11 Dark Documentaries About Crime And Religion

Netflix released the four-part docuseries.Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey.The series premiered June 8, 2022. It examines the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). Interviews with ex-members, investigators, and law enforcement officers show the rise of self-proclaimed prophet Warren Jeffs and the church's dark descent. The documentary shows the systematic sexual and physical abuse of women and children.The documentary shows the systematic sexual and physical abuse of women and children.The documentary shows the systematic sexual and physical abuse of women and children.

The documentary explains what church members believe. Jeffs claimed power after his father, the original FLDS Prophet Rulon Jeffs, died in 2002. FLDS members see their Prophet as a direct line to God, believing the end times are near. This gives the Prophet huge power and influence. Followers also believe adhering to all Prophet’s rules is necessary to be saved and enter God’s kingdom after death. They practice polygamy, which they see as essential for salvation.

Under Jeffs's rule, underage girls began marrying men decades older. Jeffs moved the church headquarters to Short Creek, UT. Followers built a town run entirely by FLDS members there. Jeffs banned teaching science and history in schools and set a strict dress code. He also forbade contact with the outside world.

The documentary interviews women who were child brides. They share their stories and the trauma they still face. The series finale explores Jeffs's partial downfall when he faced arrest for the sexual assault of two underage girls.The sexual assault of two underage girls.Jeffs took these girls, ages 12 and 15, as wives.Despite receiving a life sentence,Jeffs continues communicating with and controlling his followers from prison.

HBO started its five-part docuseries.The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin.The series ran from September 2021 to April 2022. It explores the secretive world of the Remnant Fellowship, a weight-loss-focused religious movement founded by Gwen Shamblin.

The series looks at who Shamblin was and how her organization affected its followers. Shamblin was a Christian businesswoman and dietician. She gained fame through her books and the infamous “Weigh Down Workshop,” which she started in 1986.

The workshop focused on weight loss through prayer. People only ate when their stomachs growled and prayed away cravings. Shamblin's views on religion and diet led her to...found the Remnant Fellowship.in 1999. The church believed weight loss showed spiritual commitment; weight gain meant failure and sin. Shamblin controlled her followers' health and weight. She later shifted focus to controlling their relationships, parenting, finances, and contact with non-church members.

Interviews with former members show Shamblin's followers faced abuse: strict diets, legal trouble for leaving, discrimination, blackmail, and physical and mental harm. The church targeted women and children because Shamblin taught they must obey God and their husbands.

Shamblin instructed parents to use physical violence to force their children to obey. Some say this belief caused the tragic death of 8-year-old Josef Smith in October 2003. Blunt head trauma killed Josef after his parents beat him. Authorities found that...This happened at the church’s command.Joseph and Sonya Smith beat him to “get the Devil out of him,” according to his parents. Recorded calls between Shamblin and Sonya show Shamblin knew the Smiths were abusing their son.

The Smiths received legal defense from the church but got life sentences in 2007. The docuseries includes parts of this recording and judges Shamblin and her church harshly.

The Remnant Fellowship dedicated an entire page on their website in response to the HBO series.They used the page to refute the series's claims.They stated:

Remnant Fellowship denies the absurd, false claims and accusations made in this documentary.

We feel this documentary is another Hollywood and media attack on religion.

May 2021 saw Gwen Shamblin, her husband, and several other high-ranking church members die in a plane crash.Elizabeth Shamblin Hannah, will reportedly take over as church leader.Netflix's limited series

Netflix's limited series.follows the case of 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old JJ Vallow, who vanished in September 2019. Their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, would not tell anyone where the children were while investigators searched for ten months.The series follows 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old JJ Vallow, who vanished in September 2019. Their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, hid where the children were while investigators searched for ten months.

