The Son of Seven Mothers

by Benjamin Risha

As the adopted son of two cult leaders, Benjamin Risha was raised to someday assume a place of leadership in the Tony and Susan Alamo Christian Foundation with the Bible, and his parents’ interpretation of it, as his guide. He believed the prophecies of his adoptive mother and father, which included them being the two prophets foretold in the Book of Revelations as preceding the second coming of Jesus Christ, them raising from the dead when they died, and such dire warnings as the ground opening up to swallow non-believers into hell. He was sure that Susan Alamo could raise the dead as promised.

However, when none of it happened, and the foundation slid from bucolic communal lifestyle to insufferable criminality that included absolute obedience to the Alamos, and polygamous marriages with girls as young as eight years old, Benjamin knew he had to escape. If he was caught trying to escape he would be beaten nearly to death, forced to go without food and water for his sins, and he would be shamed in the community. He embarked on a journey to locate his birth parents, discover the truth about a world he knew nothing about … and find himself.


In THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS, Benjamin Risha takes readers on a harrowing journey that few in the United States can imagine. And eventually he must choose between the life he knows, and was “chosen” to lead, and his freedom.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, True Crime, Audiobook, Cults, Biography Memoir

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 23, 2021

Reviews

[Ivy-Jo Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some bits are really hard to hear.

[Linda Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, Benjamin Risha, was raised in a cult to someday take a place in leadership. But Benjamin began to see what was really going on ... and he wanted no part of it.

If he tried to escape and was caught, it would mean almost a certain death. He was determined ....

Managing to get out of the cult leaders' control, he set out on a journey ... to find his birth parents ... to find the truth about who he really was ... to find a new life.

This was an extremely emotional journey for this young man, fraught with unknown dangers. Would the cult leave him be? Will he find his birth parents? Will he find himself?

Well-written, emotional, the author puts it all out there.

This is a story of survival ....

Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this most interesting true crime. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[R. Small · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just have no words…. This brought tears to my eyes… I’m speechless… it’s hard hearing the mistreatment masked by religion as justification

[Tony Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

1965, Benjamin’s parents: Beth Risha (Jewish, mother) & Ed Risha (Lebanese, father) were married as arranged by Tony.
It was a sign of peace between the 2 cultures.
In 1975, Benjamin “Benji” Risha was born.

Beth & Craig left with her 2 children, but left Benji behind.
In 1969, Alma/Dyer, Crawford County, AK. The Ridge (Georgia Ridge Rd.). Tony Alamo ([20 September 1934 – 2 May 2017] aka Bernie LaZar Hoffman, Mark Hoffman, Marcus Abad, husband/ adopted father) & Susan Alamo (née Edith Opal Horn, Edith Lipowitz, [25 April 1925 – 8 April 1982] wife/adopted mother) founded the cult apocalyptic ministry later titled Tony Alamo’s Christian Foundation.
In 1974, Susan Alamo (wife/ adopted mother) was paired up with Tony Alamo (husband/ adopted father) in arranged marriage by him.
He sent Benjamin’s mother to work in the rose fields in Bakersfield, Kern County, CA. She worked long hours coming home with bloody hands.
Susan finally gave in & married Tony.
The Tony Alamo’s Christian Foundation church now has about 50 children.
Velta Fern & Fayette Peeve arrived & donated their valuables.
In 1979, the cancer had started to take its toll on Susan. Chemotherapy was started but to no avail. In 1982 she died at age of 56.

Things with Tony went to hell.
His dark side emerged, he became a criminal, was abusive, & had his closest followers administered punishments.
Children worked long hours, food was taken away & punishment was unbearable.
Uncle Harry Sand & Anna-Sue Sand were told to administer swats to: Louden Sarrgis, Ragner Flashmigen, Dorry 30, Joyce 20, Lonny 10, Jaxon 40, Terry 40, Sharon 30, Leah 10, Layla 40, Allen 30, Tina 30, Josiah 29, Gary 10, Leon 40, Cassandra 20, José 40, Erin 40, Jeanie 30, Jessica 40, Rita 30, Thalia 30, Benji 10, Karen 85, & Miranda 10.

