Cult leader pleads guilty to murder, avoids death penalty

The leader of a religious group accused of killing a woman and a 4-year-old boy pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in a Durham courtroom Monday, NBCRaleigh.com reported.

With his guilty plea, Peter Moses Jr., 28, will avoid the death penalty. The victims, Antoninetta McKoy, 28, and 4-year-old Jadon Higganbothan, lived with Moses and his religious group, the Black Hebrews, NBCRaleigh.com reported. The victims were not related.

The group believes they are directly descended from the ancient tribes of Israel, according to NBCRaleigh.com


Moses said he believed the Higganbothan was gay like his father, and that it was unacceptable to his religious beliefs, the station reported. The victims' bodies were discovered by a plumber in June 2011 in the back yard of Moses' mother's home after being reported missing in February.

Prosecutors said Moses shot Higganbothan in a garage in front of his mother. Officials believe McKoy was killed because she tried to escape the religious group and feared she would tell police about the murder, ABCRaleigh.com reported.

Read the original report from NBCRaleigh.com

When McKoy tried to escape, Moses instructed the other women in the group to shoot her after they beat her for hours, ABCRaleigh.com reported.

In addition to Moses, six others were indicted in the killings. They have not yet entered pleas.

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And he avoids the death penalty simply because he pleaded guilty after a gruesome tortuous murder? What a messed up system! Hope the inmates have a field day with this scum!

  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:15 PM EDT

The victims lived with the cult; their fates were bound to end up this way.
I cannot understand why anyone with any reason whatsoever would join a cult.
If you have to ask yourself "Am I in a cult?" then yes you are. Escape at the next best possible moment.

    Reply#2 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:32 PM EDT

    He didn't show the victims any mercy when he murdered them, why should he expect any?

      Reply#3 - Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:58 AM EDT

      Anyone who murders a 4 year old should die. Plain and simple. And this is coming from a guy who is normally against the uses of the penalty of death. But in cases involving an adult murdering children... there should be no question, nor mercy, after he admits his guilt, and that is supported with REAL evidence. This is not a case like the many others that have not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no doubt once someone confesses, and that is supported by solid evidence. I would go as far as to say that his penalty be expedited once incarcerated.

      • 2 votes
      Reply#4 - Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:57 AM EDT
      Mara Fredvia FacebookDeleted

      Throw this worthless excuse for a human being in with the general population in the county slam and he'll WISH someone would shoot him.

        Reply#6 - Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:28 PM EDT

        The things that religion motivates people to do are appalling. If only people had less faith and more sense.

        • 1 vote
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