♪♪
Man: I AM A PROPHET OF GOD.
I'M EVEN MORE THAN A PROPHET.
I AM NOT A FALSE PROPHET.
THEREFORE I AM NOT WORTHY OF THE PENALTY SOUGHT
BY THOSE WHO SEEK MY DEATH.
I HAVEN'T HEARD HIS VOICE IN CLOSE TO 30 YEARS.
I DON'T HEAR THE MAN THAT, UH,
THAT I ONCE KNEW AND, UH,
AND LOVED AS A FRIEND.
HE'S NOT THERE.
Reporter: THE BODY OF A MAN WAS FOUND LAST NIGHT,
TWO OR THREE OTHERS THIS AFTERNOON.
Reporter: THE KILLER HAD GAGGED AND BOUND THE VICTIMS
WITH ELECTRICAL DUCT TAPE.
IT WAS, UM...
IT'S JUST A HARD PLACE TO GO BACK TO
BECAUSE I WAS THERE,
BECAUSE I CONTRIBUTED TO, UH, THE FAMILY.
EVEN THOUGH I LEFT, EVEN THOUGH I WENT TO THE AUTHORITIES,
IT STILL DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS ENOUGH.
I STILL FIND IT HARD TO MOVE ON.
I HOPE THAT THIS -- THIS IS THE DAY
THAT IT HAPPENS, THAT I LET GO.
SORRY.
♪♪
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Currie: I MET JEFFREY IN THE NAVY, AND,
UH, WE KNEW EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME.
JEFFREY WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON
THAT YOU COULD CALL FRIEND EASILY.
HE WAS VERY HUMAN.
I MEAN, HE WAS VERY DOWN-TO-EARTH.
HE WAS A -- A GOOD FAMILY MAN.
I LOVED, UH, JEFFREY AS A BROTHER.
JEFFREY AND I WERE MEMBERS OF
THE REORGANIZED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.
AND, UH, JEFFREY, AT SOME POINT, UH,
BECAME UNHAPPY WITH THE TENANTS OF THE CURRENT CHURCH.
SO HE BROKE OFF.
AND, UH, JEFFREY WAS EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE CHURCH.
I BECAME VERY CLOSE TO,
UH, HIM AND HIS WIFE, ALICE.
THIS HAS BEEN...
THIS IS THE RECORD OF HIS PEOPLE.
WE ARE...
Currie: ONE DAY THEY BEGAN SHARING THE SCRIPTURES
WITH ME AND THE THINGS THAT THEY BELIEVED.
AND MORE SO, THE AFFLICTIONS THAT YOU'VE SEEN, GONE.
THE ROOM TOOK ON A GLOW.
A VERY WARM FEELING TOOK OVER ME.
I SAW IN MY MIND'S EYE A DOOR OPEN.
AND THERE WAS A VERY BRIGHT LIGHT BEHIND THAT DOOR.
I FELT AS IF THIS IS WHERE I SHOULD BE.
I NEVER REALLY HAD FAMILY IN MY LIFE.
AND THIS FELT LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO, UH, TO HAVE A FAMILY.
AND I WENT TO LIVE WITH THEM.
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN MY OWN PERSONAL STAKE
TO JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF...
A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE CHURCH HAD,
UH, HAD HEARD ABOUT JEFFREY.
EVERYTHING IS BUILT ON THE PILLARS OF TRUTH.
AND MANY OF THEM CAME TO SEE WHAT HE WAS TEACHING.
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
THAT THEIR CHURCH HADN'T BEEN GIVING THEM.
IT'S OBVIOUS WHY WE'RE ALL HERE TOGETHER:
BECAUSE WE LOST THAT CONNECTION TO THE CHURCH.
Currie: THE CHURCH AT THE TIME WASN'T OFFERING VERY MUCH
IN THE WAY OF SCRIPTURAL UNDERSTANDINGS.
JEFFREY WAS OPENING UP THE SCRIPTURES
AND MAKING THEM SOUND ALIVE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THEY WERE TURNING TO JEFFREY.
AND IT WAS JUST LIKE A FAMILY.
