NOTE: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED IN 2006
Federal authorities are investigating possible violations of the Mann Act, a federal statute prohibiting the transportation of children across state lines for criminal purposes.
All of the involved agencies are asking for the public’s help.
In: Storage
The Signal
September 25, 2008
By Brian Charles
Local Alamo church raided
Foray coincided with one in Arkansas
FBI agents, sheriff’s deputies and county protective services agents stormed the Alamo Ministeries of Saugus compound at 1:30 a.m. Sunday, according to a sheriff’s report.
Former member recalls her experience with the Alamo group.
Click HERE to read the article that details Judy’s experience.
I lived at the Foundation from 1971-1982. Before I joined the group I had a job, car, place to live. Tony tries to make it seem like it was only “drug addicts” that lived there in the beginning…NOT TRUE. I really thought I was joining a “missionary group”. Boy, was I deceived. At first it was wonderful for me. To be able to pray, read the Bible and go to Hollywood each night to pass out Gospel Tracts and talk to people about The Lord. I didn’t realize, at first, that I was unable to go anywhere without Tony or Sue’s approval. I had no money of my own. No car anymore. I did babysitting, which I loved, because I love being around children. I babysat not just 5 days a week, but 6 days a week and a lot of times 7 days.
Years and years went by. I married one of the men there with Susan Alamo’s approval. We had 2 daughters. By this time, we lived in Dyer, Arkansas. As the almost 11 year mark approached, I started having feelings I never had before. Since I was so young when I joined (young, emotionally, too), I didn’t realize those feelings were depression. It hit me that we (the family) never took vacations like the “outside world.” We didn’t go other places, too, like Christmas shopping at the Mall unless we asked Sue (I never got to go; my husband went without me). He worked 7 days a week, from 7am to 7pm. The “rah, rah” mentality I had when I joined was starting to escape me. I am sure Sue saw this and before I knew it, I was asked to leave.
I was tricked into leaving my daughters behind; my husband refused to let me take them and he was not about to leave the Foundation with me. I thought to myself, “Well, I will leave for a few weeks and then come back.” Once out, I soon discovered, I didn’t want to go back. With my grandmother’s help, I was able to secure an attorney and begin divorce and custody proceedings. Long story short, my husband, instead of turning the girls over to me, per court order for me to have temporary custody, took off with them. [My now ex and my children were on the run from that point on. I feel a lot of sympathy for those who haven’t seen their children….] The FBI was contacted. I didn’t see them for 6 and one half long, long years. Even now, my one daughter will have nothing to do with me because of something Joan Decker said to her when I left. She won’t tell me what it is either.. My other daughter, I have a good relationship with..
I had met some really nice women when I lived there. To my knowledge, the one I felt was my “best friend” is still there… I am so, so, so glad I don’t live there anymore.. I have my mind back, can go where I want, when I want to. I am glad others have left, too. It saddens me to think of what is going on there with the beatings and the young girls having to be married to Tony. Ugh, Yech…. Thank you for giving all of us ex members a forum to write our feelings of the Alamo Foundation.
Koco5
September 24, 2008
Woman Talks Of Days At Church Compound
Former Follower: Pastor Tony Alamo A ‘Monster’
Click HERE to watch the video broadcast.
Today’s THV
September 24, 2008
By: Melissa Dunbar-Gates
Update: Judge Decides To Keep Children From Compound For Now
KATV7
September 23, 2008
Former Alamo Church Member Speaks Out
Authorities say as of late Tuesday afternoon, no arrests had been made following the weekend raid of the Tony Alamo Ministries in Fouke.
CNN.com – Transcripts
Aired September 22, 2008 – 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ABC News
September 23, 2008
By MARCUS BARAM
In: 2008 - (Trial year), Tony Alamo - In His Own Words, Video Clips
Oregon Live.com
September 21, 2008
by Michelle Roberts, The Oregonian
Inside the Arkansas compound, tales of abuse and neglect
As a 2 1/2-year-old in 1973, Elishah Franckiewicz (front right) poses with other children after a Fourth of July Jesus parade at Tony and Susan Alamo’s first compound, in California.
Today’s THV
September 22, 2008
By: Charles Crowson
Father Hopes Alamo Raid Brings Children Home
Six children remain in temporary state custody following Saturday’s raid of the Tony Alamo Christian Church by state and federal agents.
