Loading summary
Transcript16 lines
- [00:00]
A
Foreign.
- [00:06]
B
This is Crime House.
- [00:12]
C
We all need an anchor in life, something to keep us steady when it feels like the world is spinning out of control. Many of us find that sense of stability through our faith. Regardless of who we worship or what we believe in, it's comforting to know there's a higher power. Glenn Summerford disagreed. When it came to his small congregation in Alabama, he taught that there was only one way to prove loyalty to their faith, and it didn't have anything to do with learning scripture or doing good deeds. It was about handling a poisonous snake and not getting killed in the process. Glenn's followers didn't question his methods. As far as they were concerned, this was their chance to get closer to God. If they didn't survive, it meant they weren't worthy. But one member of his congregation learned a very harsh lesson in her quest for salvation. It wasn't the snakes she needed to worry about. It was Glenn Summerford himself. From UFO cults and mass suicides to secret CIA experiments, presidential assassinations, and murderous doctors, these aren't just theories, they're real stories that blur the line between fact and fiction. I'm Vanessa Richardson and this is Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes, a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Every Wednesday I'll explore the real people at the center of the world's most shocking events and nefarious organizations. At the end of every cult focused episode, we'll also be introducing Cult Watch, a quick look at modern day groups that are still active, dangerous, and largely flying under the radar. Because cults aren't just part of our past, they're still shaping lives today. And to continue building this community, I'll be asking for your input so we can decode each story together. If you want your voice heard, make sure to comment on Spotify or leave a review on Apple. Or if you just want to support the show, rate, review and follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes wherever you get your podcasts and for early ad, free access to every episode plus exclusive bonus content. Subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts Today I'm discussing a controversial cult called the Church of God with signs following the this Pentecostal congregation has roots going back to the early 1900s, but it didn't make headlines until 1992. That year its leader, Glenn Summerford, was arrested for attempted murder. Glenn's followers believed in a very specific type of worship, one that involved making a direct connection with God. This included speaking in tongues, faith healing, and miracles. But but the most important form of worship was snake handling not just any snakes, though. Venomous ones. Church members knew the risk they were taking and they welcomed the challenge. But they weren't prepared for the real danger. Human beings. All that and more coming up the.
- [03:41]
A
Conjuring last rites on September 5th. Hey, come down here. I need your help. Lorraine. Lorraine. Lorraine. Lorraine. The Conjuring Last Rites Only in theater September 5th.
- [04:08]
D
Rated R. This episode is brought to you by Greenlight. Get this, adults with financial literacy skills have 82% more wealth than those who don't. From swimming lessons to piano classes, us parents invest in so many things to enrich our kids lives. But are we investing in their future financial success? With Greenlight, you can teach your kids financial literacy skills like earning, saving and investing. And this investment costs less than that. After school treat start prioritizing their financial education and future today with a risk free trial@greenlight.com Spotify greenlight.com Spotify.
- [04:42]
C
Across the world, there are countless houses of worship. Some have jaw dropping architecture, towering steeples and colorful stained glass windows. Stunning canvases lit altars under giant golden domes. The Church of God with signs following in Scottsboro, Alabama, didn't have any of that. In fact, it wasn't supposed to be a church at all. The tiny structure was built in the early 1900s as a gas station and country store. Eventually it came under new ownership and 12 small wooden pews were set out on the linoleum floors. The walls were bare except for a couple portraits of Jesus. When it got cold. All you needed was one electric heater to warm up the entire room. Despite its modest appearance, the church housed a congregation with a long and rich history. In 1912, a Pentecostal preacher named James Miller traveled to Scottsboro, Alabama as a Pentecostal leader. James believed in a specific version of Christianity that encourages a second baptism later life. Usually this is accompanied by a sign like speaking in tongues or miracles. Once James arrived in Scottsboro, he continued to spread the word of God to the small city of less than 2,000 people. But unlike some other ministers, he had a very specific interpretation of the Bible, one that was very literal. He pointed to chapter 16 of the gospel of Mark. That's the section where God describes how to spot a true believer. Verses 17 and 18 read quote, and these signs shall follow them that believe in my name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. James really focused on the line about serpents and he took it quite literally too. According to him, this was the most straightforward way to test one's faith. Faith. If someone held a poisonous snake and