make this detailed writing sample of a true crime story much more amazing, thoughtful, and showing lot sof research was put into it: Roch Thériault, a self-proclaimed prophet known as Moïse, was a Canadian cult leader and horrific murderer who held sway over his followers using fear, manipulation, and violence. Born on May 16, 1947, Thériault established the doomsday cult Ant Hill Kids in 1977, drawing upon beliefs from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, an organization he was expelled from in 1978.

For years, Thériault manipulated and forced his followers, consisting of 12 adults and 22 children, into a life filled with abuse, fear, and torment. Under his totalitarian rule, he not only exercised complete control over their lives but also subjected them to physical and sexual maltreatment.

Yet, his twisted reign did not go unnoticed by the authorities. In 1989, Thériault was arrested for assault, consequently dismantling the Ant Hill Kids and facing a myriad of criminal charges. Convicted for the murder of Solange Boilard, one of his followers, and for the death of an infant, Thériault’s life sentence was served in Dorchester Penitentiary until his own demise in 2011.

Thériault’s ghastly legacy lingers as a painful reminder of the power one person can wield over others through manipulation and fear. As a future criminal justice attorney, I am driven to educate others on such cases in order to foster understanding, promote awareness, and stimulate discussions on preventing future tragedies.