The Police Department in Berkeley, Missouri has launched a search for six individuals, including two young children, who went missing from the St. Louis area on August 13, 2023.
The missing persons are Mikayla Thompson, 25, Naaman Williams, 30, Gerrielle German, 27, two-year-old Ashton Williams, Ma’Kayla Wickerson, 36, and three-year-old Malaiyah Wickerson. They were last seen at a Quality Inn Hotel at 55 Dunn Road in Florissant, Missouri.
The missing are all adherents of Rashad Jamal White, a rapper and self-proclaimed prophet. He founded The University of Cosmic Intelligence, an online spiritual group with a significant following across the United States.
Rashad Jamal, who has a huge social media following, is currently serving an 18-year sentence in a Georgia prison for child molestation and child cruelty.
The teachings of Jamal, as outlined in his videos and on the group’s website, include beliefs that Black and Latino individuals are divine beings created in the image of a superior entity.
Jamal promotes “shadow work in the spiritual realm” and differentiates between “high-vibration” individuals, who seek a connection with the Earth and their ancestral past, and “low-vibration” individuals, who contribute to global toxicity.
The University of Cosmic Intelligence encourages the purchase of crystals, necklaces, and bracelets at specific prices, like $333.33, $222, and $119.99. The group also offers enrollment packages for its teachings. Jamal has solicited donations to support his family via YouTube.
Concerns have been raised about the extent of the influence that Jamal’s teachings have. In 2022, Fox News Digital reported that several followers of Jamal were involved in two separate murder cases in Alabama.
Damien Winslow Washam was found not guilty due to insanity for the murder of his mother, while Krystal Diane Pinkins and Yasmine Hider were convicted for the murder of Florida college student Adam Sinjee. They staged a vehicle breakdown and then robbed him in the Talladega National Forest in Alabama.
Neighbors reported seeing the missing group meditating naked in their yard, a testament to their unorthodox lifestyle.
The Berkeley Police Department noted a significant divide between these group members and their families and friends. Some members exhibited behaviors such as embracing sovereign citizenship, polygamy, and living off the grid.
Authorities are requesting anyone with information regarding the location of these individuals to contact the Berkeley Police Department or their local law enforcement agency.
