1 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: Before we jump in, we must warn you this episode 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: contains explicit content, such as sexual abuse that may be 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: disturbing to some people. Listener discretion is advised. Also, if 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: this is the first time you are listening to Sacred Scandal, 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 1: everything will make a lot more sense if you start 6 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: with episode one. It's a brisk California December Day, twenty nineteen, 7 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: and Suchil Martin must exit the hotel without being seen. 8 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: She peers out the window to make sure no one 9 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: is there, and then as she dashes through the parking 10 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: lot towards her car, kid in tow, she double checks 11 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: and double checks. This vigilant routine is her new reality, 12 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: constantly hiding from people and watching her back everywhere she goes. 13 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: She's always ready, armed with pepper spray and the local 14 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: police department on speed dial, but none of these prepares 15 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: her for what happens next. As she walks towards her 16 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: car with her daughter, she sees a familiar face panicked, 17 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: Sochil grabs her little girl and starts running. She's known 18 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:19,119 Speaker 1: this man since childhood. He is a henchman for laluzel Mundo, 19 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 1: known as the Enforcer. He is so close that Sochil 20 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: can hear him say, yes, she's here. I can see her. 21 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: She is moving so fast she can't even feel her 22 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: legs safely inside, Sochil calls the San Diego police. Two 23 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: minutes later, the San Diego Pedia arrive, but the enforcer 24 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: has already vanished. Thanks to la uzel Mundo or LDM 25 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: for short, Sochil and her family had spent the last 26 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: few months quietly moving from one hotel to the next 27 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: after being forced to leave their home in Mexico. Her 28 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: decision to help you as authorities bring down Nason joa 29 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: kingar is what put her family in serious danger. 30 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 2: On Monday night, my office arrested Nason Quaking Garcia. 31 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: Even from inside the jail cell, Nason could play with 32 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: people's lives. It was following his wishes that LEDMS. Hundreds 33 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 1: of pastors all over the US and Mexico ordered the 34 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: congregation to harass Sochil Martin and her family. Here's Suchil 35 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: herself describing the rumors LEDM spread about her. 36 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: He used a platform, a national platform, to tell the 37 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 2: people of the congregation, you see this woman over here, 38 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 2: She's the one that you're going to blame for the 39 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 2: Apostle being in jail, and she's the one that if 40 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 2: you see on the street, she's the one that you harass. 41 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 2: It's her fault. 42 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: After Nason's arrest, on June third, twenty nineteen, ldm's official spokesperson, 43 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: Celem Garcia, went to Mexico's twenty four hours new station 44 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 1: Millennium to defend the apostles inn against Sochel's claims. 45 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 3: La personal. 46 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: Persona. This conocia most complete on national television. Celm Garcia 47 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 1: was careful not to name Sochil Martin. He claimed the 48 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: church did not know who this woman was and said 49 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: she was selling the Apostle out for a big payoff 50 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:31,519 Speaker 1: from a documentary journalist. When pressed by Millennius anchor, Garcia 51 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: restayed his claim allegedly. He says, allegedly and repeats that 52 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: the church is completely unaware of who she is. 53 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 3: La fiscalia, Noah present tatle of numbers. 54 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: The last Posta's victimus give them precent tatle of numbers. 55 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: But the truth was, Garcia and LDM knew perfectly well 56 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: who this woman was, and so did the Apostle. Intimately, 57 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: LLDM had been tracking Sochil and her families every month, 58 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: filming and photographing them everywhere they went, yelling and harassing 59 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: them in public, sending threatening messages, vandalizing their property, slashing 60 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 1: her car tires. They even stoned her pets. The family 61 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 1: went into witness protection after two lam agents dressed as 62 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 1: policemen broke into Sochil's home while her daughter was playing 63 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: in the living room. Socho was moving from one place 64 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: to another to keep her family safe, but against millions 65 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: of angry believers convinced she was to blame for Nason's imprisonment. 