How is it that I’ve never heard of The Finders?

For God’s sake I’m 65, a news hound, conspiracy hunter, deep diver and transparency freak.

Just a tad bit of background on this story. I’ve been following the Jeffrey Epstein story since his first arrest here in Florida. I was disgusted of his light sentence and always wondered why? That question alone kept me focused on these types of stories of potential government secrets and hidden deals. This morning this video hit my text messages and again my heart broke for these children. We all know this kind of stuff is happening, but most of the time we set it aside because it doesn’t involve us personally. Yes, I get it. We care deeply, but what can we do, personally?

Well, I have like many of you, decided to do everything I can, get involved and contact people in my circle of influence. We all need to get involved until we can shut this down and most of all get to the bottom of this and to the TOP! We need to get, receive justice for these poor little souls, living and deceised.

Who Are The Finders? Uncovering a Forgotten Mystery of Alleged Child Exploitation and Intelligence Ties

In the shadowy corners of American history lies a story that has captivated conspiracy theorists and investigators alike: The Finders. This enigmatic group, often labeled as a cult or intentional community, burst into the public eye in 1987 when two men were arrested in Tallahassee, Florida, with six unkempt children. What followed was a whirlwind of allegations involving child abuse, satanic rituals, and purported connections to U.S. intelligence agencies. Decades later, declassified FBI documents and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) releases have reignited interest, peeling back layers of a case that seemed to vanish into thin air. Was it a harmless commune, a sinister pedophile network, or something in between? Let’s dive into the facts and explore why this story demands attention today.

For a deeper visual dive, check out this compelling video that breaks down the events:

The Tallahassee Arrest: The Spark That Ignited the Investigation

On February 4, 1987, in a public park in Tallahassee, Florida—a city known for its Southern charm and proximity to Florida State University—police responded to reports of two well-dressed men supervising six disheveled children, aged 2 to 7. The men, Douglas Ammerman and Michael Houlihan, claimed they were transporting the kids to Mexico for a “school for brilliant children.” The children, however, were dirty, insect-bitten, and malnourished, with some showing signs of sexual abuse according to initial medical exams (though later assessments disputed recent abuse). They couldn’t identify their parents and described communal living without formal education or basic amenities like toilets.

The van was traced back to Washington, D.C., linking the men to The Finders, a group led by Marion Pettie, a former U.S. Air Force master sergeant who retired in 1956. Pettie, born in 1920 and deceased in 2003, founded the community in the late 1960s as an eclectic blend of New Age philosophies, Taoism, and “interactive games” designed to reveal true personalities. Members lived communally, avoided permanent jobs to foster “spontaneity,” and engaged in role-playing and adventures. But the arrest raised red flags: why were these children, later identified as belonging to Finders members, in such poor condition?

Declassified FBI records from 2019, totaling over 300 pages, detail the arrest and initial probe. Tallahassee police coordinated with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in D.C., leading to raids on Finders properties.

Inside the W Street House: Tech, Files, Maps, and Disturbing Photos

Raids on a warehouse and a home on W Street in Washington, D.C.—a historic neighborhood near Dupont Circle—uncovered a trove of unsettling items. Investigators found high-tech computers (advanced for the era), satellite equipment, maps of global locations, and files with instructions on “obtaining children” for unspecified purposes. Photos depicted children with goats, including scenes of apparent animal sacrifice captioned things like “The Execution of Henrietta and Igor.” One album showed kids playing with goat fetuses, fueling rumors of satanic rituals during the height of the 1980s “Satanic Panic.”

Customs agents noted documents describing “blood rituals” and orgies involving children, alongside passports for travel to restricted countries like North Korea and Vietnam. The group’s properties in Culpeper, Virginia—a rural area about 70 miles southwest of D.C.—included farms where members raised children in a “toughened” manner inspired by Native American traditions. No conclusive evidence of ongoing abuse was found, but the materials suggested a deeper, more organized operation.

Marion Pettie’s Enigmatic Leadership & Rumored Intel Ties

At the center was Marion Pettie, who called himself the “Stroller” or “Game Caller.” A high school dropout turned military man, Pettie claimed his group evolved from 1930s open houses in D.C. that attracted intelligence officers, beatniks, and hippies. He ran a “topsy-turvy university” where members taught him through experiments in living. But declassified files reveal ties to the CIA: Pettie’s wife, Isabelle, worked for the agency from 1952 to 1961, handling visas to Cold War hotspots. His son was employed by Air America, a CIA-linked airline involved in Iran-Contra.

A 1987 Customs memo suggested The Finders was a CIA front for domestic computer training that “had gone bad.” FBI documents show the CIA intervened, classifying the matter as “internal” and halting the probe. Pettie himself hinted at intelligence connections, saying he’d been “investigating the CIA” since its OSS days. Despite denials from the CIA, these links have fueled theories of a protected operation. 5 6

The Federal Takeover and Why Charges Vanished

Initially charged with misdemeanor child abuse, Ammerman and Houlihan saw all accusations dropped. The FBI and DOJ took over, citing no evidence of federal crimes. A 1993 inquiry found no CIA interference, but key documents were redacted or missing. Critics point to the destruction of evidence and the wiping of a child protection unit during a government “reorg.” The children were returned to their mothers, who were Finders members, and the case closed without prosecutions. 7 9

Media Silence, Public Amnesia, and the “Memory Hole”

Headlines screamed “Satanic Cult” in 1987, but coverage faded quickly. The Washington Post and others downplayed it as a misunderstanding. By the 1990s, it was buried amid the Satanic Panic backlash. FOIA releases in 2019 revived interest, but mainstream media like Vice framed it as conspiracy fodder. Why the silence? Some argue it protected powerful interests; others say lack of evidence killed the story. 49 63

Parallels to Epstein-Era Questions About Sealed Names and Accountability

The Finders case echoes modern scandals like Jeffrey Epstein’s network: alleged elite ties, child exploitation, and government cover-ups. Epstein’s “Lolita Express” and island mirror The Finders’ global travel and communal child-rearing. Declassified docs link The Finders to McMartin Preschool allegations (tunnels, rituals), another dismissed case. Today, with Epstein’s list partially unsealed, questions linger: Who was protected? Why no accountability? The Finders may be “Patient Zero” for these theories, highlighting systemic failures in protecting children. 4 49

Disclosure: Sharing the Story and a Burning Question

This story is shared in the spirit of transparency and public awareness, drawing from declassified documents and historical records. As someone who’s lived 65 years in America without ever hearing of The Finders until now, I have to ask: How could such a disturbing case slip through the cracks? I urge you to ponder the same—why the amnesia? Share this far and wide to spark discussion, demand answers, and help dismantle any vile secret networks preying on the innocent. We must act now to protect our children and hold the powerful accountable.