The most devastating crimes don’t always start with violence — sometimes, they begin with a promise. A voice that sounds enlightened. Someone who claims to see something special in you… and then, piece by piece, rewrites what love means. What truth means. What safety means.
This is the story of Iasia Sweeting, a gifted teenage artist who vanished in 2010 — and was found years later weighing just fifty-nine pounds in a Gwinnett County hotel room. Her captor, Calvin McIntosh, a self-proclaimed prophet tied to the Nuwaubi...
The most devastating crimes don’t always start with violence — sometimes, they begin with a promise. A voice that sounds enlightened. Someone who claims to see something special in you… and then, piece by piece, rewrites what love means. What truth means. What safety means.
This is the story of Iasia Sweeting, a gifted teenage artist who vanished in 2010 — and was found years later weighing just fifty-nine pounds in a Gwinnett County hotel room. Her captor, Calvin McIntosh, a self-proclaimed prophet tied to the Nuwaubian Nation of Moors, ruled through doctrine and deprivation. Alongside his daughter, Najlaa McIntosh, he turned faith into a weapon — a theology where obedience meant holiness and hunger was purification.
But perhaps most haunting: this didn’t happen in secret. It happened in plain sight — inside an Extended Stay America filled with guests and staff who heard cries... and did nothing. In this episode, Bailey and Chelsea unpack not just what happened, but how: the psychology of coercive control, the sociological blind spots that enabled it, and the survivor who reclaimed her voice after the world stopped listening.
RESOURCES:
- National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888 | 📱 Text “HELP” to 233733 | humantraffickinghotline.org
Confidential, 24/7, multilingual support for victims, survivors, and concerned witnesses.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
1-800-656-4673 | rainn.org
The largest anti–sexual violence organization in the U.S., offering free, confidential crisis support.
- StrongHearts Native Helpline (for Native and Indigenous survivors)
1-844-762-8483 | strongheartshelpline.org
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) | thehotline.org
24/7 support for anyone experiencing emotional, physical, or spiritual abuse in relationships.
- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA): icsahome.com
Education and recovery resources for survivors of high-control groups, cults, and coercive environments.
- FaithTrust Institute: faithtrustinstitute.org
Resources addressing abuse within faith communities and spiritual institutions.
- Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV)
1-800-334-2836 | gcadv.org
Local support, shelter access, and advocacy services across Georgia.
- Sealed With A Purpose: sealedwithapurpose.org (if live)
Founded by survivor Iasia Sweeting, this nonprofit helps survivors heal through art, equine therapy, and empowerment training.
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Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.
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References:
11Alive. (2018, September 14). Father accused of rape, incest, starving 15-month-old daughter to death enters guilty plea. 11Alive. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/father-accused-of-rape-incest-starving-15-month-old-daughter-to-death-enters-guilty-plea/85-595993234
American Broadcasting Company (CBS News). (2014, November 14). Georgia baby’s death leads to charges of murder, child abuse, incest. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-babys-death-leads-to-charges-of-murder-child-abuse-incest/
Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore LLP. (2018, November 15). Gwinnett jury awards $13.8M to mother of baby starved to death in cult case. Law.com Daily Report Online. https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2018/11/15/gwinnett-jury-awards-13-8m-to-mother-of-baby-starved-to-death-in-cult-case/
Courthouse News Service. (2016, May 9). Baby’s estate seeks damages for starvation. Courthouse News. https://www.courthousenews.com/babys-estate-seeks-damages-for-starvation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Deitch + Rogers. (2018, November 14). Deitch + Rogers obtains $46M verdict for infant’s death. Victim Attorneys. https://victimattorneys.com/deitch-rogers-obtains-46m-verdict-for-infants-death/
Dr. Steve Eichel. (n.d.). Forensic cases. https://drsteveeichel.com/forensic-cases
Gwinnett County Police Department. (2010, April 14). Incident report – Runaway juvenile (Case #10-043451). Listed in Sweeting v. Extended Stay America discovery, Bates Nos. 000018–19.
Gwinnett County. (2014, November 14). Homicide investigation: Homicide investigation press release. GwinnettCounty.com. https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/newsandevents/NewsDetails?news=PolicePressReleases/HomicidnvestigationHomicidevestigation
Law.com. (2018). Sweeting v. Extended Stay CPTO [Court filing PDF]. Law.com. https://images.law.com/contrib/content/uploads/documents/404/22632/Sweeting-v.-Extended-Stay-CPTO.pdf
News3LV. (2023, February 5). Middle Georgia’s cult legacy: The Nuwaubian Nation. News3LV. https://news3lv.com/news/offbeat/middle-georgias-cult-legacy-the-nuwaubian-nation
Six Mile Post. (2023, April 14). Iasia Sweeting raises awareness for trafficking survivors. SixMilePost.com. https://sixmilepost.com/11829/features/iasia-sweeting-raises-awareness-for-trafficking-survivors/
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (2018, November 5). Gwinnett cult baby murder trial begins, bringing awful memories. AJC.com. https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/gwinnett-cult-baby-murder-trial-begins-bringing-awful-memories/WUJ4VGAz41Tv2VqxwCugvN/
WTSP. (2014, November 14). Georgia man charged with murder, rape, incest. WTSP News. https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/nation-now/georgia-man-charged-with-murder-rape-incest/67-300186569
YouTube. (2018). Father accused of starving baby to death – court coverage [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y53y69mj2cQ&list=PLdifGR5OPFpK7PIoqkZ4C9DLT4eVcc9XF&index=4
YouTube. (2018). Dr. Steve Eichel on cult dynamics [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BQz3RPKBk0
YouTube. (2018). Nuwaubian Nation explained – cult history [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIYpUun9zTc
YouTube. (2018). Gwinnett cult trial coverage [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2mTcs3SVc0
