Family: Malnourished Woman Recovering; She Lived With Cult Members

The 21-year-old woman who was found malnourished and weighing just 59 pounds in a Peachtree Corners hotel last week is the victim of a cult member, her family charged.

Iasia Sweeting’s health was improving, according to news reports, a week after police investigated the death of a 15-month-old girl Nov. 11 at Extended Stay America located at 7065 Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Peachtree Corners. The Gwinnett Medical Examiner said Alcenti McIntosh was starved to death.

Police said Sweeting and three other children ages 5, 3 and 3 were severely malnourished when officers arrived. Sweeting was found lying on the floor wrapped in blankets.

The Gwinnett Post reported Sweeting has begun to speak and medical tests have come back positive.

Calvin McIntosh, 44, and Najlaa McIntosh, 23, each face multiple charges, including felony murder, malice murder and cruelty to children.

The Post reported District Attorney’s Office may pursue the death penalty in the case, but more investigation is needed before that would be decided.

Police said Najlaa McIntosh is Calvin McIntosh’s daughter and the mother of two of the children. Police also said the man fathered two children with Sweeting, including Alcenti.

Family members told WSB Iasia Sweeting disappeared in 2010, allegedly brought into the Nuwaubian Nation of Moors religion by Calvin and Najlaa McIntosh. (see WSB report below).

According to police, Calvin McIntosh ordered Najllaa to punish the children by withholding food when they misbehaved.

During the search of the hotel room, investigators found “literature and notes in reference to ritualistic behavior and the Nuwaubian Nation of Moors, an Islam based cult which is known for being a sovereign group,” police said in a news release.

Calvin and Najlaa McIntosh are being held in the Gwinnett County Jail.

(Photo: Calvin and Najlaa McIntosh. Gwinnett County Jail mug shots)