Perez, also known by the name Lou Castro and many other names, convinced his followers he had magical powers. Jennifer soon bought the adjoining ten acres and built two homes on it. Insurance salesman Bill Hatton confirmed Daniel Perez collected $2 million from the death of Patricia Hughes alone. In the beginning, things were all fine and dandy. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Indian mystic Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh attracted followers by the thousands in the 1970s. All rights reserved. Daniel Perez, also known as Lou Castro, was sentenced to life in prison for murder and the rape of children in his cult, known as the Angel's Landing commune. The episode ofDateline,titled Angels & Demons, features interviews with Daniel Perez, commune members Sara and Emily as well as with Detective Ron Goodwyn and more. On April 28, 2021, themummified remains of Amy Carlson, the 45-year-old leader of the group Love Has Won, were found in a home in Moffat, Colorado. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. As reported by Daily Mail, Daniel Perez was arrested in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2010. I dont think [cults] are common, McGrath said. The property is huge and situated in the 9500 block of North Oliver in a rural area of Wichita, Kansas. Who was Daniel Perez? Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for May 1, Kansas Bureau of Investigations sex offender registry, Jay Leno shows off 'new face' after suffering third-degree burns, Kylie Jenners ex Travis Scott nightclub incident: New York police investigating alleged bar brawl, Ricou Browning, 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' star, dead at 93, 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant scolded by Pat Sajak, ripped apart by fans, Jillian Michaels suffered a spinal injury in secret that left her crawling due to pain, 'Friends' star Courteney Cox almost left Hollywood in the '80s, father told her it was 'time to pack it in'. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The 2003 drowning death of 26-year-old Patricia Hughes at the group's compound outside of Wichita, Kansas, was originally ruled an accident. pic.twitter.com/JBtWCvFObn. Emily tried to get her out but was unable to. Upon settling, Trish took out a $1 million insurance policy on her life that included an accidental death rider. Angel's Landing. Four crime scenes, thirty-two gunshot wounds, eight members of the Rhoden family left dead in their homes. When he found out what was going on, he sent an email to the FBI website in 2010. Emily waited 20 minutes and completed the plan. Sara McGrath was brought into Perez's family by her mom, a real estate agent who first helped Lou Castro find the right property when he came to town. Their mother believed that he was an angel who could predict peoples death. The girl told investigators that she was 11 years old when Perez told her to lie to police, saying Hughes had fallen and drowned in the pool. On April 21, 2010, a search warrant was executed for Venegass Tennessee residence. The penalty for a Class III offense may be any, all or any combination of the following: Restriction to inmates own cell, not to exceed three days;restriction from privileges, not to exceed 20 days;extra work for up to two hours per day, not to exceed 10 days;a fine not to exceed $10.00;restitution; oran oral or written reprimand.. However, there are no further updates on her present situation, and she could not be placed on social media either. The charges include rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, sexual exploitation of a child, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and murder. Mack was arrested and indicted on federal charges, including sex trafficking. They also testified to the ongoing sexual violence by Daniel Perez and the deaths of six people connected with the group (Mona, Lindsey, Jim, Tricia, Jennifer, and Brian). He had convinced the group that he needed someone pure to share his bed as he was a seer and needed a young female virgin to take care of him or he would die. Investigators in Sedgwick County, Kansas learned that Lou Perez and the Angels Landing commune was tied to six deaths which were ruled accidental. The cult was never banned in Japan, and lives on in offshoots including Aleph and Hikari no Wa, which have an estimated 1,500 followers today. The movement still has followers in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The Netflix documentary "Wild Wild Country" showed followers wearing only red and worshipping the mysteriously wealthy leader, even when