Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 46
followers in Oregon. He was soon convicted of adultery with a follower, igniting rumors that
he had slept with other female members of his sect.
Now, male relatives of the ―dishonored women‖ began hunting him down, and he was
eventually shot and killed by George Mitchell, the husband of one of the women. With wide
public and press support for his action, Mitchell was acquitted, using an insanity defense.
But on his release, he was shot and killed by his own sister, who had remained a devout
Creffield follower. She escaped justice altogether the same judge who decided the Mitchell
case wanted to avoid another sensational trial and declared her unfit to face the court.
The case, say the authors [they do not provide the book title], reveals a frontier in
transition slowly moving away from an ―eye for an eye‖ vigilante justice to our
contemporary system. (Kari Wergeland, Seattle Times, 12/7/03)
Cult Education
Death of Professor Claire Champollion, Educator and Researcher
Dr. Claire Champollion, leading European educator on the problem of destructive cults,
died recently in Paris at the age of 83. A professor of history, Madame Champollion became
involved in cult-related issues when the Unification Church recruited her son Yves. In 1974,
she and her husband, Dr. Guy Champollion, founded ADFI (Association for Defense of the
Family and the Individual), which has chapters throughout the French-speaking world that
provide information and assistance to the cult-involved and press for government
intervention against illegal cult activities.
Dr. Champollion was also involved, whether formally or informally, in the work of cult
research and education organizations in other countries. These included the Dialogue Center
International, in Denmark the Dialog Center, in Berlin the American Family Foundation, in
the U.S. FAIR, in Britain and FECRIS, the European association of national organizations
dedicated to alerting the Council of Europe to the problems caused by cultic groups.
The Rev. Thomas Gandow, head of the Berlin Dialog Center, who worked closely with Dr.
Champollion, said that ―she had a clear understanding of modern totalitarian movements as
a political menace to our societies,‖ and that ―her wisdom, her maternal advice, and friendly
criticism was always helpful.‖ (Cultic Studies Review NewsBriefs, 8/9/03)
Emankaya
Prison for Sheltering Girl
Four members of the Randers, Denmark, Emankaya sect have been sentenced to prison for
sheltering a 17-year-old girl from her parents and authorities. The girl wanted to stay in the
sect‘s collective. The group‘s original leader, Uffe Hove, was sentenced to seven years in
jail for beating a 50-year-old woman to death during a sado-masochistic ritual.
(Copenhagen Post, Internet, 10/23/03)
Four Winds
Commune Up for Sale
The Prince Edward Island Four Winds commune, formerly headed by nun Lucille Poulin,
who was convicted of the ―scripturally sanctioned‖ beating of children in the group she led,
is up for sale at $500,000. The property includes a home, a farm house, and a fully-
equipped restaurant. (Charlottetown Guardian, Internet, 6/11/03)

Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 47
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Safe Haven for the Abused
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has called for the establishment of a safe haven for
underage brides and abused children in Colorado City, since ―the nearest (Child Protective
Services) station is 30 miles away, and that‘s unconscionable given what we know today.‖
Goddard said the recent conviction of Deputy Marshal Rodney Home for bigamy and sex
with a minor sent a message. ―A lot of what was supposed to be protective armor in that
part of the world has been chipped away. Freedom of religion does not protect you from tax
evasion, welfare fraud, and child abuse."
Many in the town are members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, which practices polygamy. A church attorney said the safe haven idea is silly,
and that people in Colorado City, which is admittedly isolated, can come and go as they
please. He said Goddard was "trying to set up police like an occupying army.‖ (Beth
DeFalco, AP in Casper Star Tribune, Internet, 10/29/03)
Underground Railway for Child Brides
People once associated with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints have founded ―Help the Child Brides,‖ an organization devoted to assisting young
girls to escape arranged marriages to older men in the polygamous sect. Bob Curran, of St.
George, UT, describes the church as ―a country within a country. Where there was once
religion, sadly it has degenerated to sex, power and money.‖ He added that authorities have
been lax in prosecuting underage marriage, incest, and white slavery. (Kingman Daily
Miner, Internet, 5/15/03)
General Assembly and Church of the First Born
Third Child Dies from Lack of Medical Care
The Tulare, CA, County District Attorney has filed charges of involuntary manslaughter and
child abuse against Wesley and LaRonda Hamm following the death of their 10-year-old
daughter, Jessica, who died while suffering from flu-like symptoms, without medical care.
The Hamms join fellow members of the General Assembly and Church of the First Born
in shunning physicians in favor of prayer.
Jessica is the third of the Hamm‘s children to die of illness without medical intervention —
the first died when they lived in Arkansas, the second when they resided in Indiana.
Authorities are trying to decide whether or not to remove the three remaining children from
the Hamm home for their own safety. The church has 60 families in Tulare County and
some 10,000 nationwide, according to the Hamms‘ attorney.
The Assistant DA says religious belief is not a defense against the charges, as it is in some
states. ―In California, parents have an obligation to provide for their children the basics of
living — food, shelter and care, including medical care.‖ (Tim Sheehan, Fresno Bee,
Internet, 10/3/03)
God’s Creation Outreach Ministry
Mother Pleads Guilty in Death of Son
Christy Edgar, on trial with her husband Neil for abusing and killing their 9-year-old son,
Brian, pleaded guilty in court to felony first-degree murder even as her lawyer urged her not
to do so. A week later, the jury found Neil Edgar and babysitter Chastity Boyd also guilty of
the crime. Brian choked to death on his own vomit after a sock was stuffed in his mouth and
he was wrapped like a mummy in duct tape. Witnesses testified that Brian and two adopted