Former Ministry of God cult leader linked to child’s alleged murder granted bail

A former cult leader has received bail amid allegations of a historical murder of a child at a rural farmhouse while one of his alleged followers remains in police custody overseas.

A former religious cult leader has been granted bail over the alleged historical murder of a child at a rural farmhouse property in the state’s Central Tablelands while one of his alleged followers remains in police custody after being refused bail.

Alexander Wilon, 70, was the alleged ringleader of the Ministry of God cult in the Central Tablelands, which no longer exists.

His follower, a woman who cannot be named, was allegedly living with her child at a property where other women and children were also living.

Alleged former cult leader Alexander Wilon has been released on bail. Photo: Police

He was arrested in November and charged with accessory to the fact and misconduct with regard to a corpse over the murder of a child. Pictures: NSW Police

It was at a Central Tablelands property, several decades ago, that police allege the child was brutally beaten to death by the woman before being allegedly buried with the assistance of Wilon.

The child’s body has never been found despite an extensive search of the property in November, which included an underwater search of dams at the farmhouse and the seizure of a rifle.

Wilon was in November charged with accessory after the fact to murder and misconduct with regard to a corpse, after police received a tip-off about the case in October 2019 which led to the establishment of Strike Force Bertrand by the Unsolved Homicide Squad.

That investigation led to a major breakthrough when the follower was arrested overseas pursuant to an Australian arrest warrant. Police have applied for the woman to be extradited to NSW and she remains in custody overseas.

She was refused bail on Wednesday at a court overseas to appear at an extradition hearing on March 17, 2022.

Police divers searched the Central Tablelands property in November for the child’s body, but did not locate anything.

Pictures: NSW Police.

The details of the case could not be reported on because of a suppression order, however, The Daily Telegraph can now reveal new information about court proceedings.

Wilon appeared at Bathurst Local Court on November 17, 2021, where he was granted bail with an $100,000 surety and the condition he surrender his passport to authorities.

He is due to appear at Bathurst Local Court on March 16, 2022, while the woman remains in police custody overseas.

Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, commended police on the investigation.

“It is due to the tenacity and dedication of our officers, that two individuals have now been charged,” he said.

“The level of violence allegedly used upon this child is abhorrent and left a father without his daughter or knowledge of her death for (many) years.”