Papa Tony set new rules for the boys/girls.
• Boys/girls would always be separated
• They could not go to school/church together
• They could not talk/walk to each other
• There could be no interaction between boy/girls at all for any reason unless there was an adult present
• There must always be a watcher following boys/girls
• No eye contact between the opposite genders
• No smiling at each other
• No crying around each other
• No note writing to each other…
• Anyone who defied these rules would be severely punished
Benjamin’s last day of school was 6/1987.

Benjamin (17) ran away in 1992 & was able to track down his biological parents.
He claims he wasn’t aware of the sexual abuse Tony was committing on the young girls.
When Tony wasn’t preaching, he made elaborate decorated jackets for celebrities (Julio Iglesias; Michael Jackson; Bruce Springsteen; others).
Richard Church (aka Jim Walh) was wanted for murdering Raymond Ritter, Ruth Ann Ritter, & brutally beating his GF & (10, son).
9, 2008, The FBI raided the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries cult compound after reports of child sexual abuse. Tony was arrested/charged with multiple crimes involving child sexual abuse & transporting minors across state lines for those purposes.
Tony (Bernie LaZar Hoffman) died behind the US Penitentiary bars in Butner, NC in 2017 at age of 82.

I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.

Warning: This book contains descriptive accounts of extremely graphic adult content, (violence, murder, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material (bigamy, virgin, incest, pedophile, rape, minor/adult verbal, psychological, emotional, physical & sexual abuse) which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader. If you are especially sensitive to this type of material, it is strongly advised not to read any further.

An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written cult memoir story book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great cult memoir movie, a classroom PP presentation, or better yet a paid-per-view mini-TV series or even a documentary (Today; People Magazine; Associated Press). It was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 4/5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Wild Blue Press; BookFunnel; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Egos and Evil

First I have to commend the author for his tremendous inner strength and courage even at such a tender age! Benjamin Risha was put through abuse, neglect, constantly being treated as a pawn in Tony Alamo and his wife's sick cult, moved from family to family with zero regard for the potential emotional consequences OR, the developmental and emotional needs of children who have the right and the NEED to form strong emotional bonds with their mom and dad. That bond helps them to have a firm foundation, trust, security and a sense that the world is a safe place! The cult took so much from little "Benji." Yet somehow he was able to discern that God would not DO the things that Tony Alamo did, He would not want children beaten and brutalized til they were bloody, screaming and suspended in air -- or passed out bleeding and unconscious! A loving God would not make little children or adults eat moldy bread or meat with maggots or discoloration and spoilage. Children and adults would not be made to work outrageous hours and not be paid or have to turn their money over to someone who would use it for illicit purposes while deceiving the government and everyone else.
Tony Alamo and those in charge ruled by fear and intimidation, secrets and lies. They were there for power and control and Alamo was all about people worshipping him rather than God! Alamo is evil and I'm so glad that he was caught!
This book is an interesting and powerful one that moves quickly and holds your attention easily. However it is quite detailed and graphic in some parts and I believe that it is necessary for the truth to be told -- albeit difficult to stomach .
I hope this book has a sequel because I wanted to know more about Ben's life AFTER the cult. Is he happy? Does he still believe in God? (I hope so!) Did he seek psychotherapy? (Again, I sincerely hope so!) I wish him the very best as I do all who survived that insane cult.

