Gardens of Evil: Inside the Zion Society Cult

Episode 3 – The Alpha

Podcast: American Nightmares
Release Date: February 17, 2026
Host/Narrator: Aaron Mason
Notable Contributors: Erin Anderson (Survivor), Jeff Peterson (Parent), Andrea and Amber (Survivors), Detective Mike King

Episode Overview

Episode 3, “The Alpha,” delves deep into the recruitment and indoctrination tactics of the Zion Society cult, chronicling Erin Anderson’s descent into the group and the concurrent devastation inflicted on other families—most notably Jeff Peterson’s—by Arvin Shreve and his ruthless lieutenant, known here as “Carla.” This episode unveils how the cult operated beneath the surface of suburbia, transforming ordinary women and families into extensions of a toxic hierarchy, and exposes the complex psychology behind both victims and enablers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Initial Allure: Recruitment Through Compassion

• Vulnerability as an Entry Point
  Erin Anderson’s story is relayed mainly through her own words and an actor-voiced narrative based on interviews. At the time she joined, Erin was trapped in an abusive marriage and in the midst of a high-risk pregnancy. The cult targeted her vulnerability, offering both emotional support and practical help (maternity dresses, a place to stay, community)—a textbook tactic for cult recruitment.

  “After having come from abuse my whole life, I think I would have responded to anyone who showed any kind of compassion or kindness to me. And that's pretty much what I did. I didn't question it at all.” – Erin Anderson [03:12]

• Love Bombing and "Slumber Party" Tactics
  New recruits were invited to casual gatherings imbued with a sense of sisterhood. What could appear to be harmless bonding (chats, massages) began blurring boundaries and fostering dependency.

  “We ate chips and hot sauce. We talked, and we looked through pattern books and material swatches to make maternity dresses...It was kind of like a slumber party.” [04:42]

2. Systematic Isolation and Control

• Undermining Existing Relationships
  The cult swiftly moved to cut Erin off from her support network, particularly Aunt Judy. When Erin left her husband and sought refuge with the group, her family’s attempts to reach her were actively interpreted as betrayal by the cult, further binding Erin to the group’s identity.

  “They said, do you see how your choice was right? How your family turned on you and now they are in support of your husband?” – Erin Anderson [10:40]

• Religious Familiarity as a Recruitment Tool
  Carla leverages Erin’s ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by initially presenting the group’s philosophy as adjacent to Mormonism, lulling recruits into a false sense of comfort and trust.

  “Religious cults and extremists often employ the same insidious recruitment strategy. They introduce themselves by way of a familiar belief system.” – Aaron Mason [05:51]

3. Life and Power Structure Inside the Cult

• Cult Hierarchy: Arvin and Carla
  Arvin Shreve, an unassuming, “grandfatherly” local landscaper, is the self-proclaimed prophet and absolute authority. Yet the actual day-to-day control was wielded by Carla, his enforcer. Survivors recount that Carla inspired as much (or more) fear than Arvin.

  “She was the one that would call you when it was your turn to come have sex with Arvin... She was the orchestrator and kind of the policeman in a way.” – Andrea, survivor [24:26]

• Carla’s Power and Cruelty
  Carla rapidly ascended the cult’s ranks, wielding control over both doctrinal indoctrination and the enforcement of submission—sometimes even going behind Arvin’s back to orchestrate the abuse and even trafficking of children.

  “Carla rented out some of the Zion Society children, including her own daughter, for sex with adult men.” – Detective Mike King [60:19]

• Perverted Doctrine and Psychological Manipulation
  New members (like Erin) were methodically taught manipulated, pseudo-LDS doctrine wrapped in familiar terminology, then pressured to accept Arvin as their spiritual (and sexual) leader.

  “You must become alive to spiritual things. You must forsake anything that isn't in line with Arvin's teachings... that's why you need to do everything we tell you.” – Carla (Voice Actor) [30:40]

• Punishment and Shunning
  Dissent or hesitation was met with shunning—total social ostracism inside the group—until compliance was achieved.

  “If you didn't comply to the rules, you were very shunned from the rest of the group until you made amends for what you did.” – Erin Anderson [63:26]

4. Backstories and Cult Expansion

• Jeff Peterson: Collateral Damage
  Jeff’s marriage unraveled as his wife (later Carla) became increasingly zealous, eventually joining the cult and abducting two of their children. He describes the heartbreak and incredulity at finding his home emptied out when she left him for the cult, taking the children and everything in the house.

