A mysterious group entangled in allegations of child abuse and espionage.
Founder: Marion Pettie
Founded: 1960s
Location: United States
The Finders, a group often referred to as a cult, came into public consciousness primarily due to a significant event in 1987. The group was initially formed in 1972 in Washington, D.C. by Marion Pettie. Described as an alternative lifestyle community, The Finders emphasized intellectual pursuit and communal living, but it was their involvement in controversial activities and practices that garnered national attention and subsequent investigation.
The group’s public scrutiny began when two men associated with The Finders were arrested in Tallahassee, Florida, with six seemingly neglected children. This incident sparked an investigation into the group’s activities. Authorities initially suspected child abuse and neglect as the children were in poor condition. However, upon further investigation, the mothers of the children were identified, and they claimed that the children were on a trip, and no harm was intended. Subsequently, charges against the men were dropped due to insufficient evidence of criminal activity.
Further complicating the narrative around The Finders were allegations involving the CIA. In the early 1990s, it was claimed that the investigation into The Finders had been obstructed due to their supposed connections with the CIA. These allegations were, however, not substantiated by evidence from the investigations which concluded there was no proven criminal activity or CIA involvement.
The Finders were also linked to bizarre practices. Reports surfaced that their properties were used for unconventional activities, including the possession of detailed instructions for obtaining children, which spurred rumors of child trafficking. Despite these disturbing allegations, no conclusive evidence was presented to support claims of systematic child trafficking or ritual abuse.
Documents released by the FBI in later years have shed some light on the group, describing them as a collective of intellectuals living an alternative lifestyle, not engaging in any illegal activities, including the ritualized abuse or satanic practices often attributed to them in media reports. However, these documents also highlight the difficulties in investigating and conclusively understanding the full scope of The Finders’ activities due to missing or incomplete records.
Following the investigations in the late 1980s, The Finders continued to face public suspicion and media scrutiny. The group gradually disbanded in the 1990s, with members dispersing and the communal lifestyle dissolving. Marion Pettie, the group’s founder, passed away in the early 2000s.
This mix of alleged connections to intelligence agencies, controversial child-rearing practices, and unconventional lifestyle choices has made The Finders a subject of continued interest and speculation, illustrating the challenges in distinguishing fact from sensationalized narrative in the examination of new religious movements and cults.
image via Skeptical Inquirer
