Palmdale neighbors paint different picture of presumed cult leader

The Los Angeles Times ^ | September 19, 2010 | Robert Faturechi

[Clintonfatigued]

Late Saturday night, authorities were describing Reyna Marisol Chicas as a potential cult leader who may have masterminded a group suicide plot that included her own children.

But former neighbors of the Salvadoran immigrant painted a different picture, describing Chicas as a simple woman who hadn't been schooled beyond the fifth grade and could hardly keep a job let alone have a religious following.

[Clintonfatigued]

I don’t know what to think about this. Perhaps they plan to sit and wait somewhere for a while, and then go home if nothing happens.

[AuntB]

More on this:

Authorities in southern California said they were searching a desert outside of Los Angeles for the group.

The sect includes three sisters, aged 30, 32 and 40 years, a 19-year-old man and eight children, aged eight to 17.

It is headed by “cult-like leader” Reyna Marisol Chicas, according to officials.The sect consists of El Salvadoran immigrants and Chicas is a 32-year-old woman from Palmdale, in northeast Los Angeles county, Cpt Parker added.

The sect also left behind mobile phones, identification documents and deeds to property.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Sect-Fears-Of-Mass-Suicide-Bid-After-Cult-Like-Group-Goes-Missing-In-LA-County-California/Article/201009315735173?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_3&lid=ARTICLE_15735173_Sect%3A_Fears_Of_Mass_Suicide_Bid_After_Cult-Like_Group_Goes_Missing_In_LA_County%2C_California

Authorities search for missing members of cult-like Palmdale group

[snips]Five adults and at least eight children are sought in what a CHP alert describes as a potential suicide plot. A sheriff’s captain points out, however, that documents left behind don’t mention suicide and the group has no history of harming themselves.

Among those missing, the CHP alert said, is Reyna Marisol Chicas, 32, described as the leader of the group.

But as sheriff’s patrol cars and several helicopters were scouring the Antelope Valley for the group, former neighbors of Chicas painted a different picture, describing the Salvadoran immigrant as a simple woman who hadn’t been schooled beyond the fifth grade and could hardly keep a job

Giron said his family was close to the Chicases. They said Chicas often lied about minor things — like her job status -

Giron’s wife, Jisela, attended a few times and said Chicas was always there, her children in tow. The church, she said, was a typical Christian congregation. Sermons were in Spanish....... there was nothing that made the largely Latino congregation stand out.

http://www.latimes.com/la-me-0919-suicide-20100919,0,7901802.story

[ApplegateRanch]

a simple woman who hadn't been schooled beyond the fifth grade and could hardly keep a job let alone have a religious following.

MadMo was mostly uneducated, and couldn't hardly hold a job, either.

Obummer may or may not (he won't release his records to let us see) be educated, and certainly couldn't hold any real job.

Both managed to found large cults.

[presently no screen name]

They said Chicas often lied

Another similarity.

[freekitty]

These people need to get real.

[bornred]

But former neighbors of the Salvadoran immigrant painted a different picture, describing Chicas as a simple woman who hadn't been schooled beyond the fifth grade and could hardly keep a job

A mass suicide for such pillars of society... that's a shame.

The Palmdale welfare office will be flying their flag at half mast this week.

[Joe Boucher]

Folks are probably out in the woods camping and fishing for trout.