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Friday, May 6, 2011

Charge Laid In Death of Cult Leader At Dorchester

A Newfoundland man, 60 year old Matthew Gerrard MacDonald of Port au Port has been charged with first degree murder in the death of cult leader Roch Thériault and will enter a plea in a Moncton court next Friday.

The 63 year old Thériault was found dead near his cell at Dorchester Penetentiary on February 26th. He had been involved in some sort of altercation with another inmate and died as the result of his injuries.

Ironically, Theriault told a parole hearing in 2002 he wanted to remain behind bars at Dorchester because he feared for his safety on the outside.

Theriault, who called himself Moses, led a bizarre religious cult in the 1980's made up of concubines, 26 children and other followers. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1993 for the murder of his wife with a kitchen knife. She was eviserated during a cult ritual.

Another woman had her arm hacked off with a meat cleaver but Theriault fathered more children while in prison through conjugal visits.