ADDENDUM::Death, abuse and questions — life in an Alachua County cult

Decades later, many are still in emotional, if not physical pain. Guilt, blame and bewilderment at how this could have happened eat at the survivors. Families have been fractured like the bones of those who were beaten. Some describe going through post-traumatic stress disorder as they tried to regain their lives.

In interviews with The Sun and with authorities, survivors who once believed that Young channeled God are finally identifying her as the ringmaster of a hellish existence. She was arrested last year on a murder charge for Emon’s death, nearly 30 years after he was stuffed in the hamper as a form of discipline.

“She was charismatic and she was the force there, no question about that,” said Thomas Pough, Sharon’s brother, in an interview with law enforcement. “Anna had what they call a gift of prophecy, is what we came to believe. I came to believe that God was speaking through her. Her voice would change, her mannerisms would change, the physical posture would change ... And along with that belief came a real fear.”

Death, abuse and questions — life in an Alachua County cult