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Holy Heist: When a Self-Proclaimed Messiah Stole a Golden Cadillac
Joseph Jeffers and the Great Cadillac Caper
April 13, 1944 — Joseph Jeffers, the self-proclaimed “Son of God,” made headlines across the nation when the FBI arrested him in Miami for stealing his estranged wife’s golden Cadillac.
In Jeffers’ mind, the marriage was long over. He had “buried his life with Zella” and moved on. Legally, though, the divorce wasn’t finalized, and the court had already awarded Zella the Cadillac. That didn’t stop Jeffers from hatching a plan to take it back.
The “Holy” Heist
When Zella refused to sell the car back, Jeffers recruited four of his most loyal followers for a late-night mission:
Helen Veborg – the woman destined (in Jeffers’ mind) to bear his promised seed
Leota Mulkins – his secretary
Clinton Hummel – business manager of the Kingdom Temple
Sam King – role unclear, perhaps a bodyguard or chaperone
Together, they drove to Los Angeles, only to discover Zella had already changed the locks. Not to be deterred, the group shoved the car into the street, hooked it to their own vehicle, and hauled it away like sanctified thieves on a mission from heaven. From California to Florida, they dragged the Cadillac across state lines, breaking more than a few “man-made” laws along the way.
Once back at the temple, Jeffers had a locksmith change the keys and even adopted a fake name to avoid attention. Yet later, he’d claim he wasn’t hiding anything. (So why the disguise and full beard, Joe?)
The FBI Closes In
The Cadillac wasn’t Jeffers’ only crime. John and Theresa Waldner, a couple in California, accused him of swindling them out of $3,800 — money meant for the church but instead used to fund his car theft adventure. Followers in L.A. were shocked, having believed their “Messiah” was away writing a new Bible under divine inspiration. Turns out, the only thing he was writing was his rap sheet.
Headlines and Hysteria
Jeffers paid a $1,000 bond and continued holding “services” in Miami while awaiting trial. On October 21, 1944, a federal grand jury indicted him for transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines. Ever arrogant, Jeffers demanded an immediate trial, claiming witnesses were en route to vouch for his “good character.” The court, however, had its own timetable.
When proceedings began in January 1945, Jeffers served as his own attorney. He prayed, sang hymns, and shouted before the jury, more like a circus ringmaster than a legal defender. At one point, newspapers reported he claimed Yahweh so overcame him that two young women had to hold him down while he wrote. (Strange—Paul never mentioned needing blonde assistants while penning the New Testament.)
Judgment Day
On January 29, 1945, the jury found Jeffers and his crew guilty. Hummel was convicted of conspiracy, while Sam King slipped free due to lack of evidence. A few days later, Jeffers was sentenced to four years in federal prison and fined $1,000.
Though reports vary, it seems he served about 15 to 17 months at McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary before being released.
Conclusion
What began as a twisted love triangle ended in a bizarre cult-driven crime spree. Jeffers’ Cadillac caper wasn’t just about a car — it was a window into the delusions, schemes, and manipulations of a man who thought he was above the law.
Don’t Miss Tonight’s Episode on this Case: PREMIERES TONIGHT @7PM Central
Madman or Messiah? An Investigation into the Crimes & Charisma of Cult Leader Joseph D. Jeffers
From extreme fundamentalist ideologies to the paranormal and the occult, Joseph Jeffers’ message integrated with the times and incited a religious fervor amongst his followers. In the 1930s, he was causing war in Arkansas and inciting violence that would lead to the death of one man and the attempted murder of a local preacher. In the 1940s, he was making headlines in L.A. for his lewd house parties. In the ’50s, his third wife would be brutally murdered. Her homicide would go unsolved. In the ’60s, he would make headlines in Arizona when he gambled off all of the church funds at the race track. In the ’70s, he would prophesy great and mighty things to do with UFOs and the Bermuda triangle. By 1978, he would be building a pyramid to withstand the apocalypse in Missouri. And by 1988, he would die of old age. No one ever stopped this man from stealing millions of dollars, coercing innocent young women, or hiring a hitman to kill his wife. Read this book to find out more about the crimes, the chaos, and the injustice in the life of Dr. Joseph D. Jeffers.
