Ria Ramkissoon

In the case of 1-year-old Javon Thompson , once again, religion gets a pass, when, in any other instance in which a mother fatally denies her son food, a life sentence, or worse, would have probably been the charge. But not in the case of Ria Ramkissoon, former member of the cult, 1 Mind Ministries . Ramkissoon was given a suspended sentence by Baltimore Circuit Judge Timothy J. Doory and will have to undergo therapy. Ramkissoon, along with other cult members, denied Thompson food and water...Read Full Story

The leader of a religious cult was "outraged" when a 1-year-old boy did not say "Amen" before a meal and ordered her followers to deprive him of food and water until he died, a Baltimore prosecutor told jurors Monday. Three members of the now-defunct cult known as 1 Mind Ministries are on trial for murder in the death of Javon Thompson, who was around 16 months old when he died of starvation and dehydration in either December 2006 or January 2007, according to authorities. After the boy died...Read Full Story

The leader of a household that authorities described as a religious cult was convicted Tuesday along with two other people of starving a 1-year-old boy to death because he did not say "Amen" during a mealtime prayer. Jurors convicted the leader, Queen Antoinette, 41, of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in the death of Javon Thompson, who was 15 or 16 months old when he died in December 2006 or January 2007. Antoinette's daughter, Trevia Williams, 22, and another follower, Marcus...Read Full Story

A woman who starved her 1-year-old son to death at the behest of a religious cult leader is set to be sentenced. Ria Ramkissoon pleaded guilty last year to child abuse resulting in the death of her son, Javon Thompson. The plea agreement contained an extraordinary provision: If Javon is resurrected, the plea will be withdrawn. Ramkissoon has been in jail since her arrest in 2008 and is not expected to get more jail time at sentencing Wednesday. Cult leader Queen Antoinette told her followers...Read Full Story

One of three former members of a banned fraternity in western New York has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for his role in the hazing of a college student who died of alcohol poisoning. Daniel Wech, a 21-year-old from Buffalo, will spend weekends in jail for three months. He pleaded guilty to unlawfully dealing with a child for allowing alcohol to be served to 19-year-old Arman Partamian (AR'-mahn par-TAY'-mee-in) during a drinking session at the State University of New York in Geneseo (jehn...Read Full Story