on 24 September, invoking her husband's pastoral role as she denied police allegations that she concealed abuse of their teenage daughter, Spectrum Magazine reported.

Keene police arrested Day and her husband, Seth Michael Day, both 39, after a teacher reported injuries to their 14-year-old daughter's face and head. Arrest affidavits described in its report record the teenager's allegations of repeated assaults by her father and attempts by her mother to conceal them.

Christian Influencer Denies Failing to Protect Daughter

'I am a professor of communication, my husband's a pastor! This is not true!' Day told Justice of the Peace Andrew Nolan, according to hearing footage reported by the magazine.

Heather Day, whose legal name is Heather Marie Day, faces a charge of injury to a child by omission. Seth Day faces charges of injury to a child and sexual assault of a child.

She maintained that Child Protective Services knew the allegations were false. The affidavits describe the teenager repeatedly telling her mother about the alleged abuse without receiving protection.

Although Day identified herself in court as a communication professor, the publication reported that she left Andrews University in 2024.

Police Detail Claims Against Christian Influencer

At the Johnson County Children's Advocacy Center, the girl told investigators that her father struck her face and chest with a cellphone on 22 September. Her mother and two siblings were inside the home, according to the affidavit.

While receiving treatment at Cook Children's Medical Center, she also reported that her father sexually assaulted her that day, police stated.

Investigators obtained a warrant to search the family's home in Keene, southwest of Fort Worth. Court documents reported by Spectrum Magazine described the discovery of lubricant where the teenager indicated it would be. Investigators also learned that Heather Day had photographs of her daughter's injuries on her phone.

The teenager alleged that her mother encouraged her to lie about her injuries and wear a mask at school. Following earlier alleged assaults, her mother took her to hospital but told medical staff she did not know what caused the injuries, the girl told investigators.

She reported being told she had hereditary angioedema, a condition that causes swelling. Police stated that the condition could cause swelling but did not explain her bruises and lacerations.

The magazine also reported that people connected to Heather Day defended the family, attributing the teenager's facial appearance to a medical condition.

The affidavit also records the girl's account of a CPS investigation in Midland, Texas, in August 2026. Police stated that CPS had received other reports that authorities later closed.

Court Orders Restrict Christian Influencer's Contact With Children

The couple later posted bond and left Johnson County jail. Emergency protective orders restrict their contact with their children and require them to wear ankle monitors, the magazine reported.

Their public work included co-authoring the Christian relationship book I'll See You Tomorrow. Heather Day hosts the podcasts Viral Jesus and What if I'm Wrong? and founded Cross Communication, a network for Christian speakers, in 2024.

Seth Day worked as an assistant professor of psychology at Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, which placed him on administrative leave after his arrest.

'We are fully cooperating with law enforcement,' the university stated. Officials specified that the allegations did not involve university students, staff or other faculty members.