True Crime This Week: Cults

Crime House Daily
Host: Vanessa Richardson
Date: October 19, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special Sunday episode of True Crime This Week, Vanessa Richardson delves into two notorious cult-centered tragedies from American history: the 1982 Miracle Valley shootout led by Frances Thomas and the 1989 Kirtland cult murders orchestrated by Jeffrey Lundgren. Through these chilling cases, the episode explores how charismatic leaders prey on the vulnerable, turning isolation and fear into devastating violence. Each story exposes the methods cult leaders employ to manipulate followers into committing shocking acts—all in the name of faith and control.

Key Case #1: Frances Thomas & The Miracle Valley Shootout

[04:38] Origins and Rise of Christ Miracle Healing Center and Church (CMHCC)

• The episode recounts the background of Miracle Valley—a remote desert settlement, originally a faith healing hub established by televangelist A.A. Allen in the 1950s, famed for racial integration and mass revival meetings.
• After Allen's death, the site declined; in 1979, Frances Thomas—a self-proclaimed faith healer from Chicago—moved her predominantly Black congregation to Miracle Valley, forming the CMHCC.

[07:44] Frances Thomas' Background and Methods

• Frances, a Black woman with a turbulent life (aspiring singer, 10 children, self-proclaimed miraculous cancer recovery), modeled her ministry after Allen’s—emphasizing faith healing and media promotion.
• Upon moving to Arizona, she demanded total devotion, persuading 300 followers to abandon homes and jobs for Miracle Valley.

[10:20] Rising Tensions and Militarization

• At first, relationships with mostly white local residents were cordial, but turned hostile after Frances relocated and imposed stricter behavioral rules.
• Citing racism and local provocations, Frances established the “Commandos for Christ”—an armed security group led by her son, William Thomas—which patrolled with firearms and set up roadblocks.

"The Commandos for Christ didn’t just patrol the CMHCC’s property... they’d set up roadblocks on the highway through town to stop and harass passing drivers." — Vanessa Richardson [11:51]

[12:31] Escalation, Tragedy, and Deadly Showdown

• Hostilities peaked after racial tensions and violent incidents, including preventable child deaths in the compound due to medical neglect in favor of prayer.
• Several explosive incidents:
  • [16:34] Van explosion (suspected bombing attempt on local jail)
  • [17:15] Violent confrontations at local schools and with press (hammer attack on news crew aired nationally).

[19:18] Miracle Valley Shootout – October 23, 1982

• Deputies arrived to serve warrants; quickly surrounded by armed and violent congregants—over 100 people, including women and children, wielded weapons and assaulted officers.
• Gunfire erupted from within church houses.
• Notable moment:

"One church member, Robert Luckett, taunted the officers as he swung a pair of nunchucks at them, yelling, 'Come on, fight me. Kill me!'" — Vanessa Richardson [22:58]

• After a chaotic 15-minute battle: 2 church members and 1 sheriff's deputy killed, dozens injured.

[25:09] Aftermath

• State authorities intervened; no leaders prosecuted, charges against followers ultimately dismissed.
• Frances Thomas and her flock returned to Chicago, winning a civil rights settlement over racism from police.

"Her civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Judd was later settled out of court for an undisclosed sum." — Vanessa Richardson [26:06]

• The church survives to this day but keeps a lower profile.

Key Case #2: Jeffrey Lundgren & The Kirtland Cult Murders

[28:51] Jeffrey Lundgren’s Early Life and Entry into Cult Leadership

• Childhood in Missouri marked by abuse and isolation, steeped in an offshoot Mormon faith (RLDS).
• Failed jobs, abusive home life, but found small standing as a tour guide/Sunday school teacher at sacred Kirtland Mormon temple in Ohio.
• Used position to siphon church funds and attract followers dissatisfied with RLDS’s modernizations.
• Developed his own “dividing the word” doctrine to cherry-pick scripture, gaining a core group willing to follow him even after excommunication.

