An 84-year-old grandmother was burned alive by her family who attempted to “purge her sins” in a horrific cult killing.
Teofila Camungay Cabusas of the Philippines was allegedly thrown into a fire by her 11 relatives as she screamed and cried for mercy.
They claimed they were purging her of her sins because she refused to join their newly formed religious group.
The cult’s suspected leader, Teofila’s 22-year-old grandson, Cresanto Ercilla, also reportedly beat her for “being a sinner”.
The woman’s screams were heard by horrified neighbors who came out and tried to save her.
They rushed the severely burned grandmother to a nearby hospital, but she died five hours later due to the third degree burns all over her body.
Authorities have confirmed that 7 of the 11 relatives accused of committing the crime have been arrested. The other four are still at large.
Local police representatives told the press that the women had received a pension of 9,000 PHP (just under $160) which she refused to share with her family although they believed they were entitled to a cut.
The family also believed she was possessed by the spirit of Tomas Eugenio, the deceased founder of the Philippine Benevolent Christian Missionary, of which Teofila was a member.
Ercilla reportedly said that the spirit told him that his grandmother was a sinner and responsible for all the bad luck they were experiencing.
They also cited religious differences as cause for the murder.
“The suspects said they committed the crime because the grandmother refused to recognize Cresanto as the leader of the new religious group called Messenger of God,” the police revealed.
The arrested family members are currently being held at Balingasag Municipal Police Station. Cresanto had to be placed in his own cell after becoming violent with other inmates.
They will be charged with parricide (the killing of a parent or another relative).
Police continue to search for the remaining suspects.
