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Autopsies Begin on Kenya Cult Members Who Starved Themselves to Death

by VOA News

   Pathologists in Kenya began performing autopsies Monday on over 100
   bodies of members of a religious cult who starved themselves to death
   under the belief that doing so would take them to heaven.

   Officials found the bodies buried in shallow graves in Kenya's
   Shakahola Forest.

   A few people were found alive, but they died on the way to the
   hospital.

   Children account for most of the recovered bodies so far, authorities
   say.

   The Christian-based cult was founded by Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, a
   former taxi driver. He is in police custody and is reported to be
   refusing food and water.

   DNA samples will be extracted from the bodies to compare with relatives
   who have reported their loved ones missing.

   Reuters reports that more than 300 people have been reported missing.