VIDEO
It’s official. The self-described Messiah who proclaimed that he would fast until death, if sent to prison, is now eating while behind bars.
Roughly 30-minutes ago, KOB-Investigative reporter Jeremy Jojola learned of this latest development in the Wayne Bent case while opening an e-mail from a prison spokesperson. A few minutes later, Beyond90Seconds.com conducted a video interview with Jojola as he sat at his desk in the KOB-TV newsroom:
POLL CLOSED
Because Wayne Bent has ended his fast, Beyond90Seconds.com has closed its recent poll asking, “How long will Wayne Bent’s fast last?” The poll was posted December 31, 2008 at 10:26pm PST. The results can be found here.
“Fairness” in our legal system would also be that Wayne Bent would not have been legally protected to get away with what he has for so long in the first place. It’s hard to have sympathy or see injustice in this when you consider the whole story. Have you not read the stories of all the hurt people, broken relationships, and ruined lives that this man has left in his wake? Has he ever shown even the slightest bit of remorse? Not a good example to hold up to advocate for positive change in our legal system IMO.
Sam,
Ambassador to fairness? This requires a huge assumption don’t you think? You are claiming to judge fair over or better than twelve jurors and a judge complying with legal sentencing guidelines. That’s quite an ego trip!
KM –
Now I know why I liked that guy…
Go read my blog post, titled, “Manhattan Catacombs,” about my own weed experiences (also appears on the New York Times online).
http://samredman.wordpress.com/2009/01/09/the-manhattan-catacombs/
I think you might find my strange comparison quite entertaining… how smokin’ a “doobie” could actually be very much a “religous” experience.
(that old “do unto others” bit).
— Sam and all you other howling mobsters
How about (that old “roll a stone and you can be sure it will roll back on you” bit). As has been pointed out here and ample other sites, and I might add by a jury of peers in this particular WB instance, very serious and criminal activities have taken place at the various religious communities of WB and LOR. Many that you evidently are not aware of, were committed by people (some are current members) other than WB. Everything that has happened is due to their own activities and some of them are getting a free pass so far. Every one of them (current members) had to consent to this episode, they all were contributors to the delinquincy of minors and accomplices in whatever degree of sexual misconduct that took place. They put the whole thing on the world wide web, which in itself and even by New Mexico standards (advocating sexual consumation of minors) is a crime. Until there is an acknowledgement of the crime there can be no leniency and no expectation by the beast(authorities) of any rehabilatation. The truth is they all need to undergo sexual abuse counseling and education just like everyone else who has been involved in a sexual abuse incident, and been forced to participate and also made to pay out of their own pocket whether they could afford it or not and no matter how far they lived from anyplace.
Now some of you want to contribute to a noble cause, forget the con job, it is my understanding that these people have access to millions of dollars, ironicly from three of the principal young players family inheritance. Instead how about contacting the girls from New York on DR Phil’s show and see if there is any thing financially they could use to help get Esther out of there before she expires. That Wayne would let this go on, all to prove his lack of control, is absurd. Any of the upper echelon could stop it if they would. How about trying to help gain control of estates that are being squandered and manipulated by hucksters to the detriment of family members whose only offense is not wanting to be under the control of master manipulators. If you want to be beneficent, this whole thing is strewn with tradgedy, surely you can find a worthy cause other then support for the perpetrator, at least until he is willing to repent.
Concerning Wendy and Jeff. Rest assured that their marriage was over before the consumation, you all can believe them on that.
What’s their nonprofit status?
What’s the situation on the non-profit situation for Wayne Bent’s Strong City compound (or their religion)?
I found this (on the GuideStar.org and other similar nonprofit database sites):
Can anyone find anything else? Is this how they claim to be a non-profit? Where is the trust? Is it part of this or is that just a “blind” privately owned trust? Is there another non-profit entity? Are contributions for the appeal tax-deductible and is this where they go? I didn’t receive a receipt for the contribution I made (except from paypal, but it wasn’t really specific, other than the email address sent to). I hope that for their sake everything is in order with the IRS on their tax status. I would hate for them to be involved in yet another criminal indictment (some people on the internet can be rather snoopy). I know am certainly curious.
It would be interesting if Mark Horner could interview their new Albuquerque attorney, John A McCall. Lots of questions come to mind.
— Sam (aka “howling monster”)
You know, I don’t have a problem with someone seeking an appeal or getting a fair trial. And I too feel that WB’s sentence is too long for his crime.
I’m sorry but I really do feel that by donating to WB’s cause, I would be accomplice to his beliefs and actions. I feel no need to provide WB with more money than he already has. I feel no need to be a participant in getting him back home. I’m a sucker for families too, but I’m more of a sucker for families who live with honor, and not a need to molest little girls, break the law, advertise it on the internet or on tv, then snub the court and act like an arrogant person instead of simply admitting wrong. WB will not admit he did anything wrong, because he will never ever believe he did.
I feel slightly nauseated that anyone would want to help him get out of prison, just so he can get back home and continue his teachings about why it’s ok to lay with naked girls, etc.
We haven’t even shined a light on the other people involved in this. WB wasn’t the only one who worked to groom these girls into taking off their clothes, many other women it appears such as Hanifa and Amaiah encouraged their own daughters to be molested and used.
There are alot of crimes yet that haven’t been addressed in SC.
