Warning: This story contains details readers might find distressing
A cult member has been sentenced to nine years in prison after beating her two-year-old daughter to death in Australia due to her failure to complete chores. The tragic case centers around the disappearance of Tillie Craig from the Ministry of God farm in 1987, which led to a decades-long search by her father, who was misled to believe that she had been adopted.
In a grim revelation, it was found that Tillie was killed using a plastic pipe, and her remains were allegedly burned and scattered by the sect’s leader at their commune in New South Wales (NSW). Ellen Rachel Craig, 62, was charged with her daughter’s murder in 2022 following a police tip-off and later pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
During sentencing on Wednesday, Justice Natalie Adams highlighted the profound tragedy of Tillie’s death, stating it was a severe failure by someone whose responsibility was to protect her. The court heard that children in the commune were often subjected to harsh discipline, with chores being assigned to them regardless of age.
On July 7, 1987, after Tillie’s work was deemed unsatisfactory, Craig fatally assaulted her. Following the incident, she presented her daughter as having "stopped breathing" and waited for the cult leader, Alexander Wilon, to return, at which point he attempted to pray for the girl’s resurrection. Wilon has since been charged as an accessory to murder and related sexual assault allegations but has been declared unfit for trial due to illness.
Craig was expelled from the commune by November 1987 and relocated to New Zealand, living under several aliases until her arrest and extradition in 2021. In a letter presented at court, Craig expressed remorse for her actions, describing them as "horrible, terrible, horrific," and stated her desire for "justice" for Tillie.
Tillie’s father, Gerard Stanhope, who tirelessly searched for his daughter, learned of her tragic fate only after Craig’s arrest. He expressed his heartbreak, revealing he lived for over 30 years with the hope of finding his daughter, only to discover the devastating truth long after.
Ellen Craig will be eligible for parole in November 2027, having served six years in custody.