66 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: She had nowhere to hide and Robert Tagarza and you're 67 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: listening to Sacred Scandal season two. This is episode four, 68 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: the Apostles Obsession. In this episode, we delve into the 69 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: story of Sochil Martin, one of the survivors closest to 70 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: Nason and the first woman to speak up publicly about 71 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: the church and the apostles many abuses. She did this 72 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: despite knowing the consequences that she might never have a 73 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: normal life again. Growing up in East Los Angeles in 74 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: the nineteen nineties, there were moments when Sochil's life seemed 75 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,239 Speaker 1: almost normal, like singing along to the radio with her aunt. 76 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 2: I'd be in the car with my aunt and we'd 77 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 2: be listening to a romantic song of Christian tastro or 78 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 2: I mean or like the Beg's some really beautiful song 79 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 2: from the seventies about love. 80 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 1: There was one special song her aunt loved. 81 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: I Just Called to say I Love you. 82 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: For Sochio's aunt Stevie wonders, I Just Called to say 83 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: I Love you? What was a song about for and 84 00:05:56,839 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: dedicated to the Apostle Samuel. Her aunt and a group 85 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: of women devotees in Los Angeles would send some well 86 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 1: tender voicemails of these seventies love songs, and sometimes, if 87 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,719 Speaker 1: they were lucky, they would get a response. 88 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: He would say, do you really miss me? Okay, I'm 89 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 2: there on the weekend or something. 90 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 1: If the Apostle Samuel told his Los Angeles had him 91 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 1: that he was coming, Sochill remembers a flurry of activity, excitement, 92 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: preparations and such. 93 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 2: Would think, Oh my God, that's gonna be my life, 94 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 2: just like my mom, just like my aunt, right and 95 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 2: like all of this fun you know, oh, the butterflies 96 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 2: in your tummy. 97 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 1: Sochill was born and raised in an LDM family. Growing up, 98 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: pictures of the apostle were all over her house. Her 99 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 1: aunt taught her to kiss them before bed. 100 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 2: Samuel was never a monster to me. I loved him. 101 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 2: He was not just the apostle of Jesus Christ. He 102 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 2: was like the founder of my family. 103 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: Her grandmother joined in the nineteen forties, finding safety from 104 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: her husband's abuse in the church's community. It was only 105 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: natural that when the time came, Sochul's grandmother gifted her daughters, 106 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: Sochel's aunt and her mother to the Apostle Samuel, a 107 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: tradition that continued with Sochi. 108 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 2: I'm being raised by my aunt, who was also abused 109 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 2: by him, you know, and she's teaching me only what 110 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 2: she knew and what she was raised to believe. 111 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: Gifting or offering up your child can mean many things, 112 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: but in a luzel Mundo, it most often means sexual services. 113 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 1: For Sochol's mom and aunt, it meant tasks like performing 114 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: oral sex, preparing his bath, and particularly bringing him more 115 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: younger girls and making sure they were convinced it was 116 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: all a huge blessing. We can't say for sure how 117 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: Sochil's mom felt about this, but what we do know 118 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: is that when Sochil was barely a toddler. Her mom 119 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: became addicted to drugs and alcohol and eventually institutionalized. 120 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 2: My mom was like something we would just nobody would 121 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 2: talk about. 122 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: So Sochill was raised by her aunt, the same aunt 123 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: who sent the apostle boice messages of I just called 124 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: to say I love you. 125 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: My mom didn't stand a chance. I didn't stand a. 126 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: Chance, Sochill, her mother and her aunt were what's known 127 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: in the church as unconditionals. We mentioned them in the 128 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: last episode. Unconditionals pledged themselves to serve the Apostle for 129 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 1: life in any way he wanted, without questions. 