  “I come back and she'd cleaned the house out. Furniture is gone. Kids are gone... I just cried.” – Jeff Peterson [52:04]

• Transactional Child Custody
  The cult’s objectives became transactional: Jeff’s wife attempted to sell him full custody of some of their children for $10,000. Money and power, not family, were the group’s priorities.

  “If you'll just give us $10,000, we can just settle this now and you can have the kids. Because that's all they wanted anyway, money. They don't really want the kids.” – Jeff Peterson [55:09]

• Roots of Carla’s Ruthlessness
  Jeff attributes Carla’s zealous pursuit of power and religious madness to a childhood spent trying to please her domineering father—a trait which would eventually steer her towards the cult’s inner circle and make her its most dangerous enforcer.

  “She wanted to be the top. She didn't care who she hurt or what she did to get there.” – Jeff Peterson [56:31]

5. Community and Historical Context

• Ogden: Duality of Piety and Vice
  Aaron Mason contextualizes the cult’s existence within Ogden’s own contradictory history—a conservative, religious community harboring a rough underbelly of vice, enabling Shreve to operate in the open.

  “Ogden stood in stark contrast with itself. On one hand, it was an oasis for... deeply religious pilgrims... but on the other, Ogden was overflowing with temptations... a place of both righteousness and debauchery.” – Aaron Mason [34:30+]

• Arvin’s Early Life and Public Persona
  The episode details Arvin's rise as a local horticulturalist, debate champion, LDS missionary, and popular teacher—all facets that allowed him to cultivate a trustworthy public image while hiding his deviant behavior.

6. Escalation to Abuse and Trauma

• Erin’s Turning Point
  The full scale and horror of the cult's sexual abuses are revealed to Erin through staged “spiritual lessons” and direct assault, orchestrated and rationalized by Carla and Arvin.

  “While Carla was still massaging my legs, Arvin knelt down... then he lifted up my shirt and started rubbing my chest under my bra while Carla encouraged him... When he tried to lift them up, I got really tight. I just stiffened up and started to cry. He said, is this bothering you? And I said, yes, and he stopped.” – Erin (Voice Actor) [62:17]

• Betrayal and Threats to Children
  The threat of further action—potentially against her daughter—is implicit, keeping Erin in desperate compliance.

  “What if Carla felt wronged and as a consequence decided to take Erin's daughter and prostitute her out? Was that a possibility? Erin wasn't about to find out.” – Aaron Mason [64:13]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Targeting the Vulnerable:

  “If your self esteem is low, we have more control over you.” – Erin Anderson [02:19]

• On Cult Logic and Reality Distortion:

  “So you see, with just a twist, the truth is a lie and vice versa. The culture, the group, so to speak, became my family, where my family became the enemy.” – Erin Anderson [10:40]

• On Carla’s Manipulation:

  “You've offended your master, you've offended your God.” – Carla to Erin [63:14]

• On Arvin’s ‘Theology’:

  “Arvin claimed to have been an instructor to everyone who has ever been born, preparing their spirit for life on earth.” – Aaron Mason [28:32]

• On Loss and Desperation:

  “I come back and she'd cleaned the house out. Furniture is gone. Kids are gone... I just cried.” – Jeff Peterson [52:04]

• On Carla’s True Role:

  “She ends up being number two under Arvin. Arvin's wife wasn't even number two. She's running the show.” – Jeff Peterson [57:28]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Erin Anderson begins recounting her recruitment: [01:35]
• Abuse and control tactics in cult onboarding: [04:42–06:59; 29:07–32:20]
• Carla’s authority and enforcement inside the cult: [22:32; 24:05–24:48]
• Jeff Peterson discusses his wife’s transformation: [15:22–19:59]
• Jeff loses his family to the cult: [52:06]
• Erin’s first sexual assault and ensuing shunning: [62:01–63:26]
• Revelation of child trafficking by Carla: [60:07–60:29]
• Ogden’s history and the cult’s public camouflage: [34:00–44:17]
• Arvin’s rise and fall in LDS and community: [44:17–50:42]
• Closing: Erin’s compliance and deepening isolation: [63:45–end]

Summary

Episode 3 of Gardens of Evil exposes the meticulous methods in which predators infiltrate and co-opt the vulnerable under the guise of religious community, weaponizing love, spiritual authority, and social hierarchies. At the heart is the chilling dynamic between Arvin—charismatic yet unassuming—and Carla, the ambitious, traumatized enforcer whose zeal and cruelty shaped the daily lives of dozens within the cult and left families shattered. Listener warning: the episode includes detailed accounts of manipulation, indoctrination, and abuse, with a focus on how an ordinary neighborhood hid predation in plain sight.

If you, or someone you know, needs help, contact RAINN.org or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE.