Alamos various marriages were controversial and difficult to number. Tony Alamo (1934-2017), American founder of the Alamo Christian Foundation Antonio Alamo, Jr., known as Tony Alamo, American physician and Nevada gaming official This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. A judge granted Alamo the maximum sentence for his crimes,175 years in prison. Eddy was 14 and Rodriguez just 12 when they. Ive done well. The other children (Tabor and Antoinette) were conceived during Alamo and Kroopfs marriage and the biological mothers (Lydia Willis and Elizabeth Mercado) are in the group and currently living with (or near) Alamo. From his cell at the federal maximum-security prison in Florence, Colo., Alamo has not only filed an appeal of Spears ruling but also is seeking a new trial without Spears as its judge. Nailing Tony Alamo. This Rock 1 (October 1990). To treat my mother like a bag of garbage? When a tribute gift is given the honoree will receive a letter acknowledging your generosity and a bookplate will be placed in a book. The main campus continued to grow, adding gas stations, a restaurant and a hog farm, according to The New York Times. It was also extremely anti-Catholic, only accepted the King James Version of the Bible, and its members adhered to a moral code which condemned and forbade the use of drugs, homosexuality, adultery, birth control, and abortion. . Miss Gyllenhammar says when the romance cooled, he would often beat her. Tonys behavior after Susans death became troubling, but it turned out he had a long history of shady dealings and violent confrontations dating back to his days in Los Angeles. 3.2K views 2 years ago NASHVILLE Tony Alamo his church Alamo Christian Ministries, his store The Alamo, or the Al-ah-mo, and his wife Susan's dead body were one of the first phenomena. I didnt respect anything she ever did in her life but shes still my mother and I loved her completely. Preacher Alamo Told to Return Wife's Remains. [11], Seventeen days before her 57th birthday, Susan Alamo died of breast cancer on 8 April 1982 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the City of Faith hospital. Franke, Eric W. A Brief History of the Alamo Christian Foundation. New England Institute of Religious Research. Now Tony Alamo is also a grave robberat least in the eyes of an Arkansas judge, who has ordered him to lay to rest his wifes missing 13-year-old corpse. The jackets sold profitably and began making real money for the church members and the church itself when celebrities began purchasing them for several thousand dollars each. The first time you log in to our catalog you will need to create an account. But look who he married? He also built a Christian empire on sex trafficking, embezzlement and lies. Lydia was in her early 30s. Lydia was in her early 30's. They have a son, Tabor, together. McNeil, Betsy. The saga began in 1982 when, instead of burying his 59-year-old wife, Alamo brought her embalmed body back to his compound near tiny Dyer, Ark. Gyllenhammar is seeking a five-figure monthly alimony as part of her settlement. Probably the strangest incident surrounding Tony Alamo Christian Ministries had to do with the body of Susan Alamo, who died of cancer on April 8, 1982. Among the businesses which Alamo started was decorating denim jackets and airbrushing them with bright, colorful designs. He was walking down the hallway in his black regalia and five-inch elevator shoes, Amrhein recalls. Alamo was recently convicted by a federal court jury in Texarkana, Ark., on 10 counts of transporting underage girls across state lines for sex. I knew how he thinks, and what he might do, she said. This project is funded in part by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant award. Always the promoter, the Alamos established their theological foundation as staunchly anti-Catholic, promoting conspiracy theories about how the Pope, United Nations and mainstream media stood behind the US.. Presidency. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Online at http://www.religionnewsblog.com/8506 (accessed February 23, 2023). Spears also rejected Alamos $3.5-million counterclaim that Coie had slandered and defamed him. Alamo had not been issuing checks to his employees and offered only the most menial financial recompense, leading some disgruntled followers to begin reporting his activities. For more on former child brides Amy Eddy and Pebbles Rodriguez, subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick up this weeks issue, on newsstands now. Alamo, 74, faces up to 175 years in prison, plus fines that could total $2.5 million. The miniseries describes their founding and running of the Tony and Susan Alamo Christian Foundation which the program characterizes as a "cult" through which the Alamos became rich by exploiting their followers who truly believed in them. Amy was 14. Alamo was living at the time in Tampa, Fla., a fugitive from charges that he had ordered the beating of an 11-year-old church member at the Saugus commune. 