Lori Vallow Daybell had older children, Colby Ryan and Tylee Ryan (pictured), from prior marriages before marrying Charles Vallow in 2006. The couple later adopted Joshua “JJ” Vallow, Charles's biological grand-nephew. Lori and Charles reportedly had a good marriage and blended family until Lori adopted extreme religious beliefs. Lori, a long-time member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, met Chad Daybell in 2018. Daybell wrote many books about an apocalypse and thought he was a prophet. Lori started taking Daybell's extreme ideas, including the idea of 144,000 people left after the doomsday.

Lori and Chad also believed dark spirits could take over people, turning them into “zombies.” They thought killing these people was the only way to save their spirits. In January 2019, Charles told the police about his wife's worries.Lori shared her beliefs.Fearing for Tylee and JJ's safety, Lori allegedly thought her husband was taken by a dark spirit named Nick Schneider. Police noted in their report they found something else.Charles's behavior seemed strange. When police met Lori, she did not appear dangerous to herself or others. They asked her to get a mental health evaluation.Charles filed for divorce in February. He tried contacting Lori's family about her strange behavior but got little reply.

In July, Charles was shot and killed after Charles went to Lori's house to get JJ for school. Lori's brother claimed he shot Charles in self-defense following an argument. Lori tried to get money from Charles's life insurance, but found she was no longer the beneficiary. In October that year, Chad Daybell's wife, Tammy, died mysteriously. She was buried without an autopsy. A month later, Lori and Daybell married in Hawaii.Investigators began looking closer at the couple only after a family member worried about Lori and JJ not contacting anyone. Lori moved her family from Arizona to Idaho to be near Daybell. In November, Idaho police checked on JJ. Lori gave different stories about the boy's location, none of which proved true. Investigators soon realized Tylee and JJ had not been seen since September, so a search started. Lori told friends and family the children were safe and she would never harm them. Their remains surfaced in Chad's backyard in 2020.Going to Lori's house to get JJ for school, Charles was shot and killed. Lori's brother claimed he shot Charles in self-defense after an argument. Lori tried to get money from Charles's life insurance, but she found she wasn't the beneficiary. In October that year, Chad Daybell's wife, Tammy, died mysteriously. They buried her without an autopsy. A month later, Lori and Daybell married in Hawaii.

A family member worried about Lori and JJ's lack of contact, so investigators started looking closer at the couple. Lori moved her family from Arizona to Idaho to be near Daybell. In November, Idaho police checked on JJ. Lori gave different stories about where the boy was; none were true. Investigators later saw Tylee and JJ hadn't been seen since September, so a search began. Lori told friends and family the children were safe and she would never harm them. Their remains were found in Chad's backyard in 2020.

Lori and Daybell face murder charges for Tylee and JJ. Daybell also faces homicide charges for Tammy's death. Lori faces conspiracy to commit murder in both Tammy's and Charles's cases. Lori was first found unfit to stand trial. Now, she is mentally fit, and her trial starts in January 2023.

Eventually, women who suffered horrific sexual abuse at the hands of the school's chaplain, Father Joseph Maskell, shared their stories in the series.The series debuted on Netflix in 2017.Interviews and reenactments show the unsolved murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik. She was a 26-year-old teacher at Archbishop Keough High School in Baltimore, MD. Sister Cesnik disappeared in November 1969. Her body surfaced in the woods in January 1970.

The investigation into this murder quickly shifts focus. The series examines why Sister Cesnik was killed. It asks if her murder fit into a larger cover-up by the Catholic church. The series questions the church and the justice system, which seem focused on keeping Sister Cesnik's murder unsolved.

Eventually, women who sufferedhorrific sexual abusewomen spoke about the abuse by the school's chaplain, Father Joseph Maskell, in the series. The prevailing theory suggests Sister Cesnik's murder stemmed from a sinister cover-up.The documentary aims to expose sexual abuses.Father Maskell perpetrated these abuses.

