In the summer of 2023, the life of 25-year-old Ma'Kayla Wickerson and her young daughter took a turn that left their family enveloped in fear and uncertainty. The two were part of a group of six individuals, including another mother and her child, who vanished from Berkeley, Missouri. They were all living together in a rental home on Graham Lane near St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
Concerns for Ma'Kayla had been growing for months; her family noticed she had quit her corporate job, stopped paying rent, and began to distance herself from them. This behavior change coincided with her involvement in an online group called the University of Cosmic Intelligence. The group of six was last seen together on August 6, 2023, at a Quality Inn hotel in Florissant, Missouri.
The circumstances found at the Berkeley home they left behind were unsettling. When police conducted a welfare check on August 12, they found no signs of forced entry, but the scene suggested the occupants had departed unexpectedly. Valuables were left behind, laundry was still in the washing machine, and food was in the microwave, painting a picture of a life interrupted mid-moment. Investigators learned that the residents had been served an eviction notice just before their disappearance. Ma'Kayla's family had become increasingly worried about the new people she was living with and her mother, Cartisha Morgan, expressed concern that her daughter might have been suffering from postpartum depression, which could have made her vulnerable.
The investigation into the disappearances of Ma'Kayla, her daughter Malaiyah, and the four others is an ongoing and complex case. The FBI became involved, seeking the public's help in locating the missing group. The case is believed to be connected to the teachings of Rashad Jamal, the leader of the University of Cosmic Intelligence, who is currently imprisoned in Georgia for unrelated crimes. Authorities have noted that followers of this group are known to disconnect from their families and go 'off the grid.' Investigators have considered several possibilities for their whereabouts, including Mexico or Atlanta, Georgia. The families of the missing six, including Ma'Kayla's, are left in a state of painful limbo, holding onto hope for any information that might lead to the safe return of their loved ones. This case is an overview of a deeply concerning situation where six people, including two small children, vanished, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and a community searching for answers.Last Seen: Aug 6, 2023
