Who was involved: Each episode focuses on a different killer cult (many of whom don’t have official names). So far they’ve covered a diverse range of cults, including a vampire cult from Eustis, Florida, an alien reptile cult from Pennsylvania, and some seemingly less out-there groups like the Ervilites, a fundamentalist Mormon sect. The first victim was 17-year-old sex worker named Doreen Levesque. Her body was found raped, beaten, bound, and bloodied. A year later, a manstumbled across the second victim, 22-year-old Barbara Raposa. This time there were signs that the killing was part of a ritual. On April 19, 1993 the FBI decided they could not wait any longer. Based on reports from the 19 children freed, they claimed children inside were in danger. The final siege involved tear gas and heavy weaponry. Constanzo's family returned to Miami in 1972 and his stepfather died soon after, leaving the family with some money. As a teenager, he became apprenticed to a local sorcerer and began to practice a religion called Palo Mayombe, which involves animal sacrifice. Delia remarried and his new stepfather was involved in both the religion and drug dealing. Constanzo and his mother were arrested numerous times for theft, vandalism and shoplifting. He graduated from high school, but was expelled from prep school. [ citation needed] Several key players take part in the documentary, including Bhagwan’s right hand woman, Ma Anand Sheela and his personal attorney, Swami Prem Niren (aka Philip Toelkes). It is almost entirely comprised of interviews with a few members from the 1980s and footage from the time. I couldn’t get over how much footage there was from this cult!

The most terrifying cults in history - CBS News

FYI: I know it sounds like it is, but this really isn’t a superhero show! Surviving R. Kelly (2019) Note: The show is [currently] only available on Facebook Watch (free streaming with FB), and they still have some issues to work out. I experienced several audio inconsistencies (and based on the comments, I was not the only one), with episode 2 being by far the worst. I still think Sacred Lies is worth a watch if you are interested in TV shows about cults, plus you might not even have issues! Just go in with low expectations. And at the end of the day, this is a FREE streaming service (even if it’s not a particularly user friendly one).What’s it about? 40 years after the horrific Jonestown Massacre in Guyana, Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle seeks to understand why it happened. Taylor realized there was only one person who could tie him to Selina—her mother. Two days after Selina’s murder, Taylor went to the apartment where her mother and a friend were sleeping and shot them both dead. However, once in Kirtland, the Averys were not very happy and were possibly planning to leave the cult. Sensing this, Lundgren told his followers that they needed to perform a sacrifice. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile.

Shinzo Abe killing: Why a religious group has been put - BBC

Why it’s one of the best TV shows about cults: I’m not 100% sure I would really classify this as a TV show about cults, however it does really dive into R. Kelly’s systematic abuse, manipulation and control of his victims, which is certainly common behaviour amongst most cult leaders. It also provides insight into how these types of charismatic people can have so much power over other people. So I am including it, but as an honourable mention. The deceased boy was four-year-old Jaden, the only child living at the house not fathered by Moses. Hesuspected the boy’s father was gay, and subsequently thought the boywas also gay. In a rage, he took the child to the basement and shot him as the Lord’s Prayer played. What’s it about? A well-balanced deep dive into the medicine behind some of the biggest health trends of the 20th and 21st centuries.Who is involved: The Church of Scientology was invented by fantasy and sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1953. The belief has some outrageous classified elements to it about aliens, but is also based on dianetics, which is a set of practices designed to improve the relationship between mind and body. Leah Remini is an actor and former member of Scientology who now speaks out against the church. In the film Perdita Durango, two white American teenagers are kidnapped by Hispanic criminals (escaped from the DEA), who attempt a Santeria human sacrifice. Perdita Durango (the film) is based on the 1992 novel by Barry Gifford 59° and Raining: The Story of Perdita Durango. García Araujo, Raúl (September 9, 2003). "Narcosatánica: 'Pido perdón a Dios' ". El Universal (in Spanish). What’s it about? Sang-mi (Seo Ye-ji) and her family move to a small town, but after tragedy occurs, her parents are drawn into the local cult, Goseonwon. Three years later, a chance encounter with a former school friend, Han Sang-hwan (Ok Taec-yeon) leads him and his friends to do everything they can to save Sang-mi.

