text size: A | A | A
Former Alamo Church Member Speaks Out
   posted 5:23 pm Tue September 23, 2008 - Little Rock
Channel 7 News - Former Alamo Church Member Speaks Out
  Channel 7 News - Share Former Alamo Church Member Speaks Out  Channel 7 News - Print Former Alamo Church Member Speaks Out  Channel 7 News - Email Former Alamo Church Member Speaks Out  Channel 7 News - RSS Feeds  Channel 7 News - Send Former Alamo Church Member Speaks Out via Instant Messager
Channel 7 News - Share This Article
related stories:
Stay on top of breaking news! Sign up for Channel 7 News e-mail alerts.
Your Email:  

Authorities say as of late Tuesday afternoon, no arrests had been made following the weekend raid of the Tony Alamo Ministries in Fouke.

On Saturday, the state removed six girls from the Miller County property, following allegations of abuse.

Channel 7 News spoke with a woman on Tuesday who says she was a member of Alamo’s church for 11 years. Anna Pugh believes four of her children--who she has not seen since 2004--are at one of Alamo's compounds. 

Pugh says she was just 20 years old when she was introduced to the Tony Alamo Ministries. Within five months of joining the church--which she now considers a cult—-Pugh says she married a man 17 years her senior.

(Anna Pugh, Former Church Member) “People out there who don't understand how someone out there can get pulled into this and be controlled and brainwashed--just answer the question, how did Hitler take over an entire nation? It can be done when you're not allowed to listen to anything but some man dictate to you what is right and what is wrong 24 hours a day—and they scare you and pump you up and fill you full of fear.”

In 2000 she left the church. When Pugh found out federal and state authorities raided the compound in Fouke this weekend--and removed six girls--she says she felt on overwhelming feeling of hope.

(Pugh) “There's another part of me that is relieved and hopeful they are going to put a stop to the abuse that is happening in that town that has been going on for years to children--to women especially.”

Pugh described what it was like for her to live in the complex near Alma.

(Pugh) “You're not allowed to go anywhere, and there are only certain people who are allowed to drive, certain people who can have phones. Everybody is told what they have in their homes. You cannot have phones, TVs, computers--anything to do with the outside world. You are kept very ignorant to what's going on in the world.”



By speaking out, Pugh hopes she can shed light on what she says has really has been going on. And she’s hopeful she will finally get her children back.

(Pugh) “I would like to see that entire church--if you call it a church, call it what you will--put to an end. I would like to see it stopped.”

If the state seeks custody of the children taken from the Fouke complex, they will have to go before a judge within five days for a probable cause hearing.

Email To A Friend  Email This Article

Follow Channel 7 News on Twitter

Trouble Connecting With Your Kids? Click Here!
Say It On 7: Former Alamo Church Member Speaks Out
G.L. MONTE
Maybe the name of the ministry should be changed to " Tony A LIE mo " ministries.

You need to be a registered member of
Channel 7 News to leave comments on news stories.
Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.
Username or Email Address
Password
Please leave your comments below:
Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges. Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly. Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.


TM & © KATV, LLC
Please read our Privacy Policy. By using this site, you accept our Terms of Service.
Children's Television | EEO Reports | DTV Consumer Education Reports
KATV adheres to the ICRA RATING SYSTEM

Pages throughout the KATV website feature links to other sites, some of which are operated by companies unrelated to KATV.
KATV has no control over the content or availability of any linked site.

Legal Notices. "KATV, LLC.", recognizes the privacy interests of visitors to this site on the Internet.

Satellite Home Viewer Act Information | KATV EEO Reports CLICK HERE
page updated 09/24/08 at 5:38 am