130 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 2: I am born and raised to believe that there is 131 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 2: no sin when it comes to the Apostle of Jesus Christ, 132 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 2: because saying that he sins is saying that God sins 133 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 2: and God does not sin. I was trained, Boop, as 134 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 2: soon as you think that there's something wrong or sin, 135 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 2: I'll just turn my brain off. Like if you go there, Sochill, 136 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 2: you're condemned for all eternity. Like you cannot let your 137 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 2: mind go and think, not even for a millisecond, that 138 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 2: the Apostle of Jesus Christ is wrong or that he 139 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 2: is doing something sick or wrong. Before God, because that's 140 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 2: going against God. That's like saying God, you piece of shit, 141 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 2: Like what are you doing? It's just as bad. 142 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,839 Speaker 1: Such as turn came after her tenth birthday. Her aunt 143 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: was ordered by the apostle samuel to bring the little 144 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: girl to him. 145 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 2: And so here I am a little girl, thinking both 146 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 2: the servant of God's not mad because he didn't. He 147 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 2: didn't seem mad when he saw me with my clothes off. 148 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 2: In fact, he likes it, and it makes him smile 149 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:43,439 Speaker 2: and he does look happy. It's very normal, this culture 150 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:47,719 Speaker 2: of rape and child abuse and pedophilia in the light 151 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 2: of the world. 152 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: During her teenage years, such his responsibilities included rubbing someonel's feet, 153 00:09:56,640 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: giving him massages, and even dancing for him, often naked. 154 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 1: Many of her friends also did it, and few questioned it, 155 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: and when they did, the apostles groomers, older women known 156 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: as the vestals, would make sure they understood how much 157 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: of a blessing it was, how the girls should tell 158 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: no one about it, and how they and their whole 159 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:23,079 Speaker 1: family would roast in hell if they did. A few 160 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: years later, the apostle SAMUELA signed such an annual task 161 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: to take care of his son Nason. At the time, 162 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: Nason was forty years old and Socho was still in 163 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 1: high school. 164 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 2: He trusted me so much with his son's life, and 165 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 2: his son needed somebody like me to love him. And 166 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 2: you know, in the beginning it was okay, like, yeah, okay, 167 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 2: it's fine, Socho. But for so long I was an object. 168 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 2: I was a thing that was meant to keep Nason 169 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 2: happy and quiet and calm because he was the next 170 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 2: apostle in line. 171 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: The abuse became gradually. Sochil worked for the church's pr firm, 172 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:08,079 Speaker 1: Beta International, and this meant helping Nason with his radio 173 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 1: broadcasts late into the night in his office. She often 174 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: worked over thirty hours a week, all while attending high school, 175 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: all unpaid, and during their time working together, Nason would 176 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: often talk to the teenage Suchil about how unhappy he 177 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:28,559 Speaker 1: was in his marriage, lamenting that his wife didn't love 178 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 1: him properly. He would tell her no one loved him. 179 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: Schil would respond that of course she loved him, he 180 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: was the apostle son after all, and Nason would reply, 181 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: if you love me, then why don't you kiss me? 182 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: Why don't you hug me? And then, wanting to obey 183 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: Prince Nason. Sochil of course would. 184 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 2: I was essentially his first concubine. There was much more. 185 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 2: It was much more racked with him, so he knew 186 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 2: my every move every day. 187 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: Sochio's aunt helped Nason keep track of her. 188 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 2: They one hundred percent always knew what I was doing, 189 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 2: where I was going, who I would speak to. 190 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: At one point, Sochil ran away to San Jose to 191 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: live with a relative there, but Nason and the church 192 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 1: were escapable. She was quickly brought back to La and 193 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: to the Apostle. The abuse only escalated from there. He 194 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: became arrogant and hurtful, asking for hardcore sexual favors BDSM, 195 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 1: Dungeoness and thrisms. Quickly escalated to the grooming of very 196 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: young girls and sexual acts with animals. She managed to 197 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: mostly avoid the worst acts, but resistance came with a 198 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 1: price tag. On one occasion, Nason presented her with a 199 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: boy naked and half conscious, a black mask covered his face. 200 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: Nason wanted to record a sexual act between Sochil and 201 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:01,079 Speaker 1: the boy when she refused, and beat her so hard 202 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: she was unable to walk for several. 