Getting to Know Christine Marie: The Hero of Netflix’s Documentary “Trust Me: The False Prophet”

Not all heroes wear pink—but some do.

In the name of Jesus Christ (a branch associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), horrifying events are still unfolding within the FLDS community.

According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, the 2026 Netflix documentary “Trust Me: The False Prophet” is a four-part series that explores the rise and influence of Samuel Bateman, who claimed to be the successor of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—a group previously led by convicted child abuser Warren Jeffs. If you think Jeffs was a villain, you are correct. But according to cult expert and survivor of sexual abuse Dr. Christine Marie, members of this community believe Bateman was even worse.

A decade before the 2022 documentary “Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey,” which chronicled the crimes, arrest, and life sentence of Warren Jeffs, Marie—who holds a PhD in psychology with a specialization in media psychology—traveled with her husband and cinematographer Tolga Katas to the small town of Short Creek, Utah, to offer help. What they ultimately accomplished went far beyond expectations.

Over the course of several years, the couple infiltrated Bateman’s group undercover to expose his disturbing behavior. Under the pretense of producing a simple documentary about his teachings, they gained his trust. Katas’s camera captured evidence of ongoing abuse, including sexual crimes against children. The footage was first handed over to local law enforcement and the FBI, and later shared with documentary producers. These efforts led to multiple arrests and long prison sentences—Bateman himself was sentenced to 50 years in prison—and ultimately resulted in the creation of this documentary.

What follows is an interview with Christine Marie, a central figure and the undeniable hero of the series.

In this documentary there are many producers, and your husband is also one of them. Why aren’t you a producer yourself?

I didn’t want to be. My husband likely became an executive producer because he had filmed a large amount of the footage. Neither he nor I had any control over the creative process. We were too involved in the situation and preferred to trust the experts. We had no experience in documentary filmmaking. I wanted to step back from that side and let them do their job.

Since I knew I was one of the characters in the story, I didn’t want my personal perspective to interfere or make it seem like I had a particular agenda.

What has the FLDS community’s reaction to the documentary been?

That’s an interesting question, because this community is still largely isolated and doesn’t usually use the internet. I don’t want to get anyone into trouble, but they have seen the series and word has spread. Some have learned about the reactions through family members or messages shared with them. The response has been surprisingly positive, because this is the first documentary that shows them as they are, rather than focusing solely on crimes or only on Warren Jeffs. Many have said it has broken stereotypes and given people a different perspective. That has been really encouraging.

What has been the reaction from the mainstream Mormon community?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is very sensitive to being associated with polygamy, since they abandoned it over a century ago. Historically, they have had a negative view of polygamist groups like the Short Creek community. However, in recent years—especially the past five years—I’ve noticed the church becoming more active in humanitarian support in the area, which is significant.

I’m very excited about the global response to the documentary because I’ve received positive messages from all over the world. Someone wrote that it changed their life and gave them the strength to report someone who had harmed them. Another person said they saw themselves in the story and now know they need to fight and leave their situation. The series has truly impacted people’s lives, and I share these messages with those featured in the documentary so they can see the impact of their work.

You still live in Short Creek. Do you plan to stay there?

Yes.

Why?

Because I love it. My friends are there, both from the FLDS community and outside it. It’s a small town where everyone knows each other. And I still have work to do. I’ve built a unique relationship with these people and feel I’m still needed. I help with different things—from preventing evictions to simple tasks like searching the internet for them. We even call our house “Switzerland” because it has become a meeting place for secret gatherings between current and former members of the community. I honestly don’t know who could replace me.

Do you plan to expose other groups like this in the future?

No, I don’t plan to go after other dangerous individuals, although I have been involved in cases that people don’t know about. What I really want to do is help people achieve their dreams. If someone has come out of a situation like this, I want to empower them. If we can help someone become a musician, an actor, or even just find housing, that is far more meaningful to me.

So you’re not doing undercover work anymore?

I hope not. I would rather share my knowledge with law enforcement and child protection services. Many people don’t understand why individuals end up in these situations, and without that understanding they may end up blaming the victim. For example, one person in the documentary, despite taking responsibility, was under severe pressure. I hope I can help in efforts toward forgiveness for him and another individual.

At the end of the documentary, there is mention of Nomz’s current situation. How is he doing now?

He has rebuilt his life significantly. He has a good remote job and is integrating into society. However, in some ways he is still naïve and inexperienced, because learning these things takes time. For example, he didn’t know who Elvis Presley was. Many of my friends had never even heard of Kim Kardashian. Those gaps are slowly being filled.

Do Bateman’s followers hate you?

Those who still believe in him, yes. But his group is actually a small, separate faction from the FLDS.

Do you still see them in town?

Yes. I saw some of them just a few days ago. I smiled and said hello, but they responded with hostile looks. Still, if I were in their position, I might feel the same way. Even so, I don’t hate them.

In your opinion, who was worse—Warren Jeffs or Samuel Bateman?

Interestingly, this past weekend a group of former members who watched the full documentary said Bateman was worse. Jeffs affected more people overall, but in terms of individual behavior and what he imposed on his followers, they felt Bateman was more extreme.

Has anyone replaced Bateman now, or is he still leading from prison?

His followers still follow him, even from prison. It’s really disheartening that he can still maintain communication with them.