Woman Accused of Enslaving Girls

Associated Press

(03/14/06 - MONROE) -- North Carolina officials are looking for a 60-year-old woman accused of forcing three young women into slavery.

Mercedes Farquharson has claimed to be the Messiah and various American Indian chiefs. Warrants for Farquharson were drawn by the Union County Sheriff's Office in January.

Sheriff's Detective John Young says Farquharson is accused of keeping the women in involuntary servitude, along with felony child abuse in the suspected beating of her 15-year-old adopted daughter.

Social services and law enforcement officials rescued the 15-year-old girl and two sisters, ages 18 and 22, after a neighbor reported suspicious circumstances at their house in December.