The Police Department of Berkeley, Missouri, is actively searching for six missing individuals, two of whom are young children, who were last seen in the St. Louis area on August 13, 2023.
The individuals who have disappeared are Mikayla Thompson, 25; Naaman Williams, 30; Gerrielle German, 27; Ashton Williams, aged two; Ma’Kayla Wickerson, 36, and three-year-old Malaiyah Wickerson. They were last seen at a Quality Inn Hotel located at 55 Dunn Road, Florissant, Missouri.
All six individuals are known to be adherents of Rashad Jamal White, a self-styled prophet and rapper who founded an online spiritual group known as The University of Cosmic Intelligence. This group has amassed a considerable following across the United States.
Rashad Jamal, who commands a significant social media presence with tens of thousands of followers, is currently incarcerated and serving an 18-year sentence in Georgia for child molestation and child cruelty.
Rashad Jamal’s teachings, as outlined in his videos and on the group’s website, posit that Black and Latino people were created in the likeness of a higher power and are thus gods.
White advocates for what he calls “shadow work in the spiritual realm” and differentiates between “high-vibration” individuals who strive for a connection with the Earth and their ancient heritage, and “low-vibration” individuals who he claims contribute to the world’s toxicity.
The University of Cosmic Intelligence sells crystals, necklaces, and bracelets at specific prices such as $333.33, $222, and $119.99, in addition to offering enrollment packages for its teachings. Jamal has also sought donations to support his family via YouTube.
There have been concerns about the influence of Jamal’s teachings. In 2022, Fox News Digital reported that several of his followers were involved in two different murder cases in Alabama.
Damien Winslow Washam was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the murder of his mother. Krystal Diane Pinkins and Yasmine Hider were convicted in the murder of Florida college student, Adam Sinjee, after they staged a car breakdown and robbed him in Talladega National Forest in Alabama.
Neighbors of the missing individuals reported seeing them meditating naked in their yard, underscoring their nontraditional way of life.
The Berkeley Police Department noted a significant schism between these cult members and their loved ones, with some adopting behaviors such as asserting sovereign citizenship, practicing polygamy, and living off the grid.
Law enforcement officials are encouraging anyone with information on the whereabouts of these missing persons to contact the Berkeley Police Department or their local law enforcement agency.