203 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 2: Days, and as time goes by, he physically took everybody 204 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 2: in my life away from me and completely isolated me 205 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 2: from everybody, including my family. 206 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:19,359 Speaker 1: Such A didn't just endure physical abuse, she also experienced 207 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: financial abuse. She dreamt of studying film after graduating high school. 208 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 2: I was lucky enough to get accepted to NYU and 209 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 2: it was so awesome. I was so excited, But Nasan 210 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 2: said no. 211 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: Nason wanted her to stay in Los Angeles to continue 212 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 1: working for the PR firm instead of film school in 213 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,319 Speaker 1: New York. He told her to study communications at California 214 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: State University, and she did, but she was only able 215 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: to study for one year. She had secured a student loan, 216 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: but she'd been forced to turn the loan over to 217 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: the church. Without it, she could not afford to continue 218 00:13:55,880 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: her education, so such A dropped out. She settled into 219 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: work in full time at the church's PR firm, YA International. 220 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: Well she could at least practice her film skills, producing 221 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: shiny marketing videos for the church. This meant Nason officially 222 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: became her direct boss. He was now involved in every 223 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: aspect of her life. 224 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 2: He's my boss, he's my pastor, he's my dad, he's 225 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 2: my everything. Right, so gradually my abuser becomes the closest 226 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 2: thing in my life. 227 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: In time, so she would start to separate Nason the 228 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: man from Nason the apostle. 229 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 2: I essentially had nothing but him, and so I started 230 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 2: to be very angry at him subconsciously, and I started 231 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 2: to separate the idea between him being the servant of 232 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 2: God's son and him being not my predator. I didn't 233 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 2: see him as my predator, but I did start to 234 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 2: see him as the sole reason why I was so unhappy. 235 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 2: But there was nothing I could do about it. 236 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: It would be many more years before such It would 237 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: free herself from him. The abuse would continue and worsen, 238 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: but the seats of doubt were planted and fate was 239 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: about to intervene more on that. After the break in 240 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: her early twenties, Suchil felt like nothing was going right. 241 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: She was working full time, mostly unpaid at the church's 242 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: pr firm. Nasong kept a firm grip on her in 243 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 1: her life. She experienced severe bouts of anxiety and depression 244 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: until one day, during a work trip, things began to change. 245 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: The night before, Suchil received a call from Nasong. 246 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 2: He tells me that he needs me in Sonada the 247 00:15:58,160 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 2: following morning. 248 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: So such A hops into a caraban with other producers 249 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: working for Berea. They traveled the four hours between La 250 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: and Baja California, and when they get there. 251 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 2: The first person to open the door was Shaim. I 252 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 2: see Shadim, and I just thought he was like the 253 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 2: most handsome guy in the world, you know. I got 254 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 2: butterflies in my stomach. 255 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: And Sharim noticed social too. 256 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 2: And yeah, he saw me, and that whole weekend we 257 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 2: were just looking at each other, back and forth. 258 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: Shadim Guzman was handsome, ambitious, and well respected within the church. 259 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: As LDM political LIAISONI and Sanada. He was active in 260 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: community affairs, serving as spokesman for the church before local 261 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: governments and businesses. Towards Soaschi. He was carrying, composed and tender. 262 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: The sparks were mutual, but with Nasona the whole LEDM 263 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: cohort close by, the two love could mostly only glance 264 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: at each other. 265 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 2: I wasn't allowed to talk to him. I wasn't allowed 266 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 2: to give him my personal information because I was limited 267 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 2: to the people I had on my phone because I 268 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 2: was monitored by Nason and my aunt. And so yeah, 269 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 2: he asked for my phone number, and I said, I 270 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 2: couldn't give it to him. He thought it was kind 271 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 2: of weird, but he was totally patient, and I'm like, 272 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 2: but can we like exchange emails or messenger accounts? And 273 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 2: so that's how we started to get in contact. 