48 Hours: 'The Family' Cult

Summary

The story delves into the harrowing events surrounding cult leader Ann Hamilton Byrnes, who gathered 28 children through questionable adoptions and abductions. The children suffered abuse, including prolonged LSD use and brutal beatings. Despite the severe mental and physical scars, Byrnes claims to love children, though her actions contradict this. The FBI eventually tracked her down after she fled Australia, leading to a dramatic confrontation in New York. Despite her capture, the cult remains active, continuing to worship Byrnes as their messiah.

Takeaways

• 😀 A cult leader named Ann Hamilton Byrnes was involved in various abusive practices, including frequent beatings and drugging children with LSD.
• 😀 Ann Hamilton Byrnes was responsible for collecting 28 children, some through questionable adoptions, and others allegedly stolen at birth.
• 😀 Ann denies accusations of stealing children or forcing them into a cult, stating she loves children but expresses a lack of understanding or feeling of love herself.
• 😀 Investigators reported that many of the children involved had been severely abused, and some were traumatized for years.
• 😀 A former detective dedicated years to tracking down Ann Hamilton Byrnes, especially after she fled Australia.
• 😀 Ann Hamilton Byrnes is described as one of the most evil individuals the detective had ever encountered.
• 😀 The cult continued to exist despite its notoriety, with members still active in Australia and New York.
• 😀 The FBI confirmed Ann’s location through an intense investigation, leading them to a house in Hurleyville, New York.
• 😀 FBI special agent Hilda Cogent played a key role in confirming Ann’s location, knocking on the door of the house in Hurleyville.
• 😀 Despite the authorities' investigation, a local person in Hurleyville denied the existence of the cult and insisted it was not a cult, reflecting the group's continued belief in their messiah.
• 😀 The cult's activities were ongoing, with members still supporting their belief system and remaining loyal to their leader.

Q & A

Who is Ann Hamilton Byrnes and what role does she play in the story?

Ann Hamilton Byrnes is described as the leader of a cult who took in 28 children through questionable methods, including dubious adoptions and even child theft. She denies any wrongdoing and claims that her actions were motivated by love for children, though the investigations suggest otherwise.

What were some of the abusive practices reported in the cult led by Ann Hamilton Byrnes?

The cult involved severe abuse, including daily beatings, some of which were described as 'very vicious'. One of the victims recounts being kept under the influence of LSD for days, with regular doses given by the cult leader or her associates.

How were the children involved in the cult obtained, according to the script?

The children were obtained through highly questionable means, including the manipulation of unwed mothers into giving up their babies, and in some cases, children were outright stolen at birth.

What did Ann Hamilton Byrnes say about her motivations for taking in the children?

Ann Hamilton Byrnes claimed that she took in the children because she loved them. However, she also stated that she could not understand or feel love, which calls into question the sincerity of her claims.

What is the perspective of the former detective who investigated Ann Hamilton Byrnes?

The former detective who spent years tracking Ann Hamilton Byrnes described her as 'the most evil person' they had ever encountered, underlining the severity of her actions and the damage caused by her cult.

Where did the cult leader, Ann Hamilton Byrnes, flee to after leaving Australia?

Ann Hamilton Byrnes fled to the United States, specifically to a house in the Catskill Mountains in Hurleyville, New York, where she continued her activities under the radar.

How did investigators confirm that Ann Hamilton Byrnes was still in the house in Hurleyville?

FBI Special Agent Hilda Cogent, along with a mail carrier, confirmed Ann Hamilton Byrnes' presence in the house by knocking on the door and identifying themselves as FBI agents.

What was the reaction of the local person who encountered the reporters near the house in Hurleyville?

When a local person approached the reporters, he denied that the group was a cult, asserting that it was simply a family. This suggests that the cult members still perceive themselves as a legitimate group rather than acknowledging the abusive nature of their activities.

Does the cult still exist today, according to the reporter Peter Van Zant?

Yes, according to Peter Van Zant, the cult is still active both in Australia and in Hurleyville, New York. The people involved continue to follow their belief system, including their reverence for Ann Hamilton Byrnes as a messianic figure.

What does the reporter say about the cult’s continued beliefs?

The reporter mentions that the people involved with the cult are still actively believing in their messianic leader, Ann Hamilton Byrnes, indicating that the cult continues to operate under her influence despite the investigations and media attention.