The Seed Catalog: How a Cult Stole Everything

The Seed Catalog: How a Cult Stole Everything A dry seed catalog found in a wet field led investigators to uncover a quiet, invisible unraveling that began in 2015. How did a cult steal everything from people like Wendy Draper, a woman who knew exactly who she was and where she belonged? In this episode, we explore the story of Wendy Draper, a fifty-year-old hardware store owner who joined the Culver Compact, a group led by Norman Mitchell. We delve into how Mitchell, posing as a former agricultural extension officer, built a community that ultimately led to financial losses for its members. Person: Shannon Bennett Date: May 14, 2019 Location: Mercer County, Ohio Group: The Culver Compact Members: 23 adult members - A seed catalog, found dry in a wet field, had been sitting there for almost two years. - Wendy Draper's hardware store, Draper's Hardware, had been on the corner of Culver Road and Merton Street since 1952. - Norman Mitchell, 61 years old, began appearing at community meetings in Prattsville in the summer of 2015. - Glenda Park lost approximately forty thousand dollars from her mother's fixed-income account to the Compact Trust. - The routing number for the Compact Trust pointed to a bank in Ellenville, Ohio, 200 miles from Prattsville. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].