274 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: At the time, Sharim lived in Sanada, Mexico. Well, Sochi 275 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: lived in Los Angeles. So they started at clandestine long 276 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: distance love. 277 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 2: Affair and we sort of fell in love through the internet. 278 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: Over the next months, Sochil and Sharim texted and messaged 279 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: one another. While her secret relationship would Shadim deepened. Her 280 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: life with Nason was getting worse and worse. She felt 281 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:14,119 Speaker 1: like she was living in hell. Nasom became increasingly aggressive, 282 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:19,199 Speaker 1: beating Sochil during sex, sometimes brutally, and their affair was 283 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 1: becoming more public and more brazen. Church members gossiped about Sochi, 284 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:28,640 Speaker 1: disparaging her for sleeping with a married man. As a result, 285 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 1: Nasong began humiliating Sochil in public, taking away blessings from 286 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: her during church gatherings, and openly pointing out even her 287 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 1: smallest mistakes. Again, Sochil ran away, and again she was 288 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: forced back by church members under Nason's orders. In the meantime, 289 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 1: Samoel was preparing Nason to take over for him as 290 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 1: head of LDM. Since Nason was not yet the Apostle, 291 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: his reputation had to be protected, and Samuel became increasingly 292 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:03,160 Speaker 1: concerned that Nason's obsession and openly aggressive behavior with Sochi 293 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: would shake the church's foundations. It could place Nason's future 294 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: at risk, so in twenty ten, Samuel decided to separate 295 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: the two. He sent Nason to a ministry far away 296 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: from Los Angeles and told Sochi that she had a 297 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: month to get married and that he had already selected 298 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: her husband. Sochil asked for more time and to choose 299 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 1: her own husband. The Apostle granted her six months and 300 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: agreed that Sochil could marry the man she wanted shut him, 301 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 1: and so the two lovers were married in the church. 302 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: Sochil moved to en Senata with her new husband, and 303 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: a year later she gave birth to a little girl. 304 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 1: At twenty four, Sochi was finally free from Nason. They 305 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: were still part of the church, but life was mostly good. 306 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 2: It really made me feel like I had a normal 307 00:19:57,160 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 2: life within the cult. 308 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: Then four years later, the Apostle Samuel passed away and 309 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: Sochill's heart sank, not only because she felt grief for 310 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 1: the apostle, but also because Nassan would become the absolute 311 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: leader of l Em, the new apostle in his father's place. 312 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 2: There was a part of me that knew what was coming. 313 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,119 Speaker 2: There was a big part of me that knew what 314 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 2: was coming, and I was terrified. 315 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: More on that. In a minute, with Samuel dead, Nason 316 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:42,879 Speaker 1: ascended as the new leader of la uzel Mundo. So 317 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 1: she knew Nason well, and she had a gut feeling 318 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: that with so much power, he would become unhinged. 319 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:55,199 Speaker 2: And it was very dark. It got very dark, very fast. 320 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: In early twenty fifteen, a year after Nassan became the 321 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: Apostle of God, he called Sochil back to Warajaa. She 322 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 1: was brought to Nasson's office and greeted by Asali Ranjel Melendez, 323 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: who Soochil recognized as Nassan's chief assistant and groomer in Mexico. 324 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: Asalia told her Nason had requested a private audience with her, 325 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: and once the door closed behind her. 326 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:28,679 Speaker 2: He assaulted me and I couldn't recover for months. 327 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:33,479 Speaker 1: Nason rapped Sochil right over his desk and videotaped it. 328 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: From now on, she was to continue her sexual servitude 329 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: to him and also help him find and groom new 330 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: young girls for his pleasure. 