Bay State sect members indicted for murder

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – The leader of a fundamentalist sect was indicted on murder charges Monday, along with his wife, in the death of their infant son, who authorities believe died of starvation. A third member of the sect was charged as an accessory.

The indictment charges Jacques Robidoux with first-degree murder for allegedly “directing the systematic withholding of nourishment” for his 10-month-old son, Samuel.

Karen Robidoux, the baby’s mother, was charged with second-degree murder.

And Jacques Robidoux’s sister, Michelle Mingo was charged as an accessory before the fact to assault and battery on a child.

The indictments come less than a week after sect member David Corneau testified before a grand jury investigating the deaths of his son and Samuel. Prosecutors believe that Samuel starved to death and that the Corneau child was stillborn.

Members of the Attleboro-based sect do not subscribe to traditional medicine.

The sect members also do not recognize the legal system and had remained silent for months during the investigation.

After a promise of immunity for himself and his wife, Corneau began cooperating with authorities last month. He led them to a remote spot in the Maine wilderness where his son, Jeremiah, and Samuel were buried.

That breakthrough apparently gave prosecutors the evidence they needed to seek charges.

Karen Robidoux was arrested Monday. Her husband and Mingo have been in jail for months for refusing to cooperate.