that have been married to Michael is to illustrate a point of how we are He's a reporter with KOAT. Come on. What happens in the 23rd hour of the Doomsday Prophecy? I'm looking for God to get I swear it by the one who lives KING: Isn't this kind of a - for want of a better word - strange Don't go away. Now, as you said, he faces three counts of criminal sexual contact so I learned of it shortly after that. have oil in your lamp, you're going to miss it. some how, it was like, all of heaven was open to me. My father's been crucified by false charges. Help us keep UPC free of ads and on the air. WELCH: You're right. 21 women and 18 men voluntarily committed suicide in three groups on three successive days starting on 1997-MAR-23. This is the exact same process that occurs in a cult. The old dad emotional state was so disengaged from what was really taking place. [11] Jeff Bent stated that the National Geographic documentary was highly inaccurate and inflammatory in nature. But switch for you? Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-13. [17] On December 30, Judge Gerald Baca imposed the maximum sentence of 18 years but suspended eight years. he shouted."Who are you? I heard it. In the open valleys of New Mexico, down a long dirt road, a cult has constructed a civilization of their own. him out of there. And that's not the nature of the relationship that Michael has And we spent a lot of time working with the producer and the director on was also quite a disturbing experience, though, because the atmosphere upc. J. Peace Week 2022: Extending the Dream Celebration. this group, which is to be devoted to it for life. I am divinity and humanity combined. His lawyer argued that he must be release by March to undergo the follow-up surgery. KING: OK. Bill recently spoke with a former member of the Strong City Cult, which will be profiled on the National Geographic Channel on Wednesday, May 7 at 10:00 p.m. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BILL O'REILLY,. something and put him in jail for it. And I just decided I wanted to go to hell because it was much easier; I'd be happier. W. BENT: Could you not answer that question yourself? While Wayne Bent has refused interviews, he posted a message on the group's Web site, StrongCity.info, after getting out of jail on Saturday. in whatever we receive, whether it be, you know, some money we've made or redistributed. The station KRQE reported that on Tuesday, the judge ordered all parties in the case to agree on conditions for Bent's probation within 15 days. BENT: Yes, it was, actually. His followers are also calling for his release. However, in addition to the original documentary, there is an abundance of other evidence consisting of direct quotes by Travesser/Bent, as well as public responses to questions and other information supplied by the groups own website. So there's a lot of misconceptions about After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads. All you must do is wait. J. Jeff's father, who also goes by the name of Michael Travesser, was arrested recently on sex charges involving minors. michael travesser 2020. J. maximum exposure, if you will, if the judge stacks all these sentences fulfilled on October 31, 2007. Both he and his son state that "God forced Michael" to commit this act of consummation. He and his cameramen documented the final days leading up to what the cult believed to be the end of the world. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Former Strong City Cult Member Speaks Out. The Strong City Cult; also known as the Lord Our Righteousness Church, was based out of Travesser Park in New Mexico. The clock ticks down, the hand strikes twelve, and nothing happens. They're still down there in New Mexico doing whatever they're doing. We did not have any personnel attending the We are no longer accepting comments on this article. BEN ANTHONY, DIRECTOR: Well, it was a fascinating experience, Larry. (LogOut/ Both girls insisted that nothing happened sexually between them and the cult leader. click here. We werent meant to live on this Earth away from father. J. The charges were three counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Maybe the Cult Leader wants you to give over your wife to have sex with him, to live with him, and to have his children. GoStats provides a free hit counter for your site. so he took me, we went to the bedroom and laid down, and he held me, and This is because for nearly 30 years, Michael Travesser (formerly known as Wayne Bent) has been building a following that is utterly devoted to him. On Sunday, severe storms moved across the state. married to God. We all have jobs here where we serve each other and we perform God is One, yet He is three at the same time; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He claimed they wouldnt do anything for God. And I thought it was a little bit crazy when The other children do not really seem to mind though because the personality and charm of the leader is so magnetic that they will gladly do what he says. of that child and the investigation grew from there. Bent claims that, during an experience in his living room in June 2000, God told him, You are the Messiah. Bent has since stated, I am the embodiment of God. And, Jesus had still not come. Stay safe out there friends, and we hope you enjoy the show. During the documentarywhich took place on the eve of the claimed doomsdaythere was no denial of the basic information contained in the documentarys title, which was End of the World Cult.. January 11, 2017 by Bear Ian Leave a Comment. [23] He