Father Maskell remains a mystery. Few people know who he was or what he did before becoming a chaplain in Baltimore. The Archdiocese of Baltimore refused to release any information.They have no information on him.Series director Ryan White shared what they know:

We focused mostly on parts of Maskell’s character. He had a long career before and after Keough. A predator keeps abusing; people from his career and Keough came out of the woodwork.

Father Maskell died in 2001. No one ever prosecuted or brought him to justice for his alleged crimes.The KeepersHis impact was significant. While the documentary shows six survivors, White spoke to nearly 40 people. Hundreds of survivors have contacted him to share their stories..

The Baltimore PD released an online form.People can report offenses related to the series using this form. An online petition demanding information on Father Maskell gathered thousands of signatures. The documentary shows the deep scars from sexual abuse.

Released in 2015,Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of BeliefThis film exposes the Church of Scientology's abuses.

Interviews with eight former high-ranking Scientologists break down recruitment. The film covers the church's history, founder L. Ron Hubbard, and member abuses. It also shows the church using celebrities to attract followers. The church’s huge funds make it a major force.

Abuses shown in the film include blackmail, extortion, physical beatings, and severe mental abuse. They claim the church makes those who can pay money do so, while those who cannot provide labor do instead. Some claim the church runs a prison camp called "The HoleThis is an alleged place where people who cross Scientology’s leader, David Miscavige, are punished—sometimes for years.

The film also discusses theRehabilitation Project Force (RPF), another prison camp created by Hubbard. The Church of Scientology sends anyone critical of their beliefs, practices, or methods here. Those involved in RPF say menial labor "de-stresses" followers unsure of the church’s actions. The film touches on forced abortions, family separations, and tax evasion.

The churchresponded to the documentary by letter., which refutes all the film's claims. The letter starts by stating:

This film adds more falsehoods, errors, embellished tales, and omissions in two hours than any other.Rolling Stone covers 'Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief' in the list '11 Dark Documentaries About Crime And Religion'.Brian Williams and Bill O’Reilly combined produce this. Our calculation shows the film includes at least one major error every two minutes.

David Miscavige still leads the Church of Scientology.

Netflix released 'Jacoba Ballard, One Of The 90+ Children Of The 'Our Father' Fertility Doctor, Believes He Associated With The Quiverfull Movement'.Jacoba Ballard, one of 90+ children of the 'Our Father' fertility doctor, believes he associated with the Quiverfull Movement.released in May 2022. The documentary examines Dr. Donald Cline, a fertility specialist from Indiana who used his own sperm to artificially inseminate women without their knowledge. The film tracks Jacoba Ballard and her siblings; they all took a DNA test and found they had many half-siblings.

As the number of people sharing Cline’s DNA grows in the film, the siblings share the emotional pain from finding out who fathered them. Women who sought help from Dr. Cline often thought the sperm used in the procedure came from donors.Donors provided the sperm.Some women had husbands who gave samples for pregnancy attempts. Even then, Dr. Cline used his own sperm. The film asks why. Why did Dr. Cline do this?

One theory the film suggests is that Dr. Cline islinked to the Quiverfull MovementThe documentary shows Dr. Cline is very religious. He repeats Jeremiah 1:5, a Bible verse.A Bible verse.The Quiverfull Movement uses the quote: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Quiverfull opposes birth control and wants followers to have many children. They believe these children will spread Christianity. They also fear the white race vanishing, so they focus on making large, white families.

Dr. Cline’s actions might seem wrong morally and ethically, but his actions were in a legal gray area. The film explains why and shows current justice system issues regarding sexual assault and battery in Indiana.Indiana has since passed a lawprotecting couples from fertility fraud, but most states lack this law.

Dr. Cline’s church, where he was an elder when the film came out, responded by saying Cline admitted to them he acted unethically, but they did not know the full scope of his actions. They have sinceremoved him from his elder position.Cline lost his medical license but remains free and lives in Indiana.

