Second Plea Entered in Murder Of 'Cult Leader' From Southington

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A man charged in the 2004 homicide and dismemberment of a Southington man who was a purported leader in a Meriden cult has entered a not guilty plea, according to judicial system records.

Sorek Minery, 42, of Burlington, was artrested on July 31 in New Britain. He was charged with murder and murder during the commission of a felony, according to judicial system records.

He entrered the plea Wednesday, court records show. As of Thursday morning, he was in custody on a $2 million bond and is slated to return to court on Dec. 6, according to court records.

Minery is one of two men charged with the two crimes in the case. Rudy Hannon, 72, entered a not guilty plea in August, was being held on a $2 million bond as of Thursday morning and is due back in court on Nov. 9, according to court records.

Hannon

The case centers around the death of a Southington man, Paul Sweetman, who is described in case records as “the chief apostle” of a Meriden-based religious cult called "The Work." The three were all cult members, according to case records.

Sweetman's wife reported him missing on July 24, 2004, and on Aug. 27 of that year, human remains were located at a area golf course. Police linked the two in April of 2016, according to case records.

Photo Credit: New Britain Police Department

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