A 32-year-old woman believed to be the leader of a Palmdale, Calif. religious sect was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department on Sunday afternoon and faces a 72-hour involuntary mental health evaluation after causing fears of a mass suicide.

Reyna Marisol Chicas is the leader of the religious sect that sparked an extensive 22-hour search involving 70 deputies, helicopters and volunteer groups on horseback. The group, which included four other adults and eight children, was found peacefully praying on blankets and playing on swings at Jackie Robinson Park on Sunday afternoon.  

Chicas originally gave a fake name to police, rambled during questioning and denied having children, though two of the children in the group are her own. After being determined to be unable to care for herself or others, she was taken into custody and is currently under evaluation.  

Families of the other group members feared that Chicas had ‘brainwashed’ them. Members of the group left behind purses full of letters, cell phones, identifications and deeds to their properties before embarking on their religious trip. The letters written by the two 14-year-old members were identical, providing evidence that they were trained.

The letters read like a “will and a testament” with information about joining Jesus and relatives in heaven, creating the belief that a mass suicide was being planned. The group believes a “biblical rapture” will occur, transporting them to heaven.  

The group denied any idea of a suicide, saying “we are Christians, and we would never harm ourselves.”

Chicas and the other twelve members were transferred to the Sheriff’s department peacefully and no charges have been filed.

Reach reporter Samantha Yerks here.

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