Mom in New Mexico Christian Sect Sentenced in Son's Death

The mother of a teen whose death prompted a raid of a paramilitary Christian sect in New Mexico has been sentenced to prison.

Associated Press/March 12, 2020

Grants, New Mexico — THE mother of a teen whose death prompted a raid of a paramilitary Christian sect in New Mexico has been sentenced to prison.

Stacey Miller was sentenced earlier this month to nine years in prison after pleading guilty in connection with the death of her 13-year-old son, Enoch Miller, the Gallup Independent reports.

Miller entered a plea agreement Dec. 16 in which she admitted to abandonment of a child resulting in death, abandonment of a child resulting in great bodily harm, and bribery or intimidation of a witness.

An autopsy report says Enoch Miller died in January 2014 from “a probable infectious disease.”

The secretive sect Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps in the small ranching community of Fence Lake, New Mexico, was spotlighted when authorities raided its compound in 2017 in connection with a child abuse investigation.

Co-leader Deborah Green later was sentenced to 72 years in prison after being convicted of child abuse and other charges in the case.

Former sect members said the abuse dated back years, while Cibola County Undersheriff Michael Munk said the former members described leaders treating followers like slaves and physically beating children.

He also said the sect had evaded law enforcement by moving and operating in seclusion.

Fence Lake is 119 miles (191.5 kilometers) west of Albuquerque.

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