The death of an ex member regardless of their generation or their situation saddens me greatly. The family has formally announced the death of Ricky, Maria's son and another person who is said to have been a female current member. It is all under investigation. I hope authorities check out possible Family connections to this.
So many have died from suicide or from suspicious circumstances. I think of "Jereboam" who was not well known in the family. I knew him from Germany. I didn't realize he had died until I came to these boards years after leaving the family. As I understand it, his emaciated body was found naked and in the woods and I believe he had been abandoned by the Family. I would never call that group the Family of Love or anything to do with love at all. I see it's current members as victims of an organization I hope continues to lose members in a positive way, by them leaving and speaking up about the abuses that have occurred.
For any ex-members going through a hard time or feeling vulnerable or suicidal I hope you reach out and talk about it anonymously or with your name if you wish. No one should have to die due to fallout from the CULT. Please, if you are an exer even for a very long time and you are between a rock and a hard place, or you are a current member and you are reading this and feeling this way, know that there is help and there are people willing to help if you let your need be known. It may take time, it may not be in the way you would like it best but help is there.