How could this man have gotten away with all of these crimes, and how could he have flown under the radar? After making so many ludicrous headlines, how do we not know the name of Joseph Jeffers?
This episode is brought to you by BONES COFFEE COMPANY.
Synova joins the Changing Times Talk Show
Going Live on the Changing Times talk show/podcast with Lynn Morris at 9am. Talking about cults in America.
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The Scandalous Trial of Joseph Jeffers: 1930s Los Angeles Preacher Accused of Orgies and Espionage
Some preachers build churches. Others build scandals.
Joseph Davis Jeffers, the fiery founder of the Kingdom of Yahweh, was never far from the spotlight — or from trouble. After sparking riots in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Jeffers relocated to Los Angeles in 1937 with his new bride, a striking young blonde named Zella Joy Wood. What followed would make front-page news across America and cement his reputation as one of the most controversial religious figures of his era.
The Honeymoon with Mussolini
Soon after marrying Zella, Jeffers claimed he and his wife toured Europe, where they allegedly met Benito Mussolini and other political leaders. The U.S. government took note, even investigating Jeffers as a possible Nazi spy. Though nothing came of it, the attention boosted his notoriety.
Building a Kingdom in Los Angeles
By the late 1930s, Jeffers was preaching at the Embassy Auditorium before gathering enough followers to establish his own Kingdom Temple on South Flower Street. Through two radio stations, he bragged about reaching over 100,000 listeners. His messages — anti-Catholic, anti-Jewish, and often combative — drew massive crowds and even more government scrutiny.
But the real scandal was about to erupt.
The Undercover Sting
On March 20, 1939, police wired Jeffers’ Wilshire home and sent in undercover investigator Vincent Higgins, who posed as a screenwriter. Expecting to uncover arson or insurance fraud, officers instead barged in to find Jeffers and Zella in the middle of what newspapers called “lewd acts.”
The couple were arrested on felonious moral charges — an offense shocking enough to rock Los Angeles society in the 1930s. Headlines screamed:
- “Pro-Nazi Leader Jailed for Orgy in Home at L.A.” – Imperial Valley Press
- “Wife, Pastor Go On Trial for Immorality” – Denison Press
- “Orgy Trial of Minister Opens” – Sweetwater Reporter
What might barely raise eyebrows today was a public catastrophe then.
A Trial of Sex, Scandal, and Strategy
Witnesses came forward with claims of wild parties, infidelity, and blackmail. Zella herself reportedly confessed to participating in Jeffers’ schemes to entrap prominent men for leverage.
But Jeffers fought back. On the witness stand, he claimed he had been drugged and framed by enemies — particularly “Communist Jews in Hollywood.” His wife played the part of the hysterical victim, collapsing in court and wailing about unfair treatment.
The climax came when Jeffers’ attorney dramatically produced a threatening letter, supposedly proof of a conspiracy against his client. The jury, swayed by the spectacle, acquitted both Jeffers and Zella.
Victory in the Court of Public Opinion
Jeffers emerged from the courthouse to 500 cheering supporters waving Bibles. He gave a defiant speech, condemning the very system that had nearly destroyed him. To his followers, the acquittal was divine vindication. To the rest of the nation, it was another shocking chapter in the saga of a preacher who thrived on scandal.
What do you think — a misunderstood preacher under attack, or a master conman who manipulated the system?
