Pathologists in Kenya began performing autopsies Monday on over 100 bodies of members of a religious cult who starved themselves to death under the belief that doing so would take them to heaven.
Officials found the bodies buried in shallow graves in Kenya’s Shakahola Forest.
A few people were found alive, but they died on the way to the hospital. Children account for most of the recovered bodies so far, authorities say.
The Christian-based cult was founded by Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, a former taxi driver. He is in police custody and is reported to be refusing food and water.
DNA samples will be extracted from the bodies to compare with relatives who have reported their loved ones missing.
Reuters reports that more than 300 people have been reported missing. – gb