In a puzzling turn of events, four individuals from a St. Louis suburb have gone missing, leaving behind a trail of questions and concerns for their safety.
According to Berkeley Police Maj. Steve Runge, who is leading the investigation, the missing individuals, believed to have ties to an online cult led by a convicted child molester, have deliberately vanished from the grid, taking two young children with them.
A Tale of Disappearance and Alleged Connections
“They’ve shut off their phones, shut off their social media, shut off everything. We’ve even sent them money via a cash app and they haven’t collected it. They’re just gone,” said Maj. Steve Runge in an interview with NBC News. It appears that the group is intentionally avoiding being found.
The last known location of the six individuals, including two young children, was at a Quality Inn in Florissant, approximately 18 miles north of downtown St. Louis.
They had stayed there from August 2 to August 6 of the previous year, after which they seemingly disappeared. Prior to that, the group had been renting a home in nearby Berkeley.
While reports suggest that they may have been evicted from their previous residence, Maj. Runge stated, “I don’t know that to be the case.” What is clear, however, is their apparent association with the online cult led by Rashad Jamal. Jamal is currently serving an 18-year prison sentence in Georgia for child molestation and cruelty to children convictions.
Jamal, a former rapper turned online guru, claims to operate the “University of Cosmic Intelligence” on his website. Despite videos online where he identifies himself as a god, prophet, or messiah, he denies any knowledge of the missing individuals.
The six missing persons have been identified as Gerielle German, 26, and her 3-year-old son, Ashton Mitchell; Naaman Williams, 29; Mikayla Thompson, 23; Ma’Kayla Wickerson, 25, and her 3-year-old daughter, Malaiyah.
Concerns have been raised by family members, such as Cartisha Morgan, who has had no contact with her daughter Wickerson and granddaughter since August.
While some of the missing individuals appear to have ties to Jamal and his controversial teachings, Williams, identified through business records, seemed to run a metaphysical business named Crystal Clarity in St. Louis.
Read more: St. Louis Authorities On High Alert As Six Individuals Disappear, Online Cult Suspected
St. Louis Mysteries: Gerielle German’s Sudden Move and Enigmatic Teachings
Gerielle German and her 3-year-old son, originally from Mississippi, abruptly moved to the St. Louis area last year. German’s mother, Shelita Gibson, recounted that before leaving, her daughter had started meditating and quoting Jamal’s teachings. Gibson expressed concern, stating, “She was saying things about high frequency, low frequency, and cosmic husbands.”
Jamal’s influence extends beyond St. Louis, with followers across the country. Notably, some followers have faced serious legal consequences, such as Yasmine Hider, who received a 35-year prison sentence for her role in a fatal shooting.
Hider mentioned Jamal in her social media posts, highlighting the reach and impact of his teachings.
As the investigation unfolds, the mysterious disappearance and alleged connections to the online cult raise broader questions about the influence of such groups and the potential risks associated with their teachings.
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