Don’t Miss Tonight’s Episode on this Case:
Madman or Messiah? An Investigation into the Crimes & Charisma of Cult Leader Joseph D. Jeffers
From extreme fundamentalist ideologies to the paranormal and the occult, Joseph Jeffers’ message integrated with the times and incited a religious fervor amongst his followers. In the 1930s, he was causing war in Arkansas and inciting violence that would lead to the death of one man and the attempted murder of a local preacher. In the 1940s, he was making headlines in L.A. for his lewd house parties. In the ’50s, his third wife would be brutally murdered. Her homicide would go unsolved. In the ’60s, he would make headlines in Arizona when he gambled off all of the church funds at the race track. In the ’70s, he would prophesy great and mighty things to do with UFOs and the Bermuda triangle. By 1978, he would be building a pyramid to withstand the apocalypse in Missouri. And by 1988, he would die of old age. No one ever stopped this man from stealing millions of dollars, coercing innocent young women, or hiring a hitman to kill his wife. Read this book to find out more about the crimes, the chaos, and the injustice in the life of Dr. Joseph D. Jeffers.
How could this man have gotten away with all of these crimes, and how could he have flown under the radar? After making so many ludicrous headlines, how do we not know the name of Joseph Jeffers?
This episode is brought to you by BONES COFFEE COMPANY.
The Jonesboro Church War: Part 4 – Guns in the House of God
By 1933, Joseph Jeffers was back in Jonesboro for his third and most disastrous visit. His followers had built him a tabernacle, but his grip on the congregation was slipping. Another preacher, Dale Crowley, had stepped in during Jeffers’ absence—and this time, many sided with Crowley instead of the flamboyant outsider.
Two Preachers, One Pulpit
The feud between Jeffers and Crowley escalated quickly. Both claimed the church as their own. Both refused to back down.
On Sundays, two rival services were held at the same time. Two choirs tried to out-sing each other. Two preachers tried to out-shout each other. The congregation was split down the middle, and the atmosphere was toxic.
It was only a matter of time before fists—and guns—came out.
The Shootout
On October 9, 1933, the courts finally ruled in favor of Crowley, declaring him the rightful pastor. But when he arrived to claim the church, he was met by J.W. McMurdo, a Jeffers loyalist who refused to let him in.
McMurdo pulled a gun and fired. He missed. Crowley drew his own weapon and returned fire. Within seconds, McMurdo lay bleeding on the church floor.
The house of God had become a battleground.
The Attempted Jailhouse Murder
Crowley didn’t flee. He turned himself in, claiming self-defense. But Jeffers’ supporters weren’t finished.
On October 17, 1933, a machine gun barrel was shoved through the bars of the jail where Crowley was being held. Bullets sprayed across the cell. Miraculously, Crowley survived by diving beneath his bunk.
The message was clear: this was more than a church squabble—it was a war.
The Trial
Crowley went to trial for murder in January 1934. The case gripped the community. But noticeably absent was Joseph Jeffers, the man who had incited so much of the violence. While others fought, bled, and stood trial, Jeffers had once again slipped away, leaving chaos in his wake.
After four days, a jury acquitted Crowley, agreeing it was self-defense. He went on to pastor the church for several more years before moving into radio ministry.
Jeffers, meanwhile, walked away untouched.
👉 Next in the series: Part 5 – Trial, Betrayal & the Vanishing Preacher
WATCH Chasing Justice Episode: Jonesboro Church Wars
Madman or Messiah? An Investigation into the Crimes & Charisma of Cult Leader Joseph D. Jeffers
From extreme fundamentalist ideologies to the paranormal and the occult, Joseph Jeffers’ message integrated with the times and incited a religious fervor amongst his followers. In the 1930s, he was causing war in Arkansas and inciting violence that would lead to the death of one man and the attempted murder of a local preacher. In the 1940s, he was making headlines in L.A. for his lewd house parties. In the ’50s, his third wife would be brutally murdered. Her homicide would go unsolved. In the ’60s, he would make headlines in Arizona when he gambled off all of the church funds at the race track. In the ’70s, he would prophesy great and mighty things to do with UFOs and the Bermuda triangle. By 1978, he would be building a pyramid to withstand the apocalypse in Missouri. And by 1988, he would die of old age. No one ever stopped this man from stealing millions of dollars, coercing innocent young women, or hiring a hitman to kill his wife. Read this book to find out more about the crimes, the chaos, and the injustice in the life of Dr. Joseph D. Jeffers.
