Televangelist Jim Bakker, convicted in PTL fraud case, dies at 86

Televangelist Jim Bakker, best known for co-founding and hosting “The PTL Club” with his then-wife Tammy Faye and developing the PTL network and Heritage USA theme park, died at 86 on Oct. 5, his wife Lori announced. She asked for prayers and privacy; his cause of death was not immediately disclosed. Bakker resigned from the ministry in 1987 amid a sex scandal and financial controversy, and was convicted of fraud and conspiracy over PTL fundraising. Sentenced to 45 years, he served fewer than five years and was paroled in 1994. He later returned to Christian broadcasting and promoted products, including a supplement as a COVID-19 treatment; a lawsuit over those claims was settled with restitution to consumers.