Barn of Kirtland Cult Killings Purchased and Torn Down

KIRTLAND, Ohio — The barn where cult leader Jeffrey Lundgren killed and buried an entire family was torn down Tuesday after the property was bought by a church.

Fox 8’s Belinda Prinz reports that New Promise Church in Lake County purchased the 14 acres of land for $350,000.

Lundgren was convicted of murdering Dennis and Cheryl Avery and their three daughters back in 1989. Their bodies were discovered in January of 1990 — buried in the Kirtland barn.

The cult leader claimed he had divine orders to kill the Avery family because they were sinful. Police argue the prophet act was a front so he could take his followers money.

Lundgren proclaimed that he would escape the death penalty.

Back in 1990, he told reporters, “I don’t expect to it, no. I’m not trying to escape reality, that’s what I understand the scriptures to say and therein lies my faith.”

Lundgren was executed October 24, 2006.

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