Ep 6. The Ervilites

The Ervilites episode of Deadly Cults season 2 is a chilling look into the world of cult leader Ervil LeBaron and his followers. LeBaron, who died in prison in 1981, was the mastermind behind a string of murders carried out by his followers in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Ervilites explores the history of the LeBaron family, which began as a polygamist Mormon sect that split off from the main church in the early 20th century. Ervil was the son of the sect's founder and grew up in a world of religious fanaticism and violence. He was known for having a charismatic personality, which drew many followers to him.

As the episode delves deeper into Ervil's life, it becomes clear that he was a dangerous sociopath who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He had a long-standing rivalry with his brother, Joel, who also led a splinter group of the LeBaron sect. Ervil believed that he was the true leader of the group and saw Joel as a threat to his power.

In order to eliminate his brother, Ervil ordered the murder of Joel's daughter, Rebecca, in 1972. This was just the beginning of a string of violent acts carried out by Ervil and his followers in the name of their twisted version of religion.

The Ervilites also explores the way in which cult leaders like Ervil are able to manipulate their followers. Many of the people who followed him were looking for a sense of purpose or belonging, and Ervil was able to prey on their vulnerabilities and convince them that he was a prophet of God. He also used fear and intimidation to keep his followers in line.

The episode features interviews with experts on cult behavior, as well as with people who knew Ervil and his followers. They describe the group as being incredibly insular and paranoid, with members always on the lookout for supposed enemies of the cult. Those who tried to leave were often met with violence or threats against their families.

Overall, The Ervilites is a chilling look into the world of a cult leader who was able to convince his followers to carry out violent acts in the name of his twisted beliefs. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind faith and the lengths to which some people will go in the pursuit of power.