[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
A cult chief may very well be convincing his followers to finish their lives at this very second.
In keeping with The Solar, the brainwashed members of an apocalyptic desert cult run by a person who touts himself because the Son of God would possibly very effectively be on a suicide mission, and one former member insists that if that had been the case, nobody may forestall it from occurring.
The spiritual neighborhood, which rests in the midst of the New Mexico desert, is run by Wayne Bent (above), who was in jail for a decade after allegedly sexually abusing teenage virgins.
The 82-year-old, who now goes by Michael Travesser, was discovered responsible of mendacity bare in mattress with two teen sisters, ages 14 and 16, on separate events in 2006 at his New Mexico compound. Bent denied the costs, claiming throughout his trial that he solely positioned his fingers on the women’ sternums for a non secular cleaning ritual.
Uhhh… nonetheless not okay, dude!
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Nonetheless, an ex church member claimed Bent advised his followers that God had ordered him to “sleep with seven virgins.” Furthermore, Bent admitted on digicam to sleeping along with his son’s spouse a number of instances as a result of “God compelled me to.” So, he doesn’t appear to be the type of man who is aware of the correct which means of “cleaning.”
The jury naturally sided towards him: Bent was discovered responsible of legal sexual contact with a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The cult chief was sentenced to 10 years in jail, however he managed to safe an early launch 7 years into his sentence after being recognized with pores and skin most cancers.
After his launch, Bent returned to his compound and continued to evangelise to his followers. Now, a former member is anxious that, as Bent’s well being deteriorates, he plans on dragging his followers down with him.
The ex-member, and the daddy of two of the cult chief’s victims, advised the outlet:
“If all of them wish to kill themselves they will do it, it doesn’t matter if they’re on the market [pointing to the desert] or someplace else. In the event that they wish to do it they will do it. Anybody who desires to kill themselves and go to Heaven – or go on a comet someplace – in the event that they wish to do it they will do it… Once I was there he thought the tip of the world was going to occur however I don’t suppose it was a suicide factor at that time – not less than it by no means got here throughout to me as that, we by no means went down that path of like ‘let’s drink Kool help.’”
The daddy famous that Bent introduced him into the cult as a result of he was “very convincing,” however stated he’s since discovered to suppose for himself.
Sadly, a handful of followers haven’t gotten that far. He added:
“He’s fairly convincing on loads of issues and lot of them [his followers] are fanatics so in the event that they discover one thing that goes together with what they imagine already, they will observe it. You can also make your self imagine no matter you need. Those that didn’t go away, it was all a choice on everybody’s half. If you wish to go down that path, you’ll do it.”
Bent initially unfold fear a few mass suicide in Might 2007, after writing on his web site “I’m able to go” and “I wish to take all of my kids with me.”
We sincerely hope this man and his “kids” don’t do something silly…
[Image via KRQE/New Mexico State Police/KOAT]
