Cultist's infant son officially ruled dead
Boston Globe / August 17, 2000
By John Ellement and Jacob H. Fries
Judge calls leader a 'false prophet'
ATTLEBORO - A juvenile court judge yesterday formally declared the infant
son of Jacques Robidoux dead, and called Robidoux, who leads an obscure
Christian cult, a ''false prophet'' who has led his followers into prison
and their children into danger.
''I am convinced that he is dead,'' said Juvenile Court Judge Kenneth P.
Nasif, his tone reflecting frustration at having tried for months to get
Robidoux to reveal the whereabouts of his son.
''I feel very bad for you, sir. I truly do, and for the people you've led
down your road,'' said Nasif, as Robidoux stood quietly before him.
''You are not a prophet. You are a false prophet. And your action, in my
judgment, has caused the death of an innocent child who suffered before he
died,'' the judge said.
Nasif then cited a verse from the Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 23: ''`I am
against those who prophesy false dreams.'''
''I want you to think about that,'' the judge told Robidoux.
The judge's denunciation of Robidoux, who has told Nasif the fate of his son
is between him and God, came as the Department of Social Services moved to
gain permanent custody of 13 other children who have been associated with
the cult.
Robidoux and his followers, drawn from three interrelated families, came
under scrutiny last November when authorities began investigating reports
that Robidoux's son, Samuel, died from malnutrition, and a second child, an
infant, Jeremiah Courneau, had also died.
Robidoux and seven followers are imprisoned on criminal contempt charges for
refusing to answer questions from a Bristol County special grand jury, which
is investigating the children's disappearance. Police have searched
Attleboro, Seekonk, and parts of Baxter State Park in Maine for the bodies
of the two children, without result. The members have refused to be
represented by lawyers.
Charges of civil contempt against Robidoux for refusing to cooperate in the
custody case were dropped yesterday after the judge declared that Samuel
Robidoux is dead.
In two private sessions yesterday, at the request of DSS, Nasif stripped
Robidoux's wife, Karen, of her parental rights over her four children. The
fathers of two of the children, both boys, were granted custody by Nasif
yesterday, a court source said.
Both men declined comment. The other two children, both girls, may be
adopted by an aunt from out of state.
Nasif also ended the parental rights of Tim and Rebecca Corneau over their
three daughters, according to the court source. Authorities are trying to
determine what happened to Jeremiah Corneau, their son, who may have been
stillborn. A paternal aunt has expressed interest in adopting the children,
the source said.
''It was the court's belief that this was in the best interest of all the
children,'' said Carol Yelverton, a DSS spokeswoman.
Today, Nasif will decide whether to allow former cult member Dennis Mingo to
retain custody of his five children. Their mother, Rebecca Robidoux Mingo,
is one of the cult members imprisoned on criminal contempt.
Nasif will also decide whether to end Tim and Rebecca Daneau's custody of
their daughter.
Nasif's decision to end the civil contempt charges against Jacques Robidoux
does not mean Robidoux and his followers will be freed from prison,
according to Bristol Assistant District Attorney Walter Shea, who is leading
the criminal investigation. Potential charges against the cult members range
from improper disposal of a body to murder, he said.
Shea said cult members will be freed if they talk to grand jurors or if they
cite a valid constitutional right, such as the right against
self-incrimination. So far, all have refused to participate, rejecting
court-appointed lawyers.
''There is no one, whatever their religious beliefs, who has the right to
simply refuse to answer questions or assert some constitutional right'' when
called before a grand jury, Shea said. ''In essence, they are ignoring the
law completely.''
Shea said the grand jury is scheduled to expire in October, but the life of
the panel could be extended by court order, which would also extend the
imprisonment of Robidoux and his followers if they continue to balk.
Shea said the DSS and his office are acting independently of each other and
that the termination of parental rights sought by DSS was not designed to
assist criminal investigators.
When authorities became involved last fall, there were 13 adults and 13
children who were members of the cult, Shea said.
Back To Attleboro
Back To Bible Based Cults & Isms
|