Child's body found in suitcase

A religious cult in Philadelphia, in which a Trinidad-born woman was a member, is suspected of killing the woman's 18-month-old baby, allegedly because he refused to say "amen".

According to the Philadelphia Daily News, police there acted on a tip on April 28, which led them to a rowhouse where they came upon a suitcase containing the remains of a dead baby. Weeks ago, an investigation into a missing Baltimore baby, Javon Thompson, had been launched. Police received a call alleging that an 18-month-old baby had been murdered and his remains were taken out of state.

Thompson's mother, Ria Reshma Ramkissoon, 20, who was born in Trinidad but grew up in Baltimore, was part of a cult which avoided health care and education. The name of the cult is unknown, but its leaders call themselves "King" and "Queen" and its members refer to themselves as "Princes" and "Princesses".

Authorities say the baby was a victim of homicide and is believed to be Thompson.

An autopsy and DNA tests will determine the manner and cause of death and will also reveal whether the remains are that of Thompson.

Baltimore police spokesman Sterling Clifford declined to comment on Ramkissoon's whereabouts and whether she and fellow cult members are suspects in the case.

Ramkissoon was last seen by her mother, Seeta Newton, two years ago, when she dropped her daughter and grandson off at a Baltimore park.

Newton searched for her daughter and eventually learnt that Ramkissoon had joined a religious cult based in east Baltimore. She said she visited the rowhouse and pleaded with her daughter to return home. Ramkissoon refused. Ramkissoon's sister, Colleen Khadan, and other relatives were also not allowed to see Thompson.

Newton said she petitioned the courts for custody and asked child welfare officers to help to no avail. The owner of the house said he allowed five Baltimore youths to stay in it, but asked them to leave four days later. He allowed them to store some items, including the suitcase, on his property until they settled somewhere.

Khadan lamented the changes the cult created in Ramkissoon, but is still holding on to hope that the remains of the dead baby are not those of her nephew.

"I am hoping that it is not Javon, and that maybe (cult members) gave him away to someone and he is alive. It's kind of foolish, maybe, to be hoping that, but I still hope that even though my heart tells me differently," she said.