The Disappearance of the Truth Fellowship Cult Leader and His Family

How can four people just disappear off the face of the Earth? That’s the question that police found themselves facing when Simon Kadwell, his girlfriend, their daughter, and their family friend all went missing in 2007. Adding to the cops’ perplexity was the fact that Simon was the leader of a doomsday cult called Truth Fellowship. So, was Kadwell’s disappearance part of his religion? Or did something even more sinister occur?

Simon Kadwell’s Family

Simon Kadwell moved to Nannup, Australia in 2004. He lived in a modest home along with his girlfriend, Chantelle McDougall. Simon was 45 years old when he vanished, while Chantelle was only 27.

The pair had one child together, a daughter named Leela, who was six years old when she disappeared. There was one more person in the Kadwell household, though, and that was Simon's friend - 42-year-old Tony Popic. All three adults were members of Simon's cult the Truth Fellowship.

Truth Fellowship

Truth Fellowship was Simon's doomsday cult that he started and led. He had roughly 40 followers around the world, who referred to him simply as Si. Kadwell communicated with his followers via their online forum, which they named The Gateway.

In addition, Simon wrote the books Servers of the Divine Plan and The New Call, both of which detail Truth Fellowship's beliefs that the world will reach a higher state of consciousness after a 75,000-year cycle.

Brainwashed?

While Chantelle would say that she loved Simon, those who knew her insist that she was brainwashed. One of Chantelle's friends said that "it seemed like she would do anything he said."

A detective later clarified the dynamics in the house. "We know that Tony was very protective of Chantelle and Leela but we also know they were obedient, submissive to Kadwell. He had a very persuasive way of talking and I think if he had suggested something they would have gone along with it."

Conspiracy Theories

Simon had an issue with a company called Western Power, as they'd installed a power pole with a transformer near his residence. The cult leader insisted that they were trying to bombard him and his family with electromagnetic waves and that he had to protect his home.

Simon fought back by burying magnets in his yard, with the belief that they'd protect him and his family. He also claimed that he was receiving medication from a doctor that'd ward off the effects of the electromagnetic waves.