"Finders, The", cult

From MysteryWiki

"The Finders" cult was a group of American men who sexually abused children in the Washington, D.C. area in the late 1980s.

Background

On 5 February 1987, an inquiry was made from the Tallahassee Police Department, aiming to identify two "well-dressed" males who had been apprehended along with six children which they had been keeping in a van. The individuals were identified as Michael Houlihan and Douglas Ammerman, both hailing from the D.C. area.

Three days later, on 8 February 1987, The Washington Post uncovered records from the U.S. District Court which included a confidential police source who claimed to have been recruited by "a cult" in Washington called the Finders. The source then stated that the recruitment was for "financial reward and sexual gratification" and to "explore satanism." Finally, the source revealed that children were used in the cult's rituals.

Little was known about the rituals, other than the involvement of animal sacrifice, bloodletting, and physical, psychological, and sexual abuse of children. "Brainwashing" was considered a critical component.

Investigation

Authorities found many computers in two different Finders compounds located in Tallahassee and in Glover Park in D.C. The prominent hypothesis was that the cult would subsequently sell the images of the abused children on the child pornography market.

Aftermath

On 3 January 1994, it was reported by U.S. News & World Report that the D.C. police were dropping the case against Michael Houlihan and Douglas Ammerman. The children were to be returned to their parents and, most disturbingly, the police said that the actions of the cult were "eccentric — not illegal."

Some postulated that perhaps Houlihan and Ammerman were connected to the CIA in some capacity, but the leader of the Finders, Marion D. Pettie, came forward to their defense on 4 May 1996. Pettie claimed that the Finders had no ties to satanic ritual abuse or child pornography.

IN 1998, Pettie conducted an interview "explaining" the Tallahassee incident.

External Links

References

  • Allen, Mike. "Clues to Finders Cult Activities Turn up at Remote Madison Farms." The Free Lance-Star [Fredericksburg] 9 Feb. 1987: 10. Print.
  • Anderson, John Ward, and Victoria Churchville. "2 Men Arrested Traveling in Van With 6 Children." The Washington Post 6 Feb. 1987: n. pag. Print.
  • Cawley, Janet. "2 Cult Children Show Signs of Sex Abuse." Chicago Tribune 9 Feb. 1987: n. pag. Print.
  • Nordheimer, Jon. "CULT LINK SEEN IN CASE OF UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN." New York Times 7 Feb. 1987: n. pag. Print.
  • Sherman, Philip. "POLICE SAY UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN IN FLORIDA ARE NOT VICTIMS OF CULT." The New York Times 10 Feb. 1987: n. pag. Print.
  • Witkin, Gordon. "Through a Glass, Very Darkly." U.S. News & World Report Dec.-Jan. 1993-94: n. pag. Print.