AND AS MORE PEOPLE BEGAN TO COME INTO THE GROUP,
THEY WOULD, UH, SHARE DIFFERENT STORIES
ABOUT WHY THEY WERE THERE.
[ SIGHS HEAVILY ]
Man: I WAS PROBABLY AT THE LOWEST POINT OF MY LIFE.
I WANTED TO MAKE SOME SENSE
OF WHY MY WORLD WAS FALLING APART
AND WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.
HE WAS OFFERING THE CHANCE
TO GO WITH HIM AND FIND ANSWERS.
AND THAT SOUNDED GOOD.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD THAT YOU PROVIDE US.
Johnson: JEFF AND ALICE WERE THERE TO WELCOME US.
KEITH AND KATHY, WE ARE HUMBLED THAT YOU JOIN US.
Johnson: AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE.
All: AMEN.
Johnson: THERE WAS A FEELING OF WARMTH AND LOVE.
A TOAST TO EVERYBODY'S NEW BROTHER AND SISTER.
EVERYONE IN THE GROUP CALLED JEFF DAD AND --
AND ALICE MOM. THEY WERE --
THEY WERE VERY MUCH LIKE A BIG FAMILY.
AMEN. WELCOME.
Currie: WE WERE DISCOURAGED FROM, UH,
INTERACTING WITH, UH, FRIENDS AND FAMILY
BECAUSE JEFF AND ALICE
WERE BECOMING OUR NEW FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
HEY, MOM. I KNOW IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY NEXT WEEK.
SO I, UH, JUST WANTED TO LEAVE YOU A MESSAGE...
HE WOULD NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE PHONE CALLS OUT.
IT'S GOING GOOD AT THE MOMENT...
UNLESS IT WAS HIS IDEA.
YOU KNOW THE RULES.
AND ALL INCOMING PHONE CALLS
AND FOR THAT MATTER OUTGOING PHONE CALLS WERE MONITORED.
HE SAID, "NOW THAT YOU'RE WITH ME,
YOUR FAMILY AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS THAT --
THAT YOU'VE HAD IN THE PAST, THEY HATE YOU."
AND HE DROVE THAT INTO PEOPLE'S HEADS
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
UH, HEY, JEFF. YOU WANTED TO SEE ME?
Currie: I WAS, UH, CHASTISED IF I SHOWED INDEPENDENCE.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
I WOULD JUST GO OFF AND DO --
DO WHATEVER I WANTED TO DO,
WHICH MADE HIM VERY ANGRY.
YOU DISAPPEARED.
A FRIEND OF MINE FROM BUFFALO
HAD ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO GO TO FLORIDA.
AND, UH, AND I SAID, "SURE!"
AND I JUST MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO GO.
AND SO I WENT,
AND I WAS GONE FOR A WEEK.
CAME BACK AND JEFFREY WAS, UH, VERY ANGRY WITH ME.
BECAUSE YOU ABANDONED YOUR FAMILY.
NO, LOOK, I -- I -- I -- I'M SORRY.
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT YOU COULD DO
UNLESS YOU ASKED HIM FIRST.
AND THERE WAS NO QUESTIONING HIS REASONING.
HE WAS ALWAYS RIGHT.
JUST LEAVE.
IT WAS, UH, IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER
THIS BEGAN HAPPENING THAT JEFFREY BEGAN TO,
UH, VIEW HIMSELF AS A PROPHET.
HE BEGAN TO FEEL THAT HE WAS CALLED BY GOD
TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL
AND TO BE THE VOICE OF GOD ON EARTH.
AND THAT WAS AN ISSUE FOR ME
BECAUSE I STILL RESISTED A LITTLE BIT.
ONE NIGHT HE WALKED IN, LAID HIS PISTOL ON THE TABLE
IN FRONT OF HIM.
SO YOU KNEW THAT WHATEVER HE SAID,
YOU'D BETTER REMEMBER.
Johnson: AS I SAW THE INCREASING CONTROL THAT HE HAD
OVER THE PEOPLE --
NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE OUTSIDE CONTACT,
HAVING PEOPLE CALL HIM DAD AND -- AND ALICE MOM,
I THINK THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW,
KINDA CAME TOGETHER TO REALLY ALARM ME.
