Dead Woman in Home for Two Months

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UPDATED Tuesday, August 5 --- 6:30pm

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Jurors from outside Juneau County will decide whether a self-styled bishop helped hide a corpse on a follower's toilet.

Alan Bushey's attorney, Thomas Steinman, argued publicity makes it impossible to select an unbiased jury in Juneau County. District Attorney Scott Southworth countered media coverage has been more intense elsewhere.

Judge John P. Roemer granted the request for change of venue Tuesday.

Prosecutors say Bushey told his follower, Tammy Lewis, to keep 90-year-old Magdeline Alvina Middlesworth's body on Lewis' toilet. Middlesworth was another member of their sect.

Bushey allegedly told Lewis God would bring Middlesworth back to life. Prosecutors say the pair wanted Middlesworth's Social Security.

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UPDATE: Saturday, August 2, 2008 -- 1:15pm

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- A self-styled religious leader accused of encouraging one of his followers to hide a corpse on her toilet for months is due back in court.

Alan Bushey's attorney, Thomas Steinman, has filed a motion to move the case out of Juneau County because of publicity. Judge John P. Roemer is expected to consider the motion at a hearing Tuesday.

Prosecutors say Bushey told his follower, Tammy Lewis, to keep 90-year-old Magdeline Alvina Middlesworth's dead body on Lewis' toilet. Middlesworth was another member of their sect.

According to a criminal complaint, Bushey told Lewis God would bring Middlesworth back to life. Prosecutors alleged they both wanted to go on collecting Middlesworth's Social Security.

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UPDATE: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 --- 7:35 a.m.

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- A judge has allowed a woman's release on a signature bond after deciding she's competent to stand trial on charges involving a corpse kept in her home for about two months.

Tammy Lewis is accused of helping her religious leader hide the dead woman in her bathroom of her Necedah home so they could go on collecting her Social Security and annuity payments.

Juneau County Circuit Judge John Roemer says a psychological evaluation found Lewis suffers from mental abnormalities but has the ability to assist with her defense.

Investigators say the 90-year-old woman found dead in the home had been living there with Lewis and Lewis' two children.

Also charged in the case is Alan Bushey who calls himself a bishop of a religious group based at his Necedah home. Charges against the two include hiding a corpse.

The judge allowed Lewis to be released on a signature bond. She's to live with her parents and have no contact with other members of the group.

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UPDATE: Monday, June 16, 2008 --- 7:30 a.m.

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- A judge is expected to rule today whether a Necedah woman is competent to stand trial on charges linked to a decaying corpse she kept in her bathroom.

Thirty-five-year-old Tammy Lewis is charged along with 57-year-old Alan Bushey with causing mental harm to two children.

Prosecutors say the corpse was that of a 90-year-old woman who collapsed in the bathroom and eventually died.

They say Bushey is a self-proclaimed bishop who insisted Lewis leave the woman there, and that God would bring her back to life if they prayed hard enough.

Lewis lived in the home with her 15-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son.

The decomposing body remained on the toilet for about two months. The home's occupants had to use makeshift bathroom facilities because that was the only toilet in the home.

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Wednesday, June 11, 2008 --- 7:50 a.m.

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- A judge says an alleged religious cult leader must stand trial on charges of helping to hide a dead member of the group for two months.

Juneau County Circuit Judge John Roemer ruled prosecutors presented enough evidence during a preliminary hearing yesterday to justify three felony charges against 57-year-old Alan Bushey of Necedah.

Bushey is to return to court to enter pleas to the charges June 23th.

Prosecutors say Bushey considers himself the leader of the Order of the Divine Will. They say Bushey and another sect member, Tammy Lewis, hid a 90-year-old woman's dead body on Lewis' toilet for two months so they could go on collecting the woman's Social Security and annuities.

Bushey is charged with hiding a corpse and two counts of causing mental harm to a child. He also faces two misdemeanors of theft.

