Draft:Victor Barnard

Barnard was raised in Minnesota. He attended the Breck School, graduating in 1979.^[1][2] He received a scholarship to Hobart College, where he played varsity hockey. While in college, he became involved with the Christian organization The Way International, and dropped out of Hobart to attend the Way College of Emporia. During this time, Bernard also cut ties with many friends who were involved with The Way.^[2]

In 1983, Bernard entered the Way Corps, a leadership training program, graduating with a theology degree in 1986.^[3] He returned to Minnesota in 1990, and moved to Rush City in 1991 after living in Minneapolis for a year. He and another Way member began renting "state parks or resorts" to hold religious retreats.^[2]

in the early 1990s, following the splintering of The Way International, Barnard and some other Way members established River Road Fellowship. By 1996, the group had 150 members and purchased an 85-acre campground in Finlayson, Minnesota, which they dubbed Shepherd's Camp.^[2][3][4] Although initially the camp was meant to serve as a retreat location, Barnard encouraged followers to move to the camp permanently.^[4] The camp was a self-sustaining community, with members raising livestock, growing food, and practicing trades like butchering, cabinet-making, and soap-making.^[3]

Initially, the community centered on the beliefs of The Way International, particularly the idea of personal Bible interpretation; however, over time, Barnard began imposing his own particular rules and beliefs onto the community.^[4]

In July 2000, Barnard established a subgroup of River Road, known as the Maidens or Alamoth.^[3][5][6] The Maidens comprised ten first-born girls and young women aged 12 to 24, who promised to never marry and lived apart from the main group.^[6][7] Barnard then initiated sexual contact with the girls, claiming that doing so "was in God's Word," and that he "represented Christ in the flesh".^[6] The youngest girls in the group, who later left and reported him to authorities, were ages 12 and 13 when the contact began.^[6]

In 2008, a rift emerged in the group when several married women emerged with allegations that Barnard had had sex with them.^[4] Barnard admited to the claims, but no charges were pressed.^[4] Some members left, while other remained.^[4]

In 2011, the group relocated to Washington.^[5]

In 2012, American authorities opened an investigation into Barnard after two of his victims reported his actions to the police.^[5] That year, he legally entered Brazil.^[5]

In 2014, Bernard was charged with 59 counts of first and third degree criminal sexual conduct.^[8] Interpol put out an alert for his arrest, was added to the U.S. Marshals Service’s Most Wanted List, and a $25,000 reward was put out for information leading to his arrest.^[5][3]

American and Brazilian authorities tracked the movements of River Road members to Brazil, in hopes of determine Barnard's exact location.^[9] In February 2015, Barnard was arrested by Brazilian police in Tibau do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte.^[5][7][8] In November 2015, while being held in Brazilian federal prison, Barnard attempted suicide.^[10] He was extradited to the United States in June 2016, with bail set at $1.5 million.^[3][11]

In January 2017, Barnard was attacked by a fellow inmate and subsequently moved to a prison outside of Minnesota.^[13] In November 2017, he won an appeal to have his sentence reduced to 24 years.^[13] He attempted suicide in July 2020.^[14]