The disturbing tale of Amy Carlson reveals the dark side of cult leadership and extreme beliefs in America. A self-proclaimed spiritual leader who claimed to be Donald Trump’s daughter among her many identities, Carlson led the Love Has Won cult until her death resulted in a macabre discovery—her mummified body adorned with Christmas lights and glitter. How did a former McDonald’s manager transform into “Mother God” with a following of devoted believers?
The Bizarre Life and Claims of Amy Carlson
Amy Carlson, known to her followers as “Mother God,” created an elaborate mythology claiming she had been reincarnated 534 times throughout history, including as Jesus Christ and Cleopatra. She abandoned her three children and previous life as a McDonald’s manager in Kansas to lead the Love Has Won cult, asserting she was on a divine mission to save humanity from impending doom.
Among her many outlandish claims was her insistence that she was the unacknowledged daughter of Donald Trump, adding to her collection of false identities that helped establish her authority over followers. Her bizarre teachings included numerous conspiracy theories, declaring events like 9/11 and the Holocaust were elaborate hoaxes while promoting her message through YouTube videos and livestreams that attracted vulnerable seekers.
Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God, an @HBO Original Documentary Series that chronicles the life and death of self-proclaimed spiritual savior Amy Carlson, premieres November 13 on @StreamOnMax. #LoveHasWonHBO pic.twitter.com/VBQspzzKcU
— HBO Documentaries (@HBODocs) November 8, 2023
A Cult Leader’s Tragic End
Carlson’s health deteriorated dramatically in her final years as she abused alcohol, developed anorexia, and regularly consumed colloidal silver, which turned her skin a distinctive blue color. Instead of seeking proper medical care, her devoted followers treated her with cannabis oils and more colloidal silver, documenting her decline while continuing to promote her as a divine being.
When she died in April 2021, followers didn’t report her death but instead transported her corpse from California to Colorado, believing she would either ascend to another dimension or be retrieved by aliens. Author Leah Sottile explains in her book “Blazing Eye Sees All” that “When Amy Carlson’s body died in April 2021, she left her followers in the way she had left her family so long ago,” abandoning them just as she had previously abandoned her children.
Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God, which tells the story of self-proclaimed spiritual savior Amy Carlson, is streaming now on @StreamOnMax. #LoveHasWonHBO pic.twitter.com/NYYRpdNeY8
— HBO Documentaries (@HBODocs) November 14, 2023
The Legacy of Delusion Continues
Police eventually discovered Carlson’s mummified remains in a Colorado home, wrapped in Christmas lights and covered with glitter in what appeared to be a makeshift shrine. Seven cult members were arrested for abuse of a corpse and child abuse, as a 13-year-old was present in the home where Carlson’s decomposing body was kept.
Despite their leader’s death and the disturbing circumstances surrounding it, many former Love Has Won members continue promoting conspiracy theories through a new venture called 5D Full Disclosure. Sottile notes that “the conspiracies she tapped and stirred stay alive,” with followers convinced “that the truth behind conspiracy theories will be revealed, proving that they were right all along,” demonstrating how difficult it is to break the cycle of extreme belief systems once they take hold.