Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 39
lawyers say that as his sect grew bigger, it became difficult for Asahara to maintain control.
They accused Hideo Murai, ―science and technology minister‖ of the group, and another
follower, Yoshihiro Inoue, of planning the attacks. Murai was stabbed to death outside
Aum‘s Tokyo headquarters in 1995, and Inoue has been sentenced to life in prison. (Kyodo
News Service, Internet, 5/23/02)
The Body/Attleboro
Judge Returns Attleboro Sect Couple to Jail
Two members of the embattled Attleboro, MA sect, The Body, have been sent back to jail
after again refusing to answer a judge‘s questions about a baby that state welfare officials
believe may be in danger. Rebecca and David Corneau appeared before Juvenile Court
Judge Kenneth Nasif to face questions about the status of a baby that the couple claims
Rebecca Corneau miscarried in November. Because they have not given more information or
provided proof, Juvenile Judge Kenneth Nasif had them jailed for contempt of court.
The state Department of Social Services believes that the Corneaus may be hiding the baby
and that it may be endangered because their religious beliefs reject modern medicine. J.W.
Carney Jr., the Corneaus‘ lawyer, said the couple ―did not produce a child (yesterday)
because no child has ever existed. The situation that parents can be held in prison
indefinitely because of their failure to produce a child that does not exist sounds like a
situation that could only occur in Orwell‘s 1984, but that is what is happening in this case,‖
he said. The Corneaus‘ other children have been taken into state protective custody. (AP via
Worcester [MA] Telegram, Internet, 4/11/02)
[Sect members Jacques and Karen Robidoux are awaiting trial on charges that they starved
their 10-month-old son Samuel to death in 1999. The Corneaus came under suspicion at
that time when their infant son, Jeremiah, died during a 1999 home birth. The couple, who
weren’t charged in connection with Jeremiah’s death, contend that Rebecca had a
miscarriage but they won’t say where the baby is buried.]
Member of The Body Claims U.S Law Does Not Apply
Jacques Robidoux, leader of a ―cult‖ called The Body, says that he should not be tried for
the murder of his infant son because he is a member of a sovereign nation not subject to
American law. ―The District Attorney‘s office,‖ he wrote in a motion he filed with the court,
―is without jurisdiction in regards to the defendant.‖ Robidoux, 29, and his wife, Karen, 26,
both charged with starving their 10-month old son, Samuel, to death in 1999, have
―declared their independence and expatriated themselves,‖ from the United States. The
court refused Robidoux permission to represent himself.
Prosecutors say that the couple starved Samuel to fulfill a religious prophecy allegedly
spoken by the boy‘s aunt, Michelle Mingo, which said that Samuel was to be denied solid
food. (Karen Robidoux will be tried separately on second-degree murder charges, while
Mingo faces accessory charges.) Evidence from a journal kept by Jacques Robidoux, vividly
describe how the starving boy screamed with hunger pain for days until he lost his voice,
became emaciated, and died. (Dave Wedge, Boston Herald, 6/3, 5/02, Internet)
Death Watch
One journal entry reads: ―Samuel stated only [exclusively] nursing [rather than eating sold
foods] as commanded by God. As the day grew on, Samuel was obviously not being filled.
He was thirsty and hungry ...As the night went on, Karen could not take Samuel crying
anymore. She decided to go to bed.‖
Another journal entry refers to a day when Karen Robideaux was growing concerned:
―Karen‘s day started strong and positive with a good attitude. As the day grew on, Satan
lawyers say that as his sect grew bigger, it became difficult for Asahara to maintain control.
They accused Hideo Murai, ―science and technology minister‖ of the group, and another
follower, Yoshihiro Inoue, of planning the attacks. Murai was stabbed to death outside
Aum‘s Tokyo headquarters in 1995, and Inoue has been sentenced to life in prison. (Kyodo
News Service, Internet, 5/23/02)
The Body/Attleboro
Judge Returns Attleboro Sect Couple to Jail
Two members of the embattled Attleboro, MA sect, The Body, have been sent back to jail
after again refusing to answer a judge‘s questions about a baby that state welfare officials
believe may be in danger. Rebecca and David Corneau appeared before Juvenile Court
Judge Kenneth Nasif to face questions about the status of a baby that the couple claims
Rebecca Corneau miscarried in November. Because they have not given more information or
provided proof, Juvenile Judge Kenneth Nasif had them jailed for contempt of court.
The state Department of Social Services believes that the Corneaus may be hiding the baby
and that it may be endangered because their religious beliefs reject modern medicine. J.W.
Carney Jr., the Corneaus‘ lawyer, said the couple ―did not produce a child (yesterday)
because no child has ever existed. The situation that parents can be held in prison
indefinitely because of their failure to produce a child that does not exist sounds like a
situation that could only occur in Orwell‘s 1984, but that is what is happening in this case,‖
he said. The Corneaus‘ other children have been taken into state protective custody. (AP via
Worcester [MA] Telegram, Internet, 4/11/02)
[Sect members Jacques and Karen Robidoux are awaiting trial on charges that they starved
their 10-month-old son Samuel to death in 1999. The Corneaus came under suspicion at
that time when their infant son, Jeremiah, died during a 1999 home birth. The couple, who
weren’t charged in connection with Jeremiah’s death, contend that Rebecca had a
miscarriage but they won’t say where the baby is buried.]
Member of The Body Claims U.S Law Does Not Apply
Jacques Robidoux, leader of a ―cult‖ called The Body, says that he should not be tried for
the murder of his infant son because he is a member of a sovereign nation not subject to
American law. ―The District Attorney‘s office,‖ he wrote in a motion he filed with the court,
―is without jurisdiction in regards to the defendant.‖ Robidoux, 29, and his wife, Karen, 26,
both charged with starving their 10-month old son, Samuel, to death in 1999, have
―declared their independence and expatriated themselves,‖ from the United States. The
court refused Robidoux permission to represent himself.
Prosecutors say that the couple starved Samuel to fulfill a religious prophecy allegedly
spoken by the boy‘s aunt, Michelle Mingo, which said that Samuel was to be denied solid
food. (Karen Robidoux will be tried separately on second-degree murder charges, while
Mingo faces accessory charges.) Evidence from a journal kept by Jacques Robidoux, vividly
describe how the starving boy screamed with hunger pain for days until he lost his voice,
became emaciated, and died. (Dave Wedge, Boston Herald, 6/3, 5/02, Internet)
Death Watch
One journal entry reads: ―Samuel stated only [exclusively] nursing [rather than eating sold
foods] as commanded by God. As the day grew on, Samuel was obviously not being filled.
He was thirsty and hungry ...As the night went on, Karen could not take Samuel crying
anymore. She decided to go to bed.‖
Another journal entry refers to a day when Karen Robideaux was growing concerned:
―Karen‘s day started strong and positive with a good attitude. As the day grew on, Satan