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Tuesday, June 3, 2008 --- 1:40 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A judge has entered not guilty pleas on behalf of an alleged cult leader accused of helping hide a dead member for two months.

Prosecutors say Alan Bushey of Necedah considers himself the leader of the Order of the Divine Will. They say Bushey and another sect member, Tammy Lewis, hid a 90-year-old woman's dead body on Lewis' toilet for two months so they could go on collecting the woman's Social Security and annuities.

Bushey said nothing during a hearing Monday when Juneau County Judge John P. Roemer asked him for pleas on two misdemeanor charges of being party to theft. The judge entered not guilty pleas for him on both counts. Bushey is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 10.

He faces several felony charges as well.

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Tuesday, June 3, 2008 --- 7:30 a.m.

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- There's another development in the case of a woman whose body was left in a bathroom of a rural Necedah home for two months.

The man accused of telling a woman to keep the body there while praying for her to come back to life is free on $10,000 cash bond.

A Juneau County judge allowed 57-year-old Alan Bushey to be released after posting that portion of the $50,000 cash bond set earlier.

Court documents show Bushey told 35-year-old Tammy Lewis to leave the body of 90-year-old Alvina Middlesworth in the bathroom of the home where she and her two children also lived. Authorities say Lewis and Bushey continued to use Middlesworth's Social Security and annuity payments to pay bills.

Bushey is charged with being party to two counts of causing mental harm to a child, one count of hiding a corpse and two counts of theft. His next court appearance is June 10.

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Thursday, May 29, 2008 -- 5:30 pm
By Zac Schultz

Mauston, Juneau County: New charges have been filed against Alan Bushey and Tammy Lewis, after they left a dead woman on a toilet for two months and prayed for her to come back to life

Bushey and Lewis now each face two charges of causing mental harm to children, hiding a corpse and two counts of misdemeanor theft.

Bushey was in court for his preliminary hearing Thursday.

The first witness called to the stand was R.L.L., the 12 year old son of Tammy Lewis.

R.L.L. lived in a small house in Necedah with his 15 year old sister, mother Tammy Lewis, and 90 year old Alvina Middlesworth.

He called Middlesworth Grandma, even though she wasn't related, and had moved from Washington State to join their small church.

The 6 member church has been described by the prosecution as a cult, and the leader was Alan Bushey, who instructed everyone to call him Bishop.

R.L.L and his sister were home schooled by their mother, and they were not allowed to speak or even sing without permission.

Alvina died while sitting on the toilet on March 4th, and R.L.L. says Bushey ordered them not to move her. Instead they prayed for her to come back to life. R.L.L. says, "The Bishop got on the phone and said, 'Do you believe God can do anything?' I said yes. He said, 'Just leave it in God's hands and wait and pray.'"

Alvina's body wasn't found until May 7th, when family members asked police to check on her welfare.

R.L.L. says Bushey told the kids if they told anyone, they would have to go to public school.

He says their toilet was a bucket in a closet, and eventually a slime began to drip from the bathroom into the basement. "It was dripping down into the basement floor, and they said it was just the demons trying to scare us."

R.L.L. says the smell of Alvina's body decomposing was blamed on his "unbelief" in her ability to come back to life. He says one afternoon Lewis came into his bedroom, "She said, 'I still smell the smell.' She said get on your bed, and so I did. I was paddled and I counted at least 20 times."

The preliminary hearing was adjourned after R.L.L. left the stand, because both the judge and the District Attorney had other court cases to attend to.

Bushey will be back in court for the rest of his preliminary hearing on June 10th. The District Attorney says he has 3 or 4 more witnesses to call.

The case against Tammy Lewis is still on hold while she undergoes a competency evaluation.

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Thursday, May 29, 2008 --- 9:55 a.m.

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- A Necedah man is due in court this morning for his alleged role in keeping a decaying corpse in a home. Prosecutors say the 90-year-old woman's corpse remained in the Necedah home's only bathroom for two months. The woman who lives there with her two kids is charged in the case, as is 57-year-old Alan Bushey. He has a preliminary hearing today.