“A 67 year old man poses no threat to society as a whole”
No, just to the people who live in SC. The mental abuse and mind control has gone on for so long, will there be any hope of these people healing? Esther is starving herself for this man.
I don’t think it makes me a “hater” because I don’t feel a burning need to help WB. I have disgust for child molestors. I would be thrilled if an investigation were opened up on the women too. They have gotten away with abusing their daughters and subjecting them to sexual abuse.
Stephanie,
I do not see you as a hater at all. I have no problem with anyone that does not want to help with Wayne’s appeal. People always need to follow their own conscience, that is what guides me. I am more involved in these cases, as a follower of the Justice System than the personal issues of the case. I also find this case so very different than any I have followed before and there are many different aspects of it all that are very sad and ongoing. I feel drawn in and all that have suffered have my full support.
And I apologize for even using Wayne’s age in my post. Any aged person can be a concern. Using his age was more as an adjective, nothing more. I still feel because of his isolated circumstances he poses little threat to 99.9% of society. And “house arrest,” would have been adequate for his crimes. But that is just my personal opinion, one it will be interesting to follow as to whether it serves as grounds for appeal … his sentence not being proportionate to his crimes. Only time will tell about all that.
Actually Jan, according to what he was charged with and what the jury subsequently found him guilty of, the sentence was within the legal limits of the sentencing guidelines.
NEW MEXICO STATUTES AND COURT RULES
31-18-15. Sentencing authority; noncapital felonies; basic sentences and fines;
(5) for a second degree felony for a sexual offense against a child, fifteen years imprisonment;
This next section gives the judge leeway in deciding the length, type of sentence, fines, etc.:
31-18-15.1. Alteration of basic sentence; mitigating or aggravating circumstances; procedure.
A. The court shall hold a sentencing hearing to determine if mitigating or aggravating circumstances exist and take whatever evidence or statements it deems will aid it in reaching a decision. The court may alter the basic sentence as prescribed in Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978 upon “a finding by the judge of any mitigating or aggravating circumstances surrounding the offense or concerning the offender”.
For the one count of Criminal Sexual contact of a minor, the minimum is 3 years and the max is 15 years. Then there were the other two charges which I believe the judge said would run concurrently for 18 months each. Add that up and it’s 18 years. The judge then suspended 8 years (reason still unknown).
While it does seem disproportionate when compared to the sentence the Coach received, both Judges had the ultimate decision on their particular case. I doubt that the judges were on the phone that morning saying “well, I’m going to sentence this way…blah, blah, blah”.
It seems that Judge Baca found some circumstances existed that made for a longer sentence. Maybe the diatribes WB wrote damning the judge and everyone else, or the fasting or not showing up for court had something to do with it. Maybe his knowledge of SC and the massive amounts of essays and videos available on the internet caused him to feel like a harsher sentence was called for. And as the Judge he’s allowed to consider those types of things. Personally, if I were the judge and had put up with the shenanigans of WB for 6 months I might have felt inclined to throw the book at him. I doubt I would have taken 8 years off either!
But, I’m not the judge (nor would I want to be) and I haven’t seen a transcript so it’s really only speculation. The facts we know are that the case was tried in front of a jury of his peers (not his followers – that’s not what “jury of your peers” means) and In the end the jury spoke, the judge sentenced and WB is incarcerated. Whether an appeal will be successful is an expensive dice roll.
As far as Sarah Montoya, I think she did a good job representing an extremely difficult client. He wasn’t exactly the model, cooperative “I’m sorry, your Honor” type. She was successful in her motions to recuse 2 judges and in obtaining a change of venue. She was very diligent in filing everything possible to help her client even though he threw curve balls many times along the way.
I found an interesting article from 2006 in Time magazine called
“Why to Fear a Jury of Your Peers.
It would make me think twice if I ever had the misfortune of being on trial!
‘And “house arrest,” would have been adequate for his crimes.’
I think he should have been ordered to mandatory psychiatric evaluation and therapy in conjunction with a 6 month jail sentence and 5 years probation.
I’m not in favor of sending him to prison for 10 years, as a follower of the justice system myself, but then again I can look back and see what steps WB and his followers took, that landed him where he is now.
As KM wrote, it did not bode well for them to put up rants on their blog, and call the DA names, etc.
After all of this erratic behavior, their arrogance in the situation and unwillingness to admit wrong doing, what could any of them have expected out of this?
For those of you who feel the sentencing was wrong, what sentence would you see as fair? Several seem to indicate that probation is the way to go. Why? Because his age is 67, does this make him less likely to offend again? Explain that one to me…
What is a “just” sentence for any person convicted of two counts of delinquency and one count of sexual contact?
I think he was wrong for what he did. I think he is entitled to an appeal. I hope the appeals court increases his sentence.
Stephanie I agree completely with your post. When we were awaiting the sentence I posted how I felt Wayne definitely needed to be evaluated by psychiatrists. His actions and his writings would seem to be a cry out for help. I wish the State had seen it that way. Your sentence too 6 month jail sentence and 5 years probation would have seemed more appropriate. I do realize though as KM posted that the sentence Wayne did receive was well within the legal standards. Should be interesting to see what comes of the appeal, if in fact there is one, or the funds to mount one.
Has anyone heard whether Esther is still fasting, or did God tell her to eat?
If not, I don’t think she’d be with us any longer.
