The Strong City Cult

The Strong City Cult

In this episode of The Arkin’s Hearth, we explore the disturbing story of Strong City and the Lord Our Righteousness Church, a secluded religious group led by Wayne Bent, also known as Michael Travesser. What began as an apocalyptic breakaway movement from the Seventh-day Adventist Church evolved into a high-control cult centered around Bent’s claims of divine authority and messianic identity. Art By the Pixie If you need help in the US Text 988 Support Right Now Free, Private and Confidential Support 24/7 by Phone, Text or Chat For anonymous, confidential help available 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) now. References Bowman, M. (2011). Apocalypse in the desert: The Lord Our Righteousness Church and Strong City. Nova Religio, 15(2), 5-26. https://doi.org/10.1525/nr.2011.15.2.5 [https://doi.org/10.1525/nr.2011.15.2.5] BBC. (2007). The End of the World Cult [Television documentary]. BBC Two. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008q4ff [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008q4ff] (Now avaliable in Vimeo) State of New Mexico v. Wayne Bent, No. D-818-CR-200800013 (N.M. 2008).

Part Five: Shadows in Albuquerque: Finale Part Two

In this finale episode of Shadows Over Albuquerque, host Michael Jason Chandler and the Arkins Hearth crew examine the ongoing federal case against Labar Tsethlikai, a Zuni Pueblo man accused of multiple violent crimes across New Mexico between 2022 and 2024. The episode explores the investigation, forensic evidence, witness testimony, and arrest that led to national attention on the case, while also discussing the broader impact of violence against Indigenous communities, Albuquerque’s crime trends, and the difficult question of whether the allegations fit the definition of a serial killer. Please support us on Patreon. Click this link here The Arkins Hearth Podcast | A podcast with stories from the Four Corners of murder and myth | Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArkinsHearth] Art By the Pixie References Albuquerque Police Department. (2024). Homicide statistics and annual reports. City of Albuquerque. https://www.cabq.gov/police [https://www.cabq.gov/police] Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2023). Crime in the United States (Uniform Crime Reporting Program). U.S. Department of Justice. https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/ [https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/] Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). Serial murder: Multi-disciplinary perspectives for investigators. https://www.fbi.gov [https://www.fbi.gov] United States Department of Justice. (n.d.). Press releases. https://www.justice.gov/news [https://www.justice.gov/news] Bureau of Indian Affairs. (n.d.). Indian country crime data. https://www.bia.gov [https://www.bia.gov] National Institute of Justice. (2016). Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native populations. U.S. Department of Justice. https://nij.ojp.gov [https://nij.ojp.gov] New Mexico Department of Public Safety. (2023). Uniform crime reports for New Mexico. https://www.nmsp.dps.state.nm.us [https://www.nmsp.dps.state.nm.us] Albuquerque Journal. (2022–2025). Coverage of Albuquerque homicide trends. https://www.abqjournal.com [https://www.abqjournal.com] KRQE. (2022–2025). Local crime and homicide reporting. https://www.krqe.com [https://www.krqe.com]

