Tuesday, September 25, 2007
EXCLUSIVE: CULT SURVIVORS SPEAK OUT
Dwight "Malachi" York was a false prophet, a psychotic thug, a con man extraordinaire, and a sexual predator who started a religious cult in rural Georgia. You won't believe how he used his power as a religious leader to deflect scrutiny from his criminal activities. After building a faux Egyptian compound on a 440-acre farm in Putnam county, Georgia, York turned his female followers into concubines and their children into sex slaves. For years state and federal agents feared that York was preparing for a violent confrontation with authorities. However, after almost three decades of escaping the law, York was finally stopped in 2002. Currently, he is in federal prison serving a 135-year sentence for racketeering and transporting minors across state lines for unlawful sexual activity. York's appeals have failed, and while many of his followers have left the compound and are struggling to move on, others maintain his innocence. We'll feature three women who escaped from the cult: Pauline, Nichole, and Sakinah. Pauline had three children with York but would later write the letter that would fire up an investigation into molestation charges. Nichole was brought into the cult by her mother and was later victimized by him. Sakinah has been part of his cult since age 10, and is now fighting for child support from York for her 12-year-old son. We'll hear their shocking stories of how they got out and how they've managed to move on with their lives. We'll also talk to Sgt. Tracey Bowen, a detective who worked closely on the investigation and Bill Osinski, the author of the book Exposing York's Crimes. Renee, a young rape survivor, whose rapist wasn't brought to justice until 11 years after the attack, told police who she suspected of raping her, and yet it still took over a decade later to link him to the crime. Find out how he was finally brought to justice.
Today's Guests
Pauline: She is a former member of Dwight York’s cult
Nichole: She was sexually abused by York’s cult for years
Sakinah: She was able to escape York’s cult a few years ago but has a 12-year-old son with York
Tracey: She was a detective working at the Putnam county police department and recently got promoted to sergeant. Her division led the investigation of Dwight York.
Bill: He is the author of Ungodly: A True Story of Unprecedented Evil, which exposes Dwight York's cult and his crimes
Renee: She was brutally raped at knifepoint in her home