No arrests have been made, but for Anthony Lane, he’s hoping these events will move him one step closer to being reunited with his three children, who he hasn’t seen in more than a decade.
“Oh, I jumped up. I never moved so fast,” Lane said. Lane says it was all he and his wife, Lynne, could do to maintain their composure as they learned of the raid at the Fouke compound.
“We grabbed the baby, ran out the door and didn’t have no bottles,” he said. “So we had to turn around and get ’em. We were just so excited.”
Excited because for the past 10 years, Lane says he’s been trying to reunite with his three children: Ashley (13), Sarah (11) and Timothy, a nine-year-old son he’s never seen.
Lane recalls the last time he saw Ashley. He says it was outside Alamo’s Fort Smith church.
“Two little girls came up to my truck to give me a tract,” he said. “I asked them their names, and when my daughter said, ‘Ashley,’ I said, ‘Ashley Marie?’ I said, “How are you, baby? I’m your daddy.’ And she turned around and ran back inside. She was frightened.”
Lane believes the children are still in one of Alamo’s churches with their mother, Leisa, a woman Lane lived with for nine years but to whom he was never legally married.
They joined the church in Oklahoma City in 1996. Lane says he was kicked out because he challenged Alamo’s doctrine.
“The teachings, attitudes, belittling people,” Lane said. “I saw the marriage of a 13-year-old girl to a 35, 40-year-old man.”
It’s a disturbing memory Lane keeps with him as he says Ashley, his oldest child, is the same age.
“It just makes me crazy to think that some old man may be molesting my children,” he said.
It’s a legitimate fear, given what Lane claims to have seen, and the fact that Tony Alamo confirmed his position on when women are eligible for marriage.
“Consent is puberty,” Alamo said. “That’s absolutely legal, the bible says.”
The mother of Anthony Lane’s children, Lesia Christopher, posted a response to his concerns about his daughter’s potential marital status on Tony Alamo’s Web site.
In it, she writes, “That’s not even on her mind or anyone else’s who’s serving the Lord. Tony Alamo will not even allow marriage like that. She is under age!”
Today, Lane can only look at photos an ex-Alamo member sent him. They’re photos of children he prays he will one day be able to see again.
“You know I’m very excited that they did raid the compound,” Lane said. “But it don’t mean I’m gonna get my kids back.”
Lane says he’s hired an attorney to seek legal action against Lesia. They are currently trying to track down her and the kids.
After Saturday’s raid, he gave all his children’s information to federal agents. It’s not known yet know if any of the children are among the six in custody.
As for him and his wife, Lynne, they now have a one-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.
40/29TV
September 21, 2008
Former Alamo Follower Speaks Out About Underage Marriage
Click HERE to watch broadcast of story.
Texarkana Gazette
September 23, 2008
By: Lynn LaRowe
Officials try to ID parents of 6
Girls range in age from 10 to 17; guardians asked to come forward
Arkansas Department of Human Services officials are trying to identify and locate the parents of six girls taken into state custody after Saturday’s search at Tony Alamo Christian Ministries in Fouke, Ark.
Texarkana Gazette
September 22, 2008
By: Susan Lindsey
Alamo answers: ‘They’re just making all this up’
In a phone interview Sunday, Tony Alamo gave his stance on the activities at his Tony Alamo Christian Ministries in Fouke, Ark., Click for Alamo Interview Saturday night, when federal and state agents raided the facility, executed search warrants and questioned young children about allegations of child pornography and sexual abuse.
KHTS
September 22, 2008
By: Carol Rock and Jon Dell
Alamo Church Allegations Have Connection In Santa Clarita
» Runnin’ Scared «
a Voice news blog
by Maria Luisa Tucker
Child-Bride Fan Tony Alamo in Trouble Again
Tony Alamo Christian Ministries, the Arkansas-based church that the Voice investigated earlier this year, was raided by federal authorities Friday night.
Arkansas Matters
September 22, 2008
by: Lauren Trager, KARK 4 News
Interview source here
4029 TV.com
September 22, 2008
Click HERE to watch video broadcast
CNN
September 22, 2008
By Don Lemon
Evangelist’s compound raided
Today’sTHV
September 22, 2008
By: Charles Crowson
Tony Alamo Compound Raided, 6 Children In Protective Custody
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