Gardens of Evil: Inside the Zion Society Cult

Episode 7 – Standing Tall (Released March 17, 2026)

Host: Aaron Mason
Key Contributors: Mike King (Detective/Author), Shelly (survivor, pseudonym), various survivors and law enforcement

Episode Overview

This episode, “Standing Tall,” focuses on the aftermath of the Zion Society cult’s unraveling—specifically, the courtroom battles, trauma, and eventual journey toward healing for survivors, with a special focus on Shelly’s experiences. The episode details the prosecution of Arvin Shreve and his lieutenant Carla, prosecutorial strategies to spare child victims further trauma, survivors’ emotional struggles, and a poignant scene of reunion and catharsis at the new Children’s Justice Center.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shelly’s Ordeal as a Victim and Witness

• Shelly’s Court Experience: At just 15, Shelly testified against her abusers, including her own mother, Carla. The trauma of cross-examination and being treated as a liar left her “annihilated” ([01:58]):

  “I just felt annihilated on that stand...through my struggles and the hard time I had, how many other children won’t have to do that?” – Shelly ([01:58])

• Psychological Toll: Her testimony was crucial but came at enormous emotional cost.

2. Prosecuting the Zion Society

• Massive Investigation:

  “We had arrested now 13 individuals. And we had probably 750 felony charges that we could have leveled against those individuals.” – Mike King ([03:01])

• Prioritizing Child Safety: Authorities focused on the most egregious offenders first, but getting warrants and removing children from abusers was slow and difficult.
• Post-Raid Community Response:

  “The phones didn't turn off at that point. They only intensified.” – Mike King ([04:14])

• Media Coverage: Journalists’ efforts to interview Arvin post-arrest highlighted his manipulative demeanor.

3. Court and Sentencing: Arvin Shreve and Carla

• Arvin’s Conviction:
  • Pleaded guilty to two counts of sodomy of a child and two counts of sexual abuse of a child; admitted to many allegations but denied abuse of boys despite evidence.
  • Notably, only a few charges were brought, due to the difficulty of repeatedly forcing children to testify.

  “It was very clear in my mind that Arvin Shreve thought that he was smarter than the system...that someone would just say, oh, the guy made a mistake and he’s a good guy and let's move on.” – Mike King ([07:03])

• Sentencing Scene: Arvin asked Detective Mike King to stand beside him during sentencing, believing he could manipulate outcomes ([09:02]).

  “I remember reaching up and patting him on the back and saying, good luck to you, Arvin. I'll check on you in prison.” – Mike King ([09:51])

• Carla’s Role:
  • Carla facilitated and perpetrated abuse—compared to Ghislaine Maxwell’s role to Epstein ([12:50]).
  • Shelly, her daughter, ended up as both a victim and a reluctant instrument under Carla’s direction.

  “She always used me as the guinea pig for crap.” – Shelly ([21:34])

• Legal Outcomes: Carla received a 10-to-life sentence, but a conviction was overturned on a technicality. She was released early for good behavior ([36:58]).

4. Survivors’ Trauma and Courtroom Challenges

• Children Forced to Testify:
  • Defense attorneys used preliminary hearings to intimidate—sometimes traumatizing child victims to the point of shutting down ([25:29]).

  “The defense in those days could be more aggressive with the witness...so we would see children having to really take the brunt of...” – Mike King ([25:29])

• Victim-Dependent Prosecution: The plea bargain approach was used to avoid re-traumatizing children but resulted in lighter sentences for many participants ([29:51]).

  “If you can get what you think is the maximum you'd get anyway, and do that without having to put the kids through the trauma...that’s a win-win in my mind.” – Mike King ([31:04])

• Destructive Impact Loop: Kids sometimes had to instruct each other in cult practices, perpetuating abuse and deepening their shame ([19:53]).

5. Shelly’s Personal Story: Pain, Confrontation, Growth

• Long-term Psychological Impact: Shelly and her brother couldn't talk about their past for years; her relationship with her mother remained fraught and ultimately unsafe ([14:51], [37:04]).
• Healing Journey:
  • Shelly attended the Justice Center’s ribbon-cutting, reconnecting with other survivors and experiencing profound healing ([54:50]–[57:36]).
  • The community gathering helped many survivors realize they weren’t alone.

  “It was a healing, healing that I didn’t even know I needed. After I reminded myself that I don’t need to be a victim anymore. I’m not 15 and I’m safe...” – Shelly ([63:13])

6. Justice System Changes & the Children’s Justice Center

• Legal Reforms: Former prosecutor Reed Richards described changes to Utah law, with two constitutional amendments to minimize children’s exposure to court ([51:53]).

  “In preliminary hearings, recorded interviews of children could be used instead of forcing them to testify.” – Reed Richards ([52:19])

• CJC’s Symbolic Significance:
  • Survivors celebrated together at the new facility’s opening—a scene filled with catharsis.

