The Finders

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The Finders

The Finders were an intentional community founded in Washington, D.C. in the early 1970s by former United States Air Force Master Sergeant Marion Pettie (1920–2003).[1]

1987 arrest case

The Finders came to wider public attention when two members of the movement were arrested in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1987 and charged with misdemeanor child abuse of the six children accompanying them – the two men having remained silent when, in a public park, the police inquired as to their identity and relationship to the children.[2] The men were Douglas Ammerman and James Michael Holwell, both described as "well-dressed men in suits." They used a van to transport "six scruffy, hungry children" of varying ages between 2 and 11.[3]

According to U.S. District Court records in Washington, a confidential police source had previously told authorities that the Finders were "a cult" that conducted "brainwashing" techniques at a warehouse and a Glover Park duplex raided by law enforcement. This source told of being recruited by the Finders with promises of "financial reward and sexual gratification" and of being invited by one member to "explore" satanism with them, according to the documents. Police sources said some of the items seized showed pictures of children engaged in what appeared to be "cult rituals." Officials of the U.S. Customs Service said that the material seized included photos showing children involved in bloodletting ceremonies of animals and one photograph of a child in chains.[4]

Robert Gardner Terrell, who owned one of the raided properties, claimed "We are rational people ... not devil worshipers or child molesters" and "anything we’ve done is based on the desire for the children to have the richest life they could have." According to Terrell, the recovered photos of naked children were of Holwell’s own children, and the dead goats shown in the photos mentioned by the Customs Service were already butchered with the children being taught how to prepare them.[5] The men were released six weeks later, with the state of Florida dropping all charges against them.

Federal authorities concluded that there was no evidence of criminal activity. The authorities contacted the mothers of the children, who came to Tallahassee and retrieved them.[3]

Allegations against the Finders

Despite this resolution, the issue was brought to wider attention in 1993 when Henry T. “Skip” Clements, an officer in private-sector consulting and a resident of Stuart, Florida, obtained a copy of the 1987 report which stated that the DC Police Department investigation into the Finders had been dropped as a "CIA internal matter." Clements alleged that the Central Intelligence Agency had compelled the U.S. Customs Service to cease the investigation, supposedly because the commune was used as a front to train agents. Clements' allegations drew the interest of two United States Congress members Tom Lewis and Charlie Rose, leading to an investigation by the Department of Justice into the Finders and the 1987 investigation.[3][6] CIA spokesman David Christian asserted that the charges were a misunderstanding stemming from a company by the name of Future Enterprises Inc. being used to train agents, with one member of the Finders working as a part-time accountant there.[7]

Source: Wikipedia article The Finders (movement)

____________________________________________________________________________

I asked ChatGPT: What is the story around The Finders?

ChatGPT answer:

The story of "The Finders" refers to a strange case that began in the late 1980s and has since fueled conspiracy theories. Here’s a clear rundown:

Origins of the Case

● In February 1987, two men were arrested in Tallahassee, Florida, after police found them with six disheveled children.

● The men claimed they were caretakers, and the children belonged to a communal group called “The Finders.”

● The children were dirty, poorly clothed, and appeared neglected, which led police to suspect abuse or trafficking.

Who Were “The Finders”?

● The Finders were a communal group founded in Washington, D.C., in the 1970s by a man named Marion Pettie.

● They described themselves as a “philosophical society” or alternative lifestyle commune.

● Members often lived communally, homeschooled their children, and traveled extensively, sometimes in unconventional ways (like in vans with little money).

The Investigation

● Local police and the FBI began investigating for child abuse, trafficking, or cult activity.

● Reports circulated that searches of Finders’ properties in Washington, D.C., turned up strange materials:

● Computers with documents about child exploitation, international smuggling, and “mind control.”

● Photographs, including some of naked children.

● Files labeled “Pentagon Break-In” and “Explosives.”

The Turn in the Case

● After initial sensational headlines, the case suddenly lost momentum:

● The U.S. Justice Department announced there was no evidence of criminal activity.

● The children were eventually returned to their mothers, who were Finders members.

● Authorities concluded that the group was eccentric but not criminal.

Why It Became Conspiracy Fuel

● Many found it suspicious how quickly the case was dropped, especially after mentions of disturbing evidence.