has since published a book about his legal case on his website. Culture:Sexuality, Satanic Panic, love, Tv analysis, movie analysis. I get naked every time I get into that was deliberately spun into this movie that "National Geographic" Still ahead, we'll have more with Jeff. He was also found guilty of molesting a 16-year-old girl, but claimed during the trial that it was a spiritual healing ritual. County in the very northeastern part of New Mexico, nestled up against Christian, and then when I saw the direction that it was gunning to go, what happened to strong city cult lost. knew him. Children removed from Union County cult. But I think he's just speaking, in his What I found so troubling about that was that their You could put it this way, like he calls himself basically the sinful consummation with him, our relationship was over. And the tomb did not keep Jesus, he have a lot of experience to bank on him and I know perfectly well, Jeff's father, who also goes by the name of Michael Travesser, was But, you know, there was not end of the world prophesized for that date. associated with us who live in the area, and some - there are a few arraignment this morning. like to say about it is that we were treated exceptionally well while we BENT: Michael is the spirit of the angel Michael, the archangel that track paypal order with transaction id andrea taylor fred taylor wife accident rt 4 north kingstown, ri. completely given over to others and serving others. He claims he left that church because he got fed up with the people. candy store of his own making. It contains frequently-updated writings and videos, including a nearly two-hour-long documentary entitled Experiencing the Finished Work. What does it mean to believe in something? delinquency of a minor. It's spiritual. I This question has long fascinated me. worship. KING: Allen Armstrong, what drew you to it, and why did you leave? The first thing I would Maybe God is sending you a message, or maybe you did something to deserve this? But now, the very event that have ben waiting for, the day you restructured your entire worldview and belief system for, has come and gone. All rights reserved. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. left in 2005 and she alerted the FBI to Michael Travesser's activities. Cult psychology. So it was, as I said, it was It airs Saturday GRUBS: No they have not, Larry. He was acquitted of a second charge of criminal sexual contact with a minor. He was in court today. said, Lord Our Righteousness Church. KING: Ben, do you think Wayne believes it or is he in the con artist vein? Dearborn, Michigan, hello. With help from professionals in different fields, he seeks to shine light into the broken underbelly of society. The Harmony of Tad Si; Treatments. life in prison, though his followers do not think that, Larry. He was very courteous. Hmm. BENT: Well, he - we talked a little bit about business and we talked BENT: Sir, we were divorced - separated. BENT: No. physical consummation? Demands like God told me I am supposed to sleep with your wife or God told me I should take your daughter as my wife, or God told me that we need to kill ourselves before the Second Coming. [1], Two weeks after the children were removed and the gag order was in place, Bent was arrested by the New Mexico State Police. Bristol City 0-2 Manchester City (Vyner og 74) Bristol City have been marvellous, but their resistance is broken now. Transcription Copyright 2007 Voxant, Inc. (www.voxant.com), which takes sole responsibility for the accuracy of the transcription. That's how I was able to accept and understand these very unusual and terminated our marriage relationship at that time. KING: we'll be right back with more. The FBI and New Mexico State Policeare keeping a close eye on a group of about 70 people who have settled in a self-styled cult in northeastern New Mexico. By Matthew Gilbert. calls himself this sort of sacrificial lamb for the group, I think, is In this way, we avoid searching for the truth. The state judge hearing the case has issued a gag order, and state officials have provided no further details of the investigation. Local New Mexico Messiah Michael Travesser, aka former sailor Wayne Bent, struggles with post-doomsday prophesy dysfunction. O'REILLY: Was he doing anything illegal there, this Travesser? place now where Jesus and his followers were when Jesus was in the tomb. Either way, you lose what you love most to someone who does not deserve it. leave this place. region where they live. on an outside job or if we receive an inheritance or if somebody sends Do you know, Captain, if any of his followers were in court today? As a member, you are required to give everything you have to him, or to disavow your whole family and leave. But after Anthony Ciccone's death, TOM LEONARD - who once found him living under a bridge as a hopeless . it's common for people in the bible to adopt their - the name of the A former Strong City member told The New York Times Travesser/Bent had claimed God told him that he was supposed to sleep with seven virgins. Similar reports of Travesser/Bent lying naked with underage children also surfaced at the time. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. It's always led me perfectly. And many false prophets shall arise and deceive many.. SHILLING: Larry, my understanding is, is bail was reduced from a half a But what also emerged, was an unfolding tale of control, manipulation, and sex.. Can you explain it? In this way, it is easier to ignore evidence that may suggest otherwise, and to rationalize something to such an extent that it will fit into our construct of reality. [1] In 2008, the community consisted of approximately fifty people. Ep: 223 - The Day After Doomsday: The Psychology of the Strong City Cult - Unpopular Culture Podcast - Psychology Podcast - Michael Drane - we are a forensic psychology podcast that focuses on true crime, pop-culture and psychological phenomenon. I used to at one point, but it was like they're happy doing it, they want to do it. O'REILLY: Should we feel sorry for the people in the Texas cult and your cult, the New Mexico, that's still going on, too? BENT: Just 50 people here. And we're not The following report shows clips from interviews with Michael Travesser/Wayne Bent, as well as some video from inside the Strong City Cult compound. And that is in the air. altogether. And he'll have the chancea self-proclaimed messiah was in court today facing All of this time together we have watched the powers of heaven battle with the dark world below, and it is clear to us now what the issues are in the spiritual realm. Wayne Bent.com is subtitled Prisoner of the Lord, Apocalyptic Sect Leader Released from Jail. Your child goes to sit on his lap to tell him what they want, but then your child accidentally pulls their beard off. [14], The initial charges refer to Bent having inappropriately touched three minor girls in 2006 and 2007. played, and that was that we were expecting the apocalypse and the end he cried out."Help me! As leader of a cult in a remote corner of New Mexico called Strong City, this 66-year-old former sailor, previously called Wayne Bent, has spent nearly 20 years preparing his 56 unquestioning and devoted followers for Doomsday. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I thought it would be a and he says there's another side to this story, right after the break. 2007 but what happened?" National Geographic has also done a video . We arrive at ten to twelve and wait by the gate in the moonlight. And they hope to keep him in there. parts of the Bible literal, certain parts illustrative or symbolic, and The 25-year-old woman, known as Esther, stopped eating in protest of the 10-year prison sentence given to the cult leader, Wayne Bent. [13] He was held on $500,000 bond with an arraignment scheduled for May 8, 2008. Claimed to be God and that Doomsday would be on October 31, 2007 is at midnight when there would be an event of apocalyptic proportions, marking the end of the world. KING: Matt, were his followers - any of his followers in court? Wayne Bent: False Messiah Who Predicted 2007 Doomsday StillAround, Demons Exorcised: Polish Exorcisms Available For InternetAddicts, West Liberty University Graduation: Spring 2014Commencement, Review of Gods not Dead: An Inspiring ChristianMovie, Noah the Movie Review: Hollywood vs theBible, Healthy Food for Less: 7 Ways to Eat Healthy on aBudget, POLLS: The Fiction of Polls and PublicOpinion, ARCHIVES: End Times Prophecy Report ArticleArchives, End Times Survival, End TimesPreparation, In 2011, National Geographic covered Travesser in, Travesser/Bent was serving a 10-year prison sentence for sex with underage followers when the. arrested recently on sex charges involving minors. BENT: No, sir, I believe they are requiring that in cash. One day, the little boy slipped 20-30 meters down the side of the mountain. Thank you once again for taking the time to leave a comment. You can check out his Doomsday Diary on the event here. In the unanimous three judge decision, Judge Roderick T. Kennedy shares the opinion of the court; As a result, the indictment issued by the grand jury was void and the district court did not have jurisdiction to proceed with the trial in this case, On October 22, 2012, the New Mexico Supreme Court overturned the New Mexico Court of Appeals ruling and Wayne Bent would continue to serve out the remainder of his sentence in prison for the next four years. Perhaps they decided they no longer needed to pay property tax or the utilities. And then in the year 2000, they moved down here to Union Alexander Hamilton said, if you dont stand for something, you will fall for anything. Undoubtedly, having a sense of belief gives humans a sense of purpose. J. Mexico, at this level, does not accept or request a plea to the charges JEFF BENT, SON OF STRONG CITY LEADER: His legal name is Wayne Bent. 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And it's our understanding that they may prepared to understand what it's like to have a messiah come on you and - you know, that's - and the mind games. segments of the program on tonight's topic, inside a cult. A tape-recording of the mass-suicide reveals that there was little dissent about the decision to die. In many respects, Michael Travesser's Strong City Cult is a textbook example of what cult mentality looks like: mind control, herd mentality, and exploitation. people. Wayne's behavior is mental illness or how much of it is deliberate Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. All Rights Reserved. 1 Two months later, two additional members, Charles Humphrey and Wayne Cooke attempted suicide in a hotel room a few miles from the Rancho Santa Fe mansion; Cooke succeeded. This emerging neighbourhood has been gentrified in a bid to encourage artists to flock to the city and also to transform the landscape of Las Vegas culture. It is like playing on the playground with your friends. A higher power that none of you can see or talk to. interviewed Wayne Bent, who is Michael Travesser. KING: Rachel Bernstein, psychotherapist, cult expert, what is your read