I HAD ASKED HIM A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
YOU OUGHTA BE FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS IN A CLASS.
AND MY QUESTIONS WEREN'T OUT OF LINE OR ANYTHING.
HE ANSWERED 'EM.
I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.
IT SEEMED FINE.
AFTER CLASS, UM,
ONE OF THE GROUP MEMBERS
CAME UP AND TOLD ME, UH,
NEVER TO ASK HIM A QUESTION AGAIN.
Woman: KEITH?
I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE MEETING.
YOU CANNOT TALK TO HIM LIKE THAT.
I JUST ASKED A QUESTION.BUT IT WAS IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.
HE DOESN'T LIKE THAT KIND OF THING, OKAY?
NO ONE EVER CONTRADICTED HIM.
NO ONE EVER ASKED QUESTIONS.
IF I WERE YOU, I JUST WOULDN'T DO THAT.
OKAY.
I WAS THE ONLY ONE, I GUESS, STUPID ENOUGH
TO ASK HIM QUESTIONS.
HE WALKED IN,
LAID HIS PISTOL ON THE TABLE IN FRONT OF HIM...
JUST LAID IT DOWN POINTING TOWARDS THE AUDIENCE.
IT WAS NOT THE FACT OF THE GUN THAT BOTHERED ME.
IT WAS THE DIRECTION IT WAS POINTED.
HE DIDN'T PICK IT UP. IT JUST SAT THERE,
AND YOU LOOKED DOWN THE BARREL OF THE GUN
WHILE YOU WERE IN CLASS.
SO YOU KNEW THAT WHATEVER HE SAID,
YOU'D BETTER REMEMBER.
THERE WAS NO QUESTIONING THE PROPHET
BECAUSE THE PROPHET TOOK, UH,
HIS ORDERS FROM, UH, FROM GOD.
AND THAT WAS WHERE THE DANGER LIED.
PEOPLE WITHIN THE GROUP, UM,
HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FOLLOW THE PROPHET.
THEY BEGAN TO FEAR JEFFREY MORE THAN THEY FEARED GOD.
HAVEN'T YOU NOTICED THAT HIS MESSAGES
HAVE SEEMED KIND OF VIOLENT?
HEY, LOOK. IF YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH JEFF,
YOU KNOW WHAT? BRING IT UP TO HIM.
DON'T GET ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF COMPETITION, UH,
WITHIN THE GROUP TO WIN JEFFREY'S FAVOR.
PEOPLE ACTUALLY BEGAN SNITCHING ON ONE ANOTHER.
"SO-AND-SO DID THIS.
SO-AND-SO DID THAT."
JEFFREY HAD TURNED THEM INTO,
UH, LITTLE SPIES ON ONE ANOTHER.
Johnson: THE SESSION IS WHERE, YOU KNOW,
IF SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING OUT OF LINE,
THEY WOULD SIT THE PERSON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM,
AND EVERYONE ELSE WOULD SIT AROUND IN A CIRCLE.
AND THEY WOULD, UH,
HURL VARIOUS ACCUSATIONS AT YOU AND --
AND, YOU KNOW, TELL YOU HOW... WHAT A TERRIBLE PERSON YOU WERE.
AND THEY WOULD DO THAT ALL NIGHT LONG.
THE FIRST SESSION I WAS SUBJECT TO WENT ON FOR HOURS
AND HOURS AND HOURS.
AND IT WAS TO JUST TEAR YOU DOWN.
TO NOT SAY ANYTHING THAT JEFF WOULD NOT SAY HIMSELF,
NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT JEFF DID NOT BELIEVE HIMSELF.
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE OF ONE HEART
AND ONE MIND WITH JEFF.
I JUST SAT THERE AND TOOK WHATEVER THEY SAID
AND DIDN'T RESPOND.
YOU RESIST THE BEST YOU CAN.
AND IT TENDED TO...
DRIVE PEOPLE APART.
THERE WAS NOT ANYONE THAT YOU COULD TRUST.
Currie: AS TIME WENT ON,
HE BECAME MORE AND MORE CONTROLLING,
TRYING TO KEEP EVERYBODY IN ONE PLACE.
