Elohim City, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Elohim City is a private community in Adair County, Oklahoma
founded by Robert G. Millar in 1973. Millar, a Canadian immigrant
and charismatic religious leader, moved his followers to the site from their former location in Ellicott City, Maryland
known as "The Camp", it was located on Route 144 about one mile (1.6 km) west from the intersection of Route 29 35°35′N 94°30′W in Howard County, at the former location of a Catholic Abbey. "The Camp" was rural in the early 1970s and has since been developed into a suburban housing community. Millar moved the community from The Camp to Oklahoma in 1973, after previously having established a church in Oklahoma during the 1950s. Its 400 acres (1.6 km²) are frequented by Christian Identity
followers. The community gained national attention for its supposed ties to members of the Silent Brotherhood in the 1980s and with convicted Oklahoma City bomber
Timothy McVeigh
in the 1990s.
In 1986 a Canadian woman and her children sought refuge in the city, contravening a court order
awarding custody of the children to her husband. Officers attempting to arrest the woman were met by a show of arms.
The remains of former Elohim City guest Richard Snell
were released to Elohim City residents following his April 19, 1995, execution in Arkansas
. Snell taunted jailers that something drastic would happen on the day of his execution. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
was destroyed by explosives in the hours before he died. Earlier criminal proceedings had produced evidence that Snell and other affiliates had visited the Murrah building to examine it as a possible bombing target in 1983. However, when Snell watched televised reports of the Oklahoma City bombing prior to his execution, he was appalled by what he saw.
Other individuals who stayed at Elohim City and later appeared in national news included Andreas Strassmeir, head of security and suspected federal undercover operative; BATF informant Carol Howe; and Dennis Mahon.
Elohim
is a Hebrew
word for God(s).
Adair County, Oklahoma
Adair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 22,638. Its county seat is Stilwell. Adair County was named after the Adair family of the Cherokee tribe.-History:...
founded by Robert G. Millar in 1973. Millar, a Canadian immigrant
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and charismatic religious leader, moved his followers to the site from their former location in Ellicott City, Maryland
Ellicott City, Maryland
Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The population was 65,834 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Howard County...
known as "The Camp", it was located on Route 144 about one mile (1.6 km) west from the intersection of Route 29 35°35′N 94°30′W in Howard County, at the former location of a Catholic Abbey. "The Camp" was rural in the early 1970s and has since been developed into a suburban housing community. Millar moved the community from The Camp to Oklahoma in 1973, after previously having established a church in Oklahoma during the 1950s. Its 400 acres (1.6 km²) are frequented by Christian Identity
Christian Identity
Christian Identity is a label applied to a wide variety of loosely affiliated believers and churches with a racialized theology. Many promote a Eurocentric interpretation of Christianity.According to Chester L...
followers. The community gained national attention for its supposed ties to members of the Silent Brotherhood in the 1980s and with convicted Oklahoma City bomber
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
Timothy McVeigh
Timothy McVeigh
Timothy James McVeigh was a United States Army veteran and security guard who detonated a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995...
in the 1990s.
In 1986 a Canadian woman and her children sought refuge in the city, contravening a court order
Court order
A court order is an official proclamation by a judge that defines the legal relationships between the parties to a hearing, a trial, an appeal or other court proceedings. Such ruling requires or authorizes the carrying out of certain steps by one or more parties to a case...
awarding custody of the children to her husband. Officers attempting to arrest the woman were met by a show of arms.
The remains of former Elohim City guest Richard Snell
Richard Snell (criminal)
Richard Wayne Snell was a convicted murderer executed in Arkansas for killing two individuals.-CSA membership:...
were released to Elohim City residents following his April 19, 1995, execution in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. Snell taunted jailers that something drastic would happen on the day of his execution. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was a United States Federal Government complex located at 200 N.W. 5th Street in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. The building was the target of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, which killed 168 people, including 19 children...
was destroyed by explosives in the hours before he died. Earlier criminal proceedings had produced evidence that Snell and other affiliates had visited the Murrah building to examine it as a possible bombing target in 1983. However, when Snell watched televised reports of the Oklahoma City bombing prior to his execution, he was appalled by what he saw.
Other individuals who stayed at Elohim City and later appeared in national news included Andreas Strassmeir, head of security and suspected federal undercover operative; BATF informant Carol Howe; and Dennis Mahon.
Elohim
Elohim
Elohim is a grammatically singular or plural noun for "god" or "gods" in both modern and ancient Hebrew language. When used with singular verbs and adjectives elohim is usually singular, "god" or especially, the God. When used with plural verbs and adjectives elohim is usually plural, "gods" or...
is a Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
word for God(s).