ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 11, 2008
Minnesota Lutheran Dies, Spouse Injured in Beijing Attack
08-139-LT*
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Todd and Barbara Bachman, Farmington,
Minn., members of Christiania Lutheran Church, Lakeville, Minn.,
a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), were attacked Aug. 9 while touring the Drum Tower in
Beijing, China. Todd Bachman, 62, chief executive officer of
Bachman's Floral, Home and Garden, Minneapolis, was stabbed by
the attacker and died, and Barbara Bachman underwent eight hours
of surgery after being stabbed and is hospitalized in serious but
stable condition.
A Chinese tour guide was also injured. The attacker, a
47-year-old Chinese man, died after he leaped off the tower
following the attacks.
Elisabeth McCutcheon, the Bachmans' daughter and 2004 U.S.
Olympic volleyball player, Irvine, Calif., was with her parents
at the time of the attack but was uninjured. An Aug. 11 open
letter from McCutcheon and her husband Hugh McCutcheon, coach of
the U.S. Olympic men's volleyball team which is competing in the
Beijing Olympic Games, was released by the United States Olympic
Committee (USOC).
"During this tremendously difficult time, we have been
blessed to be surrounded by a tremendous support system of caring
individuals and organizations," it read. "We are extremely
grateful for the outpouring of assistance and generosity that we
have received and hope to convey our appreciation to everyone who
has supported us and kept us in their thoughts and prayers."
Todd Bachman served on several Christiania church committees
and Barbara Bachman helped rebuild the church after an arsonist
burned it down, according to KARE-TV, St. Paul, Minn. Todd
Bachman was a former regent of Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa.
Wartburg is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities.
An Aug. 9 official statement from the USOC said, "Our
priority in this hour is to attend to the needs of the family
members, the U.S. Olympic men's indoor volleyball team and staff
and the entire U.S. Olympic delegation. In addition, the USOC is
working closely with the United States Embassy, United States law
enforcement authorities and local law enforcement authorities."
Plans for a memorial service are pending. All 28 Bachman's
Floral Home and Garden locations have memorial posters displayed
to commemorate Todd Bachman.
-- -- --
Information about Christiania Lutheran Church and the
Bachman family is at
http://www.christianialutheranchurch.org/bachmanfamily.html
on the Web.
*Luke Tatge is a senior journalism major at Augustana College,
Sioux Falls, S.D. This summer he is an intern with the ELCA News
Service.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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