10 May 2023 , 09:15
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The victims of a monstrous starvation cult have been dug up from their makeshift graves in Kenya revealing many had parts of their organs ripped out.
Police investigating the case believe the corpses may have been victims of human organ trafficking.
The partial remains of 133 parishioners were discovered in burial pits dotted around the Shakahola Forest in Kilifi, eastern Kenya - but several hundred are still missing, with police finding new sites every day.
On Tuesday an additional 21 bodies were recovered, all of whom were members of the Good News International Church.
Pastor Paul Mackenzie is still in police custody for urging his followers to starve themselves so they could "meet Jesus", convincing them they would gain entry to heaven before his projected apocalypse date of April 15.
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Some bodies were found with organs missing (AFP via Getty Images)Autopsies have revealed that the main cause of death was starvation, but pathologists learned some victims had also been suffocated or beaten to death.
Police documents have revealed that the dead were most likely victims of organ trafficking.
Chief Inspector Martin Munene said: "The autopsy reports found missing (internal) organs from some of the victims’ bodies that were exhumed.
Cult leader Paul Mackenzie Nthenge had allegedly told his followers starvation was the only path to God (AFP via Getty Images)“The trade in human organs is believed to have been well coordinated with several parties involved,” he added.
Cops haven't revealed any further details about suspects involved.
But shortly after MacKenzie's arrest, police siezed Ezekiel Odero, who received "large sums of money" from the preacher's supporters.
Many of them had sold their properties after he advised them to.
The search was called off for a week due to bad weather (AP)The search for bodies has restarted after a one-week lull because of poor weather conditions.
Kithuri Kindiki, Kenya's Minister of the Interior, said that another search has been launched for the surviving members of the cult, who are thought to be hinding in the surrounding forest.
He said: “There are many more graves in the forest, which leads us to conclude that this was a highly organized crime.”
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