Mississippi mother, 3-year-old among missing alleged cult members

(NewsNation) — Gerrielle German of Mississippi and her three-year-old son Ashton are two of the at least six people who have been missing for months after reportedly joining an online cult, NewsNation local affiliate WREG is reporting.

German and Ashton were reported missing by her mother in early July, Horn Lake police said, according to the news outlet.

They, along with Mikayla Thompson, 25; Naaman Williams, 30, Ma’Kayla Wickerson, 36; Ashton Williams, 2; and Malaiyah Wickerson, 3, were reportedly followers of an online cult led by Rashad Jamal. Last seen in the St. Louis, Missouri area in August 2023, the group reportedly lived in Wickerson’s home before disappearing.

Jamal is currently in jail after being charged with sexually abusing the children of a previous partner as well as other charges of cruelty to children. Followers joined him through social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

His teachings blended a variety of influences, including New Age and nature spiritualist, Afrocentrism, esoterism and occultism and polygamy, along with conspiracy theories. Part of Jamal’s preachings were that he is a God.

Through an organization he operated called the University of Cosmic Intelligence Jamal sold crystals and other New Age items.

VICE reported in December 2022 that Jamal’s followers have been connected to numerous criminal incidents, including two cases where they were charged with murder, kidnapping and robbery.

German’s mother, Shelita Gipson, told WREG in an emotional interview that she’s anxious to know where her daughter and grandson are.

“I just want to know if she’s okay, if the baby is okay, if they need anything,” Gipson said. “Are they cold, are they hungry, is she dead, is she alive? That’s all I need to know. Her choices are her choices and I can’t do anything about her choices.”

Gipson said to WREG that her daughter left Horn Lake with Ashton in July and went to Berkley, Missouri.

“She kept saying she was getting ready to go because she was on this spiritual journey and all these things, and she was acting a little weird,” Gipson said.

Capt. Jody Keene with Horn Lake Police mentioned German’s ex-husband said his wife left for a “spiritual journey” as well, according to WREG.

Anyone with information about the missing group is asked to contact the Berkeley Police Department at 314-524-3311.

NewsNation digital producer Steph Whiteside contributed to this article.