Stories about CIA-connected cults, ritual child abuse, and international child-trafficking rings are usually dismissed as “conspiracy theories” and considered “fringe” topics, and too often, rightly so. Legitimate instances of such occurrences go unreported on and the more sensational tales that have no supporting evidence end up overshadowing the real-life cases, making it that much easier for the public (and those in positions of power) to deny. It’s rare to see a journalist as impressive and well-regarded as Elizabeth Vos do an investigate series on this subject, especially given the CIA ties. It’s equally rare for a reputable publication like Mint Press News to publish it.
“In February 1987, an anonymous phone tip was called into the Tallahassee police department reporting that six children were dirty, hungry, and acting like animals in the custody of two well-dressed men in a Tallahassee, Florida park. That phone call would kick off the Finders scandal: a series of events and multiple investigations even more bizarre than the initial report.
The trail would ultimately lead to allegations of a cult involved in ritual abuse, an international child-trafficking ring, evidence of child abuse confirmed and later denied, and ties with the CIA, which was alleged to have interfered in the case. No one was ever prosecuted in the wake of the initial 1987 investigation or a 1993 inquiry into the allegations of CIA involvement: official denials were maintained, and authorities stated that no evidence of criminal activity was ever found. However, documents that have emerged over time beg significant questions as to the validity of the official narrative.”
PART I: The Finders: CIA Ties to Child Sex Cult Obscured as Coverage Goes from Sensationalism to Silence
PART II: Losing Finders: The Buried Documents that Linked the Infamous Cult to the CIA
PART III: Losing Finders: How the US Government Worked to Keep the CIA Connection Secret
The Finders: Harmless Cult or CIA-Linked Child Traffickers? A Discussion with Elizabeth Vos
Articles/context from 1987 when the story broke:
FBI Vault - The Finders Files