New Mexico compound was training ground for school shootings, court documents allege

TAOS COUNTY, N.M. -- The Jonesboro father accused of abducting his son last December is believed to have been training other children at a remote New Mexico compound to commit school shootings.

According to recently released court documents, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj is accused of instructing at least one of the 11 children found on the compound "in the use of an assault rifle in preparation for future school shootings."

Ibn Wahhaj, the father of Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, was arrested Friday along with Lucas Morten when local and state law enforcement officials raided the compound. Also found living at the compound were three women and 11 children.

All five of the defendants have been charged with 11 counts of child abuse. They all appeared in court Wednesday and entered pleas of not guilty. (Story continues below gallery)

Interviews with some of the children indictate Abdul Ghani-Wahhaj died on the property and was buried there.

However, on Monday, officials said the remains of a child were found, but so far, have not been positively identified as Abdul-Ghani.

According to interviews conducted by Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe, at least two of the children saw Abdul, described by them as being in "poor health," on the property, and that the boy died there.

"Uncle Lucas," the interviews said, "washed the boy's body twice and buried him near a tunnel on the compound."

Hogrefe's affadavit said the body's washing is "consistent with Muslim beliefs" and that everyone living on the compound are Muslim.

Each of the women, Hogrefe's affadavit said, "were insistent they had been told by the males that they could not talk about Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj and would not."

The remains were found on the compound's inner portion on what would have been Abdul's fourth birthday.

All five adults have been charged with 11 counts of child abuse, with Morten and Ibn Wahhaj facing additional charges.

Abdul-Ghani was allegedly abducted by his father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, in December 2017.

MORE COVERAGE OF THE NEW MEXICO ARRESTS

► What happened to missing 4-year-old before dad's arrest at raided New Mexico compound

► Several missed opportunities in search for missing boy, dad captured in New Mexico

► Five people, including two Atlanta men, charged with 11 counts of child abuse in New Mexico

► Suspected Clayton County child abductor arrested at New Mexico compound

► Search continues for missing Jonesboro boy after father's arrest at New Mexico compound