"Secrets in Shawano" Special Report to Begin Monday on NewsChannel 7

First Warn On-Line: Breaking News and Weather Alerts to Your Desktop!

Fair
	Temp: 72 F (22 C) Humidity: 48 Heat Index: NA F

Home · News · DayBreak · Weather · Sports · Entertainment · Health · Schools · Politics · Autos

Inside WSAW · Program Guide · Blog Center · Send it to 7 · Job Search · Community · Contests/Promotions · Creative Services · Sales · Recipes/Restaurants · Featured Links

Money Talks
What's Cool in School

Noon Farm Report
Stratford Livestock Report
Daily LDP Rates

Secrets in Shawano
Autism Awareness
Madeline Kara Neumann Case
Brittany Zimmermann Murder
Rhonda Mertes Murder
Drinking and Snowmobiling
Meth's Tiniest Victims
Crandon Shootings
Severe Storms of June 7, 2007

"Secrets in Shawano" Special Report to Begin Monday on NewsChannel 7

Save

Posted: 4:08 PM May 19, 2008
Last Updated: 4:08 PM May 19, 2008
Reporter: WSAW Staff

23 comments

'Secrets in Shawano' Special Report to Begin Monday on NewsChannel 7

A | A | A

NewsChannel 7 is beginning its series of special reports Monday on an extreme religious group in Shawano and their history and impact on the community.

They're called The Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and are led by a man known as Avraham Cohen. The man had been known as Samanta Roy and before that, Rama Behera. The group has had a presence in the Shawano area for more than 30 years.

In recent years, Cohen has raised more questions after buying millions of dollars worth of Shawano-area land and businesses, many of which have remained vacant or unused.

NewsChannel 7 got a look inside a party at one of the hotels owned by Cohen - you will see the shocking activity.

In part one of Secrets in Shawano, NewsChannel 7's Mikel Lauber will introduce you to the group and their leader. Tune in this week for further reports on NewsChannel 7.

More Stories
Local Reaction to John McCain's VP Pick

NEW INFO: Wausau Police Identify Shooting Victim

Two Year Anniversary of Unsolved Murder of Ken Juedes

Big Ten Network Available on Charter Cable this Weekend

Marshfield Woman Convicted of Defrauding Local Travel Agency Customers to Spend Time in Prison

Antigo Gear Manufacturer's Expansion Opens Doors

Springsteen to Play at Harley Celebration

Wis. Governors Past and Present Weigh in on Presidential Race

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 25, 2008 at 06:10 PM
I think shawano should be wiped off the map right along with the people.

Posted by: Joe to me Location: Shawano on May 23, 2008 at 09:10 PM
How about if someone shoots at your house a few times and throws a bomb on your property, harrasses you or your properties at least once a day, year after year after year, all because you are different. These are not kids that we are talking about, most kids do not have the knowledge to make bombs, and they should not have access to guns. These are adults. You seem awfully suspicious yourself, don't try to downplay this, I've seen this going on to them for years, I live close by and farm land in the area. I drive by there every day, especially during planting and harvesting. I wish they would bring a court case against the city for discrimination, either religious or racial, whatever they can do. Shawano has also done this to the Native Americans in the area.

Posted by: me Location: shawano on May 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM
in response to shawano resident: maybe you should go back and read what i wrote the first time- I said "everyone knows someone" NOT someone knows everyone! BIG DIFFERENCE!!!! just to continue to clear things up-it was a figure of speech to help people who are posting and don't live in shawano to understand the small town character and why those of us who aren't at least 60 and still have a lot of time left and want our children to grow up here exactly why we are concerned! I understand that children should not have picked on them but guess what? Children with disabilities shouldn't get picked on either and it happens every day. It's not right but it happens. Get over it. Kids will be kids! And how do you know I didn't grow up going through that? You can't tell that i stutter when I type, can you!!!!!!! I don't use the fact that a few kids picked on me to put tarps over my house park a car at the end of my driveway and sit in it 24/7 or buy millions worth of property to leave vacant,etc

Posted by: wow on May 22, 2008 at 11:13 PM
we are so edumacated

Posted by: Anonymous Location: MN on May 22, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Did you know that they have video clips of government officials killing the people there? Now we know your true motive MR CONCERNED. The only thing you can do is make a few low bottom people feel important by telling their lies on TV.

Posted by: wiser Location: wi on May 22, 2008 at 07:11 PM
to concerned location the reason they don't go in there and raid like they did in waco texes is becoues they know what your saying is a bunch of lises so they have to wait for a better excuse to make swomebodies life hellllllllllll

Posted by: Concerned Location: Wisconsin on May 22, 2008 at 06:34 PM
Why can't they go in there like they did in Waco texas and raid the place to see what is going on. Because think about it if all the beatings happend then they are still happening now and always will until there is some way to put a stop to things.

Posted by: LOL Location: Wausau on May 22, 2008 at 07:17 AM
In response to susie, Whenever someone in family dies and they live in another state I publish it in the Shawano paper and then bury them in your back yard, and then build a wooden tomb around them with all of my extra lumber, while using all of my generators to power the backhoes, saws, and everything else that is needed to bury them there without your knowledge. Get real, do you really know everyone in Shawano? Do all these people that supposedly belong to this group really all live at this no-walled "compound"? Definition of compound ": a fenced or walled-in area containing a group of buildings and especially residences" Merriam-Webster

Posted by: Anonymous Location: michigan on May 21, 2008 at 05:53 PM
As far as I know, I was not a sin for them to use computers. In fact most of the main people who were involved in the group from the beginning were employed at the one and only computer giant in the world, IBM.

