No internet, no school, but conspiracy theories: this is how Alex B. lived in the spiritual commune

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He was just about to go on holiday to Spain for two weeks. But Alex B.* did not return from his trip in October 2017. The then eleven-year-old boy lived with his grandmother Susan C.* (68). For six years she didn’t know if her grandson was still alive.

The now 17-year-old was discovered on Wednesday evening in the Haute-Garonne in the south of France. It is now clear that he has spent the past few years in a ‘spiritual commune’ without internet.

After her grandson was kidnapped, C. received a video showing Alex B. with his mother Melanie B.* and his grandfather David B.*, the British newspaper ‘Daily Mail’ reported. In it they explained why they had left Britain. They wanted to live an alternative lifestyle.

Commune lived in luxury villa

The mother and grandfather are apparently believers in conspiracy theories. For example, secret organizations in Great Britain steal children. This is evident from the Facebook posts of David B.

The conversations with Alex B. show that he lived with his mother, his grandfather and ten other people in a luxurious house in Spain. His mother was a little crazy but never locked him up, the teen said. She always said he could “leave whenever he wanted.”

According to “The Sun”, the commune lives completely cut off from civilization and education. Facebook posts from Alex B.’s environment show that the members practice rituals, meditation and yoga. According to Facebook posts, the group’s goal is to be a “sustainable and wealthy community.” The goddess Gaia (goddess of the earth in Greek mythology) is also mentioned again and again. However, according to researchers, there is no evidence that it is a cult.

Walked barefoot in the rain

In 2021, Alex B. came to the south of France with the traveling commune. As the newspaper “La Depeche” reported, Alex B. had spent the past few weeks in caravans and tents that the community had set up in the wilderness. Last week, the Briton decided he would leave the community and his mother and return to his grandfather in Britain.

After Alex B. spent four days walking barefoot through the French Pyrenees, a man found him in the pouring rain – and took him away.

“I want to come home”

He doesn’t hold a grudge against his mother, but he misses his grandmother. Alex B. wrote the message on Facebook: “I love you, I want to come home.”

Susan C. can see her grandson again on Friday after six long years and hug her. “I’m so happy. “I’ve spoken to him and he’s doing well,” she told The Sun newspaper.

Meanwhile, Melanie and David B. are wanted by investigators for the kidnapping of Alex B..

*Name known

Source: Blick