[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
A cult chief might 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 nicely be on a suicide mission, and one former member insists that if that had been the case, nobody may forestall it from taking place.
The spiritual neighborhood, which rests in the course 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 palms on the ladies’ sternums for a non secular cleaning ritual.
Uhhh… nonetheless not okay, dude!
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Nonetheless, an ex church member claimed Bent informed his followers that God had ordered him to “sleep with seven virgins.” Furthermore, Bent admitted on digital camera to sleeping together with his son’s spouse a number of occasions as a result of “God pressured me to.” So, he doesn’t look like the form of man who is aware of the right which means of “cleaning.”
The jury naturally sided towards him: Bent was discovered responsible of felony 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 frightened 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, informed the outlet:
“If all of them need to kill themselves they will do it, it doesn’t matter if they’re on the market [pointing to the desert] or elsewhere. In the event that they need 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 need to do it they will do it… After I was there he thought the tip of the world was going to occur however I don’t assume it was a suicide factor at that time – no 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 support.’”
The daddy famous that Bent introduced him into the cult as a result of he was “very convincing,” however mentioned he’s since discovered to assume for himself.
Sadly, a handful of followers haven’t gotten that far. He added:
“He’s fairly convincing on a whole lot 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 comply with it. You can also make your self imagine no matter you need. Those that didn’t depart, 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 couple of mass suicide in Might 2007, after writing on his web site “I’m able to go” and “I need 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]
