I think decomp demp mummification. That's what I'm guessing at this point. The eyelids they painted. Yeah. Holy. >> Cops are no strangers to stumbling upon disturbing scenes in the line of duty. But nothing compares to the shock of uncovering a so-called religious ritual that ends in the taking of a life. >> Do you remember when Jesus was on the cross? I gave him to God. >> You gave him to God. >> Yes. I cleaned him in the lake and I gave him to God. God told me he in the lake and a fish swallowed. >> Here are heartbreaking moments when cops discover religious rituals that end in murders. Starting off with a routine welfare check that led officers to discover how Rhonda Joyce Polynise took her son's life while she was trying to carry out an exorcism. >> Is your kid here right now? >> Is your kid here right now? >> Is my son here? >> Yeah. Is he Is he here? Yes. >> Is there any way I could at least see him just to make sure that he's okay? >> On May the 30th, 2025, Florida officers were dispatched to a home for what appeared to be a routine welfare check, prompted by a report from school officials that a six-year-old had been absent for more than 2 weeks. When they arrived at the child's Fort Pierce residence and began speaking with his mother, Rhonda Joyce Polynise, nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first, but they had no idea that this seemingly simple call would soon lead them to uncover the disturbing actions of a mother driven by dangerous religious fanaticism. >> Hey, are you Rhonda? >> Are you Rhonda? >> Yeah. >> Hey Rhonda, I'm actually here to talk to you. >> So, you have a 17-year-old son kid? 17-year-old son >> or I'm sorry a child? >> Yes. >> Yes. They haven't been to school in this whole month. >> Oh, yeah. No, no, no, no. It's just that um I haven't sent him to school yet. >> Okay. So, from what I'm being told, he has they haven't been in school this whole month. >> 3:41. >> Mhm. >> The school is unaware of what's going on with him >> and he's going to go back to school. >> Okay. But at this point, it's already reached a point of truency. >> Hm. >> It's reaching the point of truency. >> What's that? >> A legal thing that I mean, you could get in trouble for >> Okay. >> Like you will you pretty much have to >> if if you don't get in contact with the school right now to inform them of what's going on. >> Okay. >> They're going to send you to court. >> Okay. I'll give them a call. I didn't even realize that. Okay. I'll call his teacher. >> Yeah. your ID on on you? >> No. >> Is it inside the house? >> I have a picture of it. >> Yeah. Okay. See it? >> 341 or so. >> 341. >> Yeah. You count 31. I'm 10. Set everything. >> 10. 10. >> And is your kid here right now? >> Yeah. >> Is your kid here right now? >> Is my son here? >> Yeah. Is he Is he here? >> Yes. >> Is there any way I could at least see him just to make sure that he's okay? >> Sure. for >> Michael. >> Were you able to pull up the ID? >> Were you able to pull up the ID? 97. >> That's a 391. 104. She's just trying to pull up a picture of her ID and then going to go inside. So we go at least. >> He's in there. That's what she said. >> When officers entered the home, they were met with a heartbreaking scene. The unresponsive child was lying on the bed. At that point, the suspect explained that she believed she had been spiritually instructed to perform a cleansing ritual on him. She told officers that when he stopped moving and became completely still, she assumed the ritual had worked and was waiting for him to return to his normal state. She was taken into custody immediately and later charged with serious offenses, including a major felony, failure to report a passing, and unlawfully handling a body. Up next is the case of 40-year-old Ruth Miller, an Amish mother who claims that she had given her son over to God after taking his life. >> I gave him to God. >> She gave him to God. >> Yes. >> What do you mean by that? >> I threw him in the lake and I gave him to God. He's with God. >> Where's his body at? >> Where did you throw him in water at? >> Off of the dock, I think. Do >> you remember when Jesus was on the cross? On August the 23rd, 2025, officers with the Ohio Police Department received a report that a golf cart carrying three passengers had accidentally plunged into Atwood Lake. They rushed to the scene fully geared up and ready to dive into a rescue. But the moment they arrived, what they saw brought them to a sudden halt. >> I gave him to God. >> You gave him to God? >> Yes. >> What do you mean by that? I threw him in the lake and I gave him to God. And people are going to tell me I am crazy. But he is real and he loves you. He really does love you. He loves you. And I doubted him. I doubted him so many times. But I am to tell you, he is coming soon. He is coming very soon. Prepare your hearts. The end is close. And