Where Is 'Trust Me: The False Prophet's' Samuel Bateman Now? Inside His Dark Crimes And Cult Life

Netflix's new docuseries, Trust Me: The False Prophet, has been making headlines since its release. The story follows the story of a man named Samuel Bateman, who was found guilty of some heinous crimes, some of which even involved a minor. So, as the series leaves the viewers gutted, let's take a quick look at what it was about and what happened to Samuel after he was found guilty of the crimes.

Did Smauel Bateman take inspiration from Warren Jeffs?

According to reports, it all began with Warren Jeffs, a polygamist, paedophile and abject morality vacuum who became "President and Prophet, Seer and Revelator" of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). He ran the cult-like FLDS until his life imprisonment, when he was found guilty of forcing two girls into "spiritual marriages" and fathering a child with one of them. The church had around 10,000 members and controlled the towns of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. The FLDS had created distance from the mainstream Mormon church over a century ago. However, their story didn't die with Jeff's conviction; instead, it was given a new face: Samuel Bateman, the corrupt prophet in Trust Me: The False Prophet.

What is Trust Me: The False Prophet about?

Trust Me: The False Prophet is directed by Emmy and Peabody Award-winning Rachel Dretzin. The four-part series is created with footage recorded by cult expert and researcher, Christine Marie and her videographer husband, Tolga Katas. According to reports, the couple's initial plan was to document the aftermath of Warren Jeff's imprisonment. However, during their research, they found out about Samuel Bateman and the offshoot cult he had founded. Their search for him led Tolga and Christine to discover something far more terrifying.

Tolga and Christine discovered that "horrific child sex abuse hidden beneath the surface" of the splinter group of about 50 members. While the section was not part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which officially disavowed polygamy in 1890, the things happening under the cult were truly gutwrenching. According to Netflix, the docuseries included the footage recorded by Tolga Katas and Christine Marie. The description could be read as:

"Chronicles the rise of Samuel Bateman, the self-proclaimed heir to Jeffs, as seen through the eyes of the couple who infiltrated his inner circle as they gain Bateman’s trust and uncover evidence… revealing the depths of his control and the women brave enough to speak up."

What happened to Samuel Bateman after the revelation, and where is he now?

Ever since Trust Me: The False Prophet was released, viewers have been curious about where Samuel Bateman is now. According to reports, the prophet is still in prison. Samuel was arrested in 2022 as he drove through Flagstaff, Arizona, pulling a trailer containing a makeshift toilet, some folding chairs, a sofa and three girls, aged 11 to 14 years old. The police made the arrest after someone spotted little fingers peaking through the trailer door. After his arrest, the FBI released an affidavit stating that it had "probable cause" to believe Samuel Bateman and others had trafficked minors across state lines.

The report alleged that Samuel Bateman and his group worked between Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Nebraska, and transported minors for sex with him and other male followers. Federal officers later rescued nine children from Samuel's home in Colorado City into protective custody. However, unfortunately, eight of them disappeared from the foster care in Arizona soon after. It was a while after that that they were found hundreds of miles away from where they disappeared in Washington State. The report revealed that the children will be found in a vehicle driven by one of Samuel's 'adult wives'. 

Samuel Bateman's horrendous relationship with minors

Samuel Bateman later admitted that he was involved in the kidnapping plot. According to reports, Samuel had 20 wives, which included underage girls. However, a revelation by his family left everyone stunned. Samuel allegedly planned to marry his teenage daughter. The self-styled "prophet" admitted to having regular sex with his child brides. The gutwrenching revelation left the viewers stunned. Nonetheless, that was not all, he even had ordered his adult wives to train them to sexually please him. He also admitted to throwing orgies that he called "atonement ceremonies" between all of his wives.

According to reports, there was one occasion when Samuel Bateman sent a live stream of sex with a minor to his followers. The federal prosecutors reflected on the "prophet's" treatment of minors and his alleged involvement with them and said that he "treated his child 'brides' like chattel and controlled every aspect of their lives". In December 2024, Bateman, who was 48 years old at the time, was jailed for 50 years for one count of conspiracy to commit transportation of a minor for sexual activity and one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

What are your thoughts on Samuel Bateman's involvement with minors and the series, Trust Me: The False Prophet?

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