From left: Grace Kipendo, Mmunga Fungamali and Pasi Heri are facing kidnapping and assault charges after a woman was found bound and with a head wound on Feb. 21, 2024, in St. Louis. She told cops she was held against her will at Mount of Olives Ministry church. (Mug shots: St. Louis Metropolitan Police; Screenshot: KDSK/YouTube)
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department arrested three people after uncovering what was described as a cult-like church where officers found women whose faces were covered with veils were being held captive, according to reports.
Grace Kipendo, 28, Mmunga Fungamali, 25, and Pasi Heri, 32, are facing kidnapping and assault charges.
St. Louis police officers were called a little before 1:30 a.m. Feb. 21 after a woman had been found bound with ropes and bleeding from the head, a probable cause statement said. She told officers she had been confined against her will to a room in a church in the 300 block of Marceau Street. The woman said she was only given water and was beaten. She had an “obvious wound” to her head. Cops went to the church where she showed them the room where she was being held.