You just can’t trust what is said coming from them so why bother asking!
Whats the states CC&R’s, for lack of better wording!
anyway…when someone dies, is it mandatory a coroner be called to investigate the death?
If so do they remove the body, for autopsy to find the cause of death…
OR can they do as in good old days…wrap’em, plant’em, pray’em, cover’em….amen’ em!?
What are the laws for a death of young person not under doctors care?
If she’s one of the virgins who poured out one of the plagues….doesn’t her death kind of mess up the plans now?
Has the Sheriff gone out for a welfare check?
Don’t get excited people! I mean check on her welfare!
Spreading the “good” news
Just when I thought there was nothing more which might be interesting to discuss (at least right now) about the strange saga of Wayne Bent and his peculiar circumstances … I saw this “comment” posted on the strongcity.info site, an email from a non-follower, curious about the “religion” of the self-appointed messiah, “Michael Travesser.”
From the strongcity site:
I’ll be interested to see how this is answered… because, it does raise a very interesting point, which has been largely overlooked in discussions I have seen and actually reveals (or calls attention to) a very comical part about these people sequestered self-righteously remotely in their secluded compound (not even lifting a finger to help anyone, but themselves).
The reason they aren’t spreading the “good news” of Michael Travesser is because he has said that only those few loyal followers living out there on the “land” (and perhaps the two or three more out in the world, who are still sending in their “tithes”) have any hope of salvation. His philosophy is that after October 31, 2007… that was it, as far as redemption. Here you can see Bent’s zany graphic explaining the date that any hope for salvation was lost:
http://www.strongcity2.info/images/header/prophecy1.gif
The writings of Wayne Bent
But, you can only read all about about his religion and how everyone is doomed now in an archived collection of his writings (the originals; he removed those from the web… not wanting the public to, any longer, have his “message” available to them). Ironically, we are the only ones left who are “spreading the news” from “Michael Travesser.” Check it out here:
http://strongcity2.info (click on the “archives” tab). Also, click there on the “legal” tab, to get more of a picture about the real “news” he was trying to “spread” among the nubile young women of the camp.
You can read in those archives how the world (well, according to Wayne Bent) is doomed to eternal destruction and (after October 2007) no matter what anyone did (or does) or believes there is no hope. So, the group out there is just sitting there smugly as the only ones going to make the trip (in fact, they might just be “translated” right out of there at any moment), but they don’t mind asking the rest of the sorry lot of the condemned masses for help in trying to get their leader (oh, sorry, they testified in court that he isn’t the leader) back into their pleasant world of material comfort.
About what “Johnny” queried… “Why is nothing being done to share the news of Michael Travesser?” It’s because the “news” he is bringing is that it’s already over for everyone. Probably, because it would be impossible to build a movement around a message of hopelessness? Someone in another forum asked, “What kind of God would limit salvation to just 50 people?” Maybe the explanation may be that such would be characteristic of the “god” Bent worships… one who commanded his representative on earth, a wrinkly old codger in his late sixties, to convince innocent, virginal young women to have sex with him and then to become his exclusive concubines.
Yeah… that “god.”
— Sam
Here’s the type of people who follow and agree with those of Strong City…this was posted on SC website.
The only people I see who support them write things like this guy did.
Was in response to WB claiming he’s perfect, doesn’t sin and only satisfy’s his “flesh or lay naked with the youths UNLESS at gods urging!
Maybe is same god that urges this guy to do “stuff”.
Wild Beggar
4. December 27th at 1:32 AM
I hope Michael is not disappointed, that no pervert will post here. Prudence Welch called me a pervert, but I know what a pervert is, I am not one of them. But to tell the truth, although I believe Michael, I could be considered a pervert in this quote;
A perverted soul will smoke or drink alcohol. A perverted soul will sneak around the Internet looking at nasty pictures. A perverted soul will imagine all kinds of evil about me, because they are themselves evil. A perverted soul will hate his enemies or think evil thoughts. A perverted soul needs to satisfy his sexual urges. A perverted soul is impatient on occasion, resentful, or sometimes angry. So please tell me non-perverted, I would like to know how you live.
I smoke several things, I visit porn websites sometimes, I imagine things about Prophecy that could happen, I love my enemies, because I love to kill them, I need to masturbate a lot, but I´m not impatient.
(I wonder what he means by that, not impatient?)
So only one of this description does not apply to me. Still I do not call myself a pervert, because I hurt no one. All things I do, that could be considered a sin, I do only to my body. Love is the thing the soul needs, in whatever form or shape it comes.
I believe I have no sin. Because Michael said so. I believe Michael, so I have no sin. Occam’s Razor works for me. I have no sin, because all these things have a purpose in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Holiness of Michael is visible to me. I see a Holy Man by the respect that is given by the Realm of Heaven, a humble one. Messianic promise has fulfilled my life. I can be happy having nothing, not even control over my body. No control over my life, so about all Christians can say of me that I am not Biblical. I love that.
I also have love to Aboriginals.
I have love to the Real Americans.
Little love to Native Europeans also.
Love to animals and love to Travesser Family.
The Love of God is everthing.
I am afraid that Johnny Landell will be waiting a very long time for a response, because as I have viewed this case these people from Strong City seem to follow the dictates of their leader and never answer direct questions that are asked of them. Johnny did have a valid point though and I would challenge Jeff or whoever is in charge now to post an explanation. And if the belief’s of Michael Travesser are so wonderful, why would they not be spread through the world for all to have that same opportunity to share and rejoice in?
