Send us a text

One of the pillars of the Remnant Fellowship Church is submission. Submission to God, a wife's submission to her husband, and a child's submission to their parents. If children aren't submissive and obedient and quiet, the Remnant Fellowship recommends corporal punishment. At the church's advice, Sonya and Joseph Smith put their 8-year-old son, Josef, through a series of atrocious punishments. In 2003, Josef finally succumbed to his brutal injuries. Ex-members of the cult suggest that the group's leaders should be held responsible for their negligent advice. Instead the group persists, and continues to perpetuate a toxic cycle of abuse.

Writing and research by Angelina Villeseche.

Original music and audio production by Louis Levesque.
For inquiries: [email protected]

F O L L O W  U S ! ! !

I N S T A G R A M -- @murdermurdernews

T W I T T E R --  @mmurdernews

F A C E B O O K -- https://www.facebook.com/mmntruecrime/

T I K T O K -- @murdermurdernews

Y O U T U B E -- MurderMurder News

Join our Facebook Group | to chat about true crime, and to join our virtual book club!

Join us on the Picnic app | to chat with us about the cases that fascinate you!

Use our link to sign up for 25% off Nuna - Our fave app for mental well-being!

Check out MurderMurder.news for the latest breaking true crime news!

For business inquiries: [email protected]
Submit a  spooky story: https://murdermurder.news/story-submission-form/

---
LINKS + SOURCES:

https://www.weighdown.com/how-weigh-down-works/weigh-down-approach/

http://www.amywelborn.com/weighdown/article.html

https://www.facebook.com/WeighDownDiet/

shorturl.at/jwBFY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwen_Shamblin_Lara

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Lara

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/controversy-surrounded-brentwood-church-founder-for-years-gwen-shamblin-lara-among-those-presumed-dead

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_v._Smith

https://www.newsweek.com/way-down-gwen-shamblin-lara-daughter-hannah-shamblin-ex-husband-david-shamblin-1634581

https://www.grunge.com/620584/what-happened-to-the-remnant-fellowship-church-cult-after-gwen-shamblin-laras-death/

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/gwen-shamblins-will-potentially-worth-millions-leaves-nothing-to-her-remnant-fellowship-church

https://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/2kdpyp/this_is_gwen_shamblin_she_is_the_leader_of_a_cult/

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a37804047/the-way-down-gwen-shamblin-death-part-two-hbo-max/

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/april/16.26.html

https://www.deseret.com/2004/7/5/19837937/remnant-leader-blasts-abuse-investigation

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/sep/29/gwen-shamblin-docuseries-the-way-down-remnant-fellowship

https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/joseph-sonya-smith-still-in-prison-now

Support the show