The Lionel Tate case is a notable legal case in the United States, that received significant media attention due to Tate being one of the youngest Americans ever charged with first-degree murder. In 2001, when he was 14, Tate was convicted for the murder of six-year-old Tiffany Eunick in Florida. His story serves as an … Read more
Early Life and Formation of the Cult Natasha Cornett grew up in a troubled home in rural Kentucky. She became fascinated with Goth culture and the occult, eventually attracting a group of like-minded individuals. Together, they formed what some have termed a “cult,” although its organizational structure was loose. Dr. Robert J. Lifton, a psychiatrist … Read more
Origins and Formation: Late 1980s – Early 1990s Chris Turgeon emerged in the late 1980s as a charismatic figure with strong religious convictions. By the early 1990s, he had amassed a group of followers, eventually formalizing them into a cult named The Gatekeepers. “Charismatic leaders like Turgeon often exploit vulnerabilities to lure people into their … Read more
Early Life and Transformation into a Cult Leader: 1950s-1980s Roland Robidoux was born into a middle-class family in the early 1950s. The seeds of his transformation began with his increasing disenchantment with mainstream religion in the 1970s. By the early 1980s, he had formed a study group focused on Bible studies, setting the stage for … Read more
A Star-Studded Life Natalie Wood, born Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko, was a Hollywood star from a young age, achieving fame with movies like “Miracle on 34th Street,” “West Side Story,” and “Splendor in the Grass.” Author Suzanne Finstad, in her biography of Wood, observes, “She was not just an actress; she was an American icon, a … Read more
The Unassuming Beginning Wayne Clifford Boden was born in 1948, in Dundas, Ontario, Canada. On the surface, Boden appeared to be a well-adjusted individual, attractive and charismatic. His persona successfully hid a dark, sadistic side. “Underneath his pleasant exterior lay a monster, waiting for the opportunity to strike.” – ‘Predators: Who They Are and How … Read more
Early Life and Warning Signs Born in Kirkwood, Illinois, in 1941, Richard Speck lived in a dysfunctional household. His early encounters with crime and delinquency were signs of things to come. Dr. Sarah Stone, writing in “Archives of Criminal Psychology,” stated, “Speck was a textbook example of someone prone to antisocial and eventually malignant behavior. … Read more
The Early Years: A Blueprint for Chaos Peter Thomas Anthony Manuel was born in 1927 in New York City to Scottish parents. His family moved back to Scotland when he was five. Noted psychiatrist Dr. Ronald Blackburn, in his book “Paths to Destruction,” mentions, “Manuel’s early years were indicative of an individual with a lack … Read more
Early Life and Military Service Born in 1937 in Stettin, Heinrich Pommerencke grew up against the backdrop of World War II and its aftermath. Dr. Udo Undeutsch, a renowned criminologist, in his paper “Criminal Minds of Post-War Germany” states, “Pommerencke’s formative years were marred by societal disarray and a crumbling family structure, fertile ground for … Read more
Early Life and Formative Years Earle Leonard Nelson, born in 1897 in San Francisco, was an American serial killer. His troubled upbringing, marked by a series of foster homes and mental institutions, set the stage for his criminal future. Noted criminologist Dr. David Wilson in his book “Predators: The Mind of a Serial Killer” writes, … Read more