How could this man have gotten away with all of these crimes, and how could he have flown under the radar? After making so many ludicrous headlines, how do we not know the name of Joseph Jeffers?
This episode is brought to you by BONES COFFEE COMPANY.
The Jonesboro Church War: Part 3 – The Tent Burns & the Town Boils Over
By mid-September 1931, Jonesboro was on edge. The National Guard had been called in to keep the peace, but once the troops withdrew, the tension boiled over again. Jeffers’ fiery sermons hadn’t stopped, and neither had the violence.
Tear Gas in the Tabernacle
Just two nights after soldiers left town, someone hurled a tear gas bomb into Jeffers’ tent revival. Women screamed, children cried, and hundreds stampeded for the exits in blind panic.
Who was behind it? Some claimed it was Jeffers’ enemies trying to shut him down. Others whispered it was Jeffers himself, staging a false attack to gain sympathy. Either way, the damage was done—the town was tearing itself apart.
Fire on Holy Ground
On October 25, 1931, disaster struck again. Jeffers’ giant tent went up in flames.
Once again, no one knows who started it. Jeffers insisted it was his enemies. His enemies insisted it was Jeffers, desperate for headlines. Over 90 years later, the truth remains buried.
But one fact is clear: the revival that had promised salvation was now synonymous with violence, fear, and destruction.
A Town Embarrassed
The story made national papers. New Yorkers snickered at reports of fistfights, riots, and arson breaking out in a small Arkansas town—all in the name of religion.
For Jonesboro, it was humiliating. For Jeffers, it was fuel. He continued to gather loyal followers, who worshiped in makeshift buildings until they constructed a crude wooden tabernacle of their own.
But Jeffers wasn’t done with Jonesboro. He would leave for a while, only to return a later—and this time, blood would be spilled.
👉 Next in the series: Part 4 – Guns in the House of God (1933)
WATCH Chasing Justice Episode: Jonesboro Church Wars
Madman or Messiah? An Investigation into the Crimes & Charisma of Cult Leader Joseph D. Jeffers
From extreme fundamentalist ideologies to the paranormal and the occult, Joseph Jeffers’ message integrated with the times and incited a religious fervor amongst his followers. In the 1930s, he was causing war in Arkansas and inciting violence that would lead to the death of one man and the attempted murder of a local preacher. In the 1940s, he was making headlines in L.A. for his lewd house parties. In the ’50s, his third wife would be brutally murdered. Her homicide would go unsolved. In the ’60s, he would make headlines in Arizona when he gambled off all of the church funds at the race track. In the ’70s, he would prophesy great and mighty things to do with UFOs and the Bermuda triangle. By 1978, he would be building a pyramid to withstand the apocalypse in Missouri. And by 1988, he would die of old age. No one ever stopped this man from stealing millions of dollars, coercing innocent young women, or hiring a hitman to kill his wife. Read this book to find out more about the crimes, the chaos, and the injustice in the life of Dr. Joseph D. Jeffers.
How could this man have gotten away with all of these crimes, and how could he have flown under the radar? After making so many ludicrous headlines, how do we not know the name of Joseph Jeffers?
This episode is brought to you by BONES COFFEE COMPANY.
The Jonesboro Church War: Part 2 – Prophecies & Riots
When Joseph Jeffers rolled back into Jonesboro in the summer of 1931, the town should have known trouble was coming. He had left the year before in a storm of controversy, but now he was back with an even bigger tent, bolder sermons, and a prophecy that would terrify thousands.
The Preacher Who Knew the End
Jeffers announced that he possessed a special gift: prophecy. From the pulpit, he declared that the world would end in May of 1932.
