UPDATE 09-19-10: FOUND Unharmed |13 Members (Including Eight Children) of "Cult-Like" Group Missing | May Have Plans for Mass Suicide | Palmdale, California | Videos

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2010/09/18/report-14-members-of-church-group-seek...

Members Of Palmdale ‘Cult’ Reported Missing

Group Reportedly Awaiting Rapture

September 18, 2010 9:23 PM

From darleeneworks

PALMDALE (AP) — Five adults and eight children from a “cult-like” group in Southern California were reported missing by their families Saturday, and the group left behind letters that they were awaiting the rapture, authorities said.

Husbands of two group members, who are from the Palmdale area in northern Los Angeles County, reported the people missing early Saturday, and sheriff’s deputies were searching for three vehicles.

One of the men had a purse he was asked to hold by one of the group members, and inside were identifications, deeds to property, and letters indicating they were awaiting the end of the world.

“They were awaiting the rapture or some other catastrophic event,” Parker said.

The group’s leader, Reyna Marisol Chicas of Palmdale, was among the missing, Parker said.

Parker said the group had been members of a mainstream Christian church, and members had expressed concern to their families about their unorthodox beliefs.

Parker said authorities are searching for three vehicles: a silver Toyota Tundra pickup, a 1995 Mercury Villager and a 2004 white Nissan.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/breaking/Authorities-13-Members-of-Palmdale-Cu...

Authorities: 13 Members of Palmdale “Cult-Like” Group Are Missing

Police say the members are awaiting the Rapture
By DAVID CHIU
Updated 11:15 PM PDT, Sat, Sep 18, 2010

AP

Members of a “cult-like” group in Southern California—five adults and eight children—were reported missing by their families late yesterday, and left behind letters indicating they were waiting for the Rapture, The Associated Press reported.

Capt. Mike Parker of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that husbands of two group members, who are from the Palmdale area, reported the people missing early Saturday. He also said that sheriff’s authorities are looking for three vehicles: a 1995 Mercury Villager, a 2004 white Nissan, a silver Toyota Tundra pickup.

According to the AP, one of the husbands had a purse by one of the group members that contained letters mentioning the group was awaiting the end of the world, along with property deeds and identification.

"They were awaiting the rapture or some other catastrophic event," said Parker.

Among the missing is the group’s leader, Reyna Marisol Chicas, 32, of Palmdale.

Parker said that the members were part of a mainstream Christian church and that they mentioned to their families about their unusual beliefs. He also added that the group had planned a trip to a wilderness area, Vasquez Rocks, to meet a similar event, but was called off when a group member revealed the plans.

The Los Angeles Times reported a California Highway Patrol alert that said: “It is believed, through further investigation, that [their] intentions are to commit mass suicide."

According to the newspaper, documents that the group members left behind gave no indication of suicide, but made mention of the "end of the world" and "going to heaven," said Parker.

Steve Whitmore, a sheriff’s spokesman, said they do not think that this was a hoax. “We don't know that this is a potential suicide, but we know that it's real and we're going to find them."

First Published: Sep 18, 2010 11:05 PM PDT

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7676173

14 members of L.A. 'cult-like' group missing
Saturday, September 18, 2010

By Melissa MacBride

PALMDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities said 14 people of a "cult-like" group from the Palmdale area have been reported missing by their families. The group is feared to be involved in a mass suicide plot.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said the group, at least five adults and eight children, disappeared Saturday and left behind evidence that they were awaiting the rapture or some catastrophic event.

"They left behind a significant amount of personal belongings and written notes," sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore told members of the media.

However, officials said there is no evidence they are planning to commit group suicide.

The group, comprised of El Salvadoran immigrants, was reportedly last seen about 1 a.m. Saturday at a prayer meeting in Palmdale.

Sheriff's Cpt. Mike Parker said the husbands of two of the missing adults from the group were asked to keep a purse, and inside it found identification, personal papers and letters suggesting the group was awaiting the end of the world.

"Essentially, (the notes said) we're going to go visit Jesus," Whitmore said. "We're going to visit our deceased relatives. They said goodby to their living relatives. They indicated they were going to the next life, if you will. I'm not quoting exactly, I'm paraphrasing of course, but that's essentially what they said."

Officials said the group's leader, Reyna Chicas of Palmdale, is among the missing. Other adults missing include three women who are sisters.

The children, six boys and two girls, range from 3 to 17 years old.

According to an emergency bulletin put out by the governor's office, in addition to Chicas, the missing include:

# Norma Isela Serrano, 31.
# Alma Alicia Miranda Pleitez, 28.
# Martha Clavel, 39.
# Jose Clavel, 15.
# Crystal Clavel, 3.
# Roberto Tejada, 18.
# Jonathan Tejada, 17.
# Hugo Tejada, 3.
# Ezequel Chicas, 15.
# Genisis Chicas, 12.
# Bryan Rivera, 17.
# Stephanie Serrano, 12.

No information was provided on the 14th person.