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Tuesday, May 27, 2008 --- 10:55 a.m.

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- A competency hearing is postponed today for the Necedah woman accused of causing mental harm to her children by leaving a decaying corpse in their bathroom.

A judge this month ordered that 35-year-old Tammy Lewis undergo a mental evaluation.

She and 57-year-old Alan Bushey each face two counts of causing mental harm to a child.

Lewis' two children, ages 12 and 15, allegedly lived with her in the home where 90-year-old Alvina Middlesworth died in early March.

The criminal complaint says Bushey advised Lewis to leave the body in the bathroom, saying he had signs from God she would come back to life if they prayed hard enough.

The children are in foster care.

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Tuesday, May 27, 2008 --- 7:40 a.m.

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- A Necedah woman accused of harming her children by leaving a decaying corpse in a bathroom for two months is scheduled for a competency hearing this morning.

A judge this month ordered that 35-year-old Tammy Lewis undergo a mental evaluation.

She and 57-year-old Alan Bushey each face two counts of causing mental harm to a child.

Lewis' two children, ages 12 and 15, allegedly lived with her in the home where 90-year-old Alvina Middlesworth died in early March.

The criminal complaint says Bushey advised Lewis to leave the body in the bathroom, saying he had signs from God she would come back to life if they prayed hard enough.

The children are in foster care.

Bushey has a preliminary scheduled for Thursday.

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UPDATE Monday, May 19, 2008 --- 4:33 p.m.
By Zac Schultz

Mauston, Juneau County: The self-proclaimed "Bishop" that left a dead woman's body in the bathroom for two months could face more charges.

Alan Bushey is charged with two felonies for causing mental harm to a child. Also known as Bishop John Peter, Bushey is the leader of a six person congregation called the "Order of the Divine Will," located in Necedah, in Juneau County.

According to court documents, on May 7th a Sheriff's Deputy was checking on the welfare of a 90 year old woman named Alvina Middlesworth, who was living with Tammy Lewis and her two children.

The deputy found Middlesworth dead on the toilet in the home's only bathroom. She had been dead since March.

Prosecutors say Bushey had told Lewis and the kids if they prayed hard enough Middlesworth would come back to life.

Lewis is also charged with causing mental harm to her children, because they allegedly told the 15 and 12 year old kids if they told anyone Middlesworth was dead, they would have to get jobs and go to public schools.

District Attorney Scott Southworth says Bushey should not be called a minister. "We do not view Mr. Bushey as man of the cloth, but as a leader of a cult."

"My client is not a cult leader," says Tom Steinman, Bushey's defense attorney. Steinman produced documents showing Bushey was ordained. "He is a man of the cloth. He has been in the community for the past 10 or 11 years celebrating mass for his followers."

Southworth defended his use of the word cult, saying Bushey ordered the dead woman's body remain on the toilet. "Just about any objective person would say that is not any type of normal religious practice."

Southworth says Bushey could also be charged with hiding a corpse and theft by fraud. "They were in fact collecting money the deceased's social security as well as her annuity after her death."

The case against Tammy Lewis is currently on hold while she undergoes a mental competency hearing.

Bushey will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on May 29th.
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Monday, May 19, 2008 --- 3:45 p.m.

Bail has essentially been set at $10,000 for a man accused of keeping a decaying corpse in the bathroom for two months.

Fifty seven-year-old Alan Bushey appeared in a Juneau County this afternoon. He, along with 35-year-old Tammy Lewis, have been charged with two counts of causing a child mental harm.

Prosecutors say Lewis kept the decaying body of 90-year-old Magdeline Alvina Middlesworth in the bathroom of the Necedah home Lewis shared with her two children.

Prosecutors believe Bushey told Lewis that God would bring Middlesworth back to life.

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Monday, May 19, 2008 --- 8:25 a.m.

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- It's been just over a week since the decaying remains of a 90-year-old were found in the bathroom of a Juneau County home.

