Small Town Murder – “Cult Of The Naked Truth – Grants Pass, Oregon”

Podcast: Small Town Murder
Episode: Cult Of The Naked Truth – Grants Pass, Oregon
Hosts: James Pietragallo & Jimmy Whisman
Release Date: January 31, 2026

Overview

This episode dives into a shocking series of cult-driven murders in Grants Pass, Oregon, during the late 1980s. James and Jimmy explore how a small-town religious study group spiraled into delusion, manipulation, and tragedy—all compounded by the involvement of children, bizarre angelic hierarchies, and a belief in divine messages that led to violence. Despite the dark subject matter, the hosts maintain their characteristic comedic spin, dissecting the cult’s absurdities and the small-town quirks along the way.

Grants Pass – Setting the Scene (05:06–14:35)

• Geography & Demographics
  • Grants Pass, SW Oregon; rural, 38,902 residents, median income $49k, med. home $376k.
  • Town nickname: “Live Rogue,” owing to the Rogue River; odd motto: “It’s the climate.”
  • “That’s what therapists say a lot. What’s wrong with this goddamn place? It’s the climate.” – James (06:47)
• Town Life
  • Rural fun: fishing, football, hunting, mudding, “dunes.”
  • Mixed reviews: Good for raising kids/retirement if you like the outdoors; poor healthcare, expensive homes, not much to do otherwise.
  • “If you got no money, you can't do any of that. Those are all expensive hobbies.” – Jimmy (10:13)
• Local Festival
  • The “Boatnik” festival includes boat races and ’80s hair metal acts (“Queensrÿche opening for a boat show”); the hosts find this both hilarious and tragic.
  • “That was not the dream.” – Jimmy, on Queensrÿche’s career arc (11:39)

Cult Beginnings: The New Light Bible Study Group (14:35–23:40)

• Lynn Ann Sapienza (Green)
  • Born 1957, becomes a special needs teacher (“these people are literally angels” – James, 13:31), raised Catholic.
  • Attends La Sierra University (Seventh-day Adventist college), meets David Green Jr.
• David Green Jr.
  • Strict Seventh-day Adventist background, father (David Sr.) leads “prayer group.”
  • Father reportedly believes angels communicate with him and pens his own doctrine.
• Religious Drift
  • Prayer group edges away from church orthodoxy, labeled “spiritualism” by Adventist authorities.
  • They develop ideas of “spirit travel” (including to other planets), communicating with angels, and invisible swords to ward off evil.
  • “No religion gives you superpowers. That’s the thing.” – James (33:50)

The Halsteads: Friends Turned Followers (24:05–35:01)

• Family Ties
  • Halstead family moves to Grants Pass to be near the Greens and prayer group.
  • Sharon Halstead—eldest daughter—drifts from religion, marries a 60+ blacksmith Tex Shively at 27, causes family scandal.
  • Sharon has two sons (Harry and Leo), divorces Tex after “demonic” accusations from the group.
• Reintegration
  • After separation, Sharon and sons move back, re-engage deeply with the prayer group.
  • Sharon’s sister Deborah, after failing to find happiness in LA, also returns and dives into cult activities.

Beliefs Turning Extreme (35:01–43:33)

• Angel Mania & The Black Book
  • Cult keeps a “Black Book of Angels” listing 160+ angels with names/tasks (e.g., “angel of mystery”).
  • “The Black Book of Angels—it sounds like a Marilyn Manson album title, doesn’t it?” – James (36:47)
• Cult Dynamics
  • The group merges with other local exorcist types; beliefs become increasingly fringe.
  • Parallels drawn to high-profile cult murders (Lori Vallow/Chad Daybell).

The “Totaled” Doctrine & Use of Children as Prophets (39:25–43:33)

• Demon Possession Meter
  • Members identified as “possessed” (or “totaled,” like a car after a crash) and thus marked for elimination if beyond saving.
  • 9-year-old Leo (Sharon’s son) is positioned as the group’s prophet and intermediary—his word, they claim, is God’s will.
  • They pay him for pronouncements and manipulate his responses.
  • “He said, I never actually said I could hear angels… They told me I could, so I thought I could.” – Leo (61:48)
• Escalation
  • Members including children involved in crimes—slashing tires, stealing, attempted muggings—justified because “demons” were present in their targets.
  • “The naked truth,” Leo’s imaginary angel, is said to dictate who is ‘totaled.’

