The Children of Ant Hill Cult: A Dark Chapter in Cult History and Its Horrific Crimes

1.1 The Birth of the Cult: From Religious Roots to Apocalypse

The Children of Ant Hill cult was founded in 1977 in the Sainte-Marie region of Quebec, Canada. The leader, Roch Thériault, a man with a troubled past and a turbulent childhood, proclaimed himself a prophet and claimed divine authority to lead his followers toward a supposed apocalyptic salvation. The cult’s beliefs were rooted in distorted interpretations of Christianity, particularly influenced by the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, from which Roch Thériault was expelled in April 1978.

Initially, the group was a small, isolated community of devout believers who thought they were preparing for the imminent end of the world. The name “Children of Ant Hill” symbolized their belief that they were living in a divine, hidden place—an ant hill—where they could survive the coming chaos.

1.2 Leader Roch Thériault: From Troubled Youth to Cult Leader

Roch Thériault, born in 1947, experienced a violent and unstable childhood marked by abuse, rejection, and abandonment. His grandfather, a known rapist, fathered Roch’s mother, which contributed to his early trauma. Dropping out of school at a young age, Roch drifted through homeless shelters and engaged in menial jobs, often self-educating himself through Bible study.

He claimed to have received divine revelations and believed himself to be a prophet chosen by God. Adopting the name “Moses” or “Roche Trieu,” he proclaimed that he was the appointed leader tasked with preparing humanity for the final battle between good and evil.

1.3 The Cult’s Ideology and Prophecies

Thériault preached that the world was destined for destruction and that only his followers would be saved. He predicted the end of the world in February 1979, claiming that a cosmic calculation error postponed the apocalypse due to differences between Earth and Heaven. As a result, he led his followers to build a commune on what he called “Eternal Mountain,” where they would wait and prepare for divine intervention.

January 29, 2026 | 7:02 pm