AND THAT ONE PLACE WAS UNDER HIS THUMB.
JEFFREY WANTED TO KILL EVERYONE
WITHIN A 1 MILE RADIUS OF THE TEMPLE.
GOD WILLS US TO CAST ASIDE THOSE WHO ARE WEAK.
Currie: THE FIRST TIME THAT I EVER HEARD JEFFREY
MENTION MURDERING ANYBODY,
THAT WAS, UM, THAT WAS QUITE A SHOCK.
A NONBELIEVER AMONGST US.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?
Johnson: WE WERE IN CLASS, AND JEFF BEGAN, UH,
TALKING ABOUT THE AVERYS.
INSUBORDINATE WOMAN, INTERRUPTIVE CHILDREN,
AND A MAN WHO CAN'T CONTROL HIS LIFE.
THAT WILL BRING US ALL DOWN.
HE DIDN'T LIKE DENNIS 'CAUSE HE WAS WEAK
AND HE WAS CONFRONTATIONAL.
I GUESS HE ASKED TOO MANY QUESTIONS OR QUE--
YOU KNOW, QUESTIONED JEFF'S LEADERSHIP TOO MUCH.
MR. AVERY WAS A MILD-MANNERED, UH, PERSON
WHO WAS LED AROUND BY HIS WIFE.
AND JEFFREY BELIEVED THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE
THE PAIR OF COJONES
TO STAND UP TO HER.
HE SAID POINT-BLANK, "THE AVERYS AREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT."
THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE KILLED.
IF THEE OWN EYE
OFFEND THEE,
PLUCK IT OUT.
REMOVE IT FROM THY VIEW.
LET'S REMOVE DENNIS AVERY
FROM OUR VIEW.
BUT I NEVER THOUGHT JEFFREY WOULD GO TO THAT EXTENT,
TO, UH, TO MURDER ANYBODY.
AND WHEN I PRAYED TO THE LORD,
THE LORD SAID, "A MAN WILL DIE."
Johnson: MY WIFE AND -- KATHY AND I, WE MET WITH JEFF,
AND, UH, JEFF
EXPLAINED THAT, UH, DENNIS PATRICK
WAS GOING TO BE KILLED
UNLESS HE COULD FIND SOMEONE TO INTERCEDE FOR HIM.
AND "INTERCEDE" MEANT "HAVE ORAL SEX WITH JEFF."
I -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE COMING TO US WITH THIS.
TODAY, KATHY WILL SAVE A MAN'S LIFE.
AND, UH, KATHY SAID SHE WOULD.
I VOLUNTEERED.
IT'S GOD'S WILL.
IN...
UNDER THE RULES THAT JEFF HAD ESTABLISHED, UH,
I HAD TO CONSENT AS WELL.
IF SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE IS ON THE LINE,
YOU CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS YOU -- YOU NEVER IMAGINED
YOU COULD DO.
AND SO, UH...
I CONSENTED.
WHEN YOU DON'T SEE ANY -- ANY OTHER OPTION,
UH...
WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO?
[ INHALES, SIGHS ]
WELL, YOU BETTER TURN THAT OFF FOR A MINUTE.
WE LOOK AT THEM WITH DISDAIN
BECAUSE WE ARE THE PURE.
THEY'LL PAY.
THEY'LL BE PUNISHED.
Currie; JEFFREY'S TEACHINGS
BEGAN TO GET DARKER FROM THAT POINT ON.
WHEN IT CAME TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE SCRIPTURES,
JEFFREY FOCUSED IN ON THE HORRORS AND THE VIOLENCE.
AND HE WAS TEACHING THAT HE WAS A WARRIOR-PROPHET,
THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO BE LIKE A WARRIOR.
Currie: JEFFREY HAD US SITTING AROUND THE DINING ROOM TABLE.
AND HE BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT THE, UH,
KIRTLAND TEMPLE.
RIGHT NOW THE CHURCH IS FILLED WITH LIARS.
NONBELIEVERS!
Currie: THE KIRTLAND TEMPLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE PLACE
WHERE CHRIST COMES BACK TO THE EARTH.
ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO FOSTER THE LORD'S RETURN?
BUT JEFFREY WAS EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE CHURCH IN PART
BECAUSE OF HIS TEACHINGS.
JEFFREY WANTED TO KILL EVERYONE
WITHIN A 1 MILE RADIUS OF THE TEMPLE
AND TAKE OVER THE TEMPLE
SO HE COULD BRING CHRIST INTO THE WORLD.
HE WAS MAKING PLANS
TO MURDER FAMILIES LAYING IN THEIR BEDS,
MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT 50 OR 60 PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH DO NOT DESERVE TO LIVE.
Currie: HE THEN TOLD US WHAT OUR DUTIES WERE GOING TO BE
AND WHO WE WERE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING.
HE EXPECTED US TO, UH,
TO FOLLOW HIM, THE WARRIOR-PROPHET,
INTO BATTLE.
THERE WAS A HUSH... A QUIET THAT CAME OVER THE ROOM.
EVERYONE WAS ON KIND OF LIKE PINS AND NEEDLES,
SITTING THERE WITH THEIR JAWS OPEN.
THERE WASN'T ANYONE OF US THAT OBJECTED.
NOBODY WOULD OBJECT BECAUSE HE WAS THE PROPHET.
EVERYONE JUST SAT IN SILENCE, BASICALLY.
OR I DON'T THINK THEY REALLY EXPECTED TO HAVE TO DO
WHAT JEFFREY WAS ASKING THEM TO DO.
JEFFREY, UH, BROUGHT OUT SOME OF THE ARMORY THAT HE HAD.
HE WANTED TO FAMILIARIZE US WITH THESE WEAPONS
SO WE KNEW HOW TO HANDLE THEM.
YOU MUST KNOW THAT I AM SERIOUS.
WHEN I SAW THESE WEAPONS, I KNEW HE MEANT WHAT HE INTENDED.
HE --
HE JUST WASN'T GONNA BACK DOWN.
YOU WILL BE MY HOLY WARRIORS.
HE PASSED THE .45 AROUND, UH,
THE TABLE, WANTED TO HAVE EVERYBODY FEEL THE WEIGHT OF IT.
HE DID THE SAME THING WITH THE AK-47.
AND IT BECAME MY TURN TO HOLD ONTO IT.
I HAD TO PRETEND THAT, UH,
THAT I WOULD BE WILLING TO, UH,
TO KILL FOR JEFFREY,
FOR THE PROPHET, JEFFREY.
I HAD TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT FACE
WITHOUT HIM SEEING HOW AFFECTED I WAS
BY WHAT HE WAS SAYING.
SO I JUST KEPT MY FACE DOWN
AND I FOUGHT WITH EVERY --
EVERY PARTICLE OF MY BEING NOT TO REVEAL
WHAT I WAS THINKING.
AND I WAS THINKING THAT THE MAN WAS ACTUALLY...
GONE OVER THE EDGE.
IF THAT WASN'T A SURPRISE ENOUGH,
HE ALSO SAID THAT ONLY 12 OF US WERE GONNA SURVIVE.
THERE WAS, UH, 16 OF US SITTING AROUND THE TABLE,
WHICH MEANT FOUR OF US WEREN'T GOING TO SURVIVE.
MY HEART SANK INTO MY STOMACH
BECAUSE I KNEW JEFFREY WAS GOING TO KILL ME.
♪♪
I KNEW IF I LOOKED AT HIM
HE WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL WHAT I WAS THINKING.
I HAD TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT FACE
AND NOT REACT TO IT.
AND I HAD TO PRETEND THAT, UH,
I WAS WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH, UH,
WITH THE ATTACK.
THERE WERE 16 PEOPLE AROUND THE TABLE.
FOUR OF US WERE GONNA HAVE TO DIE.
I DIDN'T FLEE AT THAT MOMENT
BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF JEFFREY.
IT WAS THAT SIMPLE.
HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY SAY WHO WAS GOING TO BE KILLED.
BUT HAVING KNOWN JEFFREY FOR SO LONG,
HE COULD TELL THAT I WANTED TO LEAVE.