The Murders: Crime Spree & Attack on the Greens (47:09–55:45)

• First Killing: Mike Lemke (horse farm caretaker)
  • Halsteads (Sharon, Deborah, Harry, and Leo) visit Michael Halstead with stolen gun, trash his place, then kill caretaker Lemke (48:12–48:39).
  • Steal his truck, horse trailer, and horse.
• Attack on the Green Family (Nov 5, 1988)
  • Halsteads arrive at Green house under the ruse of a birthday visit.
  • Odd behavior, then a message revealed: “Trust in Jesus,” written in lipstick on the wall (52:04).
  • Sharon pulls gun; David Green Jr. is shot but escapes, seeking help at neighbors’.
  • Lynn Green (wife) is shot dead; Nathaniel (their two-year-old son) is shot in the face while in a high chair—but miraculously survives.
  • “Shot in the chin, right in the face, point blank range, lives this kid. Wow.” – James (55:46)

Investigation & Cult Aftermath (56:03–62:11)

• Evidence
  • Scene covered in bullet casings, blood, the strange lipstick message; “Black Book of Angels” found (58:23).
• Arrest
  • Halsteads found at home—red stolen truck in the driveway, SWAT called; sisters and sons arrested (58:54–59:32).
• Unraveling the Delusion
  • Boys admit they were told to steal the murder weapon from their father; Leo later recants having angelic communication (61:47).
  • Both boys placed in protective custody—not charged—due to manipulation by their mother and aunt.

Trials, Sentencing, and Where Are They Now (65:21–74:15)

• Charges & Convictions

  • Sharon: 4 counts aggravated murder, avoids death penalty via plea deal but gets 75 years to life (no parole for 75 years).
  • Deborah: Guilty of conspiracy to murder, sentenced to 20 years (concurrent), eligible for parole after 40 months, released promptly.
  • “You shot a baby, man. I got nothing for you.” – Jimmy (65:22)

• Defenses & Judicial Reaction

  • Sharon’s defense tries to claim she was “victim too”…
    “She was a victim too. Her life was turned upside down by this cult.” – Defense Attorney (70:10)
  • Judge is unmoved, delivers heavy sentences.
  • Sharon never expresses remorse.

• Aftermath for Survivors

  • David Green suffers lifelong physical effects, struggles with survivor’s guilt.
  • Nathaniel survives, paralyzed from chest down, later attends Southern Oregon University.
  • “This kid is tough, man. Hats off.” – James (72:38)

• Other Cult Members

  • Harry achieves some stability, speaks publicly about events (investigation documentary “Twisted Sisters”).
  • Leo struggles repeatedly with the law.
  • Michael Halstead dies in his forties (not from foul play).
  • Sharon remains incarcerated; Deborah released, moved on.
  • The case features on “Snapped” and “Twisted Sisters” (true crime TV).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On cult delusion:
  “No religion gives you superpowers. You're not the fucking Suicide Squad, you're a congregation.” – James (33:50)
• On Leo’s role:
  “Dangerous … The 9-year-old is their prophet, the one to say who’s ‘totaled’!” – James (40:29)
• On survivor’s guilt:
  “You might say I was lucky, but I would attribute it to other things… If I had only grabbed Nathaniel…” – David Green, via James (73:01)
• On absurdity of the cult’s logic:
  “Jesus needs horses. You hear that a lot in the Bible.” – James (67:59)
• On the case:
  “Investigator said it was the strangest case I’ve ever investigated. Who would do this?” (56:36)

Key Timestamps

• Town overview: 05:06–14:35
• The cult’s origins: 14:35–23:40
• Family/cult background: 24:05–35:01
• Extremist beliefs emerge: 35:01–43:33
• Children as ‘prophets;’ demon doctrine: 39:25–43:33
• Crimes begin: 47:09–55:45
• Police investigation: 56:03–62:11
• Trials and sentencing: 65:21–74:15

Tone & Style

The hosts’ signature dark humor and sarcasm run throughout, providing levity amid the grimness. They frequently break to marvel (or groan) at the group’s warped logic and the tragic involvement of children, riffing on cult absurdities without minimizing the horror of the crimes.

Summary

This episode lays bare the lethal consequences of group delusion, echo-chamber dynamics, and religious extremism in small-town America. Comedy and disbelief are used to process the details—from bizarre angelic “totaling” to a murder weapon sourced by children—while giving voice to the surviving victims and the long tail of cult trauma. Listeners are left with a chilling portrait of how isolation, desperation, and unchecked faith can tip over into true crime.

For further listening:

• See also the podcast’s recaps of Lori Vallow (episode 631) and other cult-adjacent crimes for thematic parallels.
• Referenced true crime TV: “Snapped,” “Twisted Sisters.”

“Discuss amongst yourselves because we have to get through this real quick… and do not shoot any toddlers in the face.” – James (74:00/76:35)