This afternoon the two adults charged in connection with the case are due in court for an initial hearing.

Thirty-five-year-old Tammy Lewis and 57-year-old Alan Bushey (boo-SHAY') are each charged with two counts of causing a child mental harm. Lewis is also charged with obstruction.

Prosecutors say Lewis kept the decaying body of Magdeline Alvina Middlesworth in the bathroom of the Necedah home Lewis shared with her two children.

Prosecutors believe Bushey told Lewis that God would bring Middlesworth back to life.

District attorney Scott Southworth has said Bushey may have been running a cult and defrauding Middlesworth to get money. He says Bushey could eventually face more charges.

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UPDATED Monday, May 12 --- 6:30 PM

A mental competency evaluation is ordered for the woman who lived with her two children in a rural Necedah residence while a 90-year-old woman's body decayed for two months in the bathroom.

The attorney for Tammy Lewis asked a judge in Mauston today for the evaluation; the judge agreed.

Thirty five-year-old Lewis and 57-year-old Alan Bushey are charged with two counts of causing a child mental harm. Lewis is also charged with obstruction.

Lewis' two children have been placed in foster care.

Court records show someone continued to write checks on an account belonging to Magedline Alvina Middlesworth after she died in early March. A deputy sent to check on her whereabouts last Wednesday found her decaying remains on the toilet in the bathroom.

Documents show investigators took financial records from that house and from the home of Bushey, a self-described bishop who has a sign outside his residence indicating he ran it as a chapel.

Lewis' lawyer Dan Berkos disputed comments of prosecutors that Bushey headed a cult.

Berkos says almost any organized religion could be described that way.

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UPDATED Monday, May 12 --- 12:05pm

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Court documents suggest a religious group was collecting Social Security owed to a 90-year-woman deputies found dead on a toilet.

Prosecutors believe Tammy Lewis kept the remains of Magdeline Alvina Middlesworth in the bathroom of the Necedah home she shared with her two children. Lewis has said her "superior," Alan Bushey, told her God would bring the woman back to life.

Search warrants returned Monday say Lewis and Bushey belonged to a six-member religious group called the Order of the Divine Will and Lewis had a joint account with Middlesworth at the Bank of Mauston.

Bank officials told detectives Social Security payments totaling $1,170 went into the account and 25 checks were written on it after Middlesworth died.

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UPDATED Monday, May 12 --- 11:55am

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- Authorities say more charges could be filed soon as they continue to sort through why a woman left a 90-year-old woman's remains propped on her toilet.

Prosecutors say Tammy Lewis kept Magdeline Alvina Middlesworth's decaying body in the bathroom of the Necedah home Lewis shared with her two children for weeks. They believe Alan Bushey told her God would bring Middlesworth back to life.

Lewis and Bushey already face two felony counts each of causing mental harm to a child.

Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth has said Bushey may have been running a cult and defrauding Middlesworth to get money. He says more charges could come as early as this week.

Sheriff Brent Oleson says a state Justice Department agent will arrive this week to help local authorities.

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UPDATE Posted Friday, May 9 --- 10:30pm

Neighbors are stunned the body of a 90-year-old woman went undetected, for months, inside one family's Necedah home.

The home belongs to Tammy Lewis, who lived there with her two children, while the body of the woman laid dead on the toilet since March.

A criminal complaint, from the Juneau County Sheriff's Department, identifies the woman as Magdeline Middlesworth, who the family claims was a religious leader in the community.

Self proclaimed bishop, Alan Bushey, told Lewis to keep Middlesworth's body there after she died unexpectedly and pray that God would bring her back to life. Lewis and her children did so until the body was found.

Neighbors are unsure of Lewis or Bushey's religious affiliation, but tell NBC 15 they are known to be apart of a religion practiced by several others in the neighborhood.

Lewis and Bushey have been charged with with obstruction of an officer and mental harm to a child. The children have been placed in foster care.

An autopsy on Middlesworth is pending.

