Six individuals, including two young children, vanished from a home in the St. Louis area in August. Police suspect their disappearance may be linked to a cult led by Rashad Jamal, who is currently serving a prison sentence for child molestation charges. The missing individuals were last seen in Berkeley, Missouri, and their sudden disappearance from family and society has raised concerns about their well-being.
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Rashad Jamal, a convicted child molester, has gained a significant following through his spiritual teachings on social media. Operating under the name “University of Cosmic Intelligence,” Jamal claims to enlighten and illuminate the minds of Black and Latino individuals. Despite being labeled a cult leader, Jamal denies these allegations and maintains his innocence in his child molestation case.
According to PEOPLE, Naaman Williams,29, Gerielle German,26, her three-year-old son Ashton Mitchel, Mikayla Thompson,23, Ma’Kayla Wickerson,25, and her three-year-old daughter Malaiyah lived together in a rented home near St. Louis Lambert International Airport. During their investigation, Berkeley police said that the missing individuals are believed to be followers of Jamal, having even changed their names to honor spiritual deities. They reportedly exhibited behaviors consistent with other cult members, including cutting contact with loved ones, embracing sovereign citizenship, and disconnecting from society.
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The investigation began when Ma’Kayla Wickerson’s mother, Cartisha Morgan, reported her daughter missing in August. Detectives subsequently searched the Berkeley home but found no signs of foul play. Once active and public, the group’s Facebook profiles suddenly ceased all activity. Further investigation revealed that the missing individuals were last seen at a Florissant, Missouri, hotel on August 13. Since then, no one has heard from them.
Berkeley police Major Steve Runge remains optimistic that the missing group will resurface eventually, likely when they run out of resources. He assures the public that the authorities are diligently working on the case and are determined to locate them. Cartisha Morgan, Ma’Kayla Wickerson’s mother, expresses her concerns for her daughter and granddaughter, believing that her daughter’s vulnerability and depression may have made her susceptible to manipulation.
“I’m not doing so well, but I’m just holding on by my faith. I just wish that people are made aware of this,” she explained to the outlet.