  “It's not just a building, it is a lifeline. It sends a message to children being removed from abuse right now: you are not alone, and your life has value.” – Andrea ([53:56])

7. Arvin’s Continuing Influence and Death

• Running the Cult from Prison: Despite his conviction, Arvin continued exerting control via prison phone calls ([38:34]).

  “He was still running the cult from inside the prison.” – Mike King ([38:56])

• Arvin’s Death: Survivors reacted with relief, catharsis, or indifference.

  “You shouldn’t be glad someone dies. But I was hysterical, ecstatically happy.” – Aunt Judy ([44:01])
  “The first thought I had is how little I had thought about him.” – Mike King ([44:24])
  “Oh, we had cupcakes.” – Jeff Peterson ([44:49])

• Shelly’s Reaction:

  “I didn’t care...Don’t even bring him up to me. I was just even offended that she’d even think that I would want to hear that.” – Shelly ([45:01])

8. Cycle of Trauma and Hope for the Future

• Survivors described long-term struggles with self-worth and suicidal thoughts:

  “I suicidal quite a bit through my life, I struggled with self worth. If a boy were to tell me I was pretty, I would have done anything for him, you know? I didn’t want to be me...It was awful.” – Shelly ([62:38])

• The support network forged at the CJC, and among survivors, was described as "healing that I didn't even know I needed" ([63:13]).
• Final Message:

  “You’re not alone. We’re here and we’re family and together. If we can stand together and be brave, we can beat it.” – Shelly ([64:45])

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Shelly on the Courtroom Ordeal:

  “I just felt annihilated on that stand...I was ashamed and scared, and you feel like a perpetrator yourself by the way they treat you as the prosecution's reluctant star witness.” ([01:58])

• Mike King, Impact of Sentencing:

  “When the judge leveled those sentences on his shoulders, his countenance changed dramatically.” ([09:42])

• Shelly on Her Mother, Carla:

  “She always used me as the guinea pig for crap...She made me like, show my grandpa my underwear...It was terrifying, but it’s...She’s just gross.” ([21:34])

• Defense Tactics:

  “The defense in those days could be more aggressive...Some cases, that interrogation of the victim became so strenuous that the victim no longer wanted to go into court for trial.” ([25:29])

• Shelly on Trauma:

  “I just didn’t want to be seen...And you’d have to relive it and relive it. I was scared to death that the people I was charging were going to come get me.” ([32:16])

• On Sentencing Outcomes:

  “We were seeing sentences that were so light that it was almost laughable...many of the women predators were given lighter sentences than we had hoped for.” – Mike King ([33:42])

• Survivor Reflection at the CJC Opening:

  “It sends a message to children being removed from abuse. Right now, we are here for you, not just at the moment of intervention, but in the long, complicated journey that follows.” – Andrea ([53:56])

• Shelly’s Closing Words:

  “Those are just really hard things to deal with and to overcome. But it’s not your fault...You’re not alone. We’re here and we’re family, and together, if we can stand together and be brave, we can beat it.” ([64:45])

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Content | |--------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:58 | Shelly on her experience as a witness | | 03:01 | Scope of prosecution outlined by Mike King | | 07:03 | Shreve’s manipulation and confession | | 12:50 | Carla’s involvement and role in abuse | | 15:48 | Shelly’s childhood perspective and estrangement from father | | 18:19 | Shelly describes her indoctrination and isolation | | 19:53 | Abuse cycle among children and self-blame | | 25:29 | Defense’s aggressive tactics and legal obstacles | | 29:51 | Prosecution’s plea deal strategy to protect child victims | | 32:16 | Effects of testifying repeatedly on Shelly | | 33:42 | Disproportionately light sentences for perpetrators | | 35:03 | Carla’s plea and the system’s leniency | | 36:58 | Carla’s early release | | 38:34 | Shreve continues to influence cult from prison | | 41:38 | Excerpt of Arvin Shreve’s manipulative oratory post-conviction| | 44:01 | Reactions to Shreve’s death | | 51:53 | Legislative reforms: children protected from court trauma | | 53:56 | Survivor healing and significance of Children’s Justice Center| | 62:38 | Shelly’s struggle with self-worth and healing | | 64:45 | Shelly’s message of hope and solidarity |

Flow and Emotional Arc

• The episode moves from dark recounting of abuse and failed justice into a narrative of resilience, ending with a communal healing event and expressions of hope and support.
• Shelly’s personal transformation—from isolated victim to a participant in survivor community—encapsulates the episode’s message: healing is ongoing, justice imperfect, but solidarity is powerful.

Conclusion

“Standing Tall” is a powerful chronicle of a community’s slow journey toward healing after catastrophic betrayal and abuse. It honors the survivors’ suffering, depicts the failures and improvements in the justice system, and emphasizes the importance of compassion, legal reform, and survivor solidarity. The episode closes with a resolute reminder: Survivors are not alone, their stories matter, and, together, they can reclaim their lives.