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UPDATE Posted Friday, May 9 --- 4:30pm

Read Criminal Complaint (see Link Above)

Here is the latest information from NBC15 News:

Police found a 90-year old woman who they believe died two months ago. Her body was found in the bathroom at a home in Necedah Township, in Juneau County.

Three people live there: 35-year old Tammy Lewis and her two children, a 15-year old girl and a 12-year old boy.

Lewis, along with 57-year old Alan Bushey, were taken into custody.

Lewis is known as Sister Mary Barnadett, while Alan Bushey is known as Bishop John Peter Bushey.

According to the criminal complaint, police checked on the elderly woman at the request of her sister.

At first, Lewis refused to let the deputy inside her home.

When she eventually did, the deputy discovered the victim's body in the bathroom.

According to the criminal complaint, Bushey thought prayer would bring the victim back to life.

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UPDATE Posted Friday, May 9 --- 3:30pm

NECEDAH TOWNSHIP, Wis. (AP) -- A Juneau County deputy asked to check on an elderly woman found her decaying body in the bathroom of a house inhabited by three others.

Authorities believe the 90-year-old woman had been dead for at least two months when she was found Wednesday.

The woman's family had asked deputies to check on her, saying she hadn't made contact in months.

The sheriff's office said Friday three people live at the Necedah Township home in south central Wisconsin -- 35-year-old Tammy Lewis, a 15-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy.

Lewis and 57-year-old Alan Bushey were charged with two felony counts of causing mental harm to a child.

Juneau County Sheriff Brent Oleson did not immediately return a message asking about Bushey's relationship to the case.

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Posted Friday, May 9 --- 2:40pm

News Release:

On May 7 at 4:45pm, the Juneau County Sheriff's Office did a welfare check at a residence in Necedah Township. The welfare check was on a 90-year old female subject who had not made contact with family for a couple of months.

The responding deputy located the female deceased in the bathroom of the residence. The female had been dead for a long period of time - at this time, believed to be approximately two months.

There were three subjects living in the residence: a 35 year old female and two children, a 15-year old girl and a 12-year old boy.

The pending investigation resulted in the arrest of the female: Tammy D. Lewis, and 57-year old Alan A. Bushey.

Bushey is tentatively charged with two counts of "causing mental harm to a child." Lewis is tentatively charged with two counts of "causing mental harm to a child" and one count of "obstructing an officer."

The incident remains under investigation by the Juneau County Sheriff's Office and Juneau County Coroners Office.

Sheriff Brent H. Oleson

Alan Bushey

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

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 6, 2008 at 12:50 PM
I'd be interested in knowing how the Good Lord plans on bringing someone back to life while sitting on a toilet of all things? Why not a chair? or a stepladder?

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 18, 2008 at 11:19 AM
so sorry to the family - how hard to deal with your relative being treated w/such disrepect at her passing. The photo of the guy gives me the creeps....

Posted by: JC on Jun 17, 2008 at 05:16 PM
It's about time they convict these brainwashing preachers and make them do some real hard time. Because you can hide behind the cloth should not allow a free pass. Bushee is the lowest of low lives.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 17, 2008 at 12:35 PM
This thing is as useless as they come.

Posted by: ANONYMOUS Location: UNKNOWN on Jun 17, 2008 at 11:46 AM
THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS ARE SICK AND BY PLACING THEM IN THE SYSTEM WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR THEM EITHER MY A MENTAL HOSPITAL, JAIL, PRISON. IT IS PRETTY BAD THAT WE HAVE SICK PEOPLE IN SOCIETY LIKE THIS. THOSE POOR CHILDREN. THAT IS JUST SICK AND WRONG. BETTER EDUCATION FOR THESE PEOPLE. PSYCHO

Posted by: anonymous on Jun 16, 2008 at 07:41 AM
What a waste of tax payers money. Look at her picture, that should speak volumes! This woman is whacked out of her mind. Put her in Mendota and get her some help!!

