<description>&lt;p&gt;Deep in the suburbs of south-east Melbourne, a young woman who believed herself to be the reincarnation of Christ, began to build a following based on New Age ideologies and practices. Anne Hamilton-Byrne quickly developed a following of adults who would worship her like a god, and do anything, including break the law, to help "The Family". The cult set up a network to facilitate the fraudulent adoption of children to create the next master race. These children were given heavy doses of sedatives and hallucinogens and had their food restricted as punishment for breaking the rules. It wasn't until one of them ran away that authorities became aware of the cult operating right under their noses.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Bad Apple: A True Crime Podcast

Helen He and Rylee Olsson

'The Family': Hallucinogenic hypnosis, fraudulent adoption, and starving children in Australia's largest cult.

NOV 20, 202233 MIN
Bad Apple: A True Crime Podcast

'The Family': Hallucinogenic hypnosis, fraudulent adoption, and starving children in Australia's largest cult.

NOV 20, 202233 MIN

Description

<p>Deep in the suburbs of south-east Melbourne, a young woman who believed herself to be the reincarnation of Christ, began to build a following based on New Age ideologies and practices. Anne Hamilton-Byrne quickly developed a following of adults who would worship her like a god, and do anything, including break the law, to help "The Family". The cult set up a network to facilitate the fraudulent adoption of children to create the next master race. These children were given heavy doses of sedatives and hallucinogens and had their food restricted as punishment for breaking the rules. It wasn't until one of them ran away that authorities became aware of the cult operating right under their noses.</p>