"He promoted his own interpretation of LDS scripture... allowing him to pick and choose which parts... to believe." — Vanessa Richardson [31:22]

[33:30] Path to Violence and Excommunication

• After ouster from the church, Lundgren's leadership became more militant—followers called him “dad,” gave up their paychecks, and conducted paramilitary drills.
• Planned to storm the Kirtland temple on his birthday (May 3, 1988), but FBI intervention (prompted by a fleeing member) led to him calling off the attack.

[36:12] Murder of the Avery Family

• Lundgren became suspicious of Dennis Avery and his family, resentful that they did not fully submit their finances and suspecting them of disloyalty.
• In spring 1989, recruited followers to murder all five Averys (parents and three daughters) under the guise of a “wilderness trip.”
• The family was invited to Lundgren’s property, sequentially bound, shot, and buried in a prepared grave.
• Grisly moment:

"One follower began revving a chainsaw to cover the sound of gunshots." — Vanessa Richardson [41:11]

[44:00] Investigation, Downfall, and Sentencing

• Police inadvertently visited the property the day after the murders, missing the fresh grave; the cult soon fled.
• Betrayed by a spurned member (whose wife was claimed by Lundgren as a second bride), the location of the bodies was revealed.
• Lundgren and several followers were arrested in California; authorities indicted them for five murders.
• Lundgren, unrepentant, told the jury:

“It’s not a figment of my imagination that I can in fact talk to God." — Jeffrey Lundgren, during trial [47:42]

• Found guilty after two hours; sentenced to death and executed in October 2006. Some followers, including his wife and son, received life; others 20 years.

Reflections & Themes

[50:19] Dangers of Charisma and Storytelling

• Vanessa weaves the two narratives together, underscoring the destructive power wielded by manipulative cult leaders:

“Looking back on this week in crime history, we can see the power and danger of a good story. For Frances Thomas, her story of redemption in Miracle Valley was enough to convince her followers to wage war against local authorities. For Jeffrey Lundgren, his story about the end of days was powerful enough to kill an innocent family of five.” — Vanessa Richardson [50:25]

• Final thought: cult leaders escalate their influence through isolation, fear, and charismatic storytelling, leaving followers and communities to pay the ultimate price.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “You’ve got to kill us if you want us, man.” — Unnamed church member during the Miracle Valley brawl [05:50]
• "Children of church members appeared to be suffering from extreme sleep deprivation." — Vanessa Richardson [15:59]
• “I’ll tell you how it’s going to end. It’s going to end in death.” — Local resident predicting the Miracle Valley outcome [13:34]
• "God said the only way to bring about the apocalypse was to kill anyone. Ten people." — Vanessa Richardson, summarizing Lundgren's doctrine [33:46]
• “His story about the end of Days was powerful enough to kill an innocent family of five.” — Vanessa Richardson [50:32]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:38] Miracle Valley backstory and Frances Thomas' rise
• [16:34] Cult violence escalates—van explosion
• [19:18] Miracle Valley shootout: timeline and aftermath
• [28:51] Jeffrey Lundgren's early life and cult formation
• [33:30] Lundgren’s “dividing the word” doctrine explained
• [41:07] Murder of the Avery family
• [44:00] Investigation and downfall of the Kirtland cult
• [50:19] Closing reflections on cult psychology

Tone & Style

Richardson narrates with a calm, investigative tone, blending empathy for victims with a firm critique of cult leaders' manipulations. The stories are told with gripping narrative detail, often highlighting direct speech or chilling interactions for affect. The episode maintains suspense while prioritizing fact and context.

Conclusion

This episode of True Crime This Week offers a chilling yet deeply insightful look into how cults form, how they spiral into violence, and the lasting scars inflicted—not just on victims, but whole communities. In examining Frances Thomas and Jeffrey Lundgren’s legacies, Crime House Daily warns of the continuing dangers posed by those who would twist faith for absolute power.