Theodore Anthony Rinaldo (March 11, 1944[1] – February 13, 2000[2]) was an American religious leader, entrepreneur, and child sex offender whose life was marked by a complex blend of charismatic leadership and legal controversies.
Born in Oneida, New York, Rinaldo initially pursued a religious path, even contemplating becoming a priest after a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of his friends.
In 1969, Rinaldo arrived in Seattle, Washington, where he began hosting religious meetings with a broad spectrum of followers, ranging from disillusioned youth to older individuals.
He founded a non-profit organization called Ellogos, which acquired land in Snohomish, Washington, and established numerous business ventures, including Eden Farms, Cascadian Publishing, and Golden Gallery.
The darker aspects of Rinaldo's leadership emerged in the late 1970s when investigations shed light on disturbing practices within the organization.
These revelations culminated in Rinaldo's arrest in 1979 on felony charges of statutory rape, indecent liberties, and witness intimidation.
After a trial marked by testimonies from victims and witnesses, Rinaldo was convicted on charges of third-degree statutory rape for having sexual intercourse with one minor girl and of taking indecent liberties with another.
[5] Rinaldo eventually ended up in Tucson, Arizona, where he spoke at a religious meeting attended by Paul Goff.
[7] In 1971, Rinaldo formed a non-profit corporation called Ellogos with three associates, Howard Morse, Gerald Schindler, and Craig Reynolds.
[3] Ellogos was granted tax-exempt status by the US Internal Revenue Service in 1971, listing in its application five purposes for which it was organized: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, and literary.
[3] In August 1978, Ellogos purchased a recreational property on the Stillaguamish River, sporting a three-story A-frame house with at least seven bedrooms, a bar, and a heated indoor swimming pool.
[8] As a result of these interviews, Larson reported the following facts: On July 12, 1979, Rinaldo was arrested by Snohomish County sheriff's deputies on seven charges, including felony counts of statutory rape, indecent liberties, and intimidating a witness.
During his trial, prosecutors alleged that Ellogos was a secret religious organization dominated by Rinaldo by means of fear and isolation.
[14] Several defense witnesses, all members of Ellogos, testified that based on the opinions of six Snohomish businessmen, three of Rinaldo's accusers had "bad" reputations for telling the truth.
[15] On December 3, 1979, Rinaldo was convicted of third-degree statutory rape for having sexual intercourse with one minor girl and of taking indecent liberties with another.
After the completion of the observation period, the trial court determined that Rinaldo was indeed a sexual psychopath and committed him for treatment at the same facility.
In March 1983, The Everett Herald lost an appellate court case in the State of Washington in which it sought to quash a subpoena allowing a judicial review of confidential material gathered for articles it had published in 1979 on the cult activities of Rinaldo, who had since been convicted on charges of rape, indecent liberties, and assault.