survived, they could rest assured they were on the right path. James's teachings might have been unconventional, but they were also pretty popular. Even after he passed away, his brand of Pentecostalism continued to maintain a presence in Alabama. But decades later, a new minister arrived and he led the people of Scottsboro on a very, very dark path. Glenn Summerford was born in 1945 near Scottsboro. Raised by his mother and stepfather, he had 18 half and full siblings. But even with such a big family, Glenn felt isolated. His mom had a violent temper and he was frequently picked on at school. Glenn's stepdad saw this and decided to intervene. Not by confronting the bullies, but by teaching Glenn how to fight back. He was a military man who'd recently returned to the US after being stationed overseas. Glenn described him as someone who knew how to kill with just his hands. If anyone could teach Glenn how to defend himself, it was his stepdad. They spent their free time at the nearby creek where Glenn's stepdad taught him how to fight, hunt, swim and fish. In a family of 20, getting one on one time like this was rare. The experience made Glenn feel special, but it wasn't enough to keep him in Scottsboro. When he was 15, Glen ran away from home. It's not clear why he chose to leave, but he decided to move in with a cousin in Chicago. He'd been sparring with his stepdad for years by then and had come a long way. He figured he was good enough to make it as a real boxer. He was right. Before long, Glenn was competing around the country and winning. Sometimes he signed up for official boxing matches, but most of his time was spent on underground fights. These matches didn't have any rules or regulations, and the fights could be brutal. In the early 1960s, when Glenn was in his late teens, he had a particularly tough bout in Florida that landed him in intensive care. He he received several broken ribs and two punctured lungs. It was so bad, Glenn's doctors gave him just three days to live. When Glenn's mom found out, she asked her local congregation in Scottsboro to pray for her son's life. By some miracle, it seemed to work. Over time, Glenn started to heal. Once he heard about his mother's prayer group, he was certain that God had answered their call. Afterwards, Glenn moved back to Alabama. But even his near death experience wasn't enough to stop him from boxing he quickly returned to fighting and took up some other new hobbies. Things like gambling, drinking and breaking the law. Eventually, Glenn was convicted on three felonies, burglary, assault and battery. Somehow, he still made time for romance. At one point, he married a woman named Doris. They went on to have six children together. Though Glenn wasn't wasn't the best father or husband, according to Doris, he was abusive and unfaithful. By early 1975, Doris had reached her breaking point. The couple separated. But 30 year old Glenn wasn't heartbroken for long. Before the end of the year, he remarried. His new wife was 19 year old Darlene Collins. She was one of the women Glenn had been seeing when he was married to Doris. And and Glenn was completely smitten with her. Darlene wasn't perfect, but neither was Glenn. He loved her, flaws and all. She'd also had a rough childhood and several run ins with the law. And while they seemed to have a lot in common, this also created a chaotic environment for the newlyweds. From the beginning, Glenn and Darlene both cheated on each other and spent more time partying than working on their marriage. And deep down, Glen knew he needed to make a change. But at that point, Doris seemed to have custody of their kids without any responsibilities. Glen had no reason to get on the straight and narrow. Until 1978 when Darlene gave birth to their son Marty. After Marty was born, Glenn had an epiphany. He wanted to be a better man for his son. It took a few years to get there. But in 1982, 37 year old Glenn had an experience that altered the course of his life. That year, a few of Glenn's friends came by his and Darlene's house in Scottsboro. They claimed the Lord had sent them to pray with Glenn. Glenn had never been very religious. He dropped out of school at an early age and never learned to read. Because of that, he couldn't understand the Bible. But that day he and his buddies sat around and just talked to God. Glenn had never experienced anything like it before. It had a profound impact on Glenn and Darlene. They took it as a sign to shape up. They started going to church every night hoping God would connect with them the way he had with their friends. It was slow going. Since Glenn couldn't read the Bible, he had to rely on the ministers to interpret God's word. But these ministers didn't always agree on what God was trying to say. For Glenn, it was hard to tell what was true. Eventually he decided to go straight to the source he prayed to God, asking him to reveal the true meaning of the Bible. The Lord answered. Apparently, he told Glenn to embark on a journey of prayer and fasting. According to Glenn, he went 30 days without food or water. Apparently, the Lord gave him all the sustenance he needed. During that time, Glen also claimed that God taught him how to read. After months of dedication, Glen finally felt like he knew the Bible inside and out. He received an invitation to a local Bible study, and he and Darlene readily accepted. The group met up in a neighbor's living room. Glenn and Darlene watched in awe as the host went around the room and placed his