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Suicide of Children of God's heir apparent |
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Tucson, AZ, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- The heir apparent of an international religious cult committed suicide after revealing he stabbed one of his former nannies to death in Arizona. Ricky Rodriguez, 29, was raised by the founder of the so-called Children of God in a series of global communes marked by intense religiosity and a no-holds-barred sexual milieu that included small children, the New York Times reported Saturday. Rodriguez was dubbed "the prince" and expected to lead the group when the end of the world came. He left the group in 2000. Rodriguez's estranged wife said he struggled for years from sexual abuse inflicted on him and his sisters by their nannies and other cult members. One week ago Rodriguez invited a former nanny to dinner and stabbed her to death, Tucson police said. Then he drove to California and shot himself to death. The cult, now known as the Family International, once attracted celebrity followers like the parents of River Phoenix and Fleetwood Mac guitarist. A spokeswoman for the group said it has long since abandoned the sexual promiscuity and attendant abuse that damaged many children and followers.
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