What You Probably Don’t Know About The Finders Cult

A Covert Intelligence and Child Trafficking Nexus

The Finders, a clandestine group active from the 1960s to the 1990s, operated under the guise of a "commune" while engaging in child trafficking, ritual abuse, and intelligence-linked activities. Despite overwhelming evidence—including pictures of naked children engaged in ritual sacrifices, including digital forensics, international communications, and witness testimonies—no charges were ever pursued.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Due to hundreds, if not thousands of FOIA requests, the FBI Vault finally released a heavily redacted set of files confirming the news had fallen far short of reporting the truth about the matter.

FBI Vault: The Finders

https://vault.fbi.gov/the-finders/

The Finders' Keeper: An Interview with Marion Pettie

https://archive.is/CYSRU

The Finders: The Ted Gunderson Report

https://archive.org/stream/ted-gunderson-fbi-the-finders/Ted%20Gunderson%20-%20FBI%20The%20Finders_djvu.txt

There is a lot of limited hangout astroturfing, currently, regarding the Finders Cult that leaves out some of the most tantalizing information. Let me start with the digital evidence, because nobody bothers to address this, instead focusing on the more sensationalized aspects of the case due to the pictures of nude children conducting ritual sacrifices of goats; enough evidence to get anyone but The Finders thrown in jail.

Analyzing the Digital Evidence: Computers and Their Contents

Seizure and Forensic Examination
During search warrant executions at several Finders-associated locations in Washington, D.C. and in Tallahassee, law enforcement seized multiple computers and electronic storage devices. Among these were:

• Seven Computers and Floppy Disks:
  Officers recovered several machines—including TRS-80 computers—from locations such as a residence on 1307 4th Street, NE, and a van in Tallahassee. These systems contained documents, software, and electronic communications that provided insight into the Finders’ operations

• Hard Drive and Software Analysis:
  Investigators conducted detailed examinations of hard drives and storage media. They recovered files, examined timestamps, and even attempted to recover deleted data. The software discovered included word processing programs, databases, and possibly even early encryption tools—all indicating that the Finders had developed a degree of digital sophistication unusual for their self-described communal lifestyle.

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TRS-80 Computers: Pioneers in Digital Forensics

Message on the Van’s TRS-80:
One TRS-80 computer, recovered from a van in Tallahassee, contained a single message. Though brief, the message was deemed significant enough to be copied and forwarded to the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD). Its content—potentially a coded communication—raised immediate questions about the group's operational methods and the possibility that even a simple note might be part of a larger, clandestine network of instructions or alerts.

TRS-80 at the Library Phone Booth:
A second TRS-80 was discovered at a library phone booth near Florida State University (FSU). Here, the situation became even more intriguing:

• A part-time TPD employee, who was also an FSU student with a proven aptitude for early computing systems, accessed the device.

• This student’s expertise allowed him to decipher stored messages that not only referenced case-related activities but also included the names of TPD investigators—suggesting that the Finders may have been monitoring local law enforcement progress or testing methods for secure, untraceable communication

These TRS-80 systems, which relied on floppy disks for data storage, were capable of running basic word processing, database, and programming software. Their use underscores both the era’s technology and the Finders’ intent to exploit these tools for clandestine record-keeping and communication.

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Delving into the Telex Messages: International Connections and Disturbing Implications

Telex Technology and Its Use:
Before the widespread adoption of the internet, Telex systems provided a text-based, real-time communication medium. In the Finders case, physical records of Telex messages were preserved, offering a window into the group’s long-distance communications.

Key Findings from Telex Analysis:

• International Contacts:
  The messages revealed communications with entities in London, China, Russia, North Korea, and other countries. This suggests that the Finders were not an isolated domestic group but part of—or in contact with—a broader international network.

• Disturbing Orders and Instructions:
  One of the most alarming Telex messages included instructions to arrange for the purchase of two children in Hong Kong—allegedly coordinated through a contact at the Chinese Embassy. Other messages provided detailed instructions on moving children across jurisdictions, ostensibly to evade law enforcement detection. Such communications imply a calculated effort to facilitate international child trafficking and possibly other illicit operations.

• "Pentagon Break-In" File and Related References:
  Among the digital files recovered, investigators found a document titled "Pentagon Break-In." Though its exact content remains ambiguous, it contained references to terrorism, explosives, and significant money transfers. These indications raise the specter of potential espionage or extremist activities—further complicating the profile of the Finders as a group with access to sensitive, high-stakes information.

Blocked Customs Access:
The U.S. Customs Service (USCS) became involved when the Telex messages spurred an investigation into potential violations of international smuggling, child exploitation, and human trafficking laws. However, when Customs officials attempted to delve deeper into the digital evidence, they were denied access after the case was reclassified as “Secret.” This move, coupled with claims that the CIA had an interest in the matter, contributed to ongoing debates about cover-ups and the true scope of government involvement.