hands on each attendee. After a moment, the worshipers would cry out that they felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. As the host approached him, Glen received a message from the Lord. He told Glenn that he could cast out the devil from the host. Sure enough, as soon as he touched Glen, the host crumpled to the floor and began to scream and curse. The members of the Bible study went silent. With horror, Glen took control. He grabbed the host by the hand and knelt over him. Darlene bowed down with her husband and watched as he exorcised the devil out of him. As the host lay on the ground, gasping for breath, everyone stared at Glen. This newcomer had the power of the Lord, and he wasn't afraid to wield it. Glen was proud of what he'd done, but even more excited that God had spoken to him. From that moment on, he vowed to keep communicating with the Lord. And one of his favorite places to pray was near his home on Sand Mountain. It was a wide plateau at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains, which stretched to some parts of Alabama. One morning, Glenn stepped onto the trail. He made his way along the dirt path when a venomous copperhead slithered in front of him. As Glenn gazed at the serpent, he suddenly remembered a passage from chapter 16 of the gospel of Mark. By then, Glenn had learned all about James Miller and his brand of Pentecostalism, and he'd memorized the Gospel of Mark, specifically the line that said, true believers in Christ could not only cast out devils, they could also take up serpents. Glenn had done one of those things already. This seemed like his sign to try another. If God was testing him, Glenn was determined to pass. He crouched low, eyes locked on the snake. Everything hinged on what happened next. He took a deep breath, slid his fingers beneath the snake and lifted it. It didn't bite. Glen cried out with joy, certain that the Lord had protected him. Glenn wasn't far from the house and Darlene heard the commotion. She grabbed a hoe and ran over to Glenn. That's when she saw the snake. Well, before Darlene could hit the snake, Glen stopped her. He explained what had happened. A moment later, Darlene dropped down to her knees and began to pray. Then she scooped up the snake herself. As she held it in the air, Darlene and Glenn praised the heavens. To them, this confirmed the Lord had saved them and they were determined to continue on their path of righteousness and no matter how deadly it might be.
- [16:29]
E
And Doug Limu and I always tell you to customize your car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. But now we want you to feel it. Cue the emu music. Limu Save yourself money today.
- [16:41]
C
Increase your wealth customer my ease and save.
- [16:45]
E
We see that may have been too much feeling. Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Fairy Underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. Affiliates excludes Massachusetts.
- [16:59]
C
In the early 1980s, 37 year old Glenn Summerford and his wife, 26 year old Darlene Collins, survived an encounter with a venomous copperhead snake. For them, the experience confirmed they were on the path to salvation and if they wanted to take their faith to the next level, they needed to continue communing with God and serpents. Afterwards, they began collecting all kinds of wild snakes, poisonous and otherwise. They even built several enclosures for them in a shed behind their house in Scottsboro. Every night, Glenn and Darlene would go out there and practice holding the animals. Okay, so listeners, I'd love to know your thoughts on this. I actually personally have a gopher snake as a pet and I'm not afraid of them, but I do understand the dangers of venomous ones and stay away from them if I see one. So how do you feel about snakes? Let us know in the comments, wherever you listen. At the same time they were practicing holding the snakes, they also became regular attendees at the local Mint Creek Holiness Church. The pastor, well welcomed Glenn with open arms. He'd heard about the exorcism Glenn performed and believed he was touched by God. Glenn didn't argue. He continued to be a devoted member and before long the minister asked him to step up as assistant pastor. Glenn eagerly agreed. Shortly after, Glenn got an unexpected promotion. The pastor had a sudden heart attack and died. Glenn was asked to lead his funeral service. He did such a good job that afterwards he stayed on as head pastor. But not everyone was happy about his new role. Glenn did things differently from his predecessor. That included following the Bible as closely as possible According to Glenn, the Bible said he should preach to every single creature. He took that to mean all people, black or white. So Glenn integrated the church. Even though the civil rights movement had taken place 20 years earlier, many people took issue with Glenn's decision. Things escalated from there, and eventually the church burned down. Glenn suspected arson, but he couldn't prove it. Glenn wasn't deterred. He simply opened up another church in a new location. Glenn saw it as a fresh start, and he was eager to show show the Scottsboro community just how special he really was. Glenn would bring boxes of snakes with him to church. He didn't always take them out, only if he felt the spirit move him. A disciple named Dorothy Dial recalled one of those moments. She said she watched Glenn wrap a five foot long rattlesnake around his neck and continue preaching. His followers saw this as confirmation that Glenn wasn't just protected by the Lord. He was chosen by him as a messenger. But while most of these experiences left Glen unscathed, there were no guarantees. One evening, glen placed around 45 snakes on the pulpit. He looked out at a sea of worshipers and sang out in praise. At that moment, a rattlesnake lifted its head and locked eyes with Glen. According to Glen, that's when he heard the Lord speak to him. He commanded Glen to take up the snake. As Glen reached for the rattlesnake, it lunged forward and sank its fangs into his skin. A moment later, a cottonmouth joined in. It struck him in the palm of his hand. Instead of going to the hospital, Glen started to pray. Ten minutes later, his vision went blurry. Glenn faded in and out of consciousness. Over the next week, friends and family camped out at his house and prayed around the clock for his recovery. But it seemed like Glenn was too far gone. His shoulder was swollen and the flesh on his arms was red and mangled. The poison was slowly taking hold. Even then, Glenn didn't question the Lord. On the seventh night, he felt God beside him. He wouldn't let Glenn die. As long as Glenn stayed faithful, he promised to heal him. The next day, Glenn returned to the pulpit. Whether or not he was truly recovered, he told his followers the Lord had saved him. He claimed this was a lesson to them all. Glenn admitted he wasn't perfect, and this was God's way of reminding him to stay in line. His followers knew about Glenn Glenn's criminal history. He didn't shy away from his past. In fact, it was one of the reasons he became as popular as he did in this part of Appalachia. Life Was difficult for many people. They weren't strangers to crime or poverty. Glenn's story was a beacon of hope, A shining example that humans could rise from the darkness to become children of God. Glenn's latest story of survival was first further proof that the lord was watching over him. But he claimed he wasn't the only one who was capable of feeling God's mercy. He encouraged his followers to test themselves, too. If they were able to handle a serpent and survive, it meant they were doing something right. During his sermons, Glenn invited his congregants to ask God if they, too, were ready to take up a snake. If the lord answered yes, they would step up to the pulpit, Reach into a box, and pull out the serpent themselves. Some passed the test. They lifted the snakes, held them high, and walked away without a scratch. Others weren't so lucky. Several people were bitten. It seems like they all survived. But the pain wasn't just physical. It was also spiritual. They believed the bite signified their lack of faith in God. Glenn encouraged them to reframe their thinking. According to Glenn, this was just a nudge from the lord to get back on the right path. After all, if he truly thought they weren't worthy, he wouldn't have allowed them to live another day. But handling snakes wasn't even the most controversial thing Glenn did. He was also poor, Poisoning himself. During one sermon, he ingested strychnine, A highly toxic chemical used to kill small rodents like rats. In Glenn's mind, this was just another way to test his faith Besides taking up serpents. The gospel of mark says, quote, if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. Glenn took that to mean point poison. As the liquid entered his body, Glenn felt the muscles in his face tingle. By the time he and Darlene got home, his foot was numb and the muscles in his face were spasming. He tried to call out for Darlene, but couldn't speak. All he could do was close his eyes and think of God. As the night progressed, his limbs relaxed and he could walk around the house. By morning, he was completely recovered. For Glen, this was yet another message from the lord. He was untouchable, and his followers agreed. In fact, they thought Glenn was capable of miracles. According to Dorothy Dial, her son was in a car accident that left him with a broken jaw. She brought him to church and asked Glenn to pray for him. Glenn laid his hands on the bottom boy. Fifteen minutes later, he turned to his mother in shock. He said it felt like his jaw was shifting back into place. When he visited his doctor For a checkup, JJ was told that he no longer needed surgery. Apparently it was healing on its own. As word of Glenn's abilities spread throughout Scottsboro, he gained more followers. By the late 1980s, he had dozens of congregants and needed more space. At some point, he purchased the gas station convenience store outside of town. He remodeled it, but kept the linoleum floors and installed about 12 pews. Then he hung a wooden sign on the outside that read the Church of Jesus with signs following. He probably thought James Miller would be proud. It seemed like Glenn was really, really living out his destiny. And many people in Scottsboro were desperate to be in his orbit. But someone out there had seen a very different side of Glenn. And she didn't like it. By 1990, Glenn and Darlene had been together for 15 years. They'd come a long way in that time when they first met, they were consumed by partying. And although Glenn would never admit it to his followers, he still drank. But that wasn't the only toxic habit he hid from his believers. According to Darlene, he didn't practice what he preached. Not only was he unpredictable, he was also abusive. Over the last few years, she'd become terrified of him. And before long, she worried for her own life.
