“There’s a pyramid in the cow pasture”

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In 1986, Niki Lopez lives with her family at 717 Bushwick Avenue, home to a secretive group called the Nuwaubian Nation in the heart of Brooklyn–alarmingly, in 1993, the whole community vanishes without a trace. Nearly ten years later, on May 8th, 2002, over 200 federal agents prepare to storm a seemingly “ancient Egyptian” compound in rural Putnam County, Georgia. Inside, nearly 200 families live under the control of Nuwaubian Nation leader, Dwight “Malachi” York. In order to get justice for all the victims before it’s too late, it’s up to Niki to escape, confront her past, and expose the truth behind one of the darkest cases in American history.

Niki founded her organization “What’s Your Elephant”, which aims to empower individuals from all walks of life to use the arts to tell their stories: https://whatsyourelephant.org/

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Written, directed & edited by Matthew Rice

Researched by Bianca Yzabelle Tan

Voiceover by William Akana

Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader

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Sources

The Nuwaubian Nation, How I Escaped My Cult: Freeform, 2025

United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors, People Magazine Investigates: Cults: MMXVIII Discovery Communications LLC, 2018

Nuwaubian Nation, FOX5 Eyewitness News, 1998

Waco: The Inside Story, Frontline PBS, 2018

Mysteries Behind Closed Doors: The Dr. Malachi Z. York Case (The Untold Story), ImperialSevens, 2012

Open House visits to the Nuwaubian compound Tama-Re, Jay Humphrey, 2024

Getty Images

Instagram, Niki Lopez

The Waco Massacre: 30 Years On | DARK SIDE OF THE 90'S, VICE TV, 2023

Local Artist Shares Her “Elephant” to Help Empower Women, NBC 6 South Florida, 2019

“I just know it, there’s something wrong with my kids”

On November 11th 2010, cops enter Tina Hermann’s home after receiving a 911 call from her manager Valerie, who reported how unusual it was for her to miss a day’s work without telling anyone. The house is empty, and Tina and her entire family are gone: a suspicious scene reveals bloodstains, motor oil, a Walmart receipt, a missing car, but most shockingly, a woman-size shoe print leaving the home, meaning someone walked out of there, alive, and as the community begins to hunt for the missing family, time is running out for Sarah, who is now trapped in ‘the house of leaves.’

You can donate for Sarah’s ‘Healing Hearts Memorial Fund’ here:https://fairfieldcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1199

“Are you comfortable now? I doubt it.”

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On March 20th, 1999, Cynthia meets up with her friend, never expecting she is minutes away from being abducted. When she wakes up, a chilling voice speaks to her – it's coming from a recording. As her tears dry up, the early memories of her tough childhood revive, and a voice in her heart tells her: escape.

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Written, directed & by Justin Chalifoux

Researched by Tianyi Zhang

Voiceover by William Akana

Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader