had a rather different view of Lundgren and his enlightenments. She had wanted to leave for many months before she finally did so but had become so scared for her life that it took her time to build up the courage to make the final break.
T HE S HOWN G OES O N
Jeffrey Lundgren may have lost two of his followers but he still had many more who were willing to do anything for him and follow his every instruction. By the autumn of 1988 Lundgren was holding lengthy scripture lectures that would last well into the night, he got into the habit of wearing military combat gear during his lectures and kept a loaded gun at his side. His scripture lectures became more and more violent and he translated the meanings for his own purpose. Anything he didn’t like about his flock he would bring to their attention in the following lecture and say that the Scripture stated that it was a sin.
The main promise that kept his flock so obeying was that Lundgren had sworn that they would get to see God. Over the months Lundgren started to analyse this promise and decided that God would be so angry with the sins of man when he returned to Earth that the Kirtland group would be at his mercy. This did not bode well, so to rectify this Lundgren amended his divine forecast. He told his followers that he had had another vision which told him that he needed to sacrifice the Avery family in order to save the rest of them. Lundgren demonstrated this by claiming that Dennis Avery was dismissive and did not listen to his teachings, Cheryl Avery was too obstinate to be virtuous and their children were uncontrollable. All these signs, Lundgren told his flock, showed that they were sinners who should be sacrificed for the good of the rest of them. Lundgren’s flock did not question his statements, in fact now Lundgren had mentioned it, they too could see what sinners the Averys were – sinners who deserved to be punished. In Lundgren’s warped mind, killing the Averys in the name of God was the only sensible thing to do.
S ACRIFICE
By the beginning of April 1989, a plan for the demise of the Averys started to come together. Lundgren instructed that a pit should be dug in one of the farm’s outbuildings which would conceal the bodies. Lundgren told his flock that it was imperative that the murders happen and once they had they would all abandon the farmhouse and reform at a new venue. At the same time he informed the Averys to pack up their belongings and told them that they were all going on a pilgrimage.
A motel room was booked for the Averys and all their belongings were brought from their rented accommodation to the farm house. They suspected nothing, Lundgren had so many rules and regulations that anything was possible.
On April 17, 1989 the group prepared for what would be their final meal together. After dinner the Averys’ fate became real. Once Dennis Avery seemed to be deep in concentration in whatever he was doing, Lundgren gathered five of his right hand men in his bedroom. He produced a pistol from his belt and asked for a show of hands to confirm that the men were all in allegiance with him, and they were. So the plan, that unbeknown to the Averys had been discussed over the previous few weeks started to be put into action. They had decided that the best way to do it would be to lead the family one by one into the barn and kill them separately, and this is what they did.
First to meet their fate was Dennis Avery. Ron Luff, who was seen by Lundgren as one of his most righteous brothers, someone who never questioned his teachings, walked out of the barn and back into the house. He went over to Dennis and asked for his assistance in the barn to help with packing the equipment for the subsequent pilgrimage that they were about to embark on. Dennis, of course agreed, and why wouldn’t he? He followed Ron into the barn where they were met by Richard Brand, Danny Kraft, Greg Winship, Jeffrey’s son Damon and of course
T HE S HOWN G OES O N
Jeffrey Lundgren may have lost two of his followers but he still had many more who were willing to do anything for him and follow his every instruction. By the autumn of 1988 Lundgren was holding lengthy scripture lectures that would last well into the night, he got into the habit of wearing military combat gear during his lectures and kept a loaded gun at his side. His scripture lectures became more and more violent and he translated the meanings for his own purpose. Anything he didn’t like about his flock he would bring to their attention in the following lecture and say that the Scripture stated that it was a sin.
The main promise that kept his flock so obeying was that Lundgren had sworn that they would get to see God. Over the months Lundgren started to analyse this promise and decided that God would be so angry with the sins of man when he returned to Earth that the Kirtland group would be at his mercy. This did not bode well, so to rectify this Lundgren amended his divine forecast. He told his followers that he had had another vision which told him that he needed to sacrifice the Avery family in order to save the rest of them. Lundgren demonstrated this by claiming that Dennis Avery was dismissive and did not listen to his teachings, Cheryl Avery was too obstinate to be virtuous and their children were uncontrollable. All these signs, Lundgren told his flock, showed that they were sinners who should be sacrificed for the good of the rest of them. Lundgren’s flock did not question his statements, in fact now Lundgren had mentioned it, they too could see what sinners the Averys were – sinners who deserved to be punished. In Lundgren’s warped mind, killing the Averys in the name of God was the only sensible thing to do.
S ACRIFICE
By the beginning of April 1989, a plan for the demise of the Averys started to come together. Lundgren instructed that a pit should be dug in one of the farm’s outbuildings which would conceal the bodies. Lundgren told his flock that it was imperative that the murders happen and once they had they would all abandon the farmhouse and reform at a new venue. At the same time he informed the Averys to pack up their belongings and told them that they were all going on a pilgrimage.
A motel room was booked for the Averys and all their belongings were brought from their rented accommodation to the farm house. They suspected nothing, Lundgren had so many rules and regulations that anything was possible.
On April 17, 1989 the group prepared for what would be their final meal together. After dinner the Averys’ fate became real. Once Dennis Avery seemed to be deep in concentration in whatever he was doing, Lundgren gathered five of his right hand men in his bedroom. He produced a pistol from his belt and asked for a show of hands to confirm that the men were all in allegiance with him, and they were. So the plan, that unbeknown to the Averys had been discussed over the previous few weeks started to be put into action. They had decided that the best way to do it would be to lead the family one by one into the barn and kill them separately, and this is what they did.
First to meet their fate was Dennis Avery. Ron Luff, who was seen by Lundgren as one of his most righteous brothers, someone who never questioned his teachings, walked out of the barn and back into the house. He went over to Dennis and asked for his assistance in the barn to help with packing the equipment for the subsequent pilgrimage that they were about to embark on. Dennis, of course agreed, and why wouldn’t he? He followed Ron into the barn where they were met by Richard Brand, Danny Kraft, Greg Winship, Jeffrey’s son Damon and of course
Similar Books