- [26:30]
B
It's Wednesday. Adams. I see you're trying to distract yourself from your own banal thoughts. Let me help. Here's a recording thing made of my latest root canal.
- [26:52]
C
Wednesday season two is now playing only on Netflix.
- [26:59]
F
Mint is still $15 a month for premium wireless. And if you haven't made the switch yet, here are 15 reasons why you should. One, it's $15 a month. Two, seriously, it's $15 a month. Three, no big contracts. Four, I use it. Five, my mom uses it. Are you playing me off? That's what's happening, right? Okay, give it a try.
- [27:20]
C
MintMobile.com switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan.
- [27:24]
D
$15 per month equivalent required. New customer offer first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra.
- [27:28]
C
See mint mobile.com By 1990, 45 year old Glenn Summerford was on top of the world. His Scottsboro ministry, the Church of Jesus with signs following, was doing better than ever. Glenn was idolized by his followers who thought he he was chosen by God. But his wife, 34 year old Darlene Collins, knew something his disciples didn't. Not only did Glenn drink alcohol, but he was also allegedly violent and possessive. According to Darlene, Glenn was extremely jealous too. He constantly accused her of cheating. Darlene Denied the allegations. But whenever she tried to defend herself, Glenn would attack her and he beat her, pulled her hair and held her down on the floor. She said that their son, 12 year old Marty, bore witness to the abuse. On more than one occasion, he woke up to them fighting. He'd beg Glenn to leave his mom alone, but he never listened. Darlene said Glenn's violent temper dated back to the beginning of their relationship. She claimed that when they first started dating, he hit her mother with a vase and broke her jaw. Another time, Glenn struck her brother in the head. Darlene thought that would all change once he started preaching. Instead, it only got worse and he began targeting her. After years of abuse, Darlene was reaching a breaking point. But whenever she brought up divorce, Glenn threatened to take custody of Marty. That was something Darlene couldn't risk. Before she got together with Glenn, Darlene had a son named Bobby Jo. At the time, Darlene was partying heavily and she was in and out of jail. Eventually, the authorities stepped in. They found Darlene to be an unfit parent and sent Bobby Jo to foster care. She couldn't bear the thought of losing Marty too. She had to stick it out with Glen, no matter the cost. For the next year or so, Darlene continued to put on a brave face. She went to church with Glenn and tried to focus on raising Marty. But Glenn made it difficult. Despite reassuring him that she was being faithful, Glen was still paranoid that she was cheating. By the fall of 1991, he wouldn't even let her leave the house without him or Marty. On October 2, Glen asked Darlene to run an errand for him. He needed her to pick up some money from his friend, a man named J.L. lewis. Glenn told Marty to go with her. When they arrived at JL's, he greeted them, then sent Marty out of the room to get a soda. As soon as Marty was gone, Jael planted a kiss on Darlene. Darlene backed away, grabbed her son and hightailed it out of JL's office. She didn't know what to do. She thought about keeping the kiss a secret. She worried Glenn would hurt her if he found out. But if she kept quiet and Glenn heard about it from Jael, the consequences would probably be worse. In the end, Darlene decided to come clean. She made it clear that Jael was the one who initiated it. Darlene hadn't shown him any interest. She was pleasantly surprised by Glenn's reaction. He was upset, but relatively calm. Darlene thought she was out of the woods. Unfortunately, she was wrong. The next day, Glenn was at home drinking. After knocking back a few rounds, he told Darlene he wanted to go to JL's place and get his version of events. Darlene was terrified that Jael would put the blame on her. So she insisted on coming along. But when they arrived, Glenn wasn't interested in talking. He went over to his car and grabbed a metal chain from the engine. Then he smashed it across Jael's face. Once Jael was on the ground, Glenn asked him about the kiss. JL denied it ever happened, but Glenn wasn't convinced. The next day, October 3rd, Glenn became even more more erratic. He spent the whole morning drinking. Once he was drunk, he started threatening Darlene. This time he wasn't just going to hit her. He said he was going to kill her. Moments later, he was tearing through the house looking for his shotgun. Darlene sprinted outside, terrified. When she looked behind her, she saw not one, but two people. Glenn was following her and their son, 13 year old Marty, was following him. Marty had his bow and arrow drawn and aimed at Glenn. Darlene looked at Glenn. After a minute of tension, he lowered his gun. In the midst of all the chaos, they could agree on one thing. Marty didn't need to see this. They asked Glenn's eldest daughter from his previous marriage to come pick Marty up. Once they sorted everything out, they'd bring Marty back home. It was a momentary reprieve. Once Marty was gone, Glen went back to berating Darlene. He continued drinking, then forced Darlene into the car with him. While he swerved around town, he told Darlene all the ways he could kill her. Glen was considering burying Darlene in a hole on the side of a mountain or throwing her off a bridge because she couldn't swim. Either way, he knew what he was going to tell everyone when Darlene disappeared. That she ran off with someone else. Eventually, he drove them back home, but he didn't calm down. He continued to yell at Darlene and accuse her of cheating. In the midst of all the chaos, Glen's brother called. He invited them to come prey and handle snakes. Glen started to agree, but Darlene told him not to. Glenn was drunk. He was in no state to interact with wild animals. That's when Glen lost it. Before she knew it was happening, he grabbed his gun. Then he pulled her by the hair and dragged her out to their snake shed. Once they were inside, Glen led her to a container filled with serpents. He told her to open it and pick one up. If she didn't. He threatened to push her entire head inside. Darlene didn't want to get bitten on the face, so she reached in. Almost immediately, a western diamondback rattlesnake bit her on the thumb. It was painful, but Darlene hoped this would be the end of it. Instead, Glenn told her to pick up another snake, this time without getting bitten. Darlene took the lid off another box, said a prayer, and picked up a different rattlesnake. She held it for a few seconds, then put it back inside. Glenn took a deep breath. He said he would let her live because the Lord had shown her mercy. Darlene was relieved and in pain. She was already starting to feel the effects of the diamondback's venom. As Glenn dragged her back outside, Darlene began to vomit. She crumpled to the ground in pain, begging Glenn to take her back to the house. Instead, Glenn urinated on her and then took himself home. Darlene lay on the ground until she found the strength to hobble back to the house. She didn't make it past the porch, where she passed out. Eventually, she woke up to find Glenn kicking her. She dragged herself inside, drank some water, and fell into a deep sleep on the couch. The next morning, Darlene woke to Glenn cleaning the house. She hoped he was gearing up to apologize. Instead, he just watched as another wave of pain crashed over her. Darlene looked down at her hand. It was swollen and bright red. Darlene knew the venom was coursing through her body. At this point, the only way she'd survive was if Glenn took her to a hospital. Darlene begged him to get her medical care. After hours of pleading with him, Glenn said yes, but on one condition. He wanted her to write two notes. One to Marty and the other to her sister. He would tell her exactly what to say. As he began dictating the words, Darlene realized he was having her write suicide notes. He told her to say she wanted to get bitten by a snake and that she wouldn't accept help from anyone, including Glenn. When Darlene was finished, Glenn didn't take her to the hospital as promised. Instead, he grabbed his gun and dragged her back out to the shed. He told her she was going to pick up another snake, and this time she wouldn't survive. He grabbed a pipe and stood over the cage with the rattlesnake that had already bitten her. He hit the snake over and over until Darlene could hear it rattling. Then he told her to grab it. Darlene had no more fight left in her. She stuck her hands inside. Sure enough, the irritated rattlesnake bit Darlene almost in. Immediately, Darlene's thumb And face started tingling. Moments later, she was vomiting so heavily that she couldn't breathe. Somehow, she stumbled back to the house. Inside, she begged Glenn for water. He ignored her and kept drinking. At some point, Darlene blacked out. She woke up to find Glenn passed out drunk. Darlene knew this was her only chance at