A grandfather in Kansas is urgently trying to locate his four grandchildren after their mother was found murdered and buried in a shallow grave.
Radhatra Williams, just 26, had reportedly informed her father, Eddie Williams, a veteran, on May 20 that she had decided to leave Charles Sims, the leader of a polygamous cult.
Sims faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with Radhatra’s death.
“We have no idea where our grandchildren are, so we really need to find them,” Eddie shared this week.
Speculation suggests that one of Sims’ other wives may have taken the children to Missouri.
The 57-year-old Sims confessed to the murder after several days of interrogation, leading authorities to Radhatra’s body on July 14, two months after she vanished from the family’s property in Silver Creek, Mississippi.
Authorities are also probing other deaths and disappearances linked to Sims’ cult, which has compounds in Kansas, Missouri, and Louisiana.
“I hope that, with everyone’s help, he will be stopped for good,” Eddie expressed.
Lawrence County Sheriff Ryan Everett indicated that Sims has multiple wives living in different states, sharing a total of 22 to 31 children, including Radhatra’s four.
Everett noted that the group exhibits “cult-like tendencies,” with members partaking in odd rituals like shaving their heads for new beginnings and undergoing mud baths in response to infidelity.
Sims claims to possess the sole path to salvation, according to reports.
“Cults aren’t illegal due to religious freedom, but they often lead to other troubles, like sex trafficking or drugs,” Everett commented.
Radhatra died from blunt force trauma, Eddie revealed.
He mentioned that he and Radhatra’s mother, Victoria, were in high school when she was born. Though their relationship didn’t last, he raised Radhatra by himself.
During his military service, Williams learned of his mother’s and sister’s deployments overseas, and, in 2006, he was involved in operations aimed at securing Iraq’s freedom.
Tragically, while he was deployed, Radhatra’s mother passed away due to childbirth complications.
Upon returning home, Eddie found that Sims had quickly become involved in Radhatra’s life, introduced to her by relatives within the cult.
They started dating when she was 18, and although Eddie claimed he was unaware of Sims’ influence, he realized Radhatra wanted a better life for herself and her children.
On May 19, Radhatra left to break off the relationship face-to-face, but when he couldn’t reach her the next day, he requested a welfare check from the police.
“I had a bad feeling something was wrong,” he recounted.
Afterward, an irritated Sims called Eddie, asking why he had involved the police. He later claimed to the police that Radhatra had left with another man.
“It was the first time I had ever spoken to that guy, and I was furious. I demanded to know where my daughter was,” Eddie said.
During the investigation, it turned out that Sims had driven Radhatra’s car to visit one of his other wives, where it was ultimately discovered.
Sims is currently in custody without bail.
A fundraising campaign was launched to assist with Radhatra’s funeral costs scheduled for August 16, which has raised nearly $5,000.
