Cult vs. Cops: The Deadly Shootout in Miracle Valley, AZ

If you've ever driven through Cochise County from Sierra Vista to Bisbee along Highway 92, you've passed through the tiny town of Miracle Valley.

The area is so small that you'll likely pass right through, never knowing little hamlet's tragic history. Racial tensions between a religious cult and law enforcement provided the kindling for a historic shootout in Eastern Cochise County - that took place not in the 1880s but a hundred years hence.

The Tragedy in Miracle Valley

The tragic events of October 23rd, 1982, left a lasting mark on the quiet community of Miracle Valley. On this fateful day, there was a violent confrontation erupted between members of the Christ Miracle Healing Center and Church (CMHCC) and Cochise County law enforcement.

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The church settled in Cochise County from Chicago and was led by Pastor Frances Thomas. The group had a history of tension with local authorities. Deputies from Cochise County law enforcement attempted to serve bench warrants to arrest three of the church members.

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The Situation Escalates

That's when the situation escalated. The church members were deeply distrustful of outside authorities, and they fiercely resisted arrest.

A group of church members confronted the deputies, and as tensions boiled over, the clash quickly became violent. When the dust settled, two church members were dead,  two lawmen ended up with gunshot wounds, and several others sustained injuries.

The incident was evidence of the deep-seated mistrust and cultural differences between the church community and local authorities. All charges against the church members were dropped, and Cochise County settled out of court for a lawsuit brought against the county by the church.

READ: Surprisingly, This Arizona City is Growing Faster Than Phoenix!

The Miracle Valley Shootout is a sad piece of Cochise County history. The cult members eventually returned to Chicago, but the echoes of the past remain.

On YouTube, AZPM posted a follow-up of the story created two years after that fateful day in Miracle Valley.

Sources: Wikipedia | Inde Arizona | Tucson.com | YouTube: AZPM