In the summer of 2023, a then 24-year-old woman named Mikayla Thompson vanished, along with five other individuals, from Florissant, Missouri, sparking a mysterious and deeply concerning missing persons case. Thompson, a Black female from St. Louis, was last seen on August 6, 2023. She disappeared with Ma'Kayla Wickerson and her young daughter Malaiyah, Gerielle German and her young son Ashton Mitchell, and a man named Naaman Williams.
At the time of their disappearance, the group of four adults and two children were all living together in a rental home in Berkeley, Missouri, near the St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The last confirmed sighting of the group was at a Quality Inn hotel in Florissant.
The circumstances leading up to their disappearance paint a troubling picture of social and spiritual isolation. Neighbors reported that the residents of the Berkeley home practiced daily meditation and worship in their backyard, sometimes unclothed. The group's disappearance appears to be linked to their involvement with an online spiritual group known as the 'University of Cosmic Intelligence,' led by Rashad Jamal White. Authorities have described the group as a 'spiritual cult,' and it is believed the missing adults were followers of Jamal's teachings. These teachings, shared across various social media platforms, reportedly encouraged followers to disconnect from their families, quit their jobs, and live 'off the grid.' The four missing adults had all adopted new names, with Mikayla Thompson going by Antu Anum Ahmat. Further adding to the distress, the group had been served an eviction notice from their rental home just before they vanished.
When police conducted a welfare check at their abandoned home on August 12, 2023, they found a scene that suggested a hasty departure. There were no signs of forced entry, but personal belongings were left behind as if the occupants intended to return. Food was left in the microwave, dishes were in the sink, and laundry was still in the washing machine. The investigation into the whereabouts of Mikayla Thompson and the others has been extensive, involving both local law enforcement and the FBI. Despite these efforts, there have been no confirmed sightings of the group since they checked out of the hotel. The case is a complex and heart-wrenching one, leaving families to grapple with the sudden and complete silence from their loved ones. The prevailing theory is that the group may have traveled to Mexico, an island in the Gulf of Mexico, or Atlanta, Georgia, but their current location remains a painful mystery.Last Seen: Aug 6, 2023