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Implications of the Digital Forensics

Technological Expertise and Organizational Sophistication:
The Finders’ reliance on relatively advanced digital tools for the late 1980s is striking. Their use of TRS-80 computers to maintain records, communicate covertly, and possibly even monitor law enforcement efforts suggests a group that was technologically adept. The involvement of a technically skilled FSU student in recovering and interpreting data from these systems is a testament to the specialized knowledge required to unlock the digital footprint of the organization.

Inter-Agency Collaboration and Media Attention:

• Federal and Local Agencies:
  Agencies such as the FBI (specifically the Washington Metropolitan Field Office [WMFO]), Tallahassee Police Department (TPD), Washington Metropolitan Police Department (WMPD), and U.S. Customs Service all played roles in examining the digital evidence. Their efforts were supported by forensic experts and, unexpectedly, by a university student whose understanding of TRS-80 systems proved invaluable.

• News Events and Public Scrutiny:
  Media outlets, including segments on shows like "48 Hours," covered the case extensively—often highlighting the bizarre contrast between the group’s high-tech operations and the apparent neglect seen in the living conditions of the children. These news reports further fueled public interest and conspiracy theories regarding potential government cover-ups or hidden agendas.

Broader Implications:
The digital evidence—from the recovery of computerized records and manuals to the disturbing Telex messages—paints a picture of a cult that was not only ideologically driven but also highly organized and internationally connected. The sophisticated use of technology, the involvement of multiple government agencies, and the subsequent reclassification of key evidence all contribute to an enduring mystery surrounding the Finders’ true activities and objectives.

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Key Figures and Known Members of the Finders

1. Marion David Pettie – Founder and leader of the Finders​.
   Isabelle Pettie (aka Christine Isabelle Pettie) – Identified as having been a CIA employee from 1952 to 1961​.
   Michael Houlihan (aka Michael Holwell) – Arrested in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1987​.
   Douglas Ammerman – Arrested in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1987​.
   Diane Sherwood (aka Diane Elizabeth Sherwood) – Female, DOB 12/2/1936​.
   Barbara Sylvester (aka Barbara F. Sylvester) – Female, DOB 12/9/1936​.
   Barbara Mateja – Deceased member; reportedly refused medical treatment for religious reasons​.
   R. Gardner Terrell – Identified as an accountant linked to Future Enterprises, which trained CIA personnel​.

2. Steve Usdin – Freelance writer associated with the Finders​.

3. Joseph Marinich – President of Future Enterprises Inc.; his company trained CIA employees.

Children Recovered in Tallahassee, Florida (1987)

9. Mary Houlihan – Female, 7 years old.

10. Max Livingston – Male, 6 years old.

11. Benjamin Franklin – Male, 4 years old.

12. HoneyBee Evans – Female, 3 years old.

13. J.S. – Male, 2 years old.

14. John Paul Houlihan – Male, 2 years old​.

Organizations and Companies Linked to the Finders

1. Finders Transnational – Entity linked to the group​.

2. Finders Transnational Ragged Mountain Ranch Research Center – Related facility​.

3. General Scientific Corporation (Rockville, MD) – Linked to the Finders in FBI records​.

4. The Information Bank (1307 4th Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.) – Finders-related entity​.

5. Future Enterprises, Inc. – Company that provided CIA personnel training; linked to Finders members​.

6. Women’s Networking Service – Another organization mentioned in FBI documents related to the Finders​.

Additional Unidentified or Mentioned Finders Members

• The files reference additional Finders members, but their names are redacted or not explicitly listed in available documents. Some documents mention members traveling internationally or engaging in intelligence-related activities​.

• There is mention of an unidentified Finders member involved in "child care" during travel to Florida, but their name is redacted​.

• Another individual was financing a "New Hope" retirement community linked to the Finders, but their name is redacted​.

Attorney General Bill Barr

As Attorney General, Bill Barr would have overseen the DOJ's operations, including investigations into organized crime, child exploitation, and intelligence-related matters.

The 1993 inquiry was initiated by a request from Acting Assistant Attorney General Keeney.

It is indeed an interesting coincidence that Bill Barr served as Attorney General during two key periods related to the Finders case:

1991–1993: The Finders case was revisited in 1993 during Barr's first tenure as Attorney General. The DOJ requested the FBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations of child sexual abuse and potential CIA involvement with the Finders group. Despite overwhelming evidence of child abuse, no charges were ever pursued.

2019–2020: During Barr's second tenure as Attorney General, the FBI files related to the Finders were released to the public. This release occurred as part of broader efforts to declassify and make historical documents available under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Once again, with overwhelming evidence of child abuse, no charges were ever pursued.

Was Bill Barr in charge of running a limited hangout or multiple limited hangouts?

Finders Infograph:

https://i.4pcdn.org/pol/1402427111137.jpg

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