Federal jury convicts 4 for terrorism and kidnapping after 3-year-old boy was found DEAD in New Mexico compound

This week, four people were convicted of kidnapping and terrorism charges from a case where a three-year-old boy's remains were found in an underground tunnel of the group's New Mexico compound by the Taos County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Special Response Team in August 2018.

According to a press release by the Department of Justice, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj and Lucas Morton were convicted of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder an officer or employee of the United States and along with Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhanah Wahhaj, were additionally convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death.

Another defendant, Jany Leveille pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and having a firearm while unlawfully in the United States. In her agreement, she revealed to law enforcement that she and the other four had prepared to kill federal officers when they came to the compound. 

The case started in December 2017, when Siraj Wahhaj kidnapped his 3-year-old child from his mother in Alabama and took him to New Mexico. The boy didn't have his medication and the group subjected him to exorcism rituals after they convinced themselves he was possessed by demons. 

Subsequently, the child died less than two weeks later. The group began building a compound because they believed the boy would return from the dead as Jesus Christ and they started to obtain weapons and ammunition to kill those who refused to believe as they did. 

When police executed a search warrant on the compound in 2018, they found the remains of the boy and the group went into custody without shots being fired, despite their preparations. 

According to the Albuquerque Journal, authorities found 11 children in the compound's dismal conditions. They never determined the cause of the three-year-old boy's death, but had noted that he needed medication for frequent seizures. 

Sentencing for the group has not been scheduled. The four convicted by jury face life in prison, while Leveille faces up to 17 years with her plea deal.