I'm for sure supposed to tell you that he does love you. Okay. >> Ma'am, who did you >> Can you explain to me what happened? Who did you throw in the water? >> I I gave my son to God. >> Your son? >> Yes. >> Where's your husband? >> He went for a walk this morning. >> And you haven't seen him? >> He didn't never come back. And we went to the boat and his clothes were there. And God told me he in the lake and a fish swallowed. And you're actually supposed to go look for him in the bottom of the lake. And you will find the fish and you will find your husband and then you will believe. But ye of your little faith that did not believe before sea. >> Okay. >> So send people down to the bottom of the lake for a fish that had >> How old's your son that's in the lake? sweet. >> Okay. 7940 central. >> We're out with the mother. She is advising that she threw her 4-year-old son in the lake to give him to God. At first, the officers couldn't believe what they were hearing. They hoped her words were nothing more than the ramblings of someone lost in extreme religious beliefs. But when their search for the husband turned up nothing, they circled back to her, pressing gently to see whether she held any clue that could lead them to him. They go there. my circumstance. I yelled at him and then pain got came back to me. My husband and I both >> I need to know where your husband's at. >> He's at the bottom of the lake in a fish. >> He's in a fish. There's no fish large enough on an owl to swallow your husband. >> He's at the bottom of the lake in a fish. >> Okay. I thought I thought your husband went to for a walk. >> Yeah. And then we came to the boat and the his clothes were laying in the boat. >> Okay. >> Tan pants and cream shirt and flip-flops. >> Do you have a cell phone? >> Uh, it's in the camper. >> It's in the camper. Where your camper at? >> I think it's >> area three, >> I think. So, yeah, it's like a tannanish camp. >> It's a tannanish camper. You don't know what lot number it is? No. Well, we really need to verify your husband's >> still with us. >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. >> Well, he's actually just take him take go out in the bottom of the lake. >> Well, I can't go in the bottom of the lake. So, if I >> scuba div and go to the bottom of the lake, >> please do. >> And And you're saying >> the best ones there are because this this is a miracle from God. You will see. You will see. >> You're saying your four-year-old son's down there, too? >> He's with God. Where's his body at? >> Where did you throw him in the water at? >> Off of the dock. >> Where the bike was? >> Where the boat was? >> Yeah. >> I think there was one. >> Does anybody have a glass of water? >> We get water, >> please. >> Thank you. We're uh right now we're going to walk up to the squad. Okay, that's what we're going to do. >> We're going to put you in the back of the squad. >> You will find my husband. >> Okay. But you're going to sit down in the back of the squad for us. Okay. >> Can Can I actually just sit with my children and have water? >> Yeah, we can bring your children over. >> Let's go in this one over here. >> They're We'll bring them over. Let me go check you out. >> Yeah, we're going to get it. Kyle, want you get you one? You guys send the dive team over that way. Then >> just when they thought the situation couldn't get any darker, the suspect's next move left them questioning everything. Were they dealing with someone in the midst of a mental break or a ruthless executioner hiding behind the veil of religion? >> Somewhere where it's not hard on my knee. >> So your knee won't hurt you, please. Trust me. >> Okay. >> It won't hurt me. >> Okay. >> It won't hurt. You're fine. You'll fine. >> Okay. >> You're fine. >> God, please show this one. It is true. But I'm people are doubting me. Stay strong. That it is true. What I chose that there is a fish tree that you created. >> Do you guys want to You guys want to bring her over to that one? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, we can get closer to the rest of everybody else. We are first here. Have a seat right here. We'll go get your children as soon as we're done. >> Do you remember when Jesus was on the cross? >> Yeah, I remember. And he put his arms out and he said, "Forgive them for they know not." >> They told me that already. >> Yes. They didn't know. They didn't know. >> I guess right. >> You are to trust. It's all about trust. It's hard because he does things in mysterious ways. And it's hard cuz we want to just believe our earthly ways. of you happy. >> Yes, >> go ahead. >> The remains of her little boy were later recovered from the bottom of the lake. Her husband's body was found the following day after an extended search, though investigators struggled to determine what had driven him to such a tragic end. Eyewitnesses later revealed