Volume 6, 2023

IJCAM

Sovereign citizens and QAnon: The increasing overlaps with a focus on child protective service cases

United States
  • Mass and serial murder in America. Sarteschi, C. M. (2020). SpringerBriefs in Psychology.
  • Sovereign citizens: A psychological and criminological analysis. Sarteschi, C. M. (2021). SpringerBriefs in Psychology.
Published Date
May 21, 2023
Issue
DOI
10.54208/1000/0006/006

Abstract

Researchers have observed that the relationship between sovereign citizens and Child Protective Services (CPS) is inherently antagonistic (Hines, 2021). A number of high-profile CPS cases indicate that increasingly some QAnon adherents are adopting sovereign citizen tactics to regain custody of children. Conspiracy-oriented leaders have specifically targeted CPS agencies with false claims that CPS traffics children to harvest their organs and blood. This descriptive article examines the increasing overlaps, focusing specifically on their intersection in child custody cases. In at least one instance, these toxic and meritless strategies have led to murder. Utilizing extensive review of news accounts and court documents, relevant case studies are documented that illustrate this developing phenomenon.

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