Alex Malarkey Recants - The co-author and primary subject of a bestselling Christian book, which described his afterlife experience in heaven after a car accident that left him in coma, has come out to recant the content of the book as false.
Alex Malarkey, 16, wrote an open letter this past week explaining that the contents of The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven is inaccurate and that he concocted the story to get attention.
"When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible. People have profited from lies, and continue to," he wrote.
Alex was left paralyzed after an automobile accident in 2004. Reports indicate that he suffered severe injuries from the crash, including spinal, brain and neck injuries. This left him in a coma. When Alex came out of the coma, he reportedly had a fantastic tale for his family about his experiences in heaven, which included him meeting Jesus and Satan.
The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven, which was co-authored with Alex's father Kevin Malarkey, was published in 2010 by Tyndale House. The book has been has been one of the main tools in the armory of many Christian groups, who teach about the existence of heaven. In 2013, the book was recognized by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association for selling over a million copies.
To some people Alex Malarkey's announcement does not come as a surprise. Last year, his Beth, who is long divorced from his dad, denounced the book on her blog.
"It is both puzzling and painful to watch the book The Boy who Came Back from Heaven to not only continue to sell, but to continue, for the most part, to not be questioned," she wrote.
Beth, who said Alex has not been paid for the book, also revealed that Alex had tried to come out with truth about the book but was told by a pastor that it "was blessing people."
Maggie Wallem Rowe, the senior publicist for Tyndale House, told Christian Post that the company is aware of Beth's concerns about inaccuracies in the book and had repeatedly attempted to arrange a meeting to discuss these issues without success.
Reports indicate that some retailers has announced that they would take down The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven from their shelves. Alex Malarkey's dismissal of his bestseller has raised questions about several similar books, which purport otherworldly accounts of people - particularly those who claim to have gone to heaven.