AND HE WOULDN'T LET ME LEAVE.
I KNOW HE WOULDN'T LET ME LEAVE.
THERE WAS A CAKE THAT WAS SERVED ONE DAY FOR, UH,
FOR DINNER, AFTER DINNER.
AND, UH, KRISTEN SAID, "WHO'S THE CAKE FOR?"
AND JEFFREY SAID, "IT'S KEVIN'S GOING-AWAY CAKE."
I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE WORDS THAT CAN DESCRIBE THE MOMENT.
HE KIND OF BLEW IT OFF LIKE HE WAS JUST JOKING,
BUT I TOOK THAT AS A THREAT.
MY HEART SANK INTO MY STOMACH
BECAUSE I KNEW THAT JEFFREY WAS GOING TO KILL ME.
MY BEST FRIEND WAS WILLING TO TAKE MY LIFE
TO APPEASE HIS GOD.
MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO GET OUT OF THERE.
I JUST NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THERE.
SO THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I GOT UP AS NORMAL.
I GOT DRESSED.
AND I PUT MY SCRIPTURES IN MY BACKPACK.
AND I CALLED A FRIEND IN BUFFALO
TO BUY ME A BUS TICKET.
AND I GOT ON A BUS AND WENT BACK TO BUFFALO.
I DIDN'T LEAVE ANY FORWARDING ADDRESSES.
I DIDN'T LEAVE ANY NAMES.
I DIDN'T LEAVE ANY PHONE NUMBERS.
I DIDN'T LEAVE ANYTHING FOR HIM TO,
UH, BE ABLE TO TRACK ME DOWN.
I WAS SO SCARED I DIDN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE
FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND I KEPT PEEKING OUT THE WINDOWS
TO SEE -- TO SEE IF ANYBODY WAS AROUND
OR THAT I RECOGNIZED.
I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING FOLLOWED.
I WASN'T SLEEPING
BECAUSE I KEPT EXPECTING JEFFREY TO KNOCK AT THE DOOR.
HE COULDN'T FIND ME.
BUT I KNEW THAT HE WANTED TO.
JEFF, UH, ASKED FROM TIME TO TIME
IF ANYONE HAD HEARD FROM KEVIN CURRIE.
HE WANTED TO KNOW WHERE HE WAS.
KEITH, LET'S TALK FOR A MOMENT.
AND HE ALWAYS SAID, "I JUST WANT TO --
TO TELL KEVIN THAT EVERYTHING IS GOOD BETWEEN US."
YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS?
NO.
I MEAN, I'M JUST... I'M WORRIED FOR HIM.
RIGHT.
BUT KEVIN KEPT ABSOLUTELY OFF THE RADAR,
DIDN'T CONTACT FRIENDS OR FAMILY
AND MOVED EVERY 2 OR 3 MONTHS.
I SHOULDN'T WORRY. WHY AM I WORRIED?
THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK THERE WAS, YOU KNOW,
ANY IDEA OF RECONCILIATION.
WHAT HE WAS PROBABLY SAYING
WAS, "I JUST WANT YOU TO COME BACK, KEVIN,
SO I CAN KILL YOU."
I THINK HE ABSOLUTELY WANTED TO KILL KEVIN CURRIE.
HI! CAN I -- CAN I -- CAN I TALK TO AN AGENT?
I WAS IN HIDING, UH, FOR ABOUT A MONTH
BEFORE I WENT TO THE FBI.
THERE'S SOME PEOPLE IN -- IN OHIO.
I WAITED TO GO TO THE FBI
BECAUSE I KNEW I HAD UNTIL MAY 3.
MAY 3 WAS GOING TO BE THE DATE THAT WE, UH, STORMED THE TEMPLE.
THEY'RE PLANNING A MASSACRE.
THEY'RE -- THEY'RE -- THEY'RE GONNA KILL EVERYONE.
I TOLD THE FBI EVERYTHING
FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY ARRIVING IN KIRTLAND.
I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PLAN
TO TAKE OVER THE KIRTLAND TEMPLE.
I TOLD THEM JUST EVERYTHING.
THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON. THERE WERE NO CARS PARKED THERE.
THE PLACE LOOKED VACANT.
INSIDE THE HOUSE, CLOSETS WERE CLEANED OUT.
IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ANYBODY WAS THERE TO STAY.
WE HAD NO IDEA WHERE THEY HAD GONE TO
OR WHAT WAS GOING ON.
Currie: I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
WHAT -- WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO?
MAY 3 CAME AND WENT,
AND NOTHING HAPPENED ON MAY 3.
I WOULD LAY THERE TOSSING AND TURNING,
AND I WOULD END UP GETTING UP AND WATCHING TELEVISION.
I WATCHED THE NEWS, LOOKING FOR JEFFREY.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE FBI, UH,
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
THE POLICE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND THE BODIES.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
YEAH?
THE PHONE RANG. AND I PICKED IT UP.
AND IT WAS CHIEF YARBOROUGH.
HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD FOUND BODIES
AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN BURIED IN THE BARN.
HE TOLD ME THAT, UH, JOHNSON -- KEITH JOHNSON --
HAD GIVEN THEM A TIP.
AND THAT'S HOW THEY FOUND THEM.
SO WE -- WE GOT UP AND --
AND, UH, WENT OVER TO THE CLASS.
UH, AFTER EVERYONE HAD SHOWED UP,
JEFF CAME IN AND SAID, "THE AVERYS ARE DEAD."
HE TALKED ABOUT, UH,
KILLING DENNIS AND HOW HE DIED VERY EASILY.
JEFF HAD TAKEN, UH,
DENNIS AVERY TO THE BARN
AND BOUND HIM WITH DUCT TAPE
AND, UH,
PUSHED HIM INTO THE PIT
AND SHOT HIM THERE.
NEXT WAS, UM, CHERYL AVERY.
JEFF HAD SAID THAT -- THAT SHE FOUGHT A LOT HARDER THAN --
THAN DENNIS.
HE SHOT HER -- YEAH, PUSHED HER INTO THE PIT
AND SHOT HER,
THEN BROUGHT IN ONE OF THE GIRLS
AND, UH,
AND PUSHED HER IN THE PIT AND SHOT HER.
BUT SHE DIDN'T DIE.
SHE WAS STILL STRUGGLING. SO HE SHOT HER AGAIN.
AND SHE STILL WOULDN'T DIE AND,
I BELIEVE HE SHOT HER A THIRD TIME.
AND THEN, UH, HE SHOT THE, UH,
LAST TWO.
AND, UM, JEFF WASN'T REMORSEFUL AT ALL.
HE, UH...
SEEMED RATHER CHEERFUL ABOUT IT ALL,
KIND OF LIKE A --
A SCIENTIST DISSECTING A BUG.
HE DISSECTED THE MURDERS.
AND HE CALLED ON EVERY PERSON ONE BY ONE
TO TELL THEM HOW THEY FELT ABOUT THE AVERYS' DEATHS.
I WAS DEVASTATED.
BUT I DIDN'T PUT IT IN THOSE EXACT WORDS.
PEOPLE IN THE GROUP DIDN'T COMPLAIN ANYMORE,
OR THERE WAS A -- A PLACE OUT IN THE BARN FOR YOU.
I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO --
TO KILL PEOPLE AGAIN, AND I HAD TO DO IT.
I TOLD HIM EVERYTHING I COULD REMEMBER ABOUT THE MURDERS.
THEN THEY, UH, ASKED ME TO --
TO DRAW A PICTURE
OF WHERE I THOUGHT THE BODIES WERE.
AND SO I -- I DREW 'EM A MAP OF THE BARN.
THERE WAS JUST SUCH AN OVERWHELMING SENSE OF RELIEF,
OF FINALLY BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.
AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY BELIEVED ME.
Reporter: IT TOOK ABOUT 8 HOURS
FOR LOCAL POLICE AND FEDERAL AGENTS
TO DIG THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE BARN
AND EXHUME THE BODIES.
IT WAS A COLD MORNING.
THE GROUND WAS REAL WET, HEAVY CLAY.