The Bible clearly says no man knows the day or hour—but Jeffers claimed he did. For a town already reeling from floods, drought, and the Great Depression, his warnings struck a nerve. People packed the tent by the thousands. Some came seeking salvation, others came for the spectacle.
And Jeffers gave them both.
Accusations from the Pulpit
Jeffers didn’t just preach about the end of days. He began attacking Jonesboro’s leaders from the pulpit. He accused Pastor Dow Heard—the man who had replaced him—of fathering illegitimate children and having affairs. He claimed the mayor himself was corrupt and immoral.
In 1931, those accusations could ruin a man’s life. And that was exactly Jeffers’ goal.
What’s striking in hindsight is that many of the sins Jeffers railed about—gambling, immorality, and hypocrisy—would later be exposed in his own life. But at the time, the town was too divided to see it.
A Town at War with Itself
Jeffers’ fire-and-brimstone sermons split Jonesboro in two. Families stopped speaking to each other. Friends turned into enemies. The faithful were caught between the new pastor and the magnetic outsider who promised judgment day was near.
Things finally boiled over on September 9, 1931.
That night, after another one of Jeffers’ rants against Pastor Heard, a fight broke out between two prominent townsmen. Before long, others joined in, fists flew, and chaos spread through the crowd.
The story was so wild it landed in The New York Times.
From Fistfight to Riot
Within hours, the fight escalated into a riot. Over 500 Jeffers supporters crowded the courthouse lawn, demanding justice for one of their men who had been arrested.
Jeffers himself led a prayer—but instead of calming the crowd, he called on God to strike the mayor dead.
That was the spark. Jeffers’ mob attacked the mayor and the police chief. Panic spread. Violence erupted.
The situation was so dire that the Arkansas Governor called in the National Guard. Soldiers with machine guns marched into Jonesboro to restore order. Captain Harry Eldridge even sent a telegram to the governor warning:
“Thousands of lives are endangered. Declare martial law now, or shoot down 1,000 church members with machine guns.”
A Revival Becomes a Battlefield
It was unprecedented: armed soldiers surrounding a courthouse while church members screamed outside, ready to fight. Tear gas was thrown into Jeffers’ tent meetings. Families fled in terror. Neighbors feared one another.
A revival that was supposed to save souls had turned into open war.
And Joseph Jeffers? He didn’t back down. When ordered to stop his slanderous attacks, he arrogantly declared:
“I take no orders from anyone but God.”
Jonesboro was no longer just a divided town. It was a battleground.
👉 Next in the series: Part 3 – The Tent Burns & the Town Boils Over
As soldiers withdrew, Jeffers’ followers stayed loyal. Soon, a tear gas attack and a mysterious fire would push the town into even deeper chaos.
WATCH Chasing Justice Episode: Jonesboro Church Wars
Madman or Messiah? An Investigation into the Crimes & Charisma of Cult Leader Joseph D. Jeffers
From extreme fundamentalist ideologies to the paranormal and the occult, Joseph Jeffers’ message integrated with the times and incited a religious fervor amongst his followers. In the 1930s, he was causing war in Arkansas and inciting violence that would lead to the death of one man and the attempted murder of a local preacher. In the 1940s, he was making headlines in L.A. for his lewd house parties. In the ’50s, his third wife would be brutally murdered. Her homicide would go unsolved. In the ’60s, he would make headlines in Arizona when he gambled off all of the church funds at the race track. In the ’70s, he would prophesy great and mighty things to do with UFOs and the Bermuda triangle. By 1978, he would be building a pyramid to withstand the apocalypse in Missouri. And by 1988, he would die of old age. No one ever stopped this man from stealing millions of dollars, coercing innocent young women, or hiring a hitman to kill his wife. Read this book to find out more about the crimes, the chaos, and the injustice in the life of Dr. Joseph D. Jeffers.
How could this man have gotten away with all of these crimes, and how could he have flown under the radar? After making so many ludicrous headlines, how do we not know the name of Joseph Jeffers?
