The In an Instant episode “Deliver Us From Evil” tells the story of Lindsay Tornambe and her family who lived with cult leader Victor Barnard of the River Road Fellowship in a remote area of Northern Minnesota. According to In an Instant, families were told to have their first born daughters live with Barnard so that they would “walk in the path of God.” He lived with ten girls “maidens” including 13-year-old Lindsay. After ten years of sexual abuse, Lindsay told authorities and charges were brought against Barnard, who had by then fled the country to Brazil.
The 55-year-old was extradited in 2016 and pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting Lindsay and another victim. He was given a 30-year sentence. In his statement, Barnard admitted, “I have not always walked in goodness. I am deeply sorrowful … and I hope God will heal their broken hearts.” In January 2017, FOX 9 reported that Barnard had been violently assaulted in his prison cell. He suffered “broken bones in his face, rib fractures, facial cuts, traumatic brain injury, a collapsed lung and respiratory failure.” Inmate Shane Kringen, 44, was charged with first degree assault for beating Barnard. Prosecutors say Kringen said he was “doing God’s work,” when he was taken from the cell. In an Instant airs Saturdays at 9pm on ABC.
