Dr. Christine Marie arrived at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints community of Short Creek hoping to assist and support members in need. Instead, she uncovered a disturbing criminal scheme that forced her to intervene.
Marie’s efforts to document the life of self-proclaimed prophet Samuel Bateman—as well as to gather criminal evidence against him—is the foundation of the Netflix docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet. Streaming on April 8, the four-part project examines how video footage and interviews gathered by Marie helped inform authorities of sexual abuse taking place under Bateman’s watch.
Here’s what you need to know about Marie, her background, and role in Bateman’s capture.
Who Is Christine Marie?
According to her personal website, Marie earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University in 1989 and later earned a master’s and PhD in psychology, with an emphasis in media psychology.
Her passion in the field is directly related to personal experience, as Marie writes she is a victim of “cult-based human trafficking.”
Marie founded Voices for Dignity, a nonprofit that “promotes online kindness and compassion, and that contributes resources and advocacy for marginalized populations as well as survivors of public shaming, dehumanization, and stigmatization.” It was through the organization that Marie became an advocate for members of the FLDS community following the arrest and conviction of leader Warren Jeffs.
Around 2019, Samuel Bateman, the primary figure of Trust Me, claimed divine authority in defiance of Jeffs and created his own extremist sect known as the “Samuelites.” As Marie would find out, it was actually a front for an extensive scheme that allegedly included the trafficking and abuse of women and girls.
How Did Christine Marie Learn of Samuel Bateman’s Crimes?
According to a Salt Lake Tribune video essay, Marie’s organization, Voices for Dignity, began assisting Bateman, who was going through a divorce and didn’t have a lot of money. Gradually, Bateman grew more trusting of Marie and her husband, producer and photographer Tolga Katas.
Then in 2021, Bateman invited Marie for a ride in his Bentley, where she sat alongside three young women—including a minor. Already suspicious of his behavior, Marie was shocked as Bateman began providing details of what she called “ritualistic sexual abuse” taking place within the community. The other passengers in the car were allegedly among the victims. So, despite the risk, she grabbed her phone and started recording Bateman.
Later, she called local police. “I think I have the bombshell you need,” she told them.
After this, Marie and Katas began working as informants for the FBI and frequently visited Bateman’s community known as Short Creek to monitor potential victims. Believing he would be part of a documentary film by Katas, Bateman allowed them to take video of himself and the community.
Still, because Bateman never directly admitted to any more crimes, Marie needed more evidence to prompt the involvement of law enforcement.
How Did Christine Marie Assist in Samuel Bateman’s Arrest?
Marie spoke with Julia Johnson, an excommunicated FLDS member whose four daughters were given to Bateman in spiritual marriages. She helped convince Johnson to share her intimate knowledge of Short Creek with the FBI, setting the stage for his apprehension.
Although Bateman was initially arrested in a traffic stop on August 28, 2022, and released on bond, Marie and Katas played an integral role in authorities’ subsequent raid of Short Creek. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, they asked Bateman to arrive at his warehouse alone for an interview as agents secretly waited. Although he arrived with three of his wives, authorities were able to secure Bateman and carry out their search. Agents seized computers, a hard drive, Bateman’s birth certificate, two adult toys, and several cell phones.
Bateman faced dozens of charges. However, he ultimately pleaded guilty in April 2024 to Conspiracy to Commit Transportation of a Minor for Criminal Sexual Activity and Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping as part of a deal with prosecutors. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison, followed by supervised lifetime release.
Where Is Christine Marie Now?
According to her professional biography, Marie lives in Colorado City, Arizona—one of the twin towns making up Short Creek—with Katas and has an animal sanctuary. She works as an author, educator, and public speaker, and she developed and teaches a course on critical thinking, cult psychology, and coercion.
In 2024, she received the Harriet Tubman Peace Medallion from the Freedom Express Awards. Named after the famed abolitionist, the honor is presented to “mediators and negotiators who facilitate peaceful exits for victims from coercive groups, ensuring safety and minimizing conflict.”
Marie is still actively assisting former Samuelite community members. She announced on her personal website she is launching a fundraiser in correlation with the release of Trust Me on April 8 for survivors of Samuel Bateman. It is called the Dream Fund and will be monitored by an accountant from Voices for Dignity.
“Our hope is to provide these survivors some unexpected blessings to be able to something positive and wonderful, whether it’s move to a new house, put a down payment on a car, travel to Disneyworld, take dancing lessons, or who knows what else?” Marie writes.
Watch Trust Me: The False Prophet on Netflix
Marie is seen in the Trust Me trailer through archival video from her time at Short Creek, as well as in new interviews.
Tudum has confirmed that director Rachel Dretzin, who previously helmed 2022’s Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey about the FLDS and Warren Jeffs, began involvement in the docuseries after examining Marie’s personal footage.
“Trust Me offers intimate access to a normally closed world—and in doing so, I hope it exposes both the violence that enforced secrecy enables and what it takes to tell the truth when everything is at stake,” Dretzin explained. “What these women did matters far beyond their community. It is a blueprint for how to dismantle even the most entrenched systems of abuse.”
Trust Me: The False Prophet is now streaming on Netflix.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
