Led by Roch Thériault the group operated in isolation in rural Canada, shielded from authorities for years. 

Beneath the façade of a spiritual commune lay unimaginable cruelty, exploitation, and psychological domination. 

The Rise of Roch Thériault

Roch Thériault was born on May 16, 1947, in Saguenay, Quebec, into a devoutly Catholic family. A bright but troubled child, Thériault left school in seventh grade, later becoming deeply interested in religion and apocalyptic beliefs. By his late twenties, he had turned to Seventh-day Adventism, drawn to its emphasis on health, holistic living, and apocalyptic warnings. However, Thériault’s obsession with control and prophecy soon alienated him from mainstream religious circles. In the late 1970s, he began attracting a small group of followers who admired his charisma and seemingly prophetic visions. Among his early followers were mostly women and a few men who believed Thériault was divinely inspired. 

The Formation of the Ant Hill Kids

In 1977, Thériault declared himself a prophet chosen by God to lead his followers to salvation. He convinced them to leave their jobs, sever ties with their families, and join him in a remote commune in Quebec. Naming his group the “Ant Hill Kids” to symbolize Thériault promised a utopian lifestyle. The commune operated under strict rules dictated by Thériault, who used fear and manipulation to maintain control. Initially they lived an austere but peaceful existence, growing their own food and adhering to a strict health regimen. However Thériault’s behavior soon turned dark as he began enforcing extreme punishments and claiming absolute authority over his followers lives.

Abuse

Thériault’s paranoia and desire for control escalated rapidly. Believing that pain and suffering were forms of purification, he subjected his followers to horrifying physical and psychological abuse. His punishments included: 

Beatings: Followers were whipped, punched, and beaten with hammers. 

Starvation: Members were often deprived of food for minor infractions. 

Mutilation: Thériault performed crude “surgeries” on his followers, including amputations without anesthesia. 

Women in the commune suffered the most under Thériault’s rule. He fathered over 20 children with several women, claiming it was his divine right. These children were raised in the cult and subjected to the same harsh conditions and indoctrination. 

Isolation and Control

The Ant Hill Kids lived in extreme isolation, making it difficult for outsiders to see the abuses. Thériault cut off all contact with the outside world and instilled fear of divine retribution for disobedience. He used religion to justify his actions, claiming that the suffering he inflicted would purify his followers souls and bring them closer to God. The group’s isolation was compounded by their constant relocation. When authorities or concerned relatives began asking questions, Thériault would move the commune to a more remote area. 

Several horrifying incidents: 

1. Solange Boilard’s Death 

In 1988 a follower named Solange Boilard died after one of Thériault’s so-called “surgeries.” Believing she had a stomach ailment, Thériault performed a crude operation using a knife and bare hands, inserting a tube into her abdomen. She died shortly after. Thériault then mutilated her corpse and convinced his followers that her death was a necessary sacrifice. 

2. Gisèle’s Finger Amputation

Another follower, Gisèle, had her finger amputated by Thériault as punishment for attempting to leave the group. The procedure was done without anesthesia and served as a warning to others considering escape. 

3. The Children’s Plight

The children of the commune endured years of neglect and abuse. Malnourished and frequently beaten, they were also subjected to Thériault’s bizarre medical experiments. 

The Cult’s Downfall

By 1989, the Ant Hill Kids had begun to unravel. Thériault’s violent tendencies grew increasingly erratic, and some followers started to question his authority. The final straw came when one of his female followers, Gabrielle Lavallée, escaped from the commune after enduring years of torture, including the removal of several teeth and part of her arm. Lavallée contacted authorities, providing detailed accounts of the abuse and violence occurring within the group. Armed with her testimony, the police raided the commune and arrested Thériault in 1989. 

Trial and Imprisonment

Roch Thériault was charged with multiple counts of assault, murder, and child abuse. In 1993, he was convicted of second-degree murder for the death of Solange Boilard and sentenced to life in prison. Even behind bars, Thériault maintained a disturbing level of influence, corresponding with former followers and attempting to justify his actions. In 2011, Thériault was killed by a fellow inmate, bringing an end to his reign of terror. 

The Ant Hill Kids case remains one of Canada’s most infamous examples of cult abuse. Survivors of the cult have shared their stories, shedding light on the psychological and physical scars they carry.