Victim speaks out about cult leader arrest

KARE News, Minnesota/March 1, 2015

By Chris Hrapsky

Golden Valley, Minnesota -- One of the alleged victims of the fugitive cult minister arrested in Brazil on Friday said she was shocked to hear of the arrest but not surprised to hear where the minister was found.

Victor Arden Barnard, 53, was taken into custody by Brazilian police at an apartment near the beach in the northeastern part of the country, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Barnard -- the former leader of the River Road Fellowship religious community located near Finlayson, Minnesota – is accused of sexually abusing girls during his time there.

Lindsay Tornambe said she suffered years of sexual abuse by Barnard.

"He would say that, you know, because he was Christ in the flesh that it was a way for him to show us how much God loved us," said Tornambe.

It took Tornambe years to muster the courage to tell authorities. After she did, Barnard was charged with 59 counts of sexual misconduct.

Authorities believe he fled to Washington state in 2010, creating a global manhunt for the fugitive minister who became one of the U.S. Marshals' 15 most wanted.

That's until this weekend when the news broke that the former cult leader was arrested.

"Immediately I started crying. I felt like I was going to fall over. My knees went week. It was just very overwhelming. I couldn't believe what I was hearing," said Tornambe.

One of the other girls chosen to live with Barnard in the cult was from Brazil, according to Tornambe.

She recalls Barnard saying if things ever got bad in the U.S., he would go to Brazil.

Her father, Carmen Tornambe, had a similar reaction.

"I was numb. I was elated. I was finally relieved that the search was over," said Carmen.

The Tornambe family lived at the fellowship for 11 years.

Carmen said finding out about his daughter's alleged abuse was a low point in his life.

"If anyone has ever been manipulated to the point of being blindsided by a master manipulator, then they would understand what I'm talking about," he said.

Carmen and Lindsay now live in Pennsylvania -- both trying to move on with their lives.

Barnard's arrest is a big step in that process.

"I hope he doesn't ever come out of jail, that he stays there, gets tried, that justice will be served," said Lindsay.

Barnard is currently in custody in Brazil, pending formal extradition to the United States to stand trial for the charges in Pine County.

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