Massage therapy business just a front for a doomsday cult that brainwashes young people?

Will Lerner
·Producer, Yahoo Entertainment

WJBK FOX 2 News has a disturbing investigative report about a Clinton Township, Michigan business that, while offering massage therapy and chiropractic care, might actually be a front for a doomsday cult.

WJBK has been speaking with several different families that say Agape Massage Therapy and Chiropractic lured their relatives away. There’s a recurring theme of young people deciding to leave college behind so they can work at the heavily-Christian themed business and live in communal housing provided by the business’ “charismatic” leader, Dr. Craig Stasio.

So what’s up with Dr. Stasio? WJBK’s investigation certainly makes it seem like he’s leading a doomsday cult. Aside from the fact his young employees refer to him as, “The Prophet,” reporter Rob Wolcheck got literature from some unidentified sources that relay Stasio’s message. It’s filled with apocalyptic tones, saying things like, “The sign of the beast is a computer chip…” and “Most people that are churched will hold onto the law and perish in the fire.” The young people who consume this believe it completely and demonstrate resentment to their families who don’t.

WJBK looked into Stasio’s past and found out that in 2008 the State of Michigan Department of Community Health found him in violation for negligence. Documents showed that Stasio had a sexual encounter with one of his employees. As the station points out, this is alarming considering he’s surrounded himself with young women that may have been brainwashed.

Stasio didn’t want to speak on camera, and kept telling WJBK to speak to his attorney. The attorney never responded, and any employee that was approached gave no comment.

The story has started to gain attention on the internet, and it appears that Agape is well aware of that. Folks going to the business’ Facebook page are complaining that their criticism or mentions of WJBK’s story are being deleted. Here are a couple for posterity:

Yelp, however, isn’t under Stasio’s jurisdiction. Currently only two users have submitted negative reviews that can be linked back to the report, but one imagines that’s going to change.

It’s a really interesting piece and there’s far more information to learn about, so I highly recommend you go over to WJBK and check it out.

More info: WJBK