● In 1993, a U.S. Customs Service report (later released under FOIA) revealed that investigators did see materials suggesting possible trafficking or abuse, but the FBI shut down the case.

● This fueled speculation that the Finders were protected by intelligence agencies.

● Some theories claim they were a CIA front group used for psychological experiments or covert operations, since Marion Pettie had past ties to intelligence circles (his wife once worked for the CIA, and an associate worked for Air America, a CIA-linked airline).

What We Know Today

● No member of The Finders was ever convicted of crimes relating to the 1987 incident.

● Some former members have spoken publicly, saying it was just an offbeat commune that became the victim of a moral panic.

● Others continue to believe that the case’s abrupt closure points to a cover-up of child abuse or intelligence operations.

In short:

The Finders were a mysterious commune investigated in the late 1980s after kids were found in troubling circumstances. Authorities dropped the case, but later FOIA documents suggested investigators had serious concerns. This mix of unusual evidence and a sudden official shutdown has made the Finders a lasting subject of conspiracy theories about cults, trafficking, and CIA connections.

Would you like me to give you a timeline of the events (with key dates) so you can see how the story developed step by step?

You said:

yes

ChatGPT said:

Got it — here’s a timeline of the Finders case with the major events:

Timeline of the Finders

1970s

● Group formation: Marion Pettie, a former Air Force and military intelligence veteran with social ties to CIA employees, founds The Finders, a communal group in Washington, D.C.

● They present themselves as a philosophical society or intentional community, rejecting mainstream norms and experimenting with alternative child-rearing and education.

February 4, 1987

● Tallahassee arrests:

● Police in Tallahassee, Florida, find six unkempt children with two well-dressed men in a park.

● The men are arrested for suspected child abuse/neglect.

● The children are dirty, hungry, and don’t seem to know basic things (like TV or telephones).

February 5–6, 1987

● Investigation begins:

● Police link the men and children to the Finders commune in Washington, D.C.

● Search warrants are executed at Finders properties in D.C. and Virginia.

● Reports claim investigators find:

● Computers with documents about child pornography, trafficking, and mind control.

● Photos of naked children and bizarre rituals.

● Files labeled “Pentagon Break-In,” “Explosives,” and “Foreign Relations.”

February 7–9, 1987

● Media frenzy:

● News outlets report the case as a potential child sex cult or trafficking ring.

● The Finders are portrayed as a bizarre and secretive group with ties to intelligence agencies.

February 10–11, 1987

● FBI involvement:

● U.S. Customs Service joins investigation (they were tracking child pornography networks).

● Customs agents confirm finding suspicious documents and photos.

● But suddenly, the FBI takes over the case and tells Customs to drop it.

Mid–February 1987

● Case shut down:

● The Department of Justice announces that the Finders are not engaged in criminal activity.

● The six children are returned to their mothers (all Finders members).

● The two arrested men are released without charges.

1993

FOIA revelation:

● A U.S. Customs Service report (from 1987) becomes public.

● It confirms agents found evidence suggesting child exploitation and international connections.

● Customs agents state the FBI told them the Finders case was “a CIA internal matter.”

● This fuels suspicions of a cover-up.

2000s–2010s

● Conspiracy researchers and journalists revisit the Finders.

● Former members describe it as a nontraditional commune, denying abuse.

● Others argue the group’s odd practices made them easy to scapegoat — but also that the intelligence ties remain unexplained.

2019

FBI releases documents (hundreds of pages) on the Finders through FOIA.

● The documents show law enforcement confusion: some investigators insisted there was evidence of criminal activity, while higher authorities said there was none.

● Confirms that CIA connections were suspected but never fully explained.

Summary of the Timeline:

● 1987: Arrest → raid → disturbing finds → sudden shutdown.

● 1993: FOIA documents suggest FBI/CIA intervention.

● 2019: More FOIA files released, confirming confusion and suspicion but no prosecutions.

____________________________________________________________________________

Would you like me to also break down the 2019 FBI document release (what exactly was in those files)? That’s where a lot of modern discussion about the Finders comes from.

