ISSN: 2710-4028 DOI: doi.org/10.54208/1000/0006 139
2020). When officers attempted to locate the child and
his mother, Jolley’s mother gave them paperwork from
the non-existent “Supreme Court of the Utah Common
Law Constitutional Court” (Millcreek grandmother,
2020). Common law courts are a typical claim among
those in the sovereign citizen movement. These ideas
likely came directly from E~Clause. Jolley’s current
status is unknown.
2. Cindy Abcug
Cindy Abcug was arrested off U.S. Highway 93 by
the Kalispell police department, assisted by the FBI,
in December 2020 for conspiracy to commit second
degree-kidnapping (Garrison, 2020 MTN News,
2019) and child abuse (Associated Press, 2022b).
Abcug’s teenage daughter contacted the authorities
after overhearing her mother plotting with members of
a local QAnon group to forcibly abduct her seven-year-
old son from foster care. Abcug’s son had been removed
by CPS months prior via an emergency custody order
after Abcug lied about her son’s health condition and
purposely made him sick (Garrison, 2020). An affidavit
notes that Abcug likely had factitious disorder imposed
on another (FDIA) (previously called Munchausen
syndrome by proxy) (Garrison, 2020). FIDA is a rare
diagnosis characterized by a persistent and repetitive
drive to make the victim appear sick to satisfy the
pathological psychological needs of the abuser
(Sanders, &Bursch, 2020). The majority of individuals
with FDIA are mothers (Sanders, &Bursch, 2020).
After losing custody of her son, Abcug turned to a
local QAnon group whose members concluded CPS
was a front for sex traffickers who sexually abuse
and cannibalize children (Sommer, 2020). The
highest profile member of this particular group, Field
McConnell, is a former Navy airline pilot turned
QAnon conspiracy theorist associated with two fringe
organizations: E~Clause, and the “Children’s Crusade”
that claims to fight against imaginary government
pedophile networks (Sommer, 2020).
Acbug consulted McConnell for advice. He advised
her not to get a lawyer, and instead, she should report
her case directly to former President Donald Trump.
McConnell falsely claims he worked for Trump.
McConnell also supplied Abcug with an armed QAnon
member named “Ryan” for protection. “Ryan,” an ex-
military sniper, moved into Abcug’s home (Associated
Press, 2022b). The two limited their social interactions
to only other QAnon members. Soon thereafter, Abcug
purchased a gun and articulated a plan to “raid”
the foster care home where her son was living. She
believed that the child’s foster parents were “evil Satan
worshipers” and “pedophiles” (Sommer, 2020). Police
attempted to arrest Abcug before the abduction could
be carried out, but Abcug absconded with another
armed QAnon member. These two individuals hid in
hotels paid for by McConnell, but Abcug was eventually
captured and charged.
At trial, Abcug was convicted on all charges. She was
sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of supervised
probation (Associated Press, 2022b). That sanction was
a lighter sentence than the judge thought appropriate,
but the judge accepted the proposed sentence to
avoid the possibility of a quicker release without strict
supervision conditions (Slevin, 2022). The judge
concluded Abcug showed no remorse. The judge also
did not find Abcug’s testimony credible. The judge
warned that because Abcug continues to see herself as
a victim, she could pose a danger again in the future.
The judge also observed, and noted for the record, that
Abcug’s son has been free of all medical issues since
being taken away from Abcug in 2019 (Associated
Press, 2022b). Abcug currently is studying for a law
degree (Associated Press, 2022b), and is appealing her
case.
3. Neely Petrie-Blanchard
Like the other cases described above, Neely Petrie-
Blanchard had lost custody of her children. These child
seizures included both her eldest daughter in 2013
(whom she was convicted of kidnapping), and several
years later her two twin daughters (Wells, &Scheck,
2021). Desperate to get her children back, Petrie-
Blanchard spent many hours on Facebook searching
for ideas. She eventually landed upon the account of
Hallett, a founding member of E~Clause (Hyland,
2021). The two began working together and developed
a close relationship. They shared similar beliefs, namely
that CPS was trafficking children.