The way I view this, through all I have read of their supposed teachings is that this is a very select group of about 50 or so that will be moving on to Heaven at some point. The rest of us poor sinners, and that is I would imagine all the rest of the entire WORLD will not. If this is indeed their reasoning then I would imagine that is why their gospel is not heard outside of that approximate 350 acre stretch in New Mexico.
What kind of religion is this? I cannot imagine that the God I have always been taught to believe in would ever allow such a happening. I honestly think there needs to be a response on that Strong City website about this. But alas I am not expecting a response because I have seen over and over them being asked direct questions and all they do is dodge and weave and avoid the tough answers.
I have seen several very concerned people ask about the health of Esther as she would be in about the 22 day of her “fast,” now if in fact she is still either fasting or alive. I see so many people concerned for her welfare and the welfare of others but I see no response from these people. What kind of place is this that supposedly God has blessed only those 50 people with no concern for anyone else and no responsibility to even communicate with the outside world?
Oh but when they ask for our help, then it is ok to communicate? Perhaps Jeff if you answered directly a few of your critics and responded to a few of these questions many of us have you might get a little more support for your father’s plight. Hey, just a suggestion, one you can ponder as I still continue to ponder how I am going to make it to Heaven since I am not living in the chosen blessed land called Strong City.
Maybe should drop a coin in the machine to get an answer…no doubt will be a “pre’addressed” answer, or they’re waiting for mr bent to ATQ=answer the questions!
Like old saying goes…MONEY TALKS!
OK…how bout this…I’LL donate a whole bunch of money if they give us a detailed update by ESTHER herself!…and if she’s too critically weak, then I want to hear from her mother!…backed up with video docu of Esthers condition…fair is fair!
Sadly it is now posted on the Strong City website by
Esther’s mother, Hanifa Travesser that her daughter’s fast continues. She states the following:
———-
I wanted you all to know that since December 30, 2008, twenty-four days ago, Esther has not taken any food in liquid or solid form, and she continues to waste away. Each passing day finds her weaker, and now, at times, with hardly the strength to stand.
———–
She apparently has sent a letter to the District Attorney’s office letting them know her daughter’s condition and why it is basically their fault because of Wayne’s verdict and sentence.
What a very sad state of affairs this is. I cannot imagine ever letting my daughter die for anyone, let alone Mr. Bent.
I guess she read what I wrote about donating a bunch of money for information…but I wrote, Backed up by video documentation!
I wouldn’t trust their word one bit, they lie about everything. So their words mean NOTHING to all of us!
GabLIER lied on the witness stand when asked if WB was their leader. He said NO…that they’re all leaders.
But a few days earlier on a video they made, GabLIERs own words stated that WB was their leader and had been for years.
A lie is a lie, whether small or large, its deceiving!
And my bible states that Lying/deceiving is a sin!
What this tells everyone= these people will lie about anything and everything. Their word cannot be trusted!
This is PROOF that they are NOT of God.
In a few years from now, Haffnia will wake up from this “spell” she is under…Yes, its a full blown spell from satan himself about everything done there in Strong City.
When they wake up from this spell, they will lament and regret like non other, about their loved one dying for this “mans” cause.
Mr WayBent will go on living and making his new life in prison and one by one the people of SC will wake up to the fact they’ve been deceived by satan/waybent.
GabLIER will be first one to leave after he tries to overtake leadership at SC, but they will oust him for lying on the witness stand. They are NOT happy with him right now because his lying testimony was a major factor the jury was convinced they were all willing to lie for their leader! GabLIER did untold damage!
This girl will loose her salvation because she allowed satan to delude her and then committed suicide by starvation. Not feeding your body IS suicide!
You notice that Haffnia isn’t fasting unto death for mr WayBent! No! But she’s urging her daughter.
What LOVING mother would allow their flesh and blood to die? For any cause? What good will her death bring?
She should trade places and die in her daughters place if she truly believes in mr WayBent.
Now THAT would be true love!
If this continues, Esther will be dead by end of next week. Then things will really “blow up” there in SC.
But it won’t get Mr WayBents “job” done and he will learn his manipulation game didn’t work. Next ploy!
Cry tears or whomever you are I seriously doubt anything you posted could have had any effect on anything. I mean seriously no one can understand such drivel.
I think by now we all get your point, you hate Wayne.
Maybe enough is enough already?
Hanifa, I will pray for your daughter. I will pray that she wakes up and begins to see the truth for what it is. If you have any ounce of honor in your body, and love for your child, take up your daughter’s burden and let her live. She’s young and has her whole life ahead of her. Please don’t let her kill herself. This will all be on your head.
“She apparently has sent a letter to the District Attorney’s office letting them know her daughter’s condition and why it is basically their fault because of Wayne’s verdict and sentence”
And Hanifa is finding out that they simply do not care. She’d rather her daughter die and become a “martyr”.
Mack,
There is a moderator. And I’ll be the first to admit I’m not always very good at it.
I won’t go into details, but attempts have been made to keep these comments sections free of hateful spew. I will share that CryTears has had some of her comments swiftly deleted by me. She is not the only “regular” here to have had a comment deleted by me.
I’ll give this concern further consideration.