Posted by: DAYNA on Jun 4, 2008 at 07:14 AM
BUSHEY, LEWIS,HER TWO KIDS AND THE LADY THAT PASSED ON MAKES FIVE. I AM STILL WONDERING WHERE THE SIXTH MEMBER OF THIS GROUP IS, AND WHY HAVE THEY NOT BROUGHT CHARGES AGAINST THIS PERSON. COME ON, YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS STRANGE THAT SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP AFTER 2 WEEKS??!!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 30, 2008 at 03:50 AM
Every time I see the headline for this story... it just makes my stomach turn all over again...

Posted by: Anonymous on May 27, 2008 at 06:54 PM
I totally agree, can't anyone see that this woman is crazy???Why postpone the inevitable?

Posted by: Sandy Location: Baraboo on May 27, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Serious question....why is it that these "Super" religious people seem to feel that death is something to deny? We ALL will die sometime, and I would think that if one believed in eternal life at all, you wouldn't be afraid to let someone "stay dead".... I, myself, think it was a scam just to have access to the poor woman's S.S money, but they had to know they would get caught sooner or later !

Posted by: Anonymous on May 27, 2008 at 12:25 PM
So why are they wasting more time postponing a hearing?

Posted by: G Location: everywhere on May 20, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Did you know you don't need a fake bishop like Bushey to get heaven? You don't need a fake messiah like Koresch. You don't need to follow anyone. Most of these (so called) religious leaders don't believe in anything they are teaching anyway. They only believe in control and a easy way of living. A true Christian only needs to pray for guidence as he/she uses common sense. If you must be a follower of one who teaches faith...question everything!

Posted by: K on May 20, 2008 at 12:30 PM
What a joke! They knew what they were doing, and that was collecting her money. To reduce his bail is sick!

Posted by: Tim on May 20, 2008 at 08:23 AM
The authorities should investigate the chance this mom and her kids were being slipped small doses of LSD. No one in there "right mind" could do this. Look at her eyes in the picture. This heartless man is very dangerous. Reducing this mans bail is ridiculous!!! There must be somebody in the local government helping him out.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 19, 2008 at 06:44 PM
DEAD PEOPLE DONT COME BACK TO LIFE, IT DOESNT MATTER HOW HARD YOU PRAY!!! why are there people in the world like that? ridiculous

Posted by: anonymous on May 19, 2008 at 05:00 PM
Aye, yaye yaye...a dead woman found sitting on the toilet, a self proclaimed bishop saying pray for her and she'll come back..Messiah Gene, I think we all need to follow you to the church of Jack Daniels-what on earth is happening? Has society really come to this? My prayers are for those kids-they will need all the genuine ones they can get.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 19, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Tammy sure looks like she's been around a decomposing body. Or is that what happens when you become a member of the order of the divine will? SICKO!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 19, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Why does'nt everyone cut the crap. Too lazy and useless to go out and get a job. Instead collecting off someones social security who had expired.

Posted by: man Location: madison on May 19, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Let this be a lesson to all you people who are looking for something, lost souls or whatever. Not everyone that says they are a man/woman of the cloth or actually that. Like these two scum bags, they were only interested in getting this poor womans money. Todd, I hope you and your family find peace and remember your Aunt as being a lovely woman and not what these two idiots did to her. This Bushey guy is a real loser! Too lazy to make an honest wage and prey on the elderly.

Posted by: Todd Stine Location: DesMoines,WA on May 18, 2008 at 08:41 PM
The woman was my Great Aunt. Last month on a family visit to see my grandmother(her sister)We had spoke of her and what we had suspisions of what appeared to be a scam embezeling money from elderly people in the name of our savior. My aunt was so trusting and wanting to help less fortunate.Giving all she had to this "church" believing they shared her beliefs and faiths in religon.She was just left there like she was nothing.She gave this world 90 years of a truely selfless woman with a heart filled with love and goodness.A loved member of our family who will be missed deeply.Keeping memories of happier times for her in my heart.It hurts knowing she was left there, for selfish finacial greed. Given no respect to honor her life and let her proudly go to rest in piece. There is no punishment by law that will fit the inhumane crimes. Judgement day before God will be when true justice is given to their souls for what they did to my Great Aunt Alvina.