Authorities are searching for three vehicles: a silver Toyota Tundra pickup, a 1995 Mercury Villager with a California license plate SNFX290 and a 2004 white Nissan Quest with a California license plate 6LJF396.

The group had been members of a mainstream Christian church, Parker said. Members expressed concern to their families about their unorthodox beliefs.

"It is an offshoot of a religious group, but not affiliated with anybody," Whitmore said. "It's a group of religious beliefs in and of itself."

The group had planned on going to a wilderness area near Palmdale to await a similar event earlier this year. One member of the group told a family member the details of the trip, and it was called off.

"That person was ostracized from the group and kicked out," Parker said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

UPDATES:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/nine-children-among-those-missing-...

Southern California -- this just in - Los Angeles Times

Nine children among those missing from cult-like group
September 18, 2010 | 11:57 pm

Cult-suicide580
Authorities late Saturday released the names of more than a dozen missing people -- including nine children --linked to a cult-like group.

Update, 12:48 a.m.:
While the search continues, sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker cautioned that letters left behind do not mention suicide. Parker says the information left in a purse refers to the rapture, the end of the world and "going to heaven." He says the missing people have no history of violence or harming themselves. Sheriff's deputies began investigating when two husbands reported about 1:45 p.m. that they believed their wives had gone off with the cult-like group led by Reyna Chicas. One of the men told investigators he was ordered to guard and pray over a purse. But after some time he became concerned and looked inside. There he found five cell phones, many IDs, deeds and letters. The husbands told investigators they believed Chicas had brainwashed those missing and they may be at risk. The cult-like group formed among a small part of a local Christian church, and all its members are of El Salvadoran descent. The adults missing include three sisters and an adult son.

- - - - - - - - - -

Update, 12:11 a.m.:
One person previously listed as a missing child is in fact an adult, so the missing include eight children.

Law enforcement officials, fearing of a mass suicide, launched a major search. The group was believed to be traveling in three vehicles: a white 2004 Nissan Quest, a 1995 white Mercury Villager and a newer-model, silver-colored Toyota Tundra, according to the California Highway Patrol, which issued an alert for them. The group was last seen at 1:00 a.m. Saturday at a prayer meeting in a Palmdale church at 158 East Avenue, R-4.

Here are the names of the missing, from the California Highway Patrol:

REYNA MARISOL CHICAS

EZEQUEL CHICAS

GENISIS CHICAS

NORMA ISELA SERRANO

BRYAN RIVERA

JOSE CLAVEL

STEPHANIE SERRANO

CRYSTAL CLAVEL

ALMA ALICIA MIRANDA PLEITEZ

HUGO TEJADA

JONATHAN TEJADA

MARTHA CLAVEL

ROBERTO TEJADA

--Richard Winton and Robert Faturechi

Photo: At her Palmdale home, Jisela Giron, a former neighbor of alleged cult leader Reyna Marisol Chicas, 32, contemplates the religious group's fate and the well-being of the missing children. Giron attended the Iglesia de Cristo Miel church with Chicas and said she never noticed anything unusual about her behavior. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39251083/ns/us_news-life/

Police alert: 6 adults, 8 children plan mass suicide
'Cult-like' group 'awaiting the rapture' after California church service

AP
Reyna Chicas, 32, is the leader of the "cult-like" group missing in Southern California, officials say.

NBC, msnbc.com and news services
updated 2 hours 28 minutes ago

PALMDALE, Calif. — Officials in Southern California issued an emergency alert late Saturday for six adults and eight children who are members of a "cult-like" group believed to be planning a mass suicide.

"They were awaiting the rapture or some other catastrophic event," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Captain Mike Parker said.

Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the sheriff's department, told a hastily called news conference covered by KNBC that the group believed "they were going to meet Jesus or deceased relatives."

He said deputies were searching the desert for the group, believed to be six adults and six boys and two girls. The children range in age from 3 to 17, Whitmore said.

The notes did not use the term suicide but did say "they wanted to go on to the next life," Whitmore said.

'Fundamentalist'
The group apparently included members of three families of El Salvadoran immigrants, he said. Whitmore described the church as "fundamentalist in nature" and a "close-knit organization".

The group from Palmdale was believed to be traveling in three vehicles, a 2004 Nissan Quest, a 1995 Mercury Villager and a silver Toyota Tundra pickup, the California Highway Patrol said.

However, the members may have changed vehicles after disappearing, the CHP told msnbc.com.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed to KNBC late Saturday that its detectives were actively investigating the case.

Two husbands of two of the church members reported the persons missing at around 2 p.m. PDT (5 p.m. EDT), BNO News reported.

Parker said one of the men had a purse he was asked to hold by one of the group members. Identification documents, cell phones, deeds to property and letters indicating they were awaiting the end of the world were found inside.

Parker told The Associated Press the group's leader, Reyna Chicas, 32, of Palmdale, is among the missing group, which includes three sisters.

Earlier this year, the group had planned to head to Vasquez Rocks, a wilderness area near Palmdale, to await a similar event, but one member of the group revealed details of the trip to family members and it was called off.

"That person was ostracized from the group and kicked out," Parker said.