Meanwhile, I’d like to say thanks to everyone here for their collective input, especially on this post. Overwhelmingly, your comments have been well thought-out and sincere. The vast majority of you have shown respect for others, and have ultimately produced what I feel is an excellent forum for a serious matter.
Best,
Mark
It must be a sin to cause harm to yourself, and to emotionally hurt the ones who love you. What does she expect to gain?
@Search for truth – I totally agree with you about the pathetic nonsense coming from crytears. I started to post here and I did a couple of times when it seemed like an intelligent conversation from other posters was going on. I even liked the humor posts. But, these rambling, insane, hate-filled attempts by crytears — which are done to just dominate this website and spread her vitriolic verbal diarrhea make it where I just don’t want to participate. Is there not a moderator? She can’t even stay on topic inside her own posts, just rambles all over the place but always filled with hate and lots of namecalling. If there is a moderator, clean it up and I know that lots of people will want to participate. My problem is that she turns the board into a hate board and I don’t want to be a part of that.
Search for truth
23 Jan 09 at 9:51 AM
…I seriously doubt anything you posted could have had any effect on anything…
True…these people are living in their own private reality and there is nothing that we can say that can affect that…except maybe if we agreed with them, but if we agreed with them then we wouldn’t try to stop Esther from fasting either, so it’s sort of a catch 22. Heck, I’m even ready to donate something at this point if I thought it would make a difference.
Even if Esther doesn’t care about her own life she would be wise to consider the further consequences for those who remain there if she was to die from this fast. I’m counting on it that she does care enough about them (at least) to keep that in mind…as long as she still has one anyway.
Mack -
I’m troubled by your post on a number of levels.
First, it is true that CryTears has her own style of writing and is very passionate about Strong City and their “Messiah.” I’ve seen no evidence, however, that her purpose is to “dominate this website.” She has strong thoughts about this case, and shares them.
You, on the other hand, have chosen to focus not on the case or even this blog posting, but on another poster and on the moderation of this site. Personally, it seems to me a greater concern if posters attack each other than if one poster uses a language or perspective with which I disagree.
Mark moderates lightly. I suspect in part that’s because his career as a journalist leads him to abhor censorship, and in part because he has sincerely made every effort to allow diverse points of view. I appreciate his generousity in hosting this site, and have found him more than responsive to any e-mails I have sent. (I’d point out that his contact information is conspicuously displayed at the top of the page.)
*shrugs* If you disagree with the content of another’s post, rebut it. If you dislike the person/style of another’s post, ignore it. If you think a post is inappropriate, report it. Surely on a site with so many stories and so many hits, you can find a means of participating without spreading your own “vitriolic verbal diarrhea” that infects us all.
As I was in the midst of writing a comment this morning an older friend of mine was found deceased by his housekeeper. He had been very ill and apparently died sometime in the early morning. He was a dear man who loved life and I will miss his smiling face.
He had no family, no worldly possessions to speak of – just a small studio apartment filled with things we collected at the flea market. But he had friends, lots of them. Our friendship and his love for my children will forever remain in my heart. I have been in tears all day as I called my kids to let them know of his passing.
Like I said he was very ill, confined to a wheelchair and on continuous oxygen but he didn’t care. He was happy the way he was and never thought of not wanting to live because of his many problems.
Sadly, at this moment I can’t help but compare my friend with Ester and what she is doing to herself. Unlike my friend she is choosing death rather than facing life head on.
I believe and so did my friend in “Life from conception to natural death”. Rest in peace Paul!
Two things to point out:
From Hanifa – “I wanted you all to know that since December 30, 2008, twenty-four days ago, Esther has not taken any food in liquid or solid form, and she continues to waste away”.
Sounds like she is still taking water, maybe with nutrients added, just not FOOD. With limited activity you can live for quite a while, even a few months, without food. Water is different. Assuming you’re in pretty good shape and if it’s not too hot and you aren’t doing anything but sitting around, a human can probably live for about 3 to 5 days without any water. Not very long and an unpleasant way to die.
From Elisha – “It is true that the body of Wayne Bent is now temporarily in prison, but the Spirit of Michael resides in the heart of each true Christian. Michael is still here at Strong City, leading our every movement”.
I thought he wasn’t their LEADER? And isn’t it amazing that there are less than 100 true Christians in our entire world?
Whatever! Ester is throwing a deadly, childish temper tantrum. If they truly believe that WB has to bear this “suffering” for their salvation, they should be rejoicing, not mourning and killing themselves.
What a beautiful post KM, and a tribute to your friend. It is impossible to understand what Esther is doing to herself. What is even harder for me to understand is what her mother is letting her do. What in God’s name is wrong with Hanifa for allowing this to happen? How can a mother in all good conscience see her daughter, her own flesh and blood waste away and see this as a good thing. And all for the love of Michael, or whomever he is now. If something happens to that dear sweet young woman, I do hope that the authorities are called in. I just find this so very troubling.
Life is such a precious thing and we should all embrace it and be thankful for it every day.
Thanks Jan! Even though I’ve been sorting through things in his apartment it still hasn’t quite sunk in that he’s gone.
I’m with you on Hanifa, I can’t even imagine watching one of my kids do something like this and not trying to stop it.
When I found out about Paul this morning I was in the process of reading the Adult Protective Services website. I was thinking that someone should call them about Esther. What I found out is that they can’t really do much without some type of court order.
(Sorry, this is a little long but I wanted to share the info I found).
From the Adult Protective Services (New Mexico) website:
● In New Mexico, the fundamental right of self-determination is the biggest limiting factor of APS’ authority. The APS Act authorizes only the least possible restrictions on the exercise of personal and civil rights and religious beliefs.
● Adults who appear to have decision-making capacity can refuse to cooperate with an APS investigation and that decision must be honored.
● Additionally, the APS Act specifies that no medical care or treatment be authorized or required in contravention to the expressed or implied wishes of incapacitated adults.
● Even when abuse, neglect, or exploitation is substantiated and service needs to remediate this maltreatment are identified, victims have the choice (and often exercise the choice) to not accept assistance, even to their own detriment.
● The rights of all New Mexicans to self determination are legally a higher priority than protection.
So basically, Esther can do whatever she wants, including kill herself. Even if the others at SC are exploiting what she is doing in an effort to force the state to release WB, APS won’t step in. And I seriously doubt that WB will be released from prison with this tactic. He might be released while he is appealing but then again he might not. SC doesn’t get to make that determination.
What’s interesting to me is that because my friend died alone, 20 law enforcement officers, the fire department and the Office of the Medical Investigator showed up at his apartment. After 2 hours and them scouring his house, taking pictures and getting statements from the housekeeper and myself, his body was finally released to the funeral home.
It’s fallen on me to obtain the death certificate so I looked up how to do that, Here’s what I found:
“If, after viewing the body, notifying the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction and making an investigation, the state or district medical investigator is satisfied that the death was not caused by criminal act or omission and that there are no suspicious circumstances about the death, he shall execute a death certificate in the form required by law”.
I think if someone died at SC right now, there would more than 2 hours of investigating. Especially if was a young person.
Life is so precious and this has been a sad day for me. I pray the people at SC wake up before it’s too late to save the precious life of Esther.
This trial aftermath has been personally sad for me to experience, as I know the people at Strong City very well. I would have never imagined that the current events going down would have ever happened, not in a thousand years. Wayne has always taught us cause and effect, and I am so perplexed that nobody there at Strong City is not willing to accept that Wayne has created this entire situation. He knew this could happen… He told us it would happen and sure enough it did happen just like he said it would. And this business about doing all these things for the purpose of making the entire planet angry and upset with him is simply nutty and haphazard. People who go around drawing lines in the sand will always will run into someone who will push back harder. I have found that human behaviour is pretty much predictable, and this is something that Wayne Bent knows very well, and has taught us. This is all part of a well thought out plan… so they think and believe… I just don’t think they have thought out the effects of their causes very well. They are in complete denial or how life works, and how the universe runs, God will do what He is supposed to do whenever people take their own lives into their own hands. They are just simply flying by the seat of their pants, and unwilling to accept lives eventual results. I really feel this in my bones. So the question is just where does Strong City really thing this is going to lead them to now? I have known Esther since she was a little girl, and have seen her grow up. She really does not know what she is doing, and what her mother is allowing is simply unimaginable, and I believe if Esther follows her convictions of starving herself to death for Wayne Bent’s release, which isn’t going to happen, she may be pounding more nails into Wayne Bents coffin, for there are people out there who may attempt to blame Wayne for her demise. It can all blow up in their faces and bring more shame and trouble to Strong City. They are so afraid of their being found out to have been wrong, and this discovery will have to be the event which has got to bring them back to the real world. But it will have it’s cost, and it is something that my friends at Strong City is used to paying. It’s not the first time that they have had to give their all for a cause, and one thing I do know about the LOR is that they always eventually do what is required in the end. I hope they will do what is right. There is so much at stake here.
KM,
I also am sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
Mark
KM, I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thank you both! Paul was a sweetheart and even with all his disabilities he had such a joy of life.
A friend of his passed away 2 weeks ago. I’m sure they’re out there somewhere playing dominos and having a grand time free from the earthly illnesses that plagued them.
Thanks again.
It appears that this story of Strong City and Wayne Bent’s Lord Our Righteousness Church will be with us for a spell, if not a long while. The people in Strong City appear to be doing everything they can to keep this on the front burner, not that people will soon start to get bored of the story and move on to something else. I pray for that day, for people to resume their normal daily affairs and live their lives. This day will come, but until then we need to continue to look at these events and learn and accept the findings. Eventually the new National Geographic Documentary will be released, and we will have to deal with it’s effects on this blog and other outlets which have been following the story. Part one told the story mainly from the Strong City Camp, even though they say it was tainted and did not tell their story as they wished it to be told. Part one was a publicity diaster for Strong City in many ways, and part two which is now being prepared, will deal with the trial of Wayne Bent, and the aftermath feelings of those who left the Cult, and tried to go on with their lives. As for me, hopefully this will be the end of the matter, but I sense this will not be the case. The people at Strong City now have an agenda, to get their beloved leader out of prison and returned home to them. In my opinion I too believe that Wayne’s prison term is a bit much. I expected perhaps three years or so, and when I heard 10 years plus 8 years probation, I said “ouch”. Yet at the same time the God of Heaven also has a purpose in these precedings and everything came out as according to His will and He allowed what happened to happen. Truly God is big enough to oversee and control His own affairs, so I believe this lengthy prison term was according to His wishes, and He knows how this will play out for the better good of everyone, including Himself and the whole universe. Wayne is in good hands, and he knows it. Strong City is in shock and thrown way off balance, and now they have to come to grips with their world minus Wayne Bent, and to be satisfied with hand written letters and expensive long trips to visit him on occasion. Again Wayne is reaping what he has sown, and his lifes apparent upheavel is of his own doing. Nobody twisted his arms and made him do anything which landed him in the slammer… and I know he had plenty of council asking him to not do what he did, but he plowed on through anyway. I just pray nobody else will be hurt or die as a result of their actions there at Strong City. Again they there have the ability to turn around and to do what is right. I pray that there is a champion there who will stand up there in the midst of Strong City, and say “No, stop this foolishness, and lets return to sane thinking and wait on God, and see what He will do.” If Esther dies and others follow suit, this will be tragic for many souls, and even cause more heartache for Wayne Bent himself. This is not what we invisioned from the start.
