First, these kids are nervous, and that’s as it should be. But they’re also very scared, and not of the officers.

What are they afraid of?

Observations:

1. They appear to be wearing uniforms of colors which may indicate a rank or standing of some sort. Watch again as the one in the burgundy in the center remains defiant but cannot be still.

2. The seniors may wear burgundy. I immediately thought, lieutenants. They have to be separated because they tell the other girls to keep silent.

3. The biggest red flag is the presence of girls in a towed trailer in the Arizona heat. The specific WX information isn’t stated but at any temperature, passage in an unventilated trailer can, and has caused, death.

4. Watch one of the girls on the left as she writes on the pad after being asked to write her name and address. She keeps lifting the pen in hesitation. She is trying to think of some alternative, a way out, some type of evasionary tactic, and she is failing.

5. The girl who indicates she is age 7 acts a little bit too cool and mature as she takes the pad and begins writing. It’s certainly possible, but it is odd for a 7-year-old to do so, much more so because she’s in a high pressure situation with police officers all over the lot.

6. The video states that the driver is a “prophet” cult leader and that he was arrested, but I don’t see the actual arrest. Even so, he is in deep trouble and no matter what I see or do not see, he is busted. In a red state, however, he may be given probation. He should serve at least 20 years at a supermax.

7. The girls show distinct signs of drug abuse. Often cults and traffickers gain psychological control over their victims with drugs or other substances. This is reinforced in any number of ways: letting the victim become dependent, the making the withdraw by keeping said substance from them. Placing them back on the substance results in immediate relief and control by the leader is firmly established. This leads to a false but very clear “loyalty” to their captor or handler; thus the older one telling the others to be silent. The girls fidget and put hands in pockets, to me appearing to be dependent on an injection drug which now they will not get, although they’re holding out hope.

8. One girl takes video of her leader, assuring that should he be mistreated by the officers, she will have proof. That is conditioned loyalty and is heartbereaking to see. She’s cold, detached, but efficient, certain that she will be rewarded in some way by her leader.

I do not know what happened after the video ends. There doesn’t appear to be another one which continues this grotesque incident. Ultimately I believe that their parents were contacted, but whether the minors were placed into their care is not a given. These girls have been violated in every sense of the word, and extensive and intensive mental health and rehabilitative care is certainly indicated. They will not have anything close to normal lives whether they are treated or not. The long dresses in the heat of an Arizona summer plus the hairstyles, are conservative and seem likely to indicate a conservative religious cult, however disgusting that may seem.

A salute to the officers of the City of Flagstaff for being observant and mindful. Truly a traumatic case for any law enforcement officer anywhere.