Exploring Cult with Massachusetts Ties: Watch the New True Crime Documentary
A new documentary is coming to Investigation Discovery that explores the Twelve Tribes, a religious group with ties to Massachusetts. Premiering on Monday, March 16, “People Magazine Investigates: The Secrets of the Twelve Tribes Cult” will delve into this Christian fundamentalist movement established in the 1970s by Gene Spriggs in Tennessee.
The Twelve Tribes describes itself as a coalition of twelve autonomous tribes living in self-governing communities. Members adhere to the teachings of the Old and New Testaments and strive to emulate the early disciples from Acts chapters 2 and 4.
According to Investigation Discovery, the documentary will shed light on the group’s rigid religious practices and how the fear of God is used to control every aspect of life within the community. The show will feature interviews with former members who bravely decided to leave the group.
In a chilling trailer for the documentary, one man recounts being instructed to spank children, leading to intense pain and tears, while a woman reveals that leaders warned her she would be killed if she left. The Twelve Tribes has community outposts in Milton, Plymouth, and Hyannis in Massachusetts, as well as a bakery called The Yellow Deli in Plymouth.
The plot summary on IMDB highlights how Gene Spriggs founded the Twelve Tribes in Tennessee, attracting teenagers and disillusioned hippies. Over time, the group garnered a reputation as a cult and faced allegations of child abuse, forced labor, and zealous devotion to what members believed was God’s will.
On their website, the Twelve Tribes address questions about leaving the organization, stating that members are not coerced to remain if they wish to depart. Despite past controversies, the group continues to operate and maintain several locations in Massachusetts.
