Fact Check: Was “Psychic” Liane Wilson (Shanti) right? Did the CIA Run “The Finders” and Kidnap Children?
Claim: The CIA ran an organization called “The Finders” that kidnapped children from daycares.
Conclusion: False. Multiple government investigations have found no credible evidence supporting this claim.
Who Were “The Finders”?
“The Finders” were a small, fringe commune based in Washington, D.C., founded in the 1970s by Marion Pettie. In 1987, two members were arrested in Florida after being found with six unkempt children. Initial suspicions of trafficking or cult activity were investigated by local law enforcement, U.S. Customs, the FBI, and the DOJ.
What Did the Investigations Find?
- The charges were dropped. The children were returned to their mothers after no evidence of abuse or abduction was found.
- Extensive investigations by the FBI and DOJ in the early 1990s found no links to criminal conduct or CIA involvement.
- Allegations of CIA suppression came from third-party speculation and were later dismissed in a formal DOJ review.
Why Do People Think the CIA Was Involved?
In 1993, a consultant named Skip Clements claimed the CIA intervened in the investigation. This prompted a Congressional inquiry. However, documents showed the only CIA connection was a former bookkeeper for a training contractor who briefly worked for the group. No operational link was ever proven.
Debunking the Conspiracy Theory
| Claim | Reality |
|---|---|
| CIA ran “The Finders” and kidnapped children | No evidence. All agencies concluded no criminal or CIA activity occurred. |
| Children were taken from daycares | No daycare kidnappings were ever linked to The Finders. |
| Finders were part of a trafficking ring | Alleged, but never substantiated. All charges dropped. |
Sources
- Wikipedia: The Finders
- Vice: Finders Cult and Modern Conspiracies
- Associated Press Archive
- FBI FOIA Vault: The Finders
Disclaimer
This fact-check was AI generated using publicly available documents from FBI Vault releases, Department of Justice reviews, historical media reporting, and third-party research archives. The conclusion is based on:
- Official government investigations (FBI, DOJ, U.S. Customs)
- Lack of evidence in redacted and declassified CIA or law enforcement files
- Confirmation that charges against the Finders were dropped and no trafficking or abduction was proven
- Independent reviews by media and research organizations that found no substantiated link to CIA operations or child kidnapping