DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A jury has now been seated and opening arguments are set to begin for an alleged cult leader facing charges including rape and false imprisonment, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office.
Eligio Bishop, 40, known as "Natureboy," remains in DeKalb County Jail without bond following his April 2022 arrest.
Prosecutors are accusing Bishop of leading a cult called the "Carbon Nation" group. A former member of the cult who identified herself as his girlfriend said he posted revenge porn "because she left him."
Police reports detailed that the woman told authorities that "she had joined a sex cult in which her boyfriend is the leader" and that "she did live together with Mr. Bishop, and he has posted sexually explicit videos of her and him without her consent on Twitter (now the social media platform X)."
Later, Bishop's wife and former cult member told 11Alive he had sexually and emotionally abused members.
According to the Costa Rican Star Newspaper, the group's history includes being thrown out of at least three Central American countries. The newspaper reported the cult believes in nudism, polygamy and refraining from bathing.
Bishop also had a huge following of tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and YouTube accounts that referred to him as "Th3 3God" and projected his messianic self-image.
On Wednesday, potential jurors were asked questions including:
- Does everyone agree that victims of sexual assault sometimes don’t disclose their assault immediately?
- Is anyone here or a close friend or family member in a relationship with a controlling or dominant person?
- Is anyone familiar with or think they might be familiar with the defendant through his presence on social media? That could be Nature Boy TV, Carbon Nation TV, or any other way.
Opening arguments for the trial are set to begin Thursday at 9 a.m.
Latest developments in the case
- February 21, 2024: Trial set to begin with a motions hearing and jury selection.
- November 3, 2023: Trial date set for February 2024 during a motions hearing. The bond was denied again.
- July 27, 2023: Another motion on Bishop's behalf to withdraw his attorney.
- June 29, 2023: Pre-trial hearing
- Early June 2023: Judge denies bond for Bishop again. The judge also denied his motion to file an "out-of-time demand" for a speedy trial as it had yet been a year since his indictment.
"The Court asks the State to work hastily to prepare this case for trial, as the Court intends to bring this case to trial as soon as practicable."
In July 2022, a grand jury indicted Bishop on rape, false imprisonment and three counts of prohibition on nude or sexually explicit electronic transmissions.
His attorney requested Bishop's release on bond, citing his clean felony record and low risk of intimidation in November 2023. However, the state opposed, citing his history of deportation and past criminal activities in Hawaii, suggesting he poses a flight risk and may intimidate witnesses, especially victims.
A DeKalb County Superior Court Judge scheduled the case to begin with a motions hearing and jury selection on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
Latest developments in the case
- Early June 2023: Judge denies bond for Bishop again. The judge also denied his motion to file an "out-of-time demand" for a speedy trial as it had yet been a year since his indictment.
"The Court asks the State to work hastily to prepare this case for trial, as the Court intends to bring this case to trial as soon as practicable." - June 29, 2023: Pre-trial hearing
- July 27, 2023: Another motion on Bishop's behalf to withdraw his attorney.
- November 3, 2023: Trial date set for February 2024 during a motions hearing. The bond was denied again.
- February 21, 2024: Trial set to begin with a motions hearing and jury selection.