This episode is brought to you by BONES COFFEE COMPANY.
The Jonesboro Church War: Part 1 – The Firebrand Arrives
By the summer of 1930, the people of Jonesboro, Arkansas were exhausted. They had survived the devastating floods of 1927 and endured a crushing drought that followed. The town of roughly 10,000 was battered and weary, but still clinging to hope. What they didn’t know was that a new storm was about to sweep through—one that had nothing to do with weather and everything to do with a fiery little preacher named Joseph Jeffers.
A Showman in the Pulpit
At just 32 years old, Jeffers was no ordinary evangelist. A former actor turned preacher, he knew how to work a crowd. His sermons were bold, theatrical, and laced with fire and brimstone. Local leaders set up a massive canvas revival tent, and nearly half the town—around 5,000 people—crammed inside or gathered outside to hear him speak.
Newspapers described the crowds as “zealous” and “entranced.” For weeks, Jonesboro buzzed with revival fever. The offerings piled up, conversions were reported, and Jeffers extended his stay.
But behind the curtain of revival, trouble was brewing.
Winning the Pulpit—and Making Enemies
When the town’s First Baptist Church pastor, A.W. Reaves, resigned, Jeffers was offered the pulpit permanently. He accepted, but not everyone was thrilled. Some church members whispered that Jeffers was more con man than clergyman.
They questioned his wild stories, like the time he claimed to have been shot in New Orleans during a card game where he was supposedly “preaching against gambling.” To many, his tales were vague and unverifiable. To others, they sounded like outright lies.
Still, Jeffers’ charisma won over the majority—at least for a while.
The Vote That Changed Everything
As tensions mounted, the church called a vote. Jeffers lost. A new pastor, Dow Heard of Big Springs, Texas, was elected instead. Jeffers left Jonesboro in a huff, his ego bruised but not defeated.
Before leaving, he boasted that his revival had reached 25,000 people, brought in $3,000 in offerings (over $57,000 in today’s money), and resulted in 400 conversions with 60 baptisms. Whether those numbers were fact or fiction is impossible to verify, but one thing was certain—Jonesboro had not seen the last of Joseph Jeffers.
Storm Clouds Ahead
When Jeffers rolled out of town, some breathed a sigh of relief. But others missed the firebrand preacher who had electrified their summer. Less than a year later, he would return—and this time, his revival would ignite something far darker than spiritual fervor.
The stage was set for what history would call The Jonesboro Church War. Stay tuned for part 2 in this blog series.
NEW BOOK ALERT: Madman or Messiah?
Madman or Messiah? An Investigation into the Crimes & Charisma of Cult Leader Joseph D. Jeffers
From extreme fundamentalist ideologies to the paranormal and the occult, Joseph Jeffers’ message integrated with the times and incited a religious fervor amongst his followers. In the 1930s, he was causing war in Arkansas and inciting violence that would lead to the death of one man and the attempted murder of a local preacher. In the 1940s, he was making headlines in L.A. for his lewd house parties. In the ’50s, his third wife would be brutally murdered. Her homicide would go unsolved. In the ’60s, he would make headlines in Arizona when he gambled off all of the church funds at the race track. In the ’70s, he would prophesy great and mighty things to do with UFOs and the Bermuda triangle. By 1978, he would be building a pyramid to withstand the apocalypse in Missouri. And by 1988, he would die of old age. No one ever stopped this man from stealing millions of dollars, coercing innocent young women, or hiring a hitman to kill his wife. Read this book to find out more about the crimes, the chaos, and the injustice in the life of Dr. Joseph D. Jeffers.
How could this man have gotten away with all of these crimes, and how could he have flown under the radar? After making so many ludicrous headlines, how do we not know the name of Joseph Jeffers?
Chasing Justice Episode Premieres Sept. 2nd. Don’t miss it!
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Joseph D. Jeffers caused chaos everywhere he went. Follow along as we chase him through five decades worth of headlines.
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