Netflix has added a new true crime documentary that follows an undercover couple who helped put a dangerous cult leader behind bars. Trust Me: The False Prophet tells the real story of Samuel Bateman, a man who claimed to be a religious prophet after the imprisonment of Warren Jeffs. The four-part series shows how Christine Marie, a cult expert, and her husband Tolga Katas gained Bateman’s trust and secretly filmed evidence of his crimes.
The documentary arrived on Netflix on April 8, 2026. It includes never-before-seen footage recorded by the couple while they were inside Bateman’s inner circle. Their work directly helped federal investigators build a case that led to Bateman receiving a 50-year prison sentence in 2024.
Who is Samuel Bateman and How Did He Rise to Power
Samuel Rappylee Bateman took control of a breakaway group from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) around 2019. This happened after Warren Jeffs, the former FLDS leader, got a life sentence for child s*x abuse in 2011. The community in Short Creek, which sits on the Utah-Arizona border, was left without clear leadership. Bateman stepped into that empty space and told followers he was the new prophet.
According to federal investigators, Bateman claimed it was God’s will for him to take multiple wives. He ended up with more than 20 spiritual wives, and some of them were minors. Court documents show that some victims were as young as nine years old. Bateman used religious language and fear to control his followers. He told them that questioning him meant questioning God.
How an Undercover Couple Gathered Evidence Against the Cult Leader
Christine Marie moved to Short Creek in 2015 after a deadly flash flood hit the area. She started a nonprofit called Voices for Dignity to help people affected by human trafficking. Her husband Tolga Katas, a videographer, joined her. They originally wanted to help the FLDS community recover from the damage caused by Warren Jeffs.
Bateman knew about Katas’ documentary project about life in Short Creek. He wanted to be included because he liked attention. This gave the couple a reason to film inside his properties. They started visiting Bateman’s homes in 2021 and recorded everyday gatherings at first. Over time, their footage captured more troubling behavior.
The real break came in November 2021 during a car ride. Marie recorded Bateman talking about his actions with underage girls. His victims were sitting in the same vehicle and confirmed what he said as he coached their answers. This audio recording became key evidence for the FBI.
Marie described her position in the group during the documentary:
“I was so trusted. I wanted to help them before they found out I was a mole. I’m not betraying them — I’m helping them, right?”
What Crimes Did Samuel Bateman Commit and What Was His Sentence
Federal investigators uncovered a disturbing pattern of abuse. Bateman forced underage girls into sexual activities with him and other adult men. He told them this was required by God. The FBI affidavit stated that Bateman had girls as young as nine among his spiritual wives.
The crimes went beyond s*xual abuse. After child welfare officials removed nine children from Bateman’s home for their safety, eight of them disappeared from foster care. They were later found hundreds of miles away in Washington state. Bateman admitted he helped plan this kidnapping. The girls were inside a vehicle driven by one of his adult wives.
Bateman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport a minor for criminal sexual activity and conspiracy to commit kidnapping in April 2024. On December 9, 2024, US District Judge Susan Brnovich handed down the 50-year prison sentence. She told Bateman during the hearing:
“The amount of harm you caused is nothing short of unmeasurable.”
Where Is Samuel Bateman Now and Can He Still Contact Followers
Samuel Bateman is currently serving his 50-year sentence in federal prison. He will be 94 years old when he becomes eligible for release, meaning he will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. Despite being locked up, Bateman still has ways to reach his remaining followers.
The prison where Bateman is held allows him to make unlimited phone and video calls. He stays in daily contact with some of his wives. This access lets him continue controlling them even from prison. His followers who still believe in him now see him as a martyr, which has made their loyalty even stronger.
Multiple male followers also received prison sentences for their roles in the crimes. Moroni Johnson, whose wife Julia helped expose Bateman, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit trafficking of a minor. He started serving a 25-year sentence in May 2025.
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What Happened to Bateman’s Victims and Survivors
The underage victims were placed in separate foster homes after the kidnapping attempt. This separation from the group helped them see the truth about what happened to them. All of the minors eventually testified against Bateman in court.
Some adult survivors have also spoken out. Naomi “Nomz” Bistline and Moretta Johnson were two of Bateman’s wives who later turned against him. They were the only adult followers to testify against him in court. Both served prison time for their roles in the kidnapping plot.
Nomz described her time in prison as life-changing:
“Prison was the best and worst thing that happened to me. It forced me to start thinking for myself. It forced me to start questioning things.”
Since her release, Moretta has left the community, gotten married, and started a family. Nomz still lives in Short Creek but wants to move away. She has been focusing on music and art as ways to process her trauma.
Julia Johnson, the wife of Moroni Johnson, broke from Bateman and secretly met with Christine Marie to share information. She told her husband directly that Bateman was a false prophet. Julia and Moroni are no longer together.
How to Watch Trust Me: The False Prophet on Netflix
All four episodes of Trust Me: The False Prophet are now streaming on Netflix. The series comes from Rachel Dretzin, the same filmmaker who made Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey about Warren Jeffs. The documentary runs for about four hours total and includes footage recorded by Christine Marie and Tolga Katas during their undercover work.
The series is available to Netflix subscribers in all regions including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India. Viewers can watch with subtitles in multiple languages.
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