A polygamist cult leader whose beliefs led to the brutal murders of a woman and a young boy.
In the annals of criminal history, few cases are as disturbing and complex as that of Peter Lucas Moses Jr. Born in 1981, Moses would go on to become the leader of a radical religious sect that adhered to an extreme interpretation of the Black Hebrew Israelite faith. This fringe group, based in Durham, North Carolina, would eventually be at the center of a horrifying criminal case that shocked the nation.
Moses’ early life remains largely undocumented, but his later years paint a picture of a man who reportedly used religious beliefs as a tool for manipulation and control. He claimed to receive direct revelations from God, using these supposed divine messages to exert authority over his followers. The group lived in isolation from mainstream society, with Moses dictating most aspects of their daily lives.
The sect led by Moses combined elements of Jewish and Christian practices with Black liberation theology. At its core was the belief that African-Americans were the true descendants of the ancient Israelites. Moses took this ideology to extremes, creating a household where he was the unquestioned authority figure.
In Durham, Moses lived with several women he considered his “wives” and their children. These women were required to work to support him and address him as “Lord,” highlighting the level of control he maintained over the group. The household operated under strict rules, with severe consequences for disobedience.
The true extent of Moses’ crimes came to light in 2010 with the murders of 4-year-old Jadon Higganbothan and 28-year-old Antoinetta McKoy. Jadon, who was not Moses’ biological son, became a target due to Moses’ belief that the child was gay. In October 2010, Moses shot Jadon in the head in the garage of their home while music played to mask the sound of the gunshot.
Antoinetta McKoy’s murder followed in December 2010. McKoy, who had attempted to leave the group, was beaten, strangled, and shot three times by one of Moses’ wives, Vania Sisk. Moses personally participated in McKoy’s murder, shooting her after she had been beaten and choked by other group members.
The bodies of both victims were initially hidden in the house before being buried in plastic bags in the yard of a house belonging to Moses’ mother. The crimes remained undiscovered until a former member of the group came forward with information, leading to a complex investigation that uncovered the disturbing activities of Moses and his followers.
The discovery of the bodies in June 2011 led to the arrest of seven people connected to the murders, including Moses, three of his wives, his mother, sister, and brother. The case received significant media attention, both locally in North Carolina and nationally, shedding light on the dangers of extreme religious cults and the vulnerability of children and women in such groups.
In 2013, facing the possibility of the death penalty, Moses pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. Several other members of the group also faced charges related to the murders and received various sentences.
In the years following his conviction, Moses has remained incarcerated in the North Carolina prison system. His case continues to be studied by criminologists and psychologists interested in the dynamics of cult behavior and the factors that can lead to such extreme violence in the name of religious beliefs.
image via Daily Mail