1A, 11A. Pebbles was 12. It also operated a drug rehabilitation facility, and those who were involved in the church developed several businesses in the Alma area. Encyclopedia of Arkansas Tony spent the last 20 years in and out of prison, pioneered conspiracy talk radio, and built an empire that couldnt withstand the lust and greed of its creator. Alamo claimed that he and his followers had no assets and were living hand to mouth; he also apparently issued a death threat against Arnold, though he was later acquitted of that charge. ET) on Investigation Discovery. Benjamin Risha. "Tony was more, I think, the face of that organization, it looks like," Anthony said. I called the State Department to look out for my former wife in case she applied for a passport, Amrhein said. Church members branched out to begin small businesses within the nearby community of Alma, Arkansas. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. In 1966, Tony was arrested on a gun charge, a felony for which he served jail time. By. He and his wife legally changed their names to Tony and Susan Alamo after they married in Las Vegas in 1966. The Barely Legal Empire of Tony Alamo. Village Voice, May 13, 2008. In addition to clothing, the church produced music and began distributing Christian music and sermons nationally. When Amrhein was arrested last week in New Orleans for trying to leave the country, her marriage license was reportedly not certified. Her mother, Debbie Ondrisek, is still in the group and feels privileged that her daughter is married to the World Pastor. Im not jealous. When Bernie LaZar Hoffman was born on Sept. 30, 1934, in Joplin, Missouri, he wasn't born into a particularly religious household. Hes a riot. By the time the church was at its height in 1980, they had their own television ministry and were bringing in tens of thousands of dollars each week. . [11] Individuals who sought to join the church and become involved in its rehabilitation program took a vow of poverty and agreed to turn all of their money and property over to the church. It would be three more years before Alamo followers would finally deliver Susan Alamos remains to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for proper burial under Coies supervision. The couple first grew a following in Hollywood, preaching peace and salvation. Pebbles, now 32, and Amy, 34, are sharing their story, which is also featured in the premiere episode of People Magazine Investigates: Cults, airing June 4 on Investigation Discovery. [11], In 1976, the church relocated to Dyer, Arkansas, where Susan had grown up. Amrhein called the Press Argus Courier this week after cult awareness groups sent him clippings that have appeared in this newspaper. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. History: In Arkansas in January 1994, Elizabeth Mercado (aka Lizzy Gutierrez) became Tonys wife. Her body was taken to the foundation's compound on a ridge overlooking the town of Dyer, Arkansas, where Susan Alamo was born as Edith . In this paragraph, we have covered all details of his relationship and wife in this article. The various publications his ministry offered, such as The Vatican Moscow Washington Alliance, detailed his conspiracy theories. Alamo kicked Kenya out of the group and took his wife. In the midst of his supposed third marriage, a 1986 Arkansas Gazette report concluded that Gyllenhammar had actually been Alamo's sixth wife, as he had apparently been married four times prior to Susan. The Alamo Christian Foundation had churches in Chicago, Nashville, Miami Beach and Brooklyn. [11] The church's projects included Nashville's largest country and western clothing store. Theyd been tipped off by three former members, all men whose sons had been taken to California after their ex-wives married other Alamo Church members. According to Alamo, while he was in a meeting at a Beverly Hills investment firm, Jesus came to him and told him to preach the second coming of Christ. In 1966, after serving jail time for a weapons charge, Alamo married Edith Opal Horn from Alma (Crawford County), also of Jewish descent. The following month, Susan Alamo was re-interred in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kenya was the son of Diana Elena Williams Alamo, a legal ex-wife of Alamos. She was arrested as she went to pick up her passport. She was already married to Kenya Williams (African American) and pregnant with his child at the time. Tony Alamo's Wife, Girlfriend His marital status is not known. Much of the information on Alamos early, pre-conversion life is spurious at best, on account of Alamos constant exaggerations of his importance and/or sinfulness. Between 1986 and 1990, the preacher remarried twice. While they live states apart Pebbles, a stay-at-home mom who is in the process of getting a divorce, is in the Phoenix area with her two young sons; and Amy is studying to get into college in Oklahoma City, where she is also raising two boys with her boyfriend they are forever linked and speak with each other daily. Alamo was charged was violating the Fair Labor Standards Act, went to court, then countersued all the way to the Supreme Court. At one time, Alamo owned as many as twenty-nine businesses in nearby Alma, including Alamo Western Wear, as well as Alamo Restaurant and Alamo Discount Grocery. Troubles continue to mount for Tony Alamo Christian Foundation. Theme Ported to Wordpress by Kaushal Sheth . Updated. Alamo went on to own a health club and work in the music industry. His motions allege that Spears cannot objectively judge the case because he was endorsed by local newspaper editor Jack Moseley. 