Posted by: Erica Location: Peoria IL on May 13, 2008 at 09:12 PM
So, Am I the only one who is wondering where this family used a bathroom. From what I read elsewhere, the house only had one. My thoughts and prayers are with the children and I can only hope that Mr. Bushey and Ms. Lewis get a just punishment

Posted by: confused on May 13, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Gary,Do you want separation from church and state? Or would you like us all to follow your god? Before you go crazy I am Christian by choice and born American. If you want separation from church and state then I would think you want god out of the pledge of allegiance in a public (state) school. As a Christian, one thing I don't have to worry about in the greatest country in the world is religious persecution. However, if I were a criminal like those cults in Texas, Utah, and our very own Necedah I would be worried!

Posted by: Gary Location: Madison on May 13, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Americans seem to have forgotten that there must also be a seperation of religion and state. But, try and run for any senate, representative or presidential seat and tell people you are an atheist and see how far you get on that. Hell, our children cannot even pledge allegiance to our flag because some rubes think it is not right because there is a reference to God in it. This country picks and chooses what articles of the Constitution we want to enforce and ignore the rest. It's the convenience factor. Kinda like passing laws that are not enforced such as the seat belt law. You MUST wear one but we wont pull you over just for that reason alone! Why have it there outside its another easy fine to tack on to someone when it can be.

Posted by: Barb Location: Madison on May 13, 2008 at 10:33 AM
What about the children? They will be affected from this forever.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Wisconsin on May 12, 2008 at 06:00 PM
This is just sick and wrong. Anyone that can do that kind of thing should be LOCKED UP for life.

Posted by: G Location: everywhere on May 12, 2008 at 04:52 PM
When a 15 year old gets raped in Utah or Texas, or a little girl dies because she is denied medicine. Someone must pay!! Don't be blind to the fact that this someone is ruining this freedom for everyone. And unless you have a good solution to how society can fix it, a line must be drawn. It is funny how we stop the freedom of speech when it causes a riot and you can't yell fire in a crowded theatre, but to some, freedom of religion has no limits.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 12, 2008 at 02:24 PM
OMG so the bishop really said pray God would keep her alive so we can keep stealing her money!! How do we know they didn't kill her and keep it a secret to just steal from her account??

Posted by: JJ Location: Madison on May 12, 2008 at 12:43 PM
What is a normal religious background Rachel? I understand that this is sick but who are we to say what is normal and what is not! Catholic, Lutheran, Muslim, Jewish..... whats normal! I really dont know the answer! I just think that we need to think that we do have the right to practice our own beliefs even if they are extreme! I am thinking of the Constitution when I say this.. My personal opinion is that these two are quaks but we also are riding a thin line with the constitution like in Texas! We might need to redifine some things

Posted by: Gene Location: madison on May 12, 2008 at 12:22 PM
This idiot is about as much a bishop as I am. Just another idiot brainwashing feeble minded people for his own benefit. Bishop my behind!! Hey everyone, I am the messiah anyone wanna follow me?

Posted by: Brenda on May 12, 2008 at 12:16 PM
More and more nuts out there everyday!!!! Religon is just an excuse. They spent the womans money!

Posted by: Rachel Location: Monroe on May 12, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Religious figure or not, for what he had told that woman to do with the body of the elderly woman was just plain WRONG! I think that the bishop should have his religious rights stripped and not be allowed to be a religious leader of the current church or any other church ever again! It's best that the children were put into foster care and I pray that they get the help they need to grow up to a more normal religious background!