Over time, Petrie-Blanchard came to rely on Hallett.
2020). When officers attempted to locate the child and
his mother, Jolley’s mother gave them paperwork from
the non-existent “Supreme Court of the Utah Common
Law Constitutional Court” (Millcreek grandmother,
2020). Common law courts are a typical claim among
those in the sovereign citizen movement. These ideas
likely came directly from E~Clause. Jolley’s current
status is unknown.
2. Cindy Abcug
Cindy Abcug was arrested off U.S. Highway 93 by
the Kalispell police department, assisted by the FBI,
in December 2020 for conspiracy to commit second
degree-kidnapping (Garrison, 2020 MTN News,
2019) and child abuse (Associated Press, 2022b).
Abcug’s teenage daughter contacted the authorities
after overhearing her mother plotting with members of
a local QAnon group to forcibly abduct her seven-year-
old son from foster care. Abcug’s son had been removed
by CPS months prior via an emergency custody order
after Abcug lied about her son’s health condition and
purposely made him sick (Garrison, 2020). An affidavit
notes that Abcug likely had factitious disorder imposed
on another (FDIA) (previously called Munchausen
syndrome by proxy) (Garrison, 2020). FIDA is a rare
diagnosis characterized by a persistent and repetitive
drive to make the victim appear sick to satisfy the
pathological psychological needs of the abuser
(Sanders, &Bursch, 2020). The majority of individuals
with FDIA are mothers (Sanders, &Bursch, 2020).
After losing custody of her son, Abcug turned to a
local QAnon group whose members concluded CPS
was a front for sex traffickers who sexually abuse
and cannibalize children (Sommer, 2020). The
highest profile member of this particular group, Field
McConnell, is a former Navy airline pilot turned
QAnon conspiracy theorist associated with two fringe
organizations: E~Clause, and the “Children’s Crusade”
that claims to fight against imaginary government
pedophile networks (Sommer, 2020).
Acbug consulted McConnell for advice. He advised
her not to get a lawyer, and instead, she should report
her case directly to former President Donald Trump.
McConnell falsely claims he worked for Trump.
McConnell also supplied Abcug with an armed QAnon
member named “Ryan” for protection. “Ryan,” an ex-
military sniper, moved into Abcug’s home (Associated
Press, 2022b). The two limited their social interactions
to only other QAnon members. Soon thereafter, Abcug
purchased a gun and articulated a plan to “raid”
the foster care home where her son was living. She
believed that the child’s foster parents were “evil Satan
worshipers” and “pedophiles” (Sommer, 2020). Police
attempted to arrest Abcug before the abduction could
be carried out, but Abcug absconded with another
armed QAnon member. These two individuals hid in
hotels paid for by McConnell, but Abcug was eventually
captured and charged.
At trial, Abcug was convicted on all charges. She was
sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of supervised
probation (Associated Press, 2022b). That sanction was
a lighter sentence than the judge thought appropriate,
but the judge accepted the proposed sentence to
avoid the possibility of a quicker release without strict
supervision conditions (Slevin, 2022). The judge
concluded Abcug showed no remorse. The judge also
did not find Abcug’s testimony credible. The judge
warned that because Abcug continues to see herself as
a victim, she could pose a danger again in the future.
The judge also observed, and noted for the record, that
Abcug’s son has been free of all medical issues since
being taken away from Abcug in 2019 (Associated
Press, 2022b). Abcug currently is studying for a law
degree (Associated Press, 2022b), and is appealing her
case.
3. Neely Petrie-Blanchard
Like the other cases described above, Neely Petrie-
Blanchard had lost custody of her children. These child
seizures included both her eldest daughter in 2013
(whom she was convicted of kidnapping), and several
years later her two twin daughters (Wells, &Scheck,
2021). Desperate to get her children back, Petrie-
Blanchard spent many hours on Facebook searching
for ideas. She eventually landed upon the account of
Hallett, a founding member of E~Clause (Hyland,
2021). The two began working together and developed
a close relationship. They shared similar beliefs, namely
that CPS was trafficking children.
Over time, Petrie-Blanchard came to rely on Hallett.