Posted by: b Location: michigan on May 21, 2008 at 05:33 PM
Gosh, I don't think I have ever called the ambulance, fire station, or a hearse, does that make me a cult? I also have lumber in my garage. What do you think I should do with it?

Posted by: Anonymous on May 21, 2008 at 04:15 PM
so if you are a member how can you use a computer to read these things and watch tv. Thats a sin of gossip. Come on what happen to the old ways? Now everyone is running around commiting sin with premarital sex and of course that was tought back then. Boy oh boy. I know of a member who was kicked out because he was messing around with a girl. Now its like happing everywhere.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Wisconsin on May 21, 2008 at 02:41 PM
So I'm a member huh.. well apparently I can think for myself.. and I can definately tell you I was not sheltered. If you know so much then who am I!!

Posted by: Anna on May 21, 2008 at 01:15 PM
I am a current member. I have had several children myself and my mom had a number of children. My Mom as well as myself have always gone to see a doctors and we delivered our babies in hospitals. My mom is not sick because she had a ‘ton’ of children. Get your facts straight “Someone who cares”. You don't know what you are tallking about.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 21, 2008 at 11:35 AM
As children you nothing different. YOu were born and raised you knew nothing different. You were sheltered from the outside word. And your thoughts go as how do i survive outside of that place because you know nothing different. No GOD help you to see the light soon. Because I know for a fact that you are a member.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Shawano on May 21, 2008 at 10:35 AM
If you guys were beat that bad and there are no fences around that place.. what was keeping you in .. WORDS .. huh .. pretty strong stuff aren't they.. God help you!

Posted by: Someone who cares on May 21, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Alot of these people are very nice. The problem is what they go through in life growing up. I like to think I am a very nice person. I get told I am. But I can tell you what I went through in that place is the worst thing a person can ask for. My father hit me with a 1inch dowel, or a wide belt when I misbehaved. Which is what a normal child does is misbehave. I also was hit by Rama with a wire whip. I had the cattle prod used on me, and saw it used on many others. I had been messed with sexually by a adult member in the cult. I was also told to not say anything. I was a child at this time. I also saw beatings done to wife's and saw women have ton's of children and never seeing a doctor. Now these women are very sick and have many problems after having many children. God please help them.

Posted by: Shawano Resident Location: Shawano on May 21, 2008 at 09:28 AM
You know, my family has lived in Shawano for about 60 years and we know quite a few people but when I look at the obits me and my family do not know everybody. Only once in awhile will we recognize someone. Shawano's population is close to 9,000. How do you know that many people? I don't think you can possibly say you know every person who dies. I grew up and went to school and even worked with some of those people and they were so nice. I never felt weird. One girl I still keep in contact with and she's the sweetest, smart, and honest girl I've ever known. I know her grandfather died when we were in Elementary School. I felt bad for her in school because the other kids picked on her, made fun of the way she dressed, AND IN HIGH SCHOOL ONE OF THE OTHER KIDS SPIT ON HER. That's so not nice. How would you like to have gone through that? I'd keep to myself too if I got harrassed like that. It was aweful. These people are not so strange and horrible.

Posted by: chris Location: shawano on May 20, 2008 at 09:09 PM
me, susie - do you know how old the people are that are there? if somebody died why would it have to be published in the newspaper? I'm in my 60's and have never called the ambulance, nor called about a fire. That means they've saved tax payers thousands, be happy for crying out loud. If they had called the ambulance or fire dept, you'd be screaming about the number of times they'd called, how much its costing taxpayers, what are they doing, etc.... Oh - I've driven by the "compound" and it doesn't scare me at all. These are honest hard working people who have done nothing illegal or immoral. My children went to the same schools their kids did and have known them years. It's nice to see young adults who are hardworking and honest.

Posted by: me Location: shawano on May 20, 2008 at 07:14 PM
its funny that you live in wausau and none of this sounds weird to you but for those of us here in shawano- a place where everyone knows someone when you open the paper to the obituaries- it is weird. I have heard many of the same things you have susie. for julie in wausau- come to shawano and drive by the compound and tell me you don't get a little worried, any human with emotions would. True people die when they get old. They have been in Shawano since 1973 or 4, absolutely NO death records in 34 yrs?

Posted by: Julie Location: Wausau on May 20, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Susie, you make it sound like you call the fire dept.. and police once a month.. i've never called them either.. and do you even know how much lumber it takes to build a house.. i can't imagine they have that much there. and also.. generally people only die when they get old.. do you know the ages of people there. maybe when they died .. their family took them to get buried where there plot was... this doesn't sound that weird...

Posted by: Stacie Location: Shawano on May 20, 2008 at 01:44 PM
I have dealt with those people before and never had any problems.. i don't know what the big deal is.. i am good friends with some of the kids and they are just as normal and think the same as you or me. They are just stricter about their dress, etc. so.. big deal

Posted by: Anonymous on May 20, 2008 at 12:01 PM
I don't understand what the big deal is. This sounds like someone who loves to be a drama queen is trying to create some drama to increase the TV ratings.

Posted by: susie Location: shawano on May 19, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Something else we have noticed with Rama's-- no fire calls,,,, no ambulance calls,,, no deaths ever published in the papers. What happens -- where do they go??.. where are they buried?? I have a friend who works for a local company..she said they (rama's) have enough generators in storage to light the city of Shawano, enough lumber to rebuild most of Shawano.. if this is true - not sure.. but she said she will never go back there to make any repairs to the equipment they installed!!