Part Four: Shadows in Albuquerque: Finale Part One

In this first part of the Finale of the Arkin's Hearth series, Shadows Over Albuquerque, Michael, Pixie, Thorin, and Ginger dive into Albuquerque’s homicide rates and the city's changing, uneasy battle with high levels of violence. Join the team as we conclude our dark journey through the stories of some of Albuquerque's most dangerous killers by looking at the open case of a current alleged murderer and the questions raised about missing and murdered indigenous people. Art By the Pixie Links to help missing and murdered indigenous people: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People | Indian Affairs [https://www.bia.gov/service/mmu] Not Our Native Daughters [https://notournativedaughters.org/] StrongHearts Native Helpline | Home [https://strongheartshelpline.org/] Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside | AI/AN Victim Services Resources [https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/tribal/tribal-victim-services-set-aside] Home | NamUs [https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/] What is the Not Invisible Act Commission? | Indian Affairs [https://www.bia.gov/service/not-invisible-act-commission/what-not-invisible-act-commission] AMBER Alert in Indian Country – AMBER Advocate [https://amberadvocate.org/aiic/] National Center for Missing & Exploited Children [https://www.missingkids.org/home] Home | National Human Trafficking Hotline [https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en] Welcome | NIWRC [https://www.niwrc.org/] References https://www.cabq.gov/police [https://www.cabq.gov/police] https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/ [https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/] .https://www.fbi.gov [https://www.fbi.gov] https://www.justice.gov/news [https://www.justice.gov/news] Bureau of Indian Affairs. (n.d.). Indian Country Crime Data. https://www.bia.gov [https://www.bia.gov] National Institute of Justice. (2016). Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native populations. U.S. Department of Justice. https://nij.ojp.gov [https://nij.ojp.gov] New Mexico Department of Public Safety. (2023). Uniform crime reports for New Mexico. https://www.nmsp.dps.state.nm.us [https://www.nmsp.dps.state.nm.us] Albuquerque Journal. (2022–2025). Coverage of Albuquerque homicide trends. https://www.abqjournal.com [https://www.abqjournal.com] KRQE. (2022–2025). Local crime and homicide reporting.https://www.krqe.com [https://www.krqe.com]

Part Three: Shadows in Albuquerque: The Sunport Murders

This episode of The Arkins Hearth explores the chilling case of Sean Lannon, whose crimes came to light after four bodies were discovered in a vehicle at Albuquerque’s Sunport in 2021. The hosts trace Lannon’s unraveling life, the brutal murders of people close to him, and the multi-state investigation that followed. After his arrest, Lannon confessed to multiple killings, though many details remain unclear. The episode reflects on the victims, the unanswered questions, and how an ordinary place became the center of something horrific. Art by: The Pixie REFERENCES Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Sean M. Lannon. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Associated Press. (2022). Man pleads guilty in New Jersey killing tied to multi-state case. Associated Press. (2024). Man sentenced in New Mexico killings connected to Sunport case. Reisen, M. (2024). Grants man pleads guilty to 4 killings in 2021 case. Albuquerque Journal.

Part Two: Shadows in Albuquerque: The Hollywood Video Murders

On a quiet night in Albuquerque in March 1996, a routine closing shift at a neighborhood video store turned into one of the city’s most haunting crimes. What began as a robbery at a local Hollywood Video escalated into a brutal chain of events that left five people dead, including two grandparents who arrived at the wrong place at the wrong time. In this episode, we unpack the timeline, the investigation, and the lasting impact of the Hollywood Video Murders. From the lives of the victims to the arrests of Shane Harrison and Esther Beckley, we explore how a single night shattered a sense of safety for an entire community, and why, decades later, the echoes of that night still linger. Art By the Pixie References * Albuquerque Journal. (1996, March–April). Coverage of the Hollywood Video killings. Retrieved from https://www.abqjournal.com [https://www.abqjournal.com] (Search: “Hollywood Video murders Albuquerque 1996”) * The New York Times. (1996, March 6). 5 Are Slain in New Mexico Video Store Robbery. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com [https://www.nytimes.com] * Associated Press. (1996). Reports on Albuquerque video store killings. Available via multiple archives (e.g., Google News Archive). * KOAT-TV. (Various years). Cold case and anniversary coverage of the Hollywood Video murders. Retrieved from https://www.koat.com [https://www.koat.com] * KRQE News 13. (Various years). Remembering the Hollywood Video murders. Retrieved from https://www.krqe.com [https://www.krqe.com] * State of New Mexico v. Harrison, court records (1996–1998). (Available via New Mexico court archives or legal databases such as Justia or Lexis summaries.) * Murderpedia. (n.d.). Shane Harrison. Retrieved from https://murderpedia.org [https://murderpedia.org]