Credit: Netflix

Trust Me: The False Prophet is a four-episode true-crime documentary on Netflix chronicling the rise and downfall of the notorious cult leader, Samuel Bateman, a self-proclaimed successor of the infamous Warren Jeffs.

The documentary, which recently hit Netflix shelves on April 7th, follows cult expert Christine Marie and her videographer husband, Tolga Katas, who move to Utah to support a fragmented community still grappling with the imprisonment of Jeffs, the former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS).

But upon reaching there, they witness an even more evil leadership under Bateman. Determined to expose Bateman’s actions and exploitations, Marie and Katas gain his trust to infiltrate the group. While Jeffs was convicted in Texas in 2011 on sexual assault charges involving underage followers, what exactly happened to the villain of the Netflix documentary, Trust Me: The False Prophet, Jeffs’ successor, Bateman?

According to authorities, Bateman wanted to launch an offshoot of FLDS within neighbouring communities across Colorado City, Arizona, Hildale, and Utah. Under the former leadership, a select few members practised polygamy. However, after Jeff’s downfall, between 2019 and 2020, Bateman assured followers that polygamy was necessary to ensure an afterlife in heaven, going as far as to claim that he was operating on the instructions of a “Heavenly Father.”

In Bateman’s disturbing belief system, the uprooting of adult women and children from families of his male followers was normalised, alongside calling them wives. The followers were subject to incredible torture, brainwashing, and manipulation. In fact, prosecutors alleged that Bateman travelled between Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska, targeting underage victims.

The state police ultimately caught Bateman in 2022 near Flagstaff as he was towing a trailer. The authorities initially became suspicious after receiving reports of witnessing small fingers peeking through the slats of the door. Inside the poorly ventilated trailer, the cops discovered a makeshift toilet, sofa, camping chairs, and three minor girls.

While Bateman posted bond, it was not long after that he was behind bars again. This time, he was accused of obstructing justice in a federal investigation involving the transportation of minors across state lines. Law enforcement also recovered nine children from his Colorado City home, placing them into protective custody. But the nightmares didn’t end there.

Trust Me: The False Prophet shows that eight children were kidnapped from foster care in Arizona and tracked in Washington state, travelling in a vehicle driven by one of Bateman’s adult “wives.” Bateman allegedly confessed to his part in the kidnapping plot later on.

In 2024, Bateman pleaded guilty to the transportation of minors and conspiracy to kidnap. He confessed to one count of transporting a minor for sexual exploitation under the plea agreement, and one count of committing kidnapping – the former carries a sentence of ten years to life, and the latter is punishable up to life imprisonment.

Bateman was finally sentenced to 50 years on each count, which are to be served concurrently. He is currently serving what is effectively a life imprisonment.