331 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 2: That's when I broke emotionally, in psychologically, and in so 332 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 2: many ways, tried to end my life. 333 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 1: Sochil endured Nassan's rapes and abuse for months, afraid of 334 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: what he might do to her family or to her 335 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 1: if she resisted. She was spending many months out of 336 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 1: the year in Waerajara, away from Shadim and their young daughter, 337 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:10,640 Speaker 1: so she submitted and played along. When she was away 338 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: from Nassan, she sent him affectionate messages, pretending to be 339 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 1: his girlfriend. When she refused to comply, she was beaten. 340 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 1: She tried to commit suicide. Worried about his wife and 341 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: confused by her suicide attempt, Soochil's husband, Shadim picked up 342 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:34,639 Speaker 1: her phone when it buzzed with an incoming message. He 343 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:38,119 Speaker 1: found racing messages and pictures between Sochil and the apostle. 344 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 1: Shadim was stunned, and he immediately confronted Sochil about it. 345 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 2: I was sort of on the verge of like, oh, 346 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:50,439 Speaker 2: finally he knows he started calling him a son of 347 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 2: a bitch. He started calling him a disgusting piece of shit, 348 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:58,199 Speaker 2: and me, I'm like, stop talking, stop talking like that 349 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 2: about the servant of God. Don't say that. It was like, 350 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 2: I don't want my husband to go to hell. 351 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 1: Sochil was relieved that she didn't have to hide the 352 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 1: truth from Shadim anymore, but she was scared for him. 353 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: She was worried about Nason's reaction, the violence he was 354 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: capable of, and there was everything she had learned as 355 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: a young girl that's peaking ill of the apostle. What 356 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: damn her husband to hell? 357 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 2: I'll just turn my brain off, Like if you go there, Sochil, 358 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 2: you're condemned for all eternity. Like you cannot let your 359 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 2: mind go and think, not even for a millisecond, that 360 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 2: the Apostle of Jesus Christ is wrong or that he 361 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 2: is doing something sick or wrong before God, because that's 362 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 2: going against God. 363 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:50,879 Speaker 1: Instead of questioning the abuse, she found herself questioning her 364 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 1: husband's faith. 365 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 2: The way Sharim acted for me was like, oh, oh 366 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 2: you see, that's why you weren't allowed to know, because 367 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 2: your faith is just not there, not getting it. And 368 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:04,959 Speaker 2: even after that happened, I still went to church. I 369 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,879 Speaker 2: still went to church, and Sharim was like, Okay, I 370 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 2: guess you can go. But my daughter never steps foot 371 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:11,119 Speaker 2: in that church again. 372 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 1: So Suchill kept going to church while Sharim did not. 373 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: Ward started to get out about Shadim not being in attendance, 374 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: and people started gossiping, and the biggest elephant in the 375 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 1: room was so Chill and Nissan's not so secret affair. 376 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: Sochill didn't see the big deal because of her conditioning, 377 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:35,640 Speaker 1: she did not yet think this was abuse. Suchill thought 378 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 1: that if my son just reached out, everything would be fine, 379 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: and she blamed herself. 380 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 2: Because it was essentially my fault that Shatim saw the messages. 381 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 2: And this whole time, I'm thinking if I would have 382 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:52,199 Speaker 2: been more careful, and even the minister's wife told me, 383 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 2: I should kill you for being so careless, and at 384 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,160 Speaker 2: that moment, I'm thinking it is my fault, like I'm 385 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,920 Speaker 2: so stupid, and deep down inside I kind of wanted 386 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 2: it all just to be over. So I was kind 387 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 2: of like telling everybody in my head, like why is 388 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 2: everybody making such a fucking big deal, Like it's okay, 389 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 2: Like Sharim's gonna understand in the end if we just 390 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 2: talk to him, if the servant of God just talks 391 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 2: to him, then everything is gonna be okay. 392 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 1: Such a hope na son would talk to them and 393 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: explain how it was all a blessing, smooth things over 394 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:30,920 Speaker 1: with Shadim, but he never did. Instead, he completely cuts 395 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 1: her off. 396 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 2: And I'm like, why doesn't he just talk to us, 397 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 2: Why doesn't he just you know, fly us over to 398 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 2: a lahara. We could talk about this, and now Shadim 399 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,439 Speaker 2: is going to understand that it's a blessing, it's not 400 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 2: bad or it's not abuse the way he's seeing it. 401 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,639 Speaker 1: Shadim's son going absence concerned the church, So two of 402 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: lledm's high bishops play the coupla visit at their home 403 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: in Sanada, set. 404 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:59,360 Speaker 3: Person that following last week a little para. 405 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 1: A meeting Social secretly recorded. The bishops started the conversation 406 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: by blaming Social for everything, not we weren't the ones 407 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: committing any delinquent behavior, they stated. 