he stopped speaking for a prolonged period. With those certificated, Trish was paid the death benefits. It is the 20-acre property where Daniel Perez lived with his followers. In 1993, the ATF and Texas National Guard raided the Waco compound. (Photo courtesy of Oxygen. A detective sifted through his trash and followed him to a local restaurant in hopes that he could find a fingerprint. Prosecutors said at his trial that he aimed to use life insurance proceeds from the deaths of his followers to live a lavish lifestyle. LAS VEGAS SHOOTING SURVIVORS RECALL CHAOS AND TURMOIL OF HORRIFIC NIGHT, MEETING RESCUER, IN NEW DOCUMENTARY, Sara McGrath today. He also hosted parties at Angels Landing in which the local police were always welcome. Berg also encouraged sex with children. The investigation continued into March 2011 with authorities interviewing Sarah and Emily on several occasions. There was a swimming pool and multiple houses on the propertyas well. Multiple accounts of abuse and misconduct were carried out on this property, especially against minors. She was just sucked into it. "Smallville" actress Allison Mack (seen here) was subsequently accused of recruiting "DOS" slaves by convincing women they were joining a female empowerment group that would help them overcome weaknesses. Sarah would later state on the show Deadly Cults that Lou Castro told her he had to fix her so that she would be able to get married and have babies someday. NXIVM founder Keith Raniere was accused of running an abusive sex cult through his Albany-based seminar company. About 5 years later, the group isolated themselves from their friends, family and the public, and relied on the internet to recruit new members. It was in Angels Landing that Emily had moved into the master bedroom with Daniel Perez. Daniel Perez, also known as Lou Castro, was sentenced to life in prison for murder and the rape of children in his cult, known as the Angels Landing commune. The man had a clandestine past and had evaded law enforcement on multiple occasions before, and it was no wonder that suspicious activity would take place in the house. He was already suspicious about the accidents that occurred within the family and would work go on to work with the FBI in 2010 to find Daniel Perezs next identity (that he would use in Tennessee.) When paramedics arrived they were surprised to see Trish floating in the shallow end of the pool, but believed the story that Emily told that Trish had rushed into the pool to save her daughter, but slipped hitting her head and drowned. Leaders even discouraged talking to avoid breaking the Ninth Commandment, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.". The leaders planned a big party at a secluded church. Daniel Perez was arrested in 2010 on 28 charges after relocating to Tennessee. Goodwyn called it the most bizarre story he'd everheard butsaid Perez's conviction was probably the most amazing feeling in my law enforcement career.. On April 8, 2019, Allison Mack appeared in a Brooklyn federal court to enter a guilty plea for two racketeering charges in connection with her involvement with the NXIVM cult. In this photo, the body of one of the victims, actress Sharon Tate, is taken from her house in California in 1969. McGrath said she and her family joined the commune after Perez met her mother, Jennifer Hutson, a Wichita real estate agent who sold him a house, in 2001. Daniel U. Perez, who went by the name Lou Castro, was the leader of a commune living there. And more horrors occurred behind closed doors. Many who go there want to experience untamed adventure and get a classic photograph. In August 2006, Sherri Cox and her 8-year-old daughter, C.C. In 2009, McGraths now-husband contacted the FBI. They believed him. Oxygen reports authorities could not find any information about the man who called himself "Lou Castro." Here, women prepare a communal meal in a Children of God mess hall in 1971. One of the survivors, Sara, told Oxygen Perez raped her repeatedly, saying he was fixing her. It was in Angel's Landing that Emily had moved into the master bedroom with Daniel Perez. WhenMcGrath realized some of what was going on in his girlfriend's makeshift family, he sent an email to the FBI through their websitein 2010. Goodwyn said the conviction was probably the most amazing feeling in my law enforcement career.. According to affidavits taken by the Saguache County Sheriff's Office, the group was brainwashing people and stealing their money. Castro was never named as a beneficiary or named in any of the policies. The murder victim, Patricia Hughes, was a 26-year-old wife and