'Children of God' unravels how an extreme teen youth group led to a cult of child abuse.was released in 1994. The documentary looks at the Children of God cult (also called the Family International) that sexually exploited children for decades. The film follows Sylvia Padilla and her family, whowere members of the cult for 18 years.

Padilla shares her move from England to South America to live with the cult. Children of God members believed the end of days approached. Following David Berg's teachings was the only path to salvation. The group started as a youth group preaching and singing songs for Jesus. Then, Berg changed the group's focus. He started promoting sex between all members, even minors.

Padilla details the belief systems and the abuses the group used.The group subjected Padilla and her family to these beliefs. Her family faced emotional, sexual, and physical abuse. Padilla lost a child because of the group's extreme views. The cult taught that taking any medicine showed weakness. One of Padilla’s daughters, Shuly, got lupus as a teenager and needed medicine. When Shuly sought guidance from Berg, Berg claimed God was punishing her. Shuly and her parents agreed she should stop taking her medication. This led to her death.The group subjected Padilla and her family to emotional, sexual, and physical abuse. The group's extreme beliefs caused Padilla to lose a child. The cult taught that taking any medication showed weakness. Padilla's daughter, Shuly, was diagnosed with lupus as a teenager and needed medication. When Shuly sought guidance from Berg, Berg told her God was punishing her. Shuly and her parents agreed to stop her medication, which caused her death.

The Family International remains active today, though in small numbers. The group is known as the Family International.Netflix released "Abducted in Plain Sight" in 2019. The documentary follows Jan Broberg, a child kidnapped twice by the same man. It shows the events of her kidnappings through interviews with Broberg and her family.The film starts by showing how Broberg and her kidnapper, Robert Berchtold ("B"), knew each other. Both families were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and attended the same church in Pocatello, ID. The religion tells members to see each other as family.

The group still operates today, though in small numbers. People know it as the Family International.

Netflix releasedAbducted in Plain Sight The 2019 documentary follows Jan Broberg, a child kidnapped twice by the same man. The film examines the kidnapping events through interviews with Broberg and her family members.

The documentary starts by showing how Broberg and her kidnapper, Robert Berchtold (also called “B”), knew each other. Both families belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and attended the same place of worship in Pocatello, ID. The religion asks members tosee each other as family., a detail that allegedly let Broberg’s parents feel comfortable letting B near their daughter.

B first abducted Broberg when she was 12. B convinced Broberg she had to have children with him to save humanity from aliens. The Broberg family did not contact the police and even forgave B after the first kidnapping. The second time B took Broberg, she was 14. B sexually assaulted Broberg many times on both occasions. The documentary also shows Jan was not the only victim.

The film shows how much trust LDS members expect from fellow church members. This practice leaves people like Broberg and her family open to predators like B.B died by suicide in 2005.B was found guilty of raping another child.

Wild Wild CountryThis documentary shows the Rajneeshpuram community's fight against Antelope, OR residents and the federal government. The series interviews former Rajneeshees, Antelope residents, and police officers.It also interviews Ma Anand Sheela.Ma Anand Sheela was a Rajneeshee leader. She often served as the group's face and managed the purchase of the land for their commune.

Rajneeshees followed Bhagwan Sri Rajneesh, an Indian guru. He created a vision of utopia where followers could live together in spiritual peace and still gain wealth. The series tracks the group's move to a 60,000-acre ranch near Antelope, OR, and the fight that followed.

Conservative townsfolk did not welcome the Rajneeshees taking over their town. The Rajneeshees lived by open sex, nudism, constant parties, and building wealth toward enlightenment. They all wore only red or orange clothing.Only red or orange clothing marked the Rajneeshees.Wild Wild Country appears in the list of 11 Dark Documentaries About Crime And Religion.

