TESTIMONY SAYS MOM OF 28 IN A CULT

News-Sentinel, The (Fort Wayne, IN)

Author: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dateline: SHELBYVILLE

The fate of 28 orphaned Haitian children still hangs in the balance.

Testimony was to continue today in the complex custody battle between Dan and Kathy Blackburn.

David Vaught, whose wife Cheryl is one of Kathy Blackburn's closest friends, testified Tuesday that the two women were involved in a religious cult that believes in demon possession.

Vaught called the charismatic-based movement a ``cult'' and said he left Latter Day Ministries about one year ago.

Dan Blackburn has said his wife's friendship with Cheryl Vaught, as well as her membership in the cult, contributed to the breakdown of his marriage.

Also on Tuesday, the head of the Shelby County Guardian Ad Litem program and a court-appointed welfare caseworker testified that Dan Blackburn should be awarded custody.