Overview of Cultivated: The Self-Proclaimed Prophet Hiding In Plain Sight
This episode of Chameleon tells the story of Arvin Shreve, the mild-mannered but deeply abusive leader of the Zion Society, a Utah cult that operated in plain sight for years while sexually exploiting children and women, stockpiling weapons, and tightly controlling its followers. The narrative follows detective Mike King, who unexpectedly became the lead investigator after a survivor walked into his office in 1991 and revealed the abuse. What began as a simple statement turned into a massive, secretive case that exposed how a charismatic predator can weaponize religion, dependency, and fear.
Key People and Groups
Arvin Shreve
- Leader of the Zion Society
- A landscaper and gifted debater who appeared harmless and respectable
- Presented himself as a prophet preparing followers for the apocalypse
- Used religion and psychological coercion to dominate members
Mike King
- Young detective in Ogden, Utah
- Initially thought he was taking a routine report
- Was pulled into a long, complex cult-abuse investigation
- Eventually wrote about the case and continued working on predator-focused investigations
“Aaron”
- Pseudonym for the survivor who first reported the abuse
- Told police she had been involved in a cult sexually abusing children
- Her trust in Mike became central to the investigation
The Zion Society
- A polygamist, doomsday-obsessed cult tied to extremist Mormon beliefs
- Operated in a neighborhood, not in isolation
- Included adults, children, and multiple “sister programs” for sexual exploitation
How Shreve Built Control
Manipulation Through Help
- Offered practical support first: free landscaping, food, childcare, and housing
- Targeted vulnerable people, especially divorced or struggling mothers
- Slowly increased dependence before introducing abusive demands
Religious Coercion
- Claimed to be speaking for God and preparing people for heaven
- Framed abuse as spiritually necessary
- Used fear of damnation to silence resistance
Sexual Exploitation System
- Created “sister programs” where women and girls were assigned to men
- Imposed “threads,” or sexualized clothing/fetish rules
- Forced sex between adults and children, and between women
- Used magazines/manuals and instructional materials to groom and normalize abuse
Total Control
- Required members to surrender money to the group
- Built a hierarchy of lieutenants to enforce obedience
- Stockpiled guns, ammunition, and supplies for the end times
- Taught children how to shoot weapons
The Investigation
Why the Case Was Difficult
- Mike had little experience with child sexual abuse or cult behavior
- The community was secretive and heavily monitored
- Investigators had to work quietly to avoid alerting cult members
Gathering Evidence
- Built a trusted task force under strict secrecy
- Used stakeouts, records checks, and undercover-style surveillance
- Brought in outside help, including a private investigator’s wife posing as a lingerie buyer
- Collected video evidence of children being sexualized
The Raid
- On August 2, 1991, about 70 officers raided the compound
- Authorities took 32 children into protective custody
- They found pornography, sexual paraphernalia, manuals, clothing used in abuse rituals, and weapons caches
- Shreve initially disappeared but turned himself in days later
Legal Outcome
Charges and Pleas
- Authorities prepared hundreds of felony charges
- Shreve ultimately pled guilty to multiple counts of child sexual abuse and sodomy
- 12 cult members were convicted over years of litigation
Problems With the System
- Children were forced to testify in preliminary hearings
- Defense attorneys aggressively questioned traumatized victims
- Some cases were dropped to spare children further trauma
- More than 10 alleged abusers were not prosecuted because the process itself was retraumatizing
Survivors and Long-Term Impact
Lasting Trauma
- Survivors described lifelong effects from the abuse and control
- Many struggled to get believed by therapists and others later in life
- The promised support and counseling did not fully materialize for years
Recovery Efforts
- Mike later helped secure funding for survivor counseling
- He also helped arrange scholarships for survivors at Weber State University
- The case inspired his book Deceived and the podcast Garden of Evil, with proceeds supporting children’s services and scholarships
Main Takeaways
- The most dangerous predators often appear ordinary, trustworthy, and helpful.
- Cults thrive by meeting practical needs first, then tightening emotional, spiritual, and financial control.
- Religious belief can be distorted into a powerful tool of coercion.
- Even successful prosecutions can leave survivors without adequate long-term care.
- Mike King’s accidental role in the case changed his career and helped expose a hidden system of abuse operating for years in plain sight.