Johnny, I can understand when you say this is not what you envisioned, but is it not what Wayne envisioned? I am quite perplexed on this issue that if this is what he prophesied, and is in line with God’s plan, from where in these souls in Strong City do the protests arise? It seems to me that protests from the human mind come when faith of the heart has failed. Even so, if they feel to reach out in protest, should not their protest be with God, who obviously crafted this plan and called for Wayne to be offensive, an offender? Why do they bow to the beast in protest and plea at this time? To be honest, it has surprised me. It seems to me if they were truly convicted in this ideology, and certain in their belief that Michael has come into them, naturally their is no separation from Wayne being in jail, as they are not in jail and they are ONE! This is Wayne’s own teaching as I understand it. Am I wrong? If their hearts were sure, they would be coming together quietly in prayer and gratitude that God is fulfilling his plan, not reaching outward for Wayne’s salvation. Do you have any insight into this Johnny?
Jeremy gave me the heads-up a short while ago. He just did a brief story about it for KOB. JJ says kob.com will have the story up shortly.
I’ll give you 3 chances to guess who’s fasting again and the first 2 don’t count!
KM, I would say it would be Wayne himself. That would be my guess.
Actually I have nothing to offer. Everything keeps changing about as often as Wayne changes his socks. And like a chicken running around with it’s head chopped off, is this group I was a member of for 18 years, and now it looks like Wayne is fasting again. Can’t they come up with anything else a bit more original besides fasting? I am starting to tire of hearing about it.
Jan wins!
Johnny, someone on Prudence’s comment site suggested they try holding their breath. My kids used to do that when they were throwing a temper tantrum. I’d blow in their face and it would startle them out of whatever was going on in their little heads.
This is very tiring! He’s also claiming “…torture I have experienced while in prison. I speak of real torture, and not just some discomfort”. Shame that! And he still refuses to accept any credit or blame for the reason he’s in prison. It’s everyone else and their dog but not him. Ugh!
Mark, I knew you would be on top of this, Twitter is such a neat invention!
I agree with Betsy – “If their hearts were sure, they would be coming together quietly in prayer and gratitude that God is fulfilling his plan, not reaching outward for Wayne’s salvation”.
Wayne Bent: “It’s been a month, why can’t I go see my girlfriend?”
Look at the strongcity.info site for the update and the letter from Wayne Bent (yawn… he’s doing another protest fast). I actually applaud him for his actions… it shows that he is trying to get something done about Esther. But, my guess is that his request will be ignored as just simply an unreasonable request (it probably smells to authorities like it might be a ruse, cooked up prior to his departure). Surely it will make a media splash. It’s better than the usual “what’s on your kitchen floor could kill you… details at ten.”
He mentions torture. I’m sure he is right on that. Prisons are the cesspool of our culture and evil prison guards abound. Talk to any ex-con and they will tell you that there is a lot vile nastiness going on in prisons (such as guards blasting prisoners with high pressure hoses, who are merely avoiding the showers because of dangers from fellow prisoners, dragging people out their bunks in the wee hours of the morning for a cell check, using tasers, electric cattle prods and dogs (and blows to the stomach or solar plexus). All these and especially chemical sprays are used routinely (the spray is a primary tool everywhere) to manage inmates who are deemed unruly. These devices and techniques are all seen as necessary elements to manage inmates. They are used in most states, employed to subdue inmates for any balking at an order from a guard. These infractions go ignored by outside authorities, because they stop short of doing any real damage (and are seen by many as needed to keep prisoners in line).
So, my guess is that Bent is right about how he has been treated (it’s a real shock for first timers). Prison reform is grossly needed everywhere. Part of the problem that wardens and guards face is that if they don’t break a prisoner’s spirit, they will end up with real discipline problems in a hurry (there are a lot of bad guys incarcerated and everyone gets treated like bad guy who gives guards any flack at all). My guess is that Wayne has probably resisted their commands. After all, he has been God himself (to his followers) for 6 years and before that he was always the absolute ruler of his own little world. The guards probably just responded to him the way they do with all trouble makers.
But, his protest fast? I would be surprised if he is allowed a visit home to see one of his girlfriends (that’s the dream of every prisoner). They don’t let them out for dying parents, much less to go see one of his multiple sex partners. If that technique would work, every prisoner and his girlfriend would try it.
