Seven indicted in ‘cult’ murder case

A Durham County, North Carolina grand jury has indicted seven people in connection with the deaths of a 5-year-old boy and young woman.

ABC affiliate WTVD in Durham reports:

The remains of Jadon Higganbothan and Antoinetta McKoy were found behind by a plumber working in the backyard of a home in the 2600 block of Ashe Street earlier this month. Their bodies were buried plastic bags.

Four people – alleged cult leader 27-year-old Peter Moses Jr., Higganbothan’s mother 25-year-old Vania Sisk, 40-year-old Lavada Quinzetta Harris and 40-year-old Larhonda Renee Smith – were indicted on murder charges in connection with McKoy’s death.

Moses was also indicted on charges for Higganbothan’s murder. Harris, Sisk and Smith have been indicted on one charge of accessory after the fact in his death.

Three others – 56-year-old Sheilda Evelyn Harris, 21-year-old P. Leonard Moses and 20-year-old Sheila Falisha Moses – were indicted on charges of accessory after the fact in McKoy’s death. […]

In addition to the murder charges, Moses faces charges that were filed in April. Those include one count of second-degree kidnapping, one count of assault by pointing a gun, one count of assault on a female, one count of communicating threats and failure to appear in court.

Peter Moses reportedly led a small polygamous cult affiliated with the Black Hebrews, a religious sect that believes a race war will culminate in blacks’ dominance.

Moses has been held in the Durham County jail since he was arrested April 12, accused of assaulting and kidnapping Zayna Thomas, one of several women who police say lived with him in polygamous relationships.

Thomas told police that Pete Moses Jr. killed Jadon. She also told police that Sisk and Smith beat McKoy as she tried to escape, and then Sisk, on Moses’ order, shot and killed McKoy.

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Religion News Blog posted this on Wednesday June 29, 2011.
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