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More 'Starvation Cult' Bodies Found


FILE: Forensic experts and homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, gather to exhume bodies of starvation cult victims, in Kilifi County, Kenya. Taken May 9, 2023.
FILE: Forensic experts and homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, gather to exhume bodies of starvation cult victims, in Kilifi County, Kenya. Taken May 9, 2023.

SHAKAHOLA FOREST, KENYA - Investigators unearthed 29 more bodies on Friday in a continuing search for victims of a doomsday cult in the country's southeast.

Authorities this week have searched for remains in shallow graves scattered throughout the Shakahola forest and for any survivors as hundreds of people are still reported missing.

The death toll now stands at 179.

Regional official Rhoda Onyancha said the search had widened to other parts of the forest on Friday. The exhumations will resume on Saturday.

Among the corpses exhumed on Friday, 12 were of children, a grave digger at the site of exhumations, who requested not to be named, told Reuters.

A Kenya court denied bail on May 11 to Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, leader of the Good News International Church, who has been accused of ordering his followers to starve their children and themselves to death so they could go to heaven before the end of the world.

The accused has not yet been required to enter a plea. His lawyer has said he was cooperating with the police in their investigation.

Earlier this year, the pastor was arrested and then released on bail on suspicion of the murder of two children by starvation and suffocation. He returned to Shakahola forest after he was freed and brought forward his predicted doomsday from August to April 15, relatives of his adherents say.

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