You said:

yes

ChatGPT said:

Perfect — the 2019 FBI document release is where a lot of the modern discussion about The Finders comes from, so here’s a clear breakdown of what came out:

2019 FBI Document Release on The Finders

In late 2019, the FBI published hundreds of pages of files about The Finders in response to FOIA requests. These included reports from the 1987 investigation, the 1993 Customs Service memo, and later follow-ups.

Here are the key takeaways:

1. Conflicting Investigative Findings

● Some law enforcement officials (esp. U.S. Customs agents) reported finding:

● Photos of children in questionable situations (some nude).

● Computer files on child exploitation, mind control, and trafficking.

● Documents about international contacts and foreign operations.

● Other agencies (esp. the FBI and DOJ) later concluded there was “no evidence of organized child abuse” and dismissed the case.

● The files show a disconnect between local police/customs vs. higher federal authorities.

2. Suspected Intelligence Links

● The Customs report states investigators were told by the FBI that the case had become a “CIA internal matter.”

● Marion Pettie (leader of The Finders) had verifiable connections to intelligence circles:

● His wife once worked for the CIA.

● His son worked for a CIA-linked airline (Air America).

● Files show law enforcement agents were frustrated by the apparent intelligence connections and sudden shutdown.

3. Conditions of the Children

● Some reports described the children as neglected, malnourished, and poorly socialized.

● Others, after medical exams, said they were not abused, only raised in an unconventional, “communal” way.

● The 2019 files reveal disagreement: some investigators believed abuse was happening, while others wrote it off as a lifestyle choice.

4. “Mind Control” and Bizarre Materials

● Investigators noted computer files about mind control techniques, behavioral modification, and cult practices.

● There were also files referencing Soviet, Chinese, and international contacts.

● This added to suspicions that the Finders were not just a commune but involved in covert operations.

5. Case Closure

● Despite disturbing details, the FBI records show the official conclusion:

● No evidence of federal crimes.

● No charges filed.

● Children returned to their mothers.

● The FBI documents also acknowledge that many investigators were unhappy with the decision and felt the case was inconclusive at best, suppressed at worst.

6. Conspiracy Fuel

● The 2019 release did not prove criminal activity, but it did confirm:

● Evidence was found that raised serious red flags.

● The CIA connection was real enough that law enforcement backed off.

● Conflicting narratives were preserved in official files — some saying abuse was possible, others clearing the group.

Bottom line:

The 2019 FBI release showed that the Finders case was never fully resolved. It confirmed that disturbing materials and intelligence links existed, but federal authorities ultimately shut down the investigation without charges. This combination of suspicious evidence + sudden closure is why the Finders remain a focal point for those who suspect a cover-up.

____________________________________________________________________________

Would you like me to summarize the main theories people draw from all this (e.g., just an eccentric commune vs. CIA front group vs. abuse cover-up)? That’s where the interpretations really split.

You said:

Yes

ChatGPT said:

Alright — here are the main theories about The Finders, based on the events, documents, and later releases:

The Competing Theories

1. Just an Eccentric Commune (Benign Theory)

● The Finders were essentially a hippie-style, countercultural group experimenting with communal living and alternative education.

● The children looked neglected only because they were raised outside mainstream norms (dirty clothes, unconventional diets, no TV, minimal schooling).

● The documents and photos were misunderstood or sensationalized by investigators unfamiliar with their lifestyle.

● The CIA link comes only from Pettie’s social connections, not from official involvement.

● This view: It was a moral panic, like the 1980s “Satanic Panic.”

2. Child Abuse / Exploitation Cult (Criminal Theory)

● The materials found in 1987 (nude child photos, mind control notes, trafficking documents) suggest real abuse and exploitation.

● The children’s condition (dirty, hungry, socially underdeveloped) was consistent with neglect or worse.

● The rapid shutdown of the case was not due to innocence but to powerful intervention.

● This view: The Finders were a cult engaged in criminal exploitation that got covered up.

3. CIA / Intelligence Front (Covert Operations Theory)

● Pettie’s documented ties to intelligence circles + law enforcement being told it was a “CIA internal matter” point to the group serving as a CIA cutout or experiment.

● Possibilities include:

● Mind control experiments (echoing MK-Ultra).

