South Carolina Criminal Defense Blog

Ria Ramkissoon, member of the One Mind Ministries cult charged with causing the starvation death of Ramkissoon's son, pled guilty yesterday in Baltimore, Maryland, to child abuse resulting in death. As part of the plea agreement, she agreed to testify against her four co-defendants when their trial resumes, she would receive a sentence of time served, and the state agrees that if her son is resurrected as the group expects, her charges will be reopened and dismissed.

Ramkissoon, a member of a group called One Mind Ministries, believes Javon Thompson, her year-old son, will rise again, and as part of her plea agreement, authorities agreed to the clause.

"She certainly recognizes that her omissions caused the death of her son," Silverman said. "To this day, she believes it was God's will and he will be resurrected and this will all take care of itself. She realizes if she's wrong, then everyone has to take responsibility ... and if she's wrong, then she's a failure as a mother and the worst thing imaginable has happened. I don't think that, mentally, she's ready to accept that."

Under the plea agreement, Ramkissoon, 22, must testify against four other One Mind Ministries members who are also facing charges, including first-degree murder, in Javon's death. At her sentencing, set for August, she will receive a 20-year sentence, which will be suspended except for the time she has already served behind bars, Silverman said. She must also undergo deprogramming and psychiatric counseling.

In court Monday, it was clarified that the "resurrection clause" would apply only in the case of Javon's actual resurrection -- not a perceived reincarnation, Silverman said.

"This has never come up in the history of American law, as far as I've seen," Silverman said, adding that the clause was "very important to her."

This is a strange and very, very sad story. If a person is brainwashed into truly believing something as extreme as this, how can we say that they are criminally responsible for the death? Although I also cannot see a way around prosecuting these people, it also seems to be the definition of legal insanity per the McNaughten Rule - not knowing the difference between legal and moral right and wrong at the time that the offense was committed. If a person does not know that what they are doing is wrong, there is no societal interest furthered by punishing that person - treatment yes, but conviction and prison will serve no purpose.