Ep 5. He Was a False Prophet

In season 11 episode 5 of Evil Lives Here, titled "He Was a False Prophet," viewers are introduced to a man named Jeff who was raised in a devoutly religious household in rural Indiana. Jeff's father was a pastor, and much of Jeff's childhood was spent attending church and hearing his father's sermons.

When Jeff was a teenager, his father began to have some doubts about his faith and eventually decided to step down from his role as pastor. This had a profound effect on Jeff, who had always looked up to and admired his father. Without the guidance of his father and the structure of the church, Jeff started to drift.

It was during this time that Jeff met a charismatic and magnetic man named Dan. Dan also had a religious background but had left his faith behind. Instead, he had started his own movement, preaching a gospel that was based on love and acceptance.

Jeff was immediately drawn to Dan and his message. He felt like he had found a sense of purpose and direction that had been missing from his life since his father left the church. So Jeff joined Dan's community and became one of his most devoted followers.

However, it quickly became apparent that Dan's message of love and acceptance was a facade. In reality, he was a manipulative and abusive leader, using his power over his followers to fulfill his own desires. Jeff and the others in the community were soon subjected to Dan's psychological and sexual abuse.

For years, Jeff stayed with Dan and endured the abuse, convinced that he was doing God's work and that Dan was the only person who truly understood his pain. It wasn't until years later, after Jeff had left the community, that he was able to see Dan for what he truly was – a false prophet who had used religion as a way to control and exploit his followers.

Throughout the episode, viewers hear from Jeff and his family members as they recount their experiences with Dan and his community. It's a chilling look at how easy it is for charismatic leaders to exploit people who are searching for something to believe in, and how difficult it can be for those who have been victimized to come to terms with what has happened to them.