mother who lived at Angels Landing. Pictured from left, Charles Manson followers Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten. age 17. Following his 2015 trial, Perez was convicted of 28 crimes, including first-degree murder, rape, aggravated assault, and sexual exploitation of a child, among others. McGowan has said that when her father learnedBerg was advocating for child-adult sexual relations, he packed up his three daughters and escaped to the U.S. After Berg's death in 1984, the group tried to distance itself from his endorsement of pedophilia. She said that after the death of a few more members that she was close to made her feel very alone. Daniel Perez and his followers lived on a 20-acre compound, near Valley Center and Kechi, which contained several residential buildings and a swimming pool. It was during that same year that Jennifer began dating David Quiring who had joined the group in 2003. Join us in the Ol' Dirty Basement as we cover cult killer Lou Castro. Other members of the cult are still in prison. But there was a catch. Angel's Landing was a 20-acre property in Wichita, Kansas. When Sara was in her mid-teens and Emily was around 11, their mother brought them into Perezs family. According to her interview with Oxygen, Sara did not like Perez at all, but her mom was convinced he was an angel and was able to predict death. She, like her sister, had faced abuse at his hands. In 2004, the couple began living together and they eventually married. pic.twitter.com/LsUYdFja74, Dateline NBC (@DatelineNBC) August 7, 2020. Detective Goodwyn, still not giving up on finding out just who Lou Castro was, decided to try to get his fingerprints again. He asked Emily if she would like to be there when it happened. Would love your thoughts, please comment. This led to the big break in the case. McGrath admitted she was too scared to tell anyone what had happened to her. But I also think that people who are in a cult may not realize that theyre in a cult until theyve been out for a while. Sheela fled to Switzerland, where she served time for her crimes, and later opened nursing homes. The couple remained in contact via phone over the next year, but K.L. They said they would commit suicide if authorities intervened. Daniel Perez, 55, was sentenced Tuesday in Wichita, Kansas, by Sedgwick County District Judge Joseph Bribiesca to serve two life sentences, plus 406 months on charges that include first-degree. The girl claimed she had actually heard a splash and scream before seeing Perez drenched and out of breath. s home and arrested him. He wasnt sure if he was dumped in Texas or Mexico. Emily testified as to what happened on the day Trish had drowned. McGrath said she was terrified when she came face-to-face with Perez in court to testify. The group rented a mansion in Southern California, where members took phenobarbital mixed with applesauce and washed it down with vodka, then put plastic bags over their heads. So it surprised many when he had been crushed to death under a vehicle when his jack slipped. Sara McGrath said Daniel Perez began sexually abusing her within weeks of their arrival at the compound. Lou Castro lived extravagantly inKansas with hiscult-likefamily and was found guilty of rape and the murder of Patricia Hughes. If it werent for them and my husband, I wouldnt have been able to do it.. ), GREEN RIVER KILLER GARY RIDGWAY IS STILL HIDING MANY 'DARK SECRETS' DESPITE CONFESSION, SAYS PROSECUTOR IN DOCUMENTARY. First published on June 15, 2018 / 2:32 PM. By this time, Sarah was 24 and on her own for the first time. Daniel Perez, AKA Lou Castro. Powered by. Legal Statement. If it werent for them and my husband, I wouldnt have been able to do it., He was sentenced to two life sentences in prison. However, after this testimony, they were able to bring him down, and he is currently serving two life sentences and has been charged on 28 counts, including first-degree murder and sexual misconduct with minors. Although he did not have a job, he had money. After about six months, 14 members came out of the cave, and nine members came out later. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In the early 1970s, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles renamed themselves Bo and Peep and took a road trip across the U.S., assembling a group they called "the crew.". They all moved into a home purchased in K.L. While police do not believe that there was any foul play associated with Carlson's death, seven members of the group were arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse and two counts of child abuse. This "angel," however, wasactually namedDaniel Perez, and was found guilty in February 2015 of fraud, child exploitation, rape and first-degree murder. (Photo courtesy of Oxygen), EX-JEHOVAHS WITNESS RECOUNTS SEXUAL ABUSE IN DOC, ORGANIZATION DENIES TRYING TO COVER IT UP. Friday on #Dateline at 9/8c pic.twitter.com/GCQ8EC18Cg, Dateline NBC (@DatelineNBC) August 5, 2020. The group didnt stay there long and within a few months moved to Wichita, Kansas. In August 2003, Trishs death benefit was paid out to her husband Brian. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. She told them how she was made to wait in an office nearby with her the infant daughter of the deceased. She, as per the Dateline episode, was a paralegal in South Carolina, with hopes and ambitions of becoming a lawyer. Once recovered he moved to Corpus Christi, Texas. Kuznetsov (pictured here with followers) reportedly attempted suicide when his doomsday prophecy didn't come true. Congressman Leo Ryan flew into Jonestown to investigate. The cult, based on New Age spiritualism, drew followers in Switzerland, France, and Canada. Authorities found the corpses lying in bunk beds, covered by a purple cloths. There was a sense of urgency since it was getting to the 2 year mark. He, much like the authorities, found it odd that everything Daniel touched turned to ash eventually. Before Trishs death, the group owned two Corvettes and several SUVs. Daniel Perezs cult was motivated by greed, investigators learned. In the beginning, it was like a huge support system and everybody was close, McGrath said. Turns out his real name is Daniel Perez, and people formerly in his cult have since told tales of rape, sexual abuse, and murder. She also said she was the reincarnation of both Jesus Christ and Marilyn Monroe. Sedgwick County/Kansas Department of Corrections. Angels Landing Commune was an innocuous plot of land in a rural area near Wichita, Kansas where a now-convicted rapist and murderer, Daniel Perez, also known as Lou Castro, held power over a cult. The tally includes two Utah men who have died in the last month. Unfortunately, the lab would be unable to get a good print off of anything the detective had collected. The woman, 26-year-old. Investigators would later learn Hughes was collecting millions of dollars in life insurance payouts, and that six deaths ruled as accidents were connected to the cult. (Photo courtesy of Oxygen. ), FORGOTTEN WEST MEMPHIS THREE DOC AIMS TO GIVE VICTIMS OF NOTORIOUS CRIME 'THEIR VOICES BACK, HOST SAYS. [Perez] is either very unlucky,with close friends dying, or he's involved in some way in making it happen, he told producers. or redistributed. He didn't appear to work, and local law enforcement couldntfindapaper trail on the man calling himself Lou Castro.. The Order of the Solar Temple was formed in 1984 by Joseph Di Mambro and Luc Jouret. ", The Messed Up Truth About Cult Leader Daniel Perez. If you wish to learn more about the location where the members of the cult lived, then keep on reading. About every two and a half years, bankaccountbalances would get low in the makeshift family, then someone would die, Goodwyn said. However, on investigating the money trail, the police discovered that he himself had not signed the papers for the property or for the multitude of luxury cars that he owned. Perez told his followers that he needed to have sex with young girls to stay alive. As 2000 approached, the group prepared for the end. In October 2020, a judge sentenced him to 120 years in prison. Casto wasnt single for long as he had met a woman named Mona Griffith who happened to live in the same apartment complex as him at the time. Nettles died of liver cancer in 1985, but Applewhite (seen here) continued to lead the group. | Heavy.com, Watch Dateline: Secrets Uncovered Episode: Angels and Demons NBC.com. I guess he appeared innocent or as someone who cared too much. It's unclear how many members the group still has. It is also the place where he drowned Patricia Hughes to collect on her life insurance money. They asked Lou if he could look at them and tell them if he had seen any of them around. Applewhite plus 38 other people between the ages of 26 and 72 died in three groups over three days. You can survive a traumatic event, she told Fox News. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Joseph Di Mambro's gun was found during the investigation. Perez, now 62, is behind bars at the Lansing Correctional Facility, according to theKansas Sex Offender Registry. He was sentenced to life in prison. I dont think its a very common thing. 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