Posted by: G Location: everywhere on May 12, 2008 at 08:36 AM
Here we go again. Texas, Utah, and now Wisconsin. Do some of these fake Christian leaders study brainwashing first? Do they prey on the weak? How can so many people have no common sense? These (so called) leaders should be considered predators. They should be prosecuted like the muggers and abusers they are.

Posted by: Brian Location: Mauston on May 12, 2008 at 08:08 AM
This is the kind of story that gives Juneau County a bad name. I moved here from the Madison area aeveral years ago, and it's stories like this that cause me to be embarased of living here. I hope these two do some prison time so a light will finally be shed on the shrine and it's affilliates. All Juneau County citizens are not like this. Also, I have connections with some Juneau Deputies and I know they have attended training on elder abuse, so I hope that was not a Juneau deputy that made that comment to Sandy. The probelm might lie in the fact that Juneau County is ultra conservative and many citizens are reluctant to involve the police, or D.H.S. in regards to dealing with the elderly. Many here don't want the government medling in thier lives.

Posted by: Jamie Location: Madison on May 11, 2008 at 10:20 PM
To all, Dont you think these people would get the idea once rigor mortis set in, or dependent lavidity set in, or maybe on the smell that this person was dead and that there was no way that this person was coming back to life. These people are freaken stupid and should have the book thrown at them. There is no religion that can excuse their actions, they should be treated like a criminal, hiding a corpse is a criminal act so there you go!!!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Portage on May 11, 2008 at 09:39 PM
There has to be an explanation for everything is what I always say. Having said that, I think that there is way more to this story than we know about yet. I pray dearly for the children that are involved in this very disheartening situation. I am sure that they have family that just want this to be over for them. As for the two adults that are involved, I don't understand how someone who is in their "right mind" can do something like what they did. It would lead me to believe that there was some "not in the right mind" behaviors that were taking place. The children need to be taken care of first and foremost in all of this.

Posted by: Father Randy Location: Milwaukee on May 10, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Who really knows! Old Bushly might have knew something we dont! My pesonal opinion is they should take these two out back and hang them!

Posted by: Gary Location: madison on May 10, 2008 at 08:12 AM
Religious wacko's! Why is it that some people are so desperate that they turn to these weird religious groups? Why was this womans "church" name differant than her paternal name? Was she trying to hide something? This is just a weird situation. I too hope she died of natural causes. These two are suppose to be all religious and yet they committ a crime and expose children to this? You can't convince me that they didn't know this was wrong due to the fact that police said she first refused them entry into the home. Let's see how much their God helps them now. Keep praying saps! Theres more to this than being told right now.

Posted by: cheryl Location: mauston on May 10, 2008 at 06:23 AM
at one time back in 1980's and back from there was a talk of fear of another jones town happeing at the shrine. pretty scarry stuff if you ask me.

Posted by: Sandy Location: Madison on May 10, 2008 at 02:27 AM
This cult in Necedah has been going on for over 20 yrs. At 1 time it seemed to split the community apart. Elder abuse in Juneau County is rampant and unrecognized. I even had a deputy tell me that elder abuse isn't enforceable !

Posted by: Mary Location: Necedah on May 9, 2008 at 10:58 PM
I live in the house next door. I always thought that they were a little strange but I never expected anything like this. So much for a peaceful neighborhood. I pray for the kids. They must be so scarred.

Posted by: Mary on May 9, 2008 at 08:55 PM
What is going on in 2008 with all of these wierdos coming out of the wall, 20 years ago you never heard of this....so now we have more people to keep in prison and pay for.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 9, 2008 at 07:58 PM
what kind of relationship did this sister and bishop have together?

Posted by: Just me Location: Madison on May 9, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Some people just make me sick.

Posted by: Amanda Location: Middleton on May 9, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Wow... I hope there wasn't any elder abuse going on. Let's pray that she passed of natural causes.

Posted by: Beth Location: Madison on May 9, 2008 at 04:40 PM
What is up with all these PRAYER excuses!! first the 11 year old girl with diabetes and now this poor elderly person!!! AND those teen age children! This will effect them for life!!

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