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Trafficked: The Incredible Survival of Iasia Sweeting
The most devastating crimes don’t always start with violence — sometimes, they begin with a promise. A voice that sounds enlightened. Someone who claims to see something special in you… and then, piece by piece, rewrites what love means. What truth means. What safety means.
This is the story of Iasia Sweeting, a gifted teenage artist who vanished in 2010 — and was found years later weighing just fifty-nine pounds in a Gwinnett County hotel room. Her captor, Calvin McIntosh, a self-proclaimed prophet tied to the Nuwaubian Nation of Moors, ruled through doctrine and deprivation. Alongside his daughter, Najlaa McIntosh, he turned faith into a weapon — a theology where obedience meant holiness and hunger was purification.
But perhaps most haunting: this didn’t happen in secret. It happened in plain sight — inside an Extended Stay America filled with guests and staff who heard cries... and did nothing. In this episode, Bailey and Chelsea unpack not just what happened, but how: the psychology of coercive control, the sociological blind spots that enabled it, and the survivor who reclaimed her voice after the world stopped listening.
RESOURCES:
1-888-373-7888 | 📱 Text “HELP” to 233733 | humantraffickinghotline.org
Confidential, 24/7, multilingual support for victims, survivors, and concerned witnesses.
1-800-656-4673 | rainn.org
The largest anti–sexual violence organization in the U.S., offering free, confidential crisis support.
1-844-762-8483 | strongheartshelpline.org
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) | thehotline.org
24/7 support for anyone experiencing emotional, physical, or spiritual abuse in relationships.
Education and recovery resources for survivors of high-control groups, cults, and coercive environments.
Resources addressing abuse within faith communities and spiritual institutions.
1-800-334-2836 | gcadv.org
Local support, shelter access, and advocacy services across Georgia.
Founded by survivor Iasia Sweeting, this nonprofit helps survivors heal through art, equine therapy, and empowerment training.
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app!
Want to recommend a wild case or just give s a shout?Contact us at [email protected]
For Wildcider Merch, visit www.wildcidepodcast.com
Find us on Facebook@ Wildcide Podcast. Follow us on Instagram @wildcidepodcast
PS: Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.
WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
References:
11Alive. (2018, September 14). Father accused of rape, incest, starving 15-month-old daughter to death enters guilty plea. 11Alive. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/father-accused-of-rape-incest-starving-15-month-old-daughter-to-death-enters-guilty-plea/85-595993234
American Broadcasting Company (CBS News). (2014, November 14). Georgia baby’s death leads to charges of murder, child abuse, incest. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-babys-death-leads-to-charges-of-murder-child-abuse-incest/
Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore LLP. (2018, November 15). Gwinnett jury awards $13.8M to mother of baby starved to death in cult case. Law.com Daily Report Online. https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2018/11/15/gwinnett-jury-awards-13-8m-to-mother-of-baby-starved-to-death-in-cult-case/
Courthouse News Service. (2016, May 9). Baby’s estate seeks damages for starvation. Courthouse News. https://www.courthousenews.com/babys-estate-seeks-damages-for-starvation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Deitch + Rogers. (2018, November 14). Deitch + Rogers obtains $46M verdict for infant’s death. Victim Attorneys. https://victimattorneys.com/deitch-rogers-obtains-46m-verdict-for-infants-death/
Dr. Steve Eichel. (n.d.). Forensic cases. https://drsteveeichel.com/forensic-cases
Gwinnett County Police Department. (2010, April 14). Incident report – Runaway juvenile (Case #10-043451). Listed in Sweeting v. Extended Stay America discovery, Bates Nos. 000018–19.
Gwinnett County. (2014, November 14). Homicide investigation: Homicide investigation press release. GwinnettCounty.com. https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/newsandevents/NewsDetails?news=PolicePressReleases/HomicidnvestigationHomicidevestigation
Law.com. (2018). Sweeting v. Extended Stay CPTO [Court filing PDF]. Law.com. https://images.law.com/contrib/content/uploads/documents/404/22632/Sweeting-v.-Extended-Stay-CPTO.pdf
News3LV. (2023, February 5). Middle Georgia’s cult legacy: The Nuwaubian Nation. News3LV. https://news3lv.com/news/offbeat/middle-georgias-cult-legacy-the-nuwaubian-nation
Six Mile Post. (2023, April 14). Iasia Sweeting raises awareness for trafficking survivors. SixMilePost.com. https://sixmilepost.com/11829/features/iasia-sweeting-raises-awareness-for-trafficking-survivors/
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (2018, November 5). Gwinnett cult baby murder trial begins, bringing awful memories. AJC.com. https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/gwinnett-cult-baby-murder-trial-begins-bringing-awful-memories/WUJ4VGAz41Tv2VqxwCugvN/
WTSP. (2014, November 14). Georgia man charged with murder, rape, incest. WTSP News. https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/nation-now/georgia-man-charged-with-murder-rape-incest/67-300186569
YouTube. (2018). Father accused of starving baby to death – court coverage [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y53y69mj2cQ&list=PLdifGR5OPFpK7PIoqkZ4C9DLT4eVcc9XF&index=4
YouTube. (2018). Dr. Steve Eichel on cult dynamics [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BQz3RPKBk0
YouTube. (2018). Nuwaubian Nation explained – cult history [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIYpUun9zTc
YouTube. (2018). Gwinnett cult trial coverage [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2mTcs3SVc0
View all episodes
By Wildcidepodcast
4.8
4545 ratings
The most devastating crimes don’t always start with violence — sometimes, they begin with a promise. A voice that sounds enlightened. Someone who claims to see something special in you… and then, piece by piece, rewrites what love means. What truth means. What safety means.
