DURHAM -- Seven members of a supposed Durham-based cult known as the "Black Hebrews" have been indicted on charges involving the deaths of 5-year-old Jadon Tyrell James Higganbothan and 29-year-old Antoinetta Yvonne McKoy.
The two victims had been missing for months before their decomposed remains were found in early June behind a 2622 Ashe St. home in East Durham.
Authorities allege the two were shot to death.
The grand jury has indicted the following Black Hebrews members on a variety of charges:
- Pete Lucas Moses Jr. -- indicted for two counts of murder.
- P. Leonard Moses -- indicted for accessory after the fact to the first-degree murder of Antoinetta McKoy.
- Shelia Moses -- indicted for accessory after the fact to the first-degree murder of Antoinetta McKoy.
- Vania Rae Sisk -- indicted for murder and indicted for accessory after the fact to the murder of Jadon Tyrell James Higganbothan.
- LaRhonda Renee Smith -- indicted for murder; indicted for accessory after the fact to the murder of Jadon Tyrell James Higganbothan; indicted for felony breaking or entering and larceny after breaking or entering.
- Lavada Quinzetta Harris -- indicted for murder; indicted for accessory after the fact to the murder of Jadon Tyrell James Higganbothan.
- Sheilda Evelyn Harris -- indicted for accessory after the fact to the first-degree murder of Antoinetta McKoy.
Sisk is the mother of the slain boy. Pete Lucas Moses Jr. is the reported leader of the Black Hebrews.
McKoy and Jadon lived in a home at 2109 Pear Tree Lane with other members of the Black Hebrews before their disappearances.
In an affidavit for a search warrant filed earlier this year by the Teller County (Colo.) Sheriff's Office, a detective said he was told that Sisk had left Durham with a group of Black Hebrews followers and headed to Colorado with only three of her four children.
Investigators searched the home where Sisk was staying in Colorado and couldn't find Jadon. Social services took custody of 10 children at the Colorado home, including three of Sisk's children.
According to the affidavit, Durham investigators said their information came from a confidential informant -- a former member of the Black Hebrews -- who had reportedly escaped from the group.
The informant said Jadon was shot by a member of the group in October, wrapped in plastic, put in a suitcase and placed into an attic in the house.
The report said the body began to smell and was later removed.
The affidavit quoted an informant as saying that in February, McKoy, got into an argument with a member of the Black Hebrews over car keys that could not be found. McKoy ran out of the house, flagged down a female passer-by and requested help. She got into the car and two women from the home came out and told the passerby that everything was OK and escorted McKoy back to the home.
According to the affidavit, a member of the group gave a woman in the house a 9mm handgun and told her to watch McKoy. He returned later and told her to shoot McKoy, which she did. The man then helped both women remove McKoy's body from the house and buried her.
(The Herald Sun, June 28, 2011)
Original text from: http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/14504158/article-7-indicted-in-slaying-of-boy--woman-here?instance=homefourthleft
