I Was the Detective Who Took Down the Zion Society Cult — Here’s What Happened

Mike King started his career on patrol and SWAT with the Ogden City Police Department in Utah before becoming the lead investigator in the 1991 Zion Society case, involving a 120-member polygamist doomsday cult led by self-proclaimed prophet Arvin Shreeve. After a member came forward and revealed what was happening inside the group, Mike and his team launched a secret 24-day investigation that ended with coordinated raids on multiple homes, 32 children being removed from the group, and Shreeve and several members ultimately going to prison. Mike later led multi-agency task forces, served as Chief of Staff to the Utah Attorney General, trained in criminal profiling, and created Profiling Evil. #truecrimestories #investigation #crimestory #cops Thank you to CASH APP & HIMS for sponsoring this episode: Cash App: Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/6pao71et #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Cash App Green features, Savings, Direct deposit, Round ups, Overdraft coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Hims: Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://www.hims.com/lockedin to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. Become an EXCLUSIVE Locked In: After Hours Member & recieve a FREE merch box: https://lockedin.supportingcast.fm/ Connect with Mike King: Website: https://profilingevil.com/about/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/... Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://ianbick.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Mike King's Beginning 01:13 Growing Up in Salt Lake City 04:42 A Father's Legacy 05:31 Path to Law Enforcement 08:09 Applying Life Lessons 12:07 Surviving Electrocution 15:42 Early Days as a Cop 22:31 Impactful Calls 24:59 Life as a SWAT Officer 28:04 Finding Common Ground 30:00 Joining the DA's Office 34:49 The Encounter That Changed Everything 36:21 Understanding Cults 39:04 The Zion Society's Dark Secrets 45:46 Building the Case 48:48 Aaron's Courage to Leave 52:02 Dangerous Cult Leaders 54:18 Corroborating the Testimony 59:03 Adding the Bricks 01:01:45 Assembling the Evidence 01:05:44 Getting the Warrant 01:10:35 Why Not the FBI? 01:11:14 Keeping It Under Wraps 01:12:17 Planning the Raid 01:14:57 The Morning of the Bust 01:19:26 Finding the Hidden Weapons 01:22:32 Evidence and Money 01:24:15 Where Was the Leader? 01:25:03 Aftermath and Prosecutions 01:28:36 Sentencing and Justice 01:30:56 Career Evolution 01:32:50 The Satanic Panic 01:36:13 The Toll of the Work 01:38:38 Reconnecting with Survivors 01:46:31 A Path to Redemption 01:49:21 Retirement and Continued Career 01:51:27 Juries and Social Media 01:54:13 The Jury System at Risk 01:56:21 Advice to My Younger Self 01:58:04 A Family Mystery Solved To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/Locked...