A small doomsday cult led by an enigmatic figure, shrouded in mystery and disappearance.
Simon Kadwell, originally born as Gary Feltham, was an English-born individual who became the leader of the Truth Fellowship, a new religious movement. Under the assumed identity of Simon Kadwell, a name he reportedly stole from a coworker in the 1990s, he moved to Australia. Kadwell, his partner Chantelle McDougall, their daughter Leela, and friend Tony Popic mysteriously vanished in 2007 from Nannup, Western Australia, leading to extensive police investigations and international interest.
Kadwell led the Truth Fellowship, which had about 40 followers worldwide, primarily communicating through an online forum named “The Gateway.” He authored two books, “Servers of the Divine Plan” and “The New Call,” which promoted beliefs that humanity would enter a higher state of consciousness after a 75,000-year cycle. His teachings, combining elements of doomsday predictions and spiritual evolution, were disseminated among his small but dedicated following.
The group’s disappearance was marked by unusual circumstances; they left behind personal belongings and a note saying “Gone to Brazil,” yet there was no record of them leaving the country, and their bank accounts remained untouched, deepening the mystery. Despite extensive searches and public appeals, including theories that they might have died or intentionally gone off-grid to avoid detection, no conclusive evidence has been found regarding their fate.
Kadwell’s background and the circumstances leading up to the disappearance highlight a complex personality described by acquaintances and neighbors as paranoid, particularly about electromagnetic fields, which he believed were harmful to him and his family. This paranoia extended to various conspiracy theories, including those involving extraterrestrial activities, which he frequently discussed.
In July 2007, Kadwell, McDougall, their daughter Leela, and Tony Popic vanished. Their disappearance was preceded by peculiar behavior from Kadwell, who exhibited paranoia about electromagnetic fields and buried magnets around his property as a means of protection. The group left a note saying “Gone to Brazil” and sold a car in Busselton for $4,000 before disappearing. Speculations suggested they might have fled to New Zealand and then to Rio Branco, Brazil, a city known for religious cults. However, immigration records did not support this theory.
Multiple theories have emerged regarding the fate of the group. Some believe that Kadwell may have persuaded the group to end their lives together. Others speculate that they might be alive, living off-grid under new identities. The case remains open with the police treating it as a missing persons case. No conclusive evidence has emerged to confirm either their survival or demise.
Personal accounts describe Kadwell as paranoid and obsessed with electromagnetic fields. Relatives of Chantelle McDougall speculate that Kadwell may have convinced the group to hide, possibly continuing to scam people online. Kadwell’s history of identity theft and deceptive behavior contributes to the ambiguity surrounding the group’s fate.
As of now, the whereabouts of Simon Kadwell, Chantelle McDougall, Leela, and Tony Popic remain unknown, leaving the fate of Kadwell and his followers as one of Australia’s more enigmatic cases involving a new religious movement, attracting both media attention and ongoing speculation.
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