AS WE STARTED DIGGING FARTHER AND FARTHER BELOW,
THERE WAS A REAL PUTRID ODOR COMING OUT OF THE PIT.
AND I STARTED TO GAG.
AS EACH BODY WAS DISCOVERED,
WE DISCOVERED THERE WAS DUCT TAPE
ON THE FACE, HANDS AND THE LEGS.
I BEGAN TO MENTALLY IMAGINE THE BRUTALITY,
HOW INDIFFERENT AND CRUEL AND INHUMANE IT WAS.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
Currie: IT WAS A DIFFICULT PHONE CALL TO LISTEN TO.
THE AVERYS WERE AN INNOCENT FAMILY
WHO WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY LIKED JEFFREY.
THEY WANTED TO FOLLOW JEFFREY.
AND, UH, IT ENDED UP RUINING THEIR LIVES.
I WAS JUST SO BESIDE MYSELF.
IT WAS JUST SO SHOCKING
THAT I DIDN'T HAVE WORDS FOR HIM
BECAUSE I WAS SO ANGRY.
AS MUCH AS I KNEW HE DIDN'T LIKE THEM,
I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT HE DID IT.
HE ACTUALLY DID IT.
I TURNED THE NEWS ON. THEY SHOWED THE --
THE, UH, FARMHOUSE, AND THEY SHOWED THE BARN.
Reporter: THE BODY OF A MAN WAS FOUND LAST NIGHT,
TWO OR THREE OTHERS THIS AFTERNOON.
Currie: AND THEY TALKED ABOUT,
UH, THAT'S WHERE THE MURDERS TOOK PLACE.
Reporter: DENNIS AND CHERYL AVERY WANTED OUT.
I'M TOLD THAT'S WHEN THE AVERYS
AND THEIR THREE LITTLE GIRLS WERE EXECUTED,
THEIR BODIES BURIED IN THE BARN.
I SAT AND CRIED KNOWING THAT THAT'S
WHERE THE AVERYS WERE KILLED.
Lundgren: MR. AVERY SOUGHT TO LEAD PEOPLE TO FALSE GODS.
AND YES, I PUT HIM TO DEATH.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE.
Lundgren: I CAN NOT SAY THAT I'M SORRY
I DID WHAT GOD COMMANDED ME TO DO.
I AM A PROPHET OF GOD.
Johnson: LOOKING BACK, YOU WONDER ABOUT
ALL THE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
AND WHAT YOU COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY.
EVEN TO THIS DAY, THE --
THE MURDERS, UH, NEVER GO AWAY.
THEY CONTINUALLY BREAK MY HEART
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THEM.
I FEEL DESPERATELY SORRY THAT THEY LOST THEIR LIVES
WHEN THEY HAD SO MUCH MORE LIFE TO GO.
SEEING THE PHOTOS MAKES YOU, UH...
YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY MUST'VE LOVED ONE ANOTHER.
AND THINK ABOUT THE -- THE TRUST --
THE MISPLACED TRUST THEY PUT IN JEFF LIKE,
UH, SO MANY OF US DID.
AND I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THEY --
THEY WENT THROUGH.
I'M GONNA TURN THE PAGE
BECAUSE I CAN'T LOOK AT 'EM ANYMORE.
Currie: IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT.
JEFFREY, UH, BETRAYED ME.
I THOUGHT I WAS A FAMILY MEMBER,
AND I THOUGHT I WAS A BROTHER AND SISTER
TO BOTH OF THEM,
TO, UH, HIM AND HIS WIFE.
IT REALLY AND DEEPLY HURT ME.
I WAS, UH, SO THRILLED, UH,
IN THE BEGINNING TO, UH, TO HA--
TO BE A PART OF A FAMILY.
AND, UH, I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED IN THE END.
I FOUND I BLAMED MYSELF.
THE FEAR THAT THEY MUST'VE FELT BEING TAKEN
INTO THE, UH, BARN, ONE BY ONE...
EVEN THOUGH I LEFT,
EVEN THOUGH I WENT TO THE AUTHORITIES,
IT STILL DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS ENOUGH.
I STILL FIND IT HARD TO MOVE ON.