1986-03-06 Press Argus Courier Alamos second wife says theyre not divorced After years of legal troubles during which he was accused of engaging in abusive behavior against his followers, Alamo was convicted of ten child rape offenses in 2009. In return, Jody says, Tony Alamo took away her childhood at the age of 10 by putting her to work eight hours or more a day in the church's denim jacket business. Hed lost his best friend, business partner and favorite wife and she was only 56. 25-Apr-1925, m. 1966, d. 8-Apr-1982 cancer) Wife: Birgetta Oyllenhammer (m . Says Randall Harris, a retired FBI agent who investigated the case: The world revolved around Tony Alamo.. Some days are easier than others.. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The term cult has a precise definition or rather, Religion News Blog is a service provided by, Preacher Tony Alamo Told to Return Wifes Remains, No jail sentence for Phil Aguilar, founder of Christian motorcycle club, FLDS sells cult fashion online; Ex-member helps FLDS victims, Minister removed after confession of sexual misconduct, Controversial Reverend Carl H. Stevens of Greater Grace World Outreach Dies. The total number of wives he has accumulated is unclear, to be sure. His booming voice could be heard on the radio from Alabama to Africa, trying to convert a new flock. Jeanne, Amy, Desiree and Nikki were all born into the Tony Alamo Christian Ministry, which, some say, is a cult. He left me with all the bills, she said. Alamo was convicted on June 8, 1994, on one charge of filing a false income tax return and three charges of failing to file a tax return. Gordon, Ronald J. Tony Alamo was looking at child porn charges. Additional support provided by the Arkansas Community Foundation. He is a beautiful person. Ten would be convicted on ten counts, all related to trafficking underage girls across state lines. One of the fathers, Robert Miller, had previously overseen the churchs trucking company and alleged that Alamo had embezzled $100,000 from it. Alamo to Return Body of Wife after 7 Years. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,July 24, 1998, pp. Amrhein doesnt believe the children went to school while they lived at the foundation in Dyer. [17][18][19][1][2], In June 2013, the federal government filed forfeiture and collection actions in federal court on 27 properties which were owned by members of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries, in an attempt to collect $2.5 million in restitution that Alamo was ordered to pay to his victims. The assistant said there were many Scriptural reasons why they divorced. One business was particularly successful airbrushing denim jackets to produce beautiful pop art. "SCVHistory.com LW3595 | People | Tony Alamo: "Cult Evangelist Tony Alamo Convicted On Sex Charges", "Christhiaon Coie Speaks Out About Her Stepfather, Tony Alamo", "Evangelist guilty of taking minors across state lines for rape", "Feds Target Jailed Evangelist Tony Alamo's Property", https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/3587, "Ministry of Evil: The Twisted Cult of Tony Alamo" (press release), "Ministry of Evil: The Twisted Cult of Tony Alamo Review: Hell on Earth", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alamo_Christian_Foundation&oldid=1134183205, 1982 disestablishments in the United States, American members of the clergy convicted of crimes, Christian organizations established in 1969, Pentecostal denominations in North America, Christian organizations disestablished in 1982, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 11:22. Tony Alamo, a Jewish kid from Joplin, Missouri, met his perfect match when he first laid eyes on the woman of his dreams in Hollywood. An assistant called back and said Alamo had divorced Gyllenhammar but would not say where. Attorney Susan James of Montgomery, Ala., who represented Alamo during the trial in Ft. Smith, Ark., noted that Alamo was challenging Spears decision and said he had denied all of Coies allegations. Years earlier, sheriffs deputies showed up at Alamos Saugus, California compound. All Rights Reserved. Kizers ruling upheld an earlier decision by the state Department of Finance and Administration that six Alamo businesses in Alma and Dyer have no religious purpose and must pay sales taxes. Marriages were controversial and difficult to number was arrested last week in New Orleans for trying to convert New... ( African American ) and pregnant with his child tony alamo second wife the time assistant back! 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