ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Being Polyamorous And Christian Is Not A Sin

Being Polyamorous And Christian Is Not A Sin

Evil cannibal mum – she sliced up her own kids!

Evil cannibal mum – she sliced up her own kids!

How I escaped an evil ‘cult’ leader

How I escaped an evil ‘cult’ leader

Disturbing new details about parents who trapped and tortured their 13 kids emerge

Disturbing new details about parents who trapped and tortured their 13 kids emerge

{headline}

{headline}

The truth about bizarre parents accused of 'torturing' their 13 kids

The truth about bizarre parents accused of 'torturing' their 13 kids

Grandma’s desperate search: ‘My daughter was stolen by a cult’

Grandma’s desperate search: ‘My daughter was stolen by a cult’

Back from the brink!

Back from the brink!

{headline}

{headline}

A cockatoo proposed to me!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

I woke up with no hands and feet

I woke up with no hands and feet

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Former child brides of Apocalyptic Christian cult break their silence

'I was terrified' - by Poppy Jakobs
  • 05 Jun 2018

Two US women who were forced to marry a controlling apocalyptic cult leader when they were teenagers have spoken out about the traumatic experience.

Pebbles Rodriguez and Amy Eddy were just 12 and 14-years-old when they were married off to 62-year-old cult leader Tony Alamo, who led the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries in Arkansas.

Speaking to PEOPLE ahead of the documentary People Magazine Investigates: Cults, the women recounted growing up in the compound with their mothers, who joined before they were born.

“I think I was around 11 or 12 when my mum had told me the only person you’re ever going to marry is Tony Alamo,” 34-year-old Eddy says in the documentary.

“I don’t know exactly why Tony chose me to be a bride,” Rodriguez, 32, shares.

“I can surmise many things, I was extremely, extremely young looking. I think he liked the fact that I looked like a child.”

People on Twitter

The women say they were regularly beaten, starved and raped while living as child brides.

“I was terrified that if I didn’t do what I was supposed to do when he told me to do it — no matter what it was — I’m going to hell,” Eddy told PEOPLE.

Alamo first began preaching in the 1960s in Los Angeles, initially spreading a message of peace and salvation with his wife Susan. Years later, after Susan’s death, Alamo went on to construct himself as a prophet of God and promoted polygamy and marrying young girls.

As news.com.au reports, disturbing audio in the documentary includes Alamo’s assertion that “puberty is consent”.

“When a woman reaches puberty, she, according to God, is able to be married,” he is reported as saying in the clip.

New York Post on Twitter

Rodriguez and Eddy were finally rescued from the cult in 2008 when Alamo was charged with 10 counts of interstate transportation of minors for illicit sexual purposes. In 2017, he died in federal prison at age 82. 

Today, Rodriguez and Eddy still suffer panic attacks and post-traumatic stress after their horror upbringing. 

“I don’t think it will ever be easy," Rodriguez admits. “There are things that are out of my control, like recurring nightmares. There is nothing I can do to make it go away, but I try my hardest.”

People Magazine Investigates: Cults premieres on June 4 (9 p.m. ET) on Investigation Discovery.

This article originally appeared on Marie Claire.

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Being Polyamorous And Christian Is Not A Sin

Being Polyamorous And Christian Is Not A Sin

Evil cannibal mum – she sliced up her own kids!

Evil cannibal mum – she sliced up her own kids!

How I escaped an evil ‘cult’ leader

How I escaped an evil ‘cult’ leader

Disturbing new details about parents who trapped and tortured their 13 kids emerge

Disturbing new details about parents who trapped and tortured their 13 kids emerge

{headline}

{headline}

The truth about bizarre parents accused of 'torturing' their 13 kids

The truth about bizarre parents accused of 'torturing' their 13 kids

Grandma’s desperate search: ‘My daughter was stolen by a cult’

Grandma’s desperate search: ‘My daughter was stolen by a cult’

Back from the brink!

Back from the brink!

{headline}

{headline}

A cockatoo proposed to me!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

I woke up with no hands and feet

I woke up with no hands and feet

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • Airtasker
  • Society One
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly for your chance to win a share in $25,000