This is the story of Iasia Sweeting, a gifted teenage artist who vanished in 2010 — and was found years later weighing just fifty-nine pounds in a Gwinnett County hotel room. Her captor, Calvin McIntosh, a self-proclaimed prophet tied to the Nuwaubian Nation of Moors, ruled through doctrine and deprivation. Alongside his daughter, Najlaa McIntosh, he turned faith into a weapon — a theology where obedience meant holiness and hunger was purification.
But perhaps most haunting: this didn’t happen in secret. It happened in plain sight — inside an Extended Stay America filled with guests and staff who heard cries... and did nothing. In this episode, Bailey and Chelsea unpack not just what happened, but how: the psychology of coercive control, the sociological blind spots that enabled it, and the survivor who reclaimed her voice after the world stopped listening.
RESOURCES:
1-888-373-7888 | 📱 Text “HELP” to 233733 | humantraffickinghotline.org
Confidential, 24/7, multilingual support for victims, survivors, and concerned witnesses.
1-800-656-4673 | rainn.org
The largest anti–sexual violence organization in the U.S., offering free, confidential crisis support.
1-844-762-8483 | strongheartshelpline.org
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) | thehotline.org
24/7 support for anyone experiencing emotional, physical, or spiritual abuse in relationships.
Education and recovery resources for survivors of high-control groups, cults, and coercive environments.
Resources addressing abuse within faith communities and spiritual institutions.
1-800-334-2836 | gcadv.org
Local support, shelter access, and advocacy services across Georgia.
Founded by survivor Iasia Sweeting, this nonprofit helps survivors heal through art, equine therapy, and empowerment training.
Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app!
Want to recommend a wild case or just give s a shout?Contact us at [email protected]
For Wildcider Merch, visit www.wildcidepodcast.com
Find us on Facebook@ Wildcide Podcast. Follow us on Instagram @wildcidepodcast
PS: Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST.
Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.
WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
References:
11Alive. (2018, September 14). Father accused of rape, incest, starving 15-month-old daughter to death enters guilty plea. 11Alive. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/father-accused-of-rape-incest-starving-15-month-old-daughter-to-death-enters-guilty-plea/85-595993234
American Broadcasting Company (CBS News). (2014, November 14). Georgia baby’s death leads to charges of murder, child abuse, incest. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-babys-death-leads-to-charges-of-murder-child-abuse-incest/
Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore LLP. (2018, November 15). Gwinnett jury awards $13.8M to mother of baby starved to death in cult case. Law.com Daily Report Online. https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2018/11/15/gwinnett-jury-awards-13-8m-to-mother-of-baby-starved-to-death-in-cult-case/
Courthouse News Service. (2016, May 9). Baby’s estate seeks damages for starvation. Courthouse News. https://www.courthousenews.com/babys-estate-seeks-damages-for-starvation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Deitch + Rogers. (2018, November 14). Deitch + Rogers obtains $46M verdict for infant’s death. Victim Attorneys. https://victimattorneys.com/deitch-rogers-obtains-46m-verdict-for-infants-death/
Dr. Steve Eichel. (n.d.). Forensic cases. https://drsteveeichel.com/forensic-cases
Gwinnett County Police Department. (2010, April 14). Incident report – Runaway juvenile (Case #10-043451). Listed in Sweeting v. Extended Stay America discovery, Bates Nos. 000018–19.
Gwinnett County. (2014, November 14). Homicide investigation: Homicide investigation press release. GwinnettCounty.com. https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/newsandevents/NewsDetails?news=PolicePressReleases/HomicidnvestigationHomicidevestigation
Law.com. (2018). Sweeting v. Extended Stay CPTO [Court filing PDF]. Law.com. https://images.law.com/contrib/content/uploads/documents/404/22632/Sweeting-v.-Extended-Stay-CPTO.pdf
News3LV. (2023, February 5). Middle Georgia’s cult legacy: The Nuwaubian Nation. News3LV. https://news3lv.com/news/offbeat/middle-georgias-cult-legacy-the-nuwaubian-nation
Six Mile Post. (2023, April 14). Iasia Sweeting raises awareness for trafficking survivors. SixMilePost.com. https://sixmilepost.com/11829/features/iasia-sweeting-raises-awareness-for-trafficking-survivors/
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (2018, November 5). Gwinnett cult baby murder trial begins, bringing awful memories. AJC.com. https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/gwinnett-cult-baby-murder-trial-begins-bringing-awful-memories/WUJ4VGAz41Tv2VqxwCugvN/
WTSP. (2014, November 14). Georgia man charged with murder, rape, incest. WTSP News. https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/nation-now/georgia-man-charged-with-murder-rape-incest/67-300186569
YouTube. (2018). Father accused of starving baby to death – court coverage [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y53y69mj2cQ&list=PLdifGR5OPFpK7PIoqkZ4C9DLT4eVcc9XF&index=4
YouTube. (2018). Dr. Steve Eichel on cult dynamics [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BQz3RPKBk0
YouTube. (2018). Nuwaubian Nation explained – cult history [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIYpUun9zTc
YouTube. (2018). Gwinnett cult trial coverage [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2mTcs3SVc0
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