6 Killer Cults That Shocked the World - The Lineup

What’s it about? Waco follows the events of the infamous 51 day standoff in 1993 between the US government FBI and ATF and the Branch Davidians cult at their Mount Carmel Compound. The crimes were being committed by a group of four young men who were referred to as “The Ripper Crew” or the “Chicago Rippers.” The group was led by a former John Wayne Gacy employee named Robin Gecht. The other three members were Edward Spreitzer and a set of brothers, Andrew and Thomas Kokoraleis. After Marsden’s death the cult was rounded up. Two members, including Carl Drew, were given life sentences. Drew claimed he was innocent and has tried to appeal the case many times. Robin Murphy testified against the rest of the cult members and was given a lighter sentence. The judge also allowed her to apply for parole after 20 years. Why it’s one of the best TV shows about cults: To be sure, Deadly Cults won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But if you appreciate shows like Deadly Women or Snapped with dramatic reenactments of the crime shown alongside real photographs and interviews with those involved (journalists, police, perpetrators, survivors, etc) then you’ll probably get something out of Deadly Cults. What I particularly like about the show is that so far it has covered mostly lesser known cults. How a cult that believes in reptile aliens ruling the world isn’t more well known, I’ll never know, but I definitely couldn’t stop watching. What’s it about? Leah Remini quite publicly left Scientology in 2013. She’s now using her celebrity and voice to stand up to the church by telling her story and the stories of other former members.What’s it about? Several lives intersect and intertwine at an Australian immigration detention centre. Why it’s one of the best TV shows about cults: Sacred Lies follows Minnow Bly after she’s escaped from the cult she grew up in, and wound up in Juvie for nearly killing a teenage boy. What makes this show unique is that it shows Minnow’s struggle to un-learn her cult upbringing, and come to terms with this. Minnow is a smart, resilient woman who just wants answers, but has to accept that sometimes there aren’t any. Sacred Lies does a good job of showing the disorientation of leaving a cult and trying to reintegrate into society. The Discovery Channel series Most Evil, by Dr. Michael Stone, profiled Constanzo in the 10th episode (" Cult Leaders") of the second season. Constanzo's "evil level" was 22, the highest. [8] Who was involved: The Rajneeshees were followers of Bhagwan (later called Osho), and Indian spiritual leader and godman (in India this refers to a guru that has been elevated to godlike status by their followers). However, for many years the cult was at least partially run by his secretary, Ma Anand Sheela. The cult originated in Pune, India, but was moved for many years to Rajneeshpuram, a town they founded in rural Oregon.

The Most Infamous Cults in History - Insider

Why it’s one of the best TV shows about cults: IS use many of the same tactics cults use to recruit and brainwash members, including things like gaining and then exploiting trust, radicalising propaganda, love bombing, and exploiting psychological and economic vulnerabilities. In Caliphate the character we follow that is responsible for recruiting new members uses all of these methods. This show focuses on the women’s lives within IS, showing both the difficulties of trying to get out, and how someone vulnerable might get drawn in. Who was involved: The main focus is on Joe Exotic. He is the previous owner of the G.W. Zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma and is currently in prison for his failed murder-for-hire plot against long time rival, Carole Baskin who runs Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida. Because of course some of it takes place in Florida…The cult grew to have about 6,000 members, despite their controversial use of “Flower Girls”—specially chosen young girls who served as concubines for Tari and other cult leaders. At one point, Tari claimed to have 430 of them. On April 16, 1989, Lundgren went into town with Dennis Avery, where he made him buy two handguns and a carbine. The next day he had the Averys visit the farm for dinner. After the meal, while the Averys cleaned up, Lundgren and another cult member named Ron Luff lured the family one by one to the barn. There, Luff ran a chainsaw to mask the sound of gunshots. a b Greig, Charlotte (2005). Evil Serial Killers: In the Minds of Monsters. New York: Barnes & Noble. p. 89. ISBN 0-7607-7566-4. Constanzo started to raid graveyards for human bones to put in his nganga, or cauldron. Before long, his cult decided that the spirits of the dead that resided in the nganga would be stronger (providing the cult more powerful protection) with live human sacrifices instead of old bones. The resulting killings soon totaled more than twenty victims, whose mutilated bodies were found in and around Mexico City. [2] This process escalated until Constanzo eventually decided that the gang needed the power of a brain from an American student, culminating with the 1989 murder of Mark Kilroy.