that the suspect had also pushed her 15-year-old daughter and her 18-year-old twin sons into the water, though all three managed to escape unharmed. Ultimately, she was taken into custody and indicted on seven charges. One count related to the loss of life, one count of felonious assault involving her 4-year-old, one count of child endangerment for her 15-year-old daughter, and three counts of domestic violence involving the daughter and the twin sons. In yet another case when cops discover religious rituals that end in murders. Deputies discovered the remains of 49year-old Amy Carlson inside a religious house. >> That's just I think decom mummification. That's what I'm guessing at this point. >> The island. >> The eyelids they painted. Yeah. In April 2021, deputies from the Saguachi County Sheriff's Department in Colorado responded to her residence as part of an ongoing investigation into the passing of 49year-old Amy Carlson. According to her family, they believed that she had been deceased for over 3 weeks. Yet, they had not seen her remains. When deputies arrived, they quickly placed everyone inside the house in cuffs to enable them to conduct their search without interference. >> Oh, how are you doing? Is that Jim? >> No, Jim's not working. How you doing? >> How many guys are here? How many people in the house right now? >> Five beings and a child. >> Okay. >> What we've got is the third one. Check this house. >> Okay. See mother and I need to check on the child. >> Okay. Child's sleeping. >> Okay. >> Mother >> is in rest. >> Okay. >> She has rested. >> Go ahead and go with one of them, please. >> Okay. Share with what you James. >> Okay. Jason. Yeah. >> Okay. I'm right here. You're good. Do you have anything on you? Guns, knives, anything. >> All right, step down here, please. >> Who else is in the house? >> The child is back there. I'll tell my other one in the house. >> Turn around for me. You got anything on my poker sleeping? Okay, just relax. Okay. >> Anything in your pockets? >> Yeah, I have some lighter in my wallet. >> Okay. >> What's in your front pocket? >> Talk out for me. >> Oh, there it right there. >> Okay. You turn around for me. Put your arms up a little higher. There you go. There you go. Can I come over here, please? All right. >> Thank you. Go ahead and step over there for me towards the door. >> For me, Jerome, put your hands behind your back for me, please. At first, they doubted they would find anything as the air inside was surprisingly clean with no trace of decay. But then, like a bolt from the blue, the grim reality hit them so hard that their first reaction was an uneasy, almost incredulous laugh. I don't see it. >> Wow. They painted her. Is it >> That's just I think dec mummification is what I'm guessing at this point. >> The eyelids and stuff. >> The eyelids they painted. Yeah. >> I didn't even look. I was like that. >> Yeah. >> This has been a while. >> Yeah. >> In the end, seven suspects were arrested at the house and charged with abusing the remains of an individual. Unlike others who took the life of an individual under the guise of deep religious practice, 22-year-old Hunter Dutherro didn't hesitate to inflict serious bodily injuries over a religious argument. >> Let me get gloves on. Okay, >> I got stab. >> It's okay. was over to the back. >> Around 10:30 p.m. on March the 17th, 2024, two men rode their bikes to the Circle K gas station on Palm Coast Harbor Parkway, where they spotted Hunter Deathro sitting on a picnic beach outside. A conversation started between the trio, eventually turning to a religious one. During the conversation, Deathro became increasingly agitated and it turned what was supposed to be a friendly conversation into a heated debate when one of the men, a practicing Buddhist, interrupted Deathro as he tried to share his religious views. Deathro allegedly punched him and then attacked the other with a sharp object before fleeing the scene. When the victims realized what had just happened, they immediately called 911, who arrived almost immediately. >> I thought I just got hit. >> Hang on, buddy. Let me get gloves on. Okay. I think I got stabbed guy. >> It's okay. >> Seen punctures on the side. >> I'm all right. I'm all right. >> You're not all right, bro. >> I know. >> All right. >> I'm tough. >> Let me see that. Go ahead. Release your hand. >> Okay. >> I'm seeing punctures on his left side as well. here. Start getting that going for that. Got a little information. >> Is it squirting? >> Not yet. >> Nothing squirting. >> After the victims described the suspect's appearance to deputies, they ultimately found him at his house on Foresight Lane the next day and took him into custody. >> You want your dad to keep your Bible? >> Oh, yeah. He was later charged with assault with a deadly weapon and battery and a $300,000 bond was set for his release.