The series shows the criminal acts the Rajneeshees committed while building and defending their ideal society. Conservative townsfolk contacted the government, starting a fight for the town. The situation worsened when the Rajneeshees moved thousands into the area to vote for Rajneeshees into local government. The county denied these people the right to vote. The Rajneeshees then attacked over 750 townspeople with Salmonella poisoning. They also attempted assassinations and got many weapons to scare and fight the townsfolk.

Holy Hell is one of the 11 Dark Documentaries About Crime And Religion.Will Allen created Holy Hell.Will Allen is an ex-Buddhafield member. He left the group after 22 years of involvement. Allen filmed the documentary using interviews and footage shot by him, the group's official documentation and propaganda minister.

The film follows Allen's story andhow he got involved with Buddhafield.Buddhafield is a religious group Michel Rostand (also known as Jaime Gomez and Andreas) started in the 1980s in West Hollywood, CA. Rostand promised his followers unconditional love and no judgment, believing he had a direct link to God. He moved the group to Austin, TX, and later to Oahu, HI, as it started to fail.

Rostand promised salvation through isolation, meditation, and therapy sessions. These sessions turned out to be fronts for sexual exploitation. Allen’s footage looks good at first, but as the film moves on, Rostand's total control over his followers and his cruel treatment becomes clear.

The documentary targets Rostand's power abuses. Allen aimed to show the cult and push those still in it to leave.Allen said something about Holy Hell.

People are already leaving. Only a few devoted people still support him.

Overall, the documentary shows Rostand and his abuses but also reveals the human need to feel loved.

Heaven’s Gate: Cult of Cults This film shows the tragic end of followers of a cult mixing alien and Jesus beliefs. This cult caused the largest mass suicide on US soil.

Interviews and reenactments build the story: the cult's start, its power grab, and its collapse. Heaven’s Gate wasMarshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles founded the group.Applewhite and Nettles met as patients in a psychiatric institution, one a music professor and the other a nurse. Nettles died in the '80s, but Applewhite kept leading the group.

The group stayed hidden, so the internet became a major tool. Members used the internet to earn money and find new recruits. They thought God was an alien. They believed the end times were near. Applewhite was the second coming of Jesus Christ. They left their families. They gave the cult all their money. They rejected all sex. They followed starvation diets.

These beliefs peaked in March 1997. The Hale-Bopp comet came close to Earth. Applewhite and his followers thought an alien spacecraft trailed the comet. Thirty-nineCult members ended their own lives.This happened in Rancho Santa Fe, CA..Authorities found the dead members dressed in black track suits and black Nikes. Investigators found they had eaten apple sauce laced with barbiturates and drunk vodka. Then, they lay down in their beds, put plastic bags over their faces, and covered their bodies with large, purple cloths. They did this believing their souls would go to the spacecraft carrying them to a new home. The mass suicide spanned three days; groups of members helped others die.

Their website is still active today. Survivors of the mass suicide allegedly run it.They have said:

[We do this] to give the information to people interested in learning about it. This plants seeds for the future so people can learn the Next Level ways and get ready for a return.

John of God: The Crimes of a Spiritual Healer This film shows a celebrity faith healer in Brazil sexually abusing many women. The documentary interviews women who both support and criticize him, and it shows the healer's rise and fall.

John of God's real name is João Teixeira de Faria. He built a spiritual healing center in Abadiânia, Brazil, and gained global fame when Oprah visited him in 2012. The film shows footage of his meetings with celebrities and his 'healing' ceremonies with followers. Faria claimed to be a spiritual healer and a psychic surgeon who could perform complex operations on followersusing only his mind and a scalpel.to make shallow cuts.

The documentary starts with stories from followers claiming Faria healed them and their family. The story shifts when women report Faria often groped and fondled them during healing rituals. He then asked female followers to meet him privately, where he would threaten and sexually assault them. Women from around the world sought him out, leading to him havingVictims spanned multiple countries..

Faria turned himself in to authorities in December 2018 andHe was convicted of rape in 2019.. He received a 19-year prison sentence, but some followers still believe in his healing power.