[Lyndsey Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like a thriller, except it's true. The author is the main character and the tales of abuse and twisted lies are all his story. "The only sure thing we could expect was pain; the pain of consequence designed to drive our sins from our bodies and eor souls."
Benjamin Risha was born into a cult, the Alamo Christian Foundation. Benjamin tells the story of growing up in this cult, bouncing around between several families after his biological parents left, and ultimately the story of how he to came to realize freedom and also leave the cult.
The stories are brutal. There is nothing light hearted about this book, and the acts of child abuse, both physically and mentally, that were common within this cult are very disturbing. If I'm being honest, there was a point mid-book I almost abandoned it because I didn't want to hear any more about the suffering of children. But I thought back to the intro of the book, and Benjamin's reason for writing his story, which in summary was to help others recognize and understand how to escape high manipulation groups and relationships. And while a cult may be the extreme, I think it's an important message.
A well written book, I recommend for anyone who enjoys true crime, and an inside look at cults.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from @wildblue_press in exchange for a review. But this review is honest and true!

🛑Trigger warnings: abuse, child abuse, child abandonment, cults.

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lengths People Go To Control Others.
The Son of Seven Mothers is a fascinating insight into a world that we only read about or here on TV. This book was an eye-opening journey from the perspective of a truly innocent young man who was born and caught up in the madness of a cult. Benjamin Risha has a cautionary true and horrific tale and a story of survival, and the lengths people go to control others when you live with religious fanatics.
The book is professionally written but told with a sadness as Benjamin tells the story of being abandoned by his parents abused mentally, beaten physically, starved, and made to go hungry as punishment, bullied by elders made to work long hours as a child and much more at the hands of the cult’s leadership.
I found the book incredibly sad but engaging and hopefully Benjamin and others like him finally find their family’s and engage in a normal happy and contented life and put the past to rest. I Highly recommended this book as Benjamin Risha has a sad but an impactful story to tell.
I received an advance review copy for free from Wildblue press, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful true story!!

Risha pens a harrowing and remarkable true crime story in The Son of Seven Mothers. This is the first book of this author's that I've read. Risha takes the reader back in his history and how he grew up with his adopted parents, that were cult leaders. The prophecies of his family and the cult around him, he believed in what they believed in. When the prophecies proved to be false, it was a long road and journey for him to survive and "escape" into the real world, which was so foreign to him. Risha writes his story well, this reader feeling both appalled and relieved at his life. It was a powerful true story, and it shows great strength that Risha shares his story with the world. Talk about true crime. It's a true crime survivor story! The Son of Seven Mothers is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to reading many more titles by this author

[Legion The Thylacine · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's a book full of nasty people and nasty experiences. It really takes you on a journey of feeling sympathy for Benji as a small child, being groomed into the monster his adolescent self seemed to become. the opulence, the spoiling, but also the abuse and confusion. every adult failed him, creating the most toxic environment for anyone to grow up. it's no wonder that mid way through the book you actually feel disgust and hatred for the boy he was. the climax was a devastatingly cruel event that seems to turn our character around and makes him significantly more agreeable.

however, I feel the narrator isn't fully reliable and do somewhat wonder what is being left out. he certainly doesn't shy away from how much of a monster his child self was but it seems to sudden his teenager self wasn't nearly as bastardly at 16. it's all environment, and I'm glad he escaped that, I just feel like we're missing more towards the end of the book.

[Arielle Sprinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a personal insight to my family history. It was painful to read at times, knowing people I love went through the gruesome abuse Benji illustrated in his book, but the honesty has helped me see them in a way I hadn’t before. I have read every article, seen every documentary and YouTube video and podcast about The Alamos and their cult, but this has been the most helpful in connecting with my family history. I better understand the people I love, and I feel like part of me has grown to know Benji, even though I don’t think we have ever met (if you see this Mr.Risha, I’m sure you may know who I am). For those who left reviews about the lack of focus on Tony and Susan, maybe remember that this is titled “The Son of Seven Mothers” and not “Tony and Susan Alamo”.

[ForTheThrillofBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cults have always fascinated me because I just can’t imagine how one or two people can hurt and manipulate so many. Benjamin Risha tells a heartbreaking story and gives us insight into what it was like growing up in the Tony and Susan Alamo Christian Foundation. The strict rules, the punishments for their “sins” and their warped interpretation of the Bible. This was a really interesting and well written book which at times read like a fiction and a coming of age story. I hadn’t heard of this cult before so I did a lot of googling after. Very messed up and eye opening read, and at times sad.

[Annie Kosar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional, Tragic, & Full Of HOPE!!

Wow!! What a powerful personal journey being shared!! Sooo much pain and yet so much resilience and hope in the face of hate and fear and pain…. Many moving moments of all different kinds of love…. DEF shows how religion can be used as a horrible weapon and also the devastating ways that cults operate…. Really powerful to take the reader through so many personal parts of their own journey….

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what a true crime book should be, its disturbing and eye opening. It took awhile to read as I could not binge read this. I don't want to say to much and spoil it.

Thanks to bookfunnel and Benjamin Risha for the advance read, I voluntarily read and reviewed all opions are my own.

Triggers child abuse.

[Jenna Gendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

another tale of mistreatment and abuse of children disguised as justification for religion
risha presents the stages of his life growing up as a cult through the different families that he loved with from his birth all the way to adulthood
a well-written autobiographical account of how ingrained and blind followers of religion can become

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It is the true story of the author being in a cult. It must have been hard to write. Being brought up as a catholic in Canada I can't imagine things like this happening. I commend the author for being brave enough to write it.

[Emily Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. The beginning was a little confusing at first trying to understand the backstory of the cult leaders but once he started recalling his own experiences it was very captivating and heart breaking.

[Ilana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars. I've watched a documentary on this cult and this book is seen through the eyes of a child who didn't understand the absolute abusive situation he was in. At times it felt like the author didn't totally disagree with the teachings of the cult leader.

[Joanne Fate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartbreaking autobiography of a boy who grew up in a cult. I don’t usually give trigger warnings, but this one deserves them. The abuse is horrific. This is a good warning not to join a cult.

[Kellyann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting and I still can't believe things like this were allowed to happen .

[Lisa Sparkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

So sad.

[Elizabeth Figura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great narrator and interesting story
Watching: child abuse

[Carla (There Might Be Cupcakes Podcast) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Over halfway done, and there’s not enough information about the Tony and Susan Alamo cult, and too much explicit child abuse, and too much information about the author’s eleven-year-old’s erections. I wish that were hyperbole. Literal and repeated descriptions of his tucking it in and its popping out as he discovers girls on the compound…this is not what I signed up for.

[Plus Size Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as cult survivor stories went, this was very insightful. While the author was very much a victim, having been born and raised for a majority of his life within this toxic compound, I respect the author for not painting himself without flaws. This is probably the first time I've heard a survivor admit to being a douche, to getting others in trouble, for knowing the consequences and feeling regret for being a part of another person's harm.

As a child of the 90's I remember the Alamo Christian Foundation being talked about in the news. I remember their jackets being worn, and after reading this story was shocked to see that they are priced on eBay for thousands of dollars. Is it possible the cult exposure and child labor increased the value? Who knows we live in a sick world and many people want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Even if it's just by owning a piece of it.

Anyways, I liked this read and realized that while this was very much a cult, it does not have the popularity in the True Crime community as other religious cults. I'm assuming this is because there were no child brides or doomsday plans. But instead, labor human trafficking, physical and financial abuse, along with many widely known and publicly accessible businesses. Restaurants, Clothing Brands & Stores, Quick Lubes, Trucking Companies. This foundation had its hands in everything. I truly believe IF they had simply paid their taxes, this foundation would still be active today.

[dads kindle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed

It wasn't quite what I expected !! It's just a story about a boy in a Cult that his parents leave him and he spends his young life looking for them. End of story

[Misty Weatherford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I am absolutely blown away by this new author. Hearing about what he had to endure and his reflections throughout were ground shattering. This was an easy non fiction read!