408 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:38,760 Speaker 3: The the little comedy okay. 409 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 1: Such encountered by saying we all know what the root 410 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:44,639 Speaker 1: of it all is. 411 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 3: And cop. 412 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 1: Sochio was present throughout the meeting, but the bishops addressed 413 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: Shadim and Shaim only for el at them. The husband 414 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: is the sole head of the family, so it was 415 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: his job to decide everyone's faith about their heads and 416 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:10,880 Speaker 1: return to the fold or lose everything. 417 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 3: What issa you. 418 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: Sharim tells them he needs time to talk it over 419 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:42,920 Speaker 1: with Sochi because his faith and his heart have been shaken. 420 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:46,959 Speaker 1: He believes her, He's hurt by the pain caust to her, 421 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:51,159 Speaker 1: and he feels betrayed. One of the bishops tells the 422 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:53,880 Speaker 1: couple that the solution is in their hands. 423 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 3: And do a man well. Almost of the. 424 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 1: The bishops end the meeting by saying they do not 425 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: see the couple as enemies of the church or as apostates. 426 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:18,960 Speaker 1: They promised to keep the bridges open and to talk 427 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: again in two weeks or a month. Even though the 428 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:27,919 Speaker 1: parting words were comforting, the tone was threatening. The promised 429 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:33,720 Speaker 1: meeting never came. Instead, Sochil and her daughter are kidnapped 430 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 1: in the fall of twenty sixteen, shortly after the bishop's visit. 431 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 1: So She gets a call from a church official to 432 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: tell her that finally Nason has agreed to speak with 433 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: her and her pastor. 434 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 2: My aunt her husband. They came to pick me up 435 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 2: because they were going to take me to go speak 436 00:28:56,960 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 2: about this with the minister. That's what they told me. 437 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: But Nason was nowhere to be found. 438 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 2: And as soon as we go pick up my daughter, 439 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 2: you know, they take my phone. I couldn't even be 440 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 2: with my daughter. My aunt takes my daughter. She has 441 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 2: her with her the entire time. 442 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 1: Sauchil and her daughter with her aunt and the rest 443 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 1: of he Ldm's representatives are driven from Senata to San Diego. 444 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 1: When they arrive, such as passport is confiscated by her aunt, and. 445 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:28,920 Speaker 2: Then we go to San Diego and we're sitting at 446 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 2: a Denny's. 447 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:33,040 Speaker 1: At the San Diego Dennis. Her aunt makes a call. 448 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:36,920 Speaker 1: On the other end of the line is Asalia, Nasson's 449 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 1: groomer and secretary, the same Asalia who ushered Sochi Li 450 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: into Nassan's office when he summoned her back to Warajara 451 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 1: after becoming the apostle. She hears Nassan's voice in the background, 452 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:51,960 Speaker 1: but she's not allowed to speak with him. 453 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 2: I'm thinking, like, oh, I understand that I fucked up 454 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:58,520 Speaker 2: so bad. They don't even want to talk to me. 455 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:01,239 Speaker 2: The Servanagad doesn't want to talk to me. I messed up. 456 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 1: This is the second time the church came to her. 457 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 1: The second time, some powerful hyop tells her this miss 458 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: was all her fault, without even letting her explain anything. 459 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: So suchl begins to see things differently. 460 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 2: I'm seeing what pieces of shits they are. I'm like, hey, 461 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 2: you guys, this doesn't seem like it's new. And where 462 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 2: is Nason? Why is Nisa disappearing? Why doesn't he just 463 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:31,000 Speaker 2: you know, talk to us? And everything started to connect. 464 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 1: It reminded her of a scene from one of her 465 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: favorite movies. 466 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 2: I was a big fan of the Godfather, and that 467 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 2: scene to me was very Carleone for me, very very 468 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:49,400 Speaker 2: Godfather to me. And I was fucking scared. I was like, 469 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 2: these fuckers are in some weird powerful mafia. It's all families. 