Religion: Cultnaper

Judgment for Ted Patrick

He may charge $7,500 per case, but Ted Patrick, 50, says he has been hired more than 2,000 times as a professional abductor. His targets are converts to zealous faiths he calls "cults." He helps harangue them out of their new beliefs through "deprogramming." Mostly they have been enthralled by the likes of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon or the Hare Krishnas. Patrick has also processed a woman whose mother opposed her impending marriage and—just this year—Susan Wirth, 35, a San Francisco college teacher whose mother wanted to wean her...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!