Rashad White: Self-proclaimed prophet denies having met six missing followers of his alleged cult
MISSOURI, UNITED STATES: Rashad Jamal White, a self-proclaimed prophet and convicted sex offender, has been implicated in the disappearance of six individuals.
Jamal is the brain behind The University of Cosmic Intelligence YouTube channel, amassing over 200,000 subscribers and tens of thousands of views on each video.
On this platform, he shares his perspectives on a range of topics, spanning from metaphysics and quantum physics to molecular biology, marine biology, geography, Black history, and world history, as he conveyed to the St Louis Post-Dispatch last week.
Further scrutiny has brought to light detailed information about the missing individuals. Jamal, who is serving prison time for child molestation, responed to the allegations, as per US Sun.
Who are all missing?
Last Tuesday, January 16, Jamal made headlines for being a cult leader involved in luring residents from St Louis, Missouri—Mikayla Thompson, 25; her cousin Ma'Kayla Wickerson, 36; and Wickerson's daughter Malaiyal—away from their families.
Jamal has also been implicated in the disappearances of the individuals: Naaman Williams, 30, from Washington, DC; Gabrielle German, 27, from Mississippi; and her daughter Ashton, 3.
Notably, the crew has not been seen since August 13 when they stayed at a Quality Inn in Florissant, a suburb of St. Louis.
When questioned about the accusations, Jamal denied any wrongdoing and stated, "I'm just giving you my opinion. That doesn't make me a cult leader."
He added, “I am pretty sure I have never met these people."
Who is Rashad Jamal White?
Originally from Chicago, Jamal relocated to Atlanta in 2018 to pursue a career in rap, as reported by the Post-Dispatch.
In 2020, he released the single 'God Talk', which garnered over 300,000 views and featured imagery of him meditating while rapping about being a "star" and "Black God".
However, he expressed disillusionment with the rap world and a desire to focus on teaching spiritual practices. This shift led to the sharing of videos outlining his beliefs on social media, earning him a substantial following.
Despite being a registered sex offender, Jamal continues to maintain a dedicated following. His followers have been observed distancing themselves from family, engaging in outdoor meditation without clothes, and participating in polygamous relationships.
They actively comment on Jamal's social media posts, where he shares content using a phone from prison.
On January 10, Jamal posted a petition asserting his wrongful conviction and urging his release. Beneath the post, several users expressed support and encouraged others to join the cause.
Meanwhile, critics have highlighted Jamal's criminal history and expressed a desire for him to remain incarcerated. His legal troubles began in Barrow County, Georgia, in 2021, with an indictment on two counts of child molestation and a charge of child cruelty.
A year later, he was arrested, and after a trial in August, a jury found him guilty. He has been sentenced to 18 years in prison, followed by 22 years of probation.
In a recent interview, Jamal denied any sexual misconduct, attributing the charges to a "racist" country. When questioned about the allegations, he remarked, "When you speak out, they're going to attack you."
What did Ma'Kayla Wickerson's mother report?
Families have not heard from the missing individuals for months, but the police state there is no indication that the cult is violent or dangerous.
Cartisha Morgan, Ma'Kayla Wickerson's mother, shared the red flags she observed before her daughter and grandchild disappeared.
Morgan noted that while her daughter had been living independently for years, she always stayed closely connected with her family.
Wickerson, an excellent student with four siblings, began distancing herself from the family after moving into a house with individuals she met online towards the end of 2022.
In March 2023, Morgan received a call from Wickerson's boss informing her that her daughter had quit her job. When questioned, Wickerson mentioned starting a business.
Concerned, Morgan visited her daughter's house and encountered unfamiliar faces. Wickerson became upset and requested her mother not to visit, a request that Morgan respected.
Despite Morgan's efforts to seek wellness checks from the police, Wickerson always answered positively and seemed fine. With her daughter now missing, Morgan hopes for answers and simply wants to ensure her daughter's well-being.
She expressed, "We miss Ma'Kayla and Malaiyah so much. Faith has been keeping us together as a family. ... We still believe that everything's going to be OK and they're going to come back home safely. I just wish I knew where they were."