470 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 2: They protect the business, they take the name, and I 471 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:06,160 Speaker 2: am now fucked over because of my life of abuse 472 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 2: and knowledge of Nason. 473 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:12,840 Speaker 1: When Sochil seemed scared enough, she was let go. 474 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 2: They dropped me off at my house and I was told, 475 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:21,800 Speaker 2: given particular instructions, that my husband had to go back 476 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 2: to church. If not, I was going to go to hell. 477 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:25,080 Speaker 2: He was going to go to hell, and my daughter 478 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 2: was going to go to hell. 479 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 1: Even after her kidnapping and the bishop's threats and the 480 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: Godfather scene, Sochi was unsure about what to do. She 481 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 1: tried to convince her husband to go back, to return 482 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 1: to the flock and be done with it. 483 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 2: My husband was essentially like, you keep going there, We're 484 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:47,920 Speaker 2: done because I cannot with all of this. It's too much, 485 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:51,240 Speaker 2: and he thought my daughter is potentially in danger. 486 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 1: Sochil is forced to make a choice hell on Earth 487 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:01,320 Speaker 1: with Nason or eternal Domnque with shedding. 488 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 2: And I told them no, like I want to be 489 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 2: with you, and I would rather go to Hell all together, 490 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:10,800 Speaker 2: but so long as we're not separated. My breaking point 491 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 2: was my husband somebody who loves me, truly that in 492 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:19,000 Speaker 2: my subconscious, deep down inside, this person has never hurt me, 493 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,520 Speaker 2: This person would never hurt me. This person loves me, 494 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,400 Speaker 2: and maybe maybe this is wrong. 495 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:30,360 Speaker 1: And at that moment, Sochi decided not to play nice anymore. 496 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 1: Her family had already shunned her, her aunt, her colleagues 497 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:38,960 Speaker 1: and closest friends from ledm All, her brothers and sisters 498 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:42,080 Speaker 1: in the faith had turned their backs on her. The 499 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,000 Speaker 1: only two people left standing by her side were her 500 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:50,960 Speaker 1: husband and daughter. Sochi knew how the church operated. She 501 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:54,400 Speaker 1: had worked close to Nassan for years. She knew about 502 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:58,440 Speaker 1: the double finances, the unpaid labor, the abuse of young 503 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 1: girls and boys, and the taxation, all criminal behaviors institutionally 504 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 1: aided and abetted by the church. And she had evidence. 505 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 1: At the very least she knew where to tell the 506 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 1: police to find it. Sochi decided to give Lalus del 507 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:17,840 Speaker 1: Mundo a taste of their own medicine. 508 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:21,880 Speaker 2: Thank you, Brian for having us. And it is much 509 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:26,400 Speaker 2: more about just the apostle. It's about an institution, a 510 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 2: corrupt institution, that enable this apostle, so called apostle, and 511 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 2: help him commit these crimes, and it needs to stop. 512 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 1: On our next episode, we explore how laluzel Mundo became 513 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:48,360 Speaker 1: such a ruthless organization, fully protected by the powers that 514 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:55,719 Speaker 1: being and untouchable in Mexico. Sacred Scandal. Lalus del Mundo 515 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 1: is a production of Excell Content Studio in partnership with 516 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 1: Ihearts Michael Tura podcast Network, and is hosted by me 517 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:07,760 Speaker 1: Robert Tgarza, produced by Sabin Johnson, with the help of 518 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:13,200 Speaker 1: Stella Emmett, Raynolds, Gutierrez and Anna Isabel Obtavio. Written by 519 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:19,280 Speaker 1: myself and Monissa Henrix, Research by Robert Garza, additional reporting 520 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:24,680 Speaker 1: by Florenzia Gonzalez Geragarcia, Engineering by Ugamendoza and Sabine Johnson, 521 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:30,120 Speaker 1: Sound design by Patrick kin Junis. Original music by Patrick Hart, 522 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 1: edited by writer Alsop, Maribel Keesada Smith and Rose Red. 523 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:40,480 Speaker 1: Executive producers are Rose Reed, Carmen gratterol Isaac Lee, and 524 00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 1: Nando Villa. Daniel Batista oversees an audio at Exile Content 525 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 1: Studio are Executive producers at iHeart are Giselle Vanzes and 526 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:55,279 Speaker 1: Arlene Santana. Sacred Scandal was created by Mendelie Bartley and 527 00:34:55,400 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 1: Paula Varos, Special thanks to Sonic Union. For more podcast 528 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 1: go to the iHeartRadio app or whatever you listen to 529 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:04,640 Speaker 1: your favorite podcasts.