— Sam
Sam, granted many prisons have problems with abuse by inmates and guards. But, WB is in the medical unit, I don’t think the kinds of things you mentioned happen in that unit. Not saying there isn’t any abuse in a medical unit, just not quite as extreme as you mentioned. And again, he’s not in the Ritz Carlton or even a Motel 6. He’s in prison!
His continued refusal to accept ANY responsibility for what got him in trouble in the first place is stupid. I can’t find any other word for it, just stupid. He posted that he knew it would be offensive and he knew it would get him in trouble but his ego is so big that he wanted TV cameras on HIS land to show the world how great he is. Stupid!
If the Sheriffs didn’t call for medics, either Esther refused help or they don’t think she’s in bad enough condition to worry. She’s being stupid too and her parents and others are exploiting her to try and gain their leader’s release. That’s wrong!
And you’re right. Prisoners don’t get released writing to the warden about poor little me and poor little Esther. Sob stories very seldom work. Neither does constant grandstanding for the media. After awhile it becomes just another tiresome story and any sympathy that might have been present is gone. He wants to go back to the land where he lives? Sorry WB, until a successful appeal, you don’t live there anymore!
Serve your time Bent! Be a man or god or whatever you are today. If a beautiful woman wants to kill herself over you I guess she can, it’s happened before. But I sure would hate to have to explain to the Real God what you’ve been up to on your sojourn on earth.
I am extremely sad and deeply troubled about the state of my sister Aquinnah O’Keefe (Ester)and yesterday requested the welfare check of her by the sheriffs department;I also contacted the DA’s office. She is very weak and gave them a statement stating she refuses all medical and civil intervention and refuses any resuscitation should she become unresponsive. This statement was signed by seven cult members as witnesses to her desire and “religious right” to conduct this fast without any medical or civil intervention.I am at a quandry, trying to get a grip on the standing by and allowing Aquinnah to die because she has a religious “right” to do so. If she were standing with a gun to her head(which she is…) would we allow her to do so because she has a religious right???? She has been so indoctrinated in this since she was a small child she lacks the capacity to truely make a sound decision. Her mother Hanifa is responsible for this and some day SHE will stand accountable. The legal system IS NOT the villian here. Wayne Bent reaped what he sowed. This group only accepts this truth when it pertains to the “world” yet they feel they are exempt from this principle. “Cause and effect” was preached over and over ,yet somehow Wayne is exempt from this principle also. “There is no such thing as a victim,” do they remember this???? Why now is Wayne a victim???? When do you accept that this IS God’s will that Wayne is in prison???? The Lord works in mysterious ways…. I don’t remember Jesus making an appeal to Caesar or complaining he was “tortured” as Wayne recently stated in his last letter. Wayne’s followers are incapable of seeing these truths. Wayne has done GREAT damage to many lives and those who feel sympathetic know only a fraction of what has transpired throughout these many years. I hope my sister Aquinnah O’Keefe will not die over this and that we can intervene. I will continue to work toward this. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Aquinnah is my fathers fifth daughter, the age of my own children. I nursed Aquinnah as a baby, strange as that may seem to some,I feel she is like my child in this way.To think she is wasting away on the verge of death is unacceptable. Please help me, I live in New York state, I am not very popular out there and need some feedback, what do I do???? Any legal advice that is sound??? I will make more calls today.
P.S Mine and Aquinnah’s father died in 2000. He was NEVER part of this and tried VERY hard to get them out of there. He would never have tolerated this.
“I actually applaud him for his actions… it shows that he is trying to get something done about Esther.”
He’s not doing anything but perpetuating this, and I fear Esther will not be the only one fasting there soon.
What those at SC don’t understand is, they will force nutrients on WB to keep him alive. They won’t let him starve to death in prison because he is now property of the prison system and the state. They will strap him down and put an IV in him without any problem, as his personal wishes won’t be honored in there.
Lorraine I’m very sorry this is happening to you and your family.
Lorraine, You need a NM attorney who will try to get you guardianship of your sister. Sounds like she has signed a living will and/or Do Not Resuscitate order and unfortunately it will be honored unless someone gets legal guardianship over her. If you have that they will not honor whatever she signed and will take her out of there.
Please call the State Bar of New Mexico at (505) 797-6053. Ask for Kasey Daniel. She is the Director of Public and Legal Services. She is somewhat aware of what is happening but probably doesn’t know about this new turn of events. Unfortunately you probably won’t be able to get a Lawyer for free but hopefully she’ll be able to direct you to someone who will help for a smaller fee or on a contingency bases.
If she can’t help you, ask who can. You can also ask for Kate Mulqueen at (505) 797-6064. She works with the Equal Access to Justice program in NM. She is also aware of what’s happening. Please tell them that this is an emergency, that it can’t wait a day and ask them to recommend someone in Clayton or Raton who will get you temporary legal guardianship until Esther is out of danger. Then it might require something more to retain guardianship if she is not capable of making her own decisions. You might find someone who will file paperwork without you flying out here but you will need to be here if it gets signed to take charge of your sister. Make sure the lawyer knows that you are her sister, your mother is in too deep and you want to stop this fast until you can get Esther a psychological evaluation. Tell them what you wrote in the above post.
If you need more assistance, please ask Mark Horner for my email and I will try to give you more numbers. The people I mentioned above know all the attorneys in the state and hopefully they will help you find one.
I’m praying for you and your sister.