In April of this year, we reported on a religious cult in Durham, NC. The group is called the “Black Hebrews” and their leader is Peter Lucas Moses, Jr. The original post is found here: “Search for Missing Members of Black Hebrews Cult in Durham, NC” resource link- http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=4018 . A few days ago, there was an update in the case. The title is: “Seven Charged in Alleged Cult Murder of Woman, Child in North Carolina” the link is here- http://abcnews.go.com/US/charged-bodies-found-north-carolina-cult-murder-case/story?id=13811420
A short quote:
By CHRISTINA NG and JESSICA HOPPER June 10, 2011
“The leader of an alleged cult appeared in court today to answer charges in the deaths of a woman and child found buried in the backyard of a house in Durham, N.C. Six other people who police say are members of the alleged cult were also charged with murder.
Pete Lucas Moses, Jr., 27, is believed to be the leader of a cult called the “Black Hebrew Israelites,” ABC affiliate WTVD in Durham reported. He was charged with the murders of Antoinetta McKoy, 28, and 5-year-old Jadon Higganbothan. McKoy was reported missing in February and was last seen in December 2010. Higganbothan had been missing since October.”
The group had been in North Carolina and moved to Colorado. After a while, they moved back to NC which explains why there is a news source from Colorado involved in this story. From News First5.com:
Religious cult behind bars after two bodies are found buried behind home
Posted: Jun 10, 2011 9:18 PM by Nicole Vandeputte
Updated: Jun 11, 2011 9:21 AM
“The search for a little boy sent investigators from North Carolina to Woodland Park. Tonight, part of this mystery is solved. The body of 5 year old Jadon Higgonbothan, and another woman, was found buried behind a home in Durham North Carolina.
They were living with a cult, the Black Hebrews. The head of that cult, Peter Moses jr., is charged with first degree murder in Jadon’s death. Jadon’s mother, Vania Sisk, is also behind bars”
source link: http://www.newsfirst5.com/news/religious-cult-behind-bars-after-two-bodies-are-found-buried-behind-home/
This is a sad story to say the least. As I pondered the details known at this time, I asked myself would anyone who joined the group have suspected that in June of 2011, they would be facing charges of murder. Did any of the six people charged in the crimes have any inclination that the leader or who ever in the group was capable of murdering one of their own? How did that get spun or rationalized within the leaders thinking and conversations about it after it took place? Who helped him move the bodies and cover up the deed? Did anyone stand up and object or did they all succumb to the direction of the leader? A former member led authorities to the understanding that the two deceased individuals were missing and in fact had been murdered. One of the relatives of the leader denied the group being a cult. He claimed they had their own religion. In my opinion, he was missing the control aspect of the group and how that qualifies them as a cult. It is the deed not the creed.
Did any member of the group ever intend to join a group that was capable of murder? It reminded me of a post I wrote several months ago about my time in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). “Unintended Consequences” link: http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3437 . In the post, I mention several consequences of life at WOFF and ask if Jane ever intended for these consequences to be in her group? As Peter Moses probably never intended to start a group that would murder two people, did Jane intend to start a group that would cause so many broken families, so much emotional turmoil and heartache? I can’t say she did. I can say with a fair amount of confidence she does not concentrate on the destruction she has brought in the lives of many, she tends to look at what she counts as the “blessings”. When I was in WOFF I did not consider the broken WOFF families since at that time, my family was “together”. But, now, I see a more full account of the consequences of life at WOFF and other groups like them. Cults destroy lives- period. WOFF consequences include destroyed lives, destroyed and separated family members. That cannot be denied. Well, Jane Whaley can attempt to overlook it, but, to ignore the problems does not solve the problems.
Another group has been in the news lately as the murder trial of another cult member comes to a close. These crimes took place many years ago, but the convictions are just now being handed down.
Cult leader’s daughter pleads guilty in murders- LeBaron sect tied to 4 Houston slayings in 1988
By HARVEY RICE / HOUSTON CHRONICLE/ June 16, 2011, 9:06PM
Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7613893.html#ixzz1PVjwJExz
“GALVESTON — A daughter of a cult leader who drafted a hit list before his death pleaded guilty Thursday to charges related to the slaying of an 8-year-old girl and three former members of the Lamb of God religious sect 22 years ago in Houston and Irving. Jacqueline Tarsa LeBaron, 46, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake to a charge of conspiracy to obstruct religious beliefs. Her plea resolves the final prosecution stemming from the saga of the LeBaron family and the Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God religious sect. She could be sentenced to up to five years in prison and fined up to $10,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 8.LeBaron, one of more than 50 offspring of polygamous cult leader Ervil LeBaron, was charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in a 1992 indictment. She spent nearly 18 years as a fugitive before she was extradited from Honduras in May 2010.”
Do you think that at the time of the murders and participation in the murders that the members of the group thought they were doing the right thing? Do you think Ms. LeBaron ever thought she would get caught? As a child do you think she ever thought her life would turn out this way? Is this whole tragic story quite unexpected when one considers the group appeared “religious” in many ways? The list of murders as a result of the “hit list” is unbelievable! One man, who was supposedly a “religious man”, was able to convince that many folks that they should murder certain other people – for him? It is hard for me to think that before they folks joined the “Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God” religious sect; they knew they would one day be asked to murder. I suspect the same could be said of the Black Hebrews. Was it blind zeal that allowed folks to submit to a leader and murder at their word? Certainly you wouldn’t think that people with a clear mind and sound reason would accept the command to murder as reasonable and acceptable – right? Where else do we see an allegiance to a leader that fosters blind zeal in the members?
Is there any limit to what Jane could ask her members to do? In order to be a faithful member of WOFF you must deny many social customs, many cultural holidays and traditions, many activities and freedoms that are consider quite acceptable in this country. You will eventually deny family and relatives that do not join WOFF. You could be required to move to Spindale, join a household and take a job with a company owned by a church member- in order to be under authority. You will submit to the clothing choices, grooming choices, and music choices, while also giving up free access to all media that is not approved by Jane. You will be told where to buy insurance, who to see when you have a medical need, where to go to college, who can be your friends. You will be required to only have a “friend” of the opposite sex that is another faithful church member. You will be told when “God says it is time to marry”. You will be told how to have private time with your mate and what is the God-approved birth control method. You will be shown “God’s way” to rear children and when it is okay to visit family outside the group. You will be helped with your weight and told which clothes make you “look like a minister.” You will be told if you have a “car devil” and which car God wants you to drive- if any.
So, where does the control stop? Or does it ever stop? What will be next in the lives of WOFF members? In two years, what will they be doing that they never thought they would be required to do? Others have said to me- WOFF members would kill for Jane Whaley. While I was in there, I never thought that could be the case. As I study other groups like WOFF and see the results of the blind zeal, I don’t know where the religious fervor to obey Jane Whaley will stop- if ever. It seems to only intensify as the years pass.
I believe a symptom of the mind control is evident when incidents such as what I wrote about in the last post. The incident at the Great Wall showed me a lot. LB made a sweeping generalization just as she did the day she visited me in February of 2010. She said I “believe lies”, but, she has not to this point been willing to list “the lies” or refute the facts I write about in my posts. To me, it is an easy way out to gloss over the evidence and not consider the truth. If a WOFF member is able to defend their position by denying the evidence, then that shows me they are protecting what they consider more valuable or “real” to them. It is more precious for them to live their religious fantasy and hold on to it as long as they can. People like me disturb their world and cause them to run and hide from what really has taken place and is happening now behind the doors at WOFF. That is so sad and short-sighted. In reality, this is what Jane Whaley builds her kingdom on – religious fantasy.
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(Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 307.