getting out alive. Darlene crawled into the kitchen and grabbed the phone. She managed to dial her sister, who called an ambulance. The paramedics found Darlene stumbling along the dirt road outside her house and rushed her to the hospital. By some miracle, she only lost the tip of her finger. Other than that, she recovered completely. In the hospital, she told the authorities what happened. A few days later, Glenn was arrested for attempted murder. In February 1992, 46 year old Glenn stood trial. By then, Darlene had left Scottsboro. Despite everything, she got the feeling that she wasn't welcome there anymore. She was right. The men and women who filed into the courtroom were there to support their leader, not the woman he'd tried to kill. The people Darlene once counted as friends turned their backs on her. Several of Glenn's followers went on record calling Darlene a liar. Even J.L. lewis, the man Glenn had beaten with a metal chain, was on Glenn's side. But the evidence was stacked against him. After only two and a half days, Glenn was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. Eleven years later, in February 2003, Glenn tried to escape while on work duty. He was caught and another 30 years were added to his sentence. As of May 2025, 80 year old Glenn has consistently been denied parole and remains in prison for his crimes. As for his mission, it struggled to stay alive without its beloved minister. A visiting preacher and loyal congregant briefly took up the post. But by the end of 1992, the Church of God with signs following had closed its doors for good. Services just weren't the same without Glenn at the helm. Glenn Summerford was many things. An amateur boxer, a Pentecostal preacher, an abusive husband, and a convicted murderer. Despite all that, he had a powerful hold on his entire congregation. He was the one who led them into danger and the only one they believed could pull them out. But for a man who claimed to surrender everything to the Lord, Glenn Summerford was really only after one thing. Control. When he lost that and fell from his pedestal, he pulled everyone down with him. Sadly, he's not the first cult leader who's been obsessed with wielding power. And he certainly isn't the last. Decades later, there are still countless examples of charismatic gurus who claim that their belief system is the key to everlasting peace. And in recent years, some of these people have wreaked havoc on their own followers. In Cult Watch this week, I'm highlighting the Twin Flames Universe. Twin Flames is an online spiritual community that was founded by Jeff and Shalia Divine in 2017 and has continued to gain notoriety. Framed as a pathway to divine love, this cult promotes the concept that everyone has a soulmate, otherwise known as their Twin Flame. But learning who your Twin Flame is comes at a steep price. Members have to pay thousands of dollars to be part of the community. Membership is tiered and more access costs more money. One follower claims to have spent over ten grand on materials and teachings in the last few few years. Jeff and Shalia have been accused of swindling their members and allegedly encouraging followers to stalk their supposed Twin Flames. Even so, they still operate around the country. In 2024, the group was estimated to have tens of thousands of members. Ultimately, Jeff and Shalia seem to operate the same way Glenn Summerford did by preying on vulnerable individuals who are desperate for connection. And by the time their followers realize who their gurus really are, the damage has already been done. Thanks so much for listening. I'm Vanessa Richardson and this is Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes. Come back next week. We'll decode the episode together and hear another story about the real people at the center of the world's most notorious cults, conspiracies and criminal acts. Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on social media. Social media rimehouse on TikTok and Instagram. Don't forget to rate, review and follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference and to enhance your Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode ad free plus exciting bonus content. Will be back next Wednesday. Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson and is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios, this episode was brought to life by the Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Natalie Pertzovsky, Lori Marinelli, Sarah Camp, Hania Saeed and Michael Langsner. Thank you for listening.