In a perplexing case unfolding in Missouri, a half-dozen individuals reported missing in August are now believed to have fallen prey to a cult led by Rashad Jamal, a convicted child molester serving an 18-year prison sentence in Georgia.
The Berkeley Police in the St. Louis suburb revealed that the missing six, including a mother and her 3-year-old daughter, are followers of Jamal’s cult, known as the University of Cosmic Intelligence.
Online Guru Preaches Enlightenment Amid Child Molestation Charges
Jamal, a former rapper-turned-online guru, has been convicted of child molestation and cruelty to children. Despite his incarceration, he continues to operate his online platform, geared towards what he describes as enlightening and illuminating the minds of Black and Latino people on Earth.
The missing individuals, last seen in August at a Quality Inn near St. Louis Lambert International Airport, include Gerielle German, 26, and her 3-year-old son, Ashton Mitchell, along with Naaman Williams, Mikayla Thompson, Ma’Kayla Wickerson, 25, and her 3-year-old daughter, Malaiyah. The group had been residing in a rented house in Berkeley before their disappearance.
Family members express deep concern for their loved ones, with Shelita Gibson, the mother of Gerielle German, pleading for information about their well-being. Gibson voices her anxieties, hoping they are safe and not subjected to any harm.
Ma’Kayla Wickerson’s mother, Cartisha Morgan, suspects her daughter may be suffering from postpartum depression and believes she fell victim to the cult after meeting people online. Morgan describes how these individuals preyed on her daughter’s weaknesses.
Read more: Iranian Woman Punished: 74 Lashes For Defying Hijab Mandate
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Exclusive
In a jailhouse interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jamal denies being a cult leader, despite videos posted online where he refers to himself as a god, prophet, or messiah. He maintains his innocence regarding the molestation charges, attributing them to a child custody dispute. Jamal claims he does not know the missing individuals, stating, “I am pretty sure I have never met these people.”
As the investigation continues, the mystery surrounding the missing six deepens, with authorities working to uncover the extent of Jamal’s influence and the circumstances surrounding their disappearance. Family members remain desperate for answers, hoping for the safe return of their loved ones.
Read more: Florida Nurse Faces Charges For Poisoning Neighbor’s Animals
