The Angel's Landing Cult (Part 2)

In part two of this two-part case, we are back to the manipulation, crime, and charisma of Daniel Perez, AKA Lou Castro. In part one, we explored Perez’s control over his followers led to a series of suspicious deaths, each conveniently linked to large life insurance payouts that supported the cult's luxurious lifestyle. For part two, we begin to really dig into how Perez's control extended beyond financial exploitation. In the spring of 2011, the 'nail in the coffin' for bringing down Daniel Perez was a recovered hard drive full of incriminating information. We begin to get into the testimonies of three former cult members that would be the catalyst to Perez's arrest and witness testimonies of unimaginable horror that was going on at behind the 'kumbaya' facade of Angel's Landing. We will explore how Daniel Perez convinced his followers that he was a centuries-old supernatural being or angel with special powers, and how he needed to have sex with young girls to stay alive and maintain his power. Hang out with us as we tie up this intense two-part episode about this 'supernatural' cult leader (who was just a gross old dude, tbh) that left a trail of devastation from his manipulation and deceit. 

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Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff (bltzwolff@gmail.com).

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References

Potter, T. (2014, August 6). Witness recalls day woman died at Valley Center compound | wichita eagle. The Witchita Eagle. https://www.kansas.com/news/article1092974.html

Nolasco, S. (2020, May 2). Angel’s Landing survivor recalls escaping deadly cult in new doc: “it didn’t take long for things to turn.” Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/angels-landing-survivor-tells-all-deadly-cults-oxygen-doc

 Leiker, A. R. (2015, February 12). Daniel Perez testifies beating, memory loss led him to Lou Castro identity | wichita eagle. Daniel Perez testifies beating, memory loss led him to Lou Castro identity. https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article9907157.html

Tidd, J. (2020, March 6). Case of Kansas cult killer and rapist Daniel Perez, Aka Lou Castro, featured on TV. Case of Kansas cult killer and rapist Daniel Perez, AKA Lou Castro, featured on TV. https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article240933986.html

Public Offender Registry

Bennett, J. (2015, May 9). Columbia’s brush with an agent of pure evil. The Daily Herald. https://www.columbiadailyherald.com/story/news/local/2015/05/09/columbia-s-brush-with-agent/25703906007/

 State v. Perez, 396 P.3d 78 (Kan. 2017). State v. Perez, 396 P.3d 78 | Casetext Search + Citator

Potter, T. (2015, February 18). Identity quest: How Nine-year pursuit of ‘Lou Castro’ unfolded | wichita eagle. The Wichita Eagle. https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article11501540.html