Police say member of polygamist sect charged with murder of 5-year-old boy

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Officials say a man being held in the death
of a Durham woman whose remains were discovered behind a house has
been charged with murder in the death of a 5-year-old boy.

Police spokeswoman Kammie Michael said Thursday that Pete Lucas
Moses Jr. was charged in the slaying of Jadon Higganbothan.

Authorities believe a body found at the house Wednesday is that
of is that of Antoinetta McKoy, who disappeared five months ago.
Jadon had also been reported missing. Michael said remains found
Thursday at the house were consistent with those of a small child.

Police have said they believe McKoy and Jadon’s mother,
25-year-old Vania Rae Sisk, were members of a polygamist sect. Sisk
is one of seven people charged with murder. All seven are in police
custody and are being held without bond.

McKoy’s family, who reported her missing on Feb. 1, said they
hadn’t seen her since early December.

Investigators believe McKoy had been living with Sisk and Pete
Lucas Moses Jr., in a religious sect known as the Black Hebrews.
The group believes it descends directly from the ancient tribes of
Israel, and some of the sects, including the one in Durham,
practice polygamy.

As police investigated McKoy’s disappearance, they discovered
Jadon was missing.

Court documents say that a former sect member, who wasn’t
identified, had told investigators that McKoy and the boy had been
killed. The documents say the former member reported that Moses
became angry with the boy and took him to the basement. He said he
then heard the sound of a gunshot.

Besides Moses and Sisk, the others charged in the case are:
Lavada Quinzetta Harris, 40; Larhonda Renee Smith, 40; Sheilda
Evelyn Harris, 56; Sheila Falisha Moses, 20 and P. Leonard Moses,
21.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)