● Child trafficking or grooming for use in blackmail or covert ops.

● Front for intelligence gathering under the guise of an eccentric commune.

● The bizarre international documents (references to Moscow, Peking, trafficking) align with intelligence operations more than with a back-to-the-land commune.

● This view: The Finders were not really a cult — they were a CIA project that got exposed accidentally.

4. Hybrid Theory

● Some suggest a mix: The Finders may have started as a commune but were later used or co-opted by intelligence agencies.

● Pettie himself bragged that he “played both sides” — keeping connections in intelligence, law enforcement, and counterculture.

● This could explain why some materials looked like innocent communal living, while others looked like covert activity.

Why No Consensus?

● Evidence existed that disturbed investigators.

● No charges were filed despite that evidence.

● Intelligence links were real, but never fully explained.

● Documents contradict each other — some say “no abuse,” others describe alarming finds.

In summary:

● Skeptics say it was a strange but harmless commune.

● Critics say it was a child exploitation ring covered up.

● Conspiracy researchers argue it was a CIA front for experiments or covert ops.

● The truth remains murky because the case was abruptly shut down, leaving a mix of facts and unanswered questions.

____________________________________________________________________________

Would you like me to also give you a profile of Marion Pettie (the founder) — since his personal connections are at the heart of why the CIA theory won’t die?

You said:

Yes

ChatGPT said:

Good call — Marion Pettie is the key figure here. His background explains why the Finders story won’t die.

Profile: Marion David Pettie (1920–2003)

Early Life

● Born 1920 in rural Virginia.

● Served briefly in the U.S. Army Air Corps (precursor to the Air Force).

● After WWII, he began developing ties with intelligence and countercultural circles.

Ties to Intelligence

● Pettie himself was never officially CIA, but:

● His wife worked for the CIA.

● His son worked for Air America, the CIA-linked airline used for covert operations in Southeast Asia.

● Pettie admitted he “kept friends in the CIA, FBI, and local police.”

● He positioned himself as a “fixer” or facilitator, often renting out houses and cars to intelligence personnel.

The Finders

● In the 1970s, Pettie founded The Finders in Washington, D.C.

● He portrayed it as a philosophical society / alternative living experiment.

● The group was structured loosely:

● Members often gave up personal possessions.

● Children were raised communally, with minimal contact with mainstream society.

● They traveled frequently, sometimes overseas, and lived semi-nomadic lives.

Pettie called himself “The Gamecaller”, encouraging followers to play “games” — essentially social experiments, pranks, and challenges to societal norms.

Public Image

● To outsiders, Pettie was charismatic but secretive.

● He cultivated an aura of mystery, sometimes bragging about his connections:

● Claimed he “played both sides” — maintaining friends in law enforcement, intelligence, and the underground.

● Once told a journalist: “I’ve always had an interest in chaos.”

● He thrived on ambiguity, never clarifying whether The Finders were a cult, commune, or covert network.

1987 Finders Case

● When his group was raided after the Tallahassee incident, Pettie insisted they were harmless.

● He denied child abuse, calling it a witch hunt by authorities who didn’t understand alternative lifestyles.

● Despite the suspicious evidence, Pettie was never charged.

Later Years

● After the controversy, The Finders dwindled in numbers but never fully disappeared.

● Pettie continued to live quietly in Virginia until his death in 2003.

● He never renounced or explained the group — leaving more questions than answers.

Why Pettie Matters

● His personal ties to CIA circles gave credibility to the theory that The Finders were more than just hippies.

● His mystique and deliberate secrecy fueled suspicion.

● His “Gamecaller” philosophy (playing games with society, law, and even his own followers) blurred the line between commune experiment and covert op.

Summary:

Marion Pettie was a charismatic trickster-figure with real intelligence-world connections, who built The Finders as an ambiguous commune. Whether he was just a countercultural experimenter or an asset running a covert project is exactly what keeps the Finders case alive today.

____________________________________________________________________________

See

YouTube video Before Jeffrey Epstein: The FINDERS .

Given all of this evidence, what do you think? Personally, I have no doubt that the CIA was involved in this.

Marion Pettie reminds me of Aleister Crowley. See Spiritual wickedness in high places.

30 Aug 2025