Emily Hamer
@emilyhamer.bsky.social
Investigative reporter with Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team.
Former Wisconsin State Journal reporter and Wisconsin Watch reporter.
Send tips to emily.hamer@lee.net.
Former Wisconsin State Journal reporter and Wisconsin Watch reporter.
Send tips to emily.hamer@lee.net.
Pinned
Emily Hamer
@emilyhamer.bsky.social
· Nov 21
He admitted to molesting a boy. And his Tucson church protected him for years.
A member of a Tucson church admitted he molested a boy. The pastor said he knew and never went to the police, flouting state laws that mandate reporting of such
tucson.com
These two stories came out in print today in Tucson, Arizona. It’s some of my most important work:
tucson.com/life-enterta...
tucson.com/life-enterta...
Trump’s travel ban keeps Afghan immigrants — even those who risked their lives alongside U.S. troops — separated from their families.
They haven’t seen their wives and children in four years. Four years.
madison.com/news/local/g...
They haven’t seen their wives and children in four years. Four years.
madison.com/news/local/g...
Afghans who risked their lives for U.S. still separated from families after 4 years
Trump’s travel ban prevents most Afghan immigrants from reuniting with their wives and children who have been stuck abroad for four years.
madison.com
September 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Trump’s travel ban keeps Afghan immigrants — even those who risked their lives alongside U.S. troops — separated from their families.
They haven’t seen their wives and children in four years. Four years.
madison.com/news/local/g...
They haven’t seen their wives and children in four years. Four years.
madison.com/news/local/g...
Reposted by Emily Hamer
My Lee Enterprises colleague @emilyhamer.bsky.social and I won the Don Bolles award for investigative reporting. This was for our project, called Twisted Message, on a global religious sect and one of its churches in Tucson. The series led to two indictments this year.
tucson.com/news/local/a...
tucson.com/news/local/a...
Indictment: Tucson church pastor failed to report child sex-abuse claims
A Star investigation found that Isaac Noriega, pastor of Tucson's Golden Dawn Tabernacle, covered-up alleged child-sex abuse for decades. He now faces criminal charges.
tucson.com
September 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM
My Lee Enterprises colleague @emilyhamer.bsky.social and I won the Don Bolles award for investigative reporting. This was for our project, called Twisted Message, on a global religious sect and one of its churches in Tucson. The series led to two indictments this year.
tucson.com/news/local/a...
tucson.com/news/local/a...
A new victim from the Golden Dawn Tabernacle came forward today. He said he was sexually abused during hundreds of church services, starting when he was 11 years old.
His story:
tucson.com/news/local/c...
His story:
tucson.com/news/local/c...
Tucson ‘cult' church member molested boy hundreds of times in pews, new victim alleges
A boy said he was molested repeatedly in the pews of his Tucson church, the Golden Dawn Tabernacle. The church's "cultish rules" kept him silent — until now.
tucson.com
September 23, 2025 at 10:24 PM
A new victim from the Golden Dawn Tabernacle came forward today. He said he was sexually abused during hundreds of church services, starting when he was 11 years old.
His story:
tucson.com/news/local/c...
His story:
tucson.com/news/local/c...
The pastor told me in September that I didn’t have a story and that I was trying to get him arrested but “it’s not going to work.”
He has now been arrested for failing to report child-sex abuse allegations.
He has now been arrested for failing to report child-sex abuse allegations.
July 1, 2025 at 12:46 AM
The pastor told me in September that I didn’t have a story and that I was trying to get him arrested but “it’s not going to work.”
He has now been arrested for failing to report child-sex abuse allegations.
He has now been arrested for failing to report child-sex abuse allegations.
Reposted by Emily Hamer
The first arrest was that of Jose Mora, who admitted to me and @emilyhamer.bsky.social that he had sexually touched a 12-year-old boy. He appeared briefly in court this morning and remains jailed pending trial.
tucson.com/news/local/c...
tucson.com/news/local/c...
Man charged with child-sex crimes after Star's investigation of Tucson church
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Jose Mora, 57, before he was arrested on suspicion of five counts of child molestation.
tucson.com
June 30, 2025 at 5:22 PM
The first arrest was that of Jose Mora, who admitted to me and @emilyhamer.bsky.social that he had sexually touched a 12-year-old boy. He appeared briefly in court this morning and remains jailed pending trial.
tucson.com/news/local/c...
tucson.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by Emily Hamer
A pastor at a Tucson church has been indicted for failing to report child sexual abuse, following reporting on the church and its sect by @emilyhamer.bsky.social and me. This is the second set of criminal charges following our project, called Twisted Message.
tucson.com/news/local/a...
tucson.com/news/local/a...
Indictment: Tucson church pastor failed to report child sex-abuse claims
A Star investigation found that Isaac Noriega, pastor of Tucson's Golden Dawn Tabernacle, covered-up alleged child-sex abuse for decades. He now faces criminal charges.
tucson.com
June 30, 2025 at 5:14 PM
A pastor at a Tucson church has been indicted for failing to report child sexual abuse, following reporting on the church and its sect by @emilyhamer.bsky.social and me. This is the second set of criminal charges following our project, called Twisted Message.
tucson.com/news/local/a...
tucson.com/news/local/a...
Trump is gutting SAMHSA, a federal agency that has given more than $300 million to Wisconsin mental health initiatives, including about $35 million to support school mental health.
Here’s how SAMHSA funds have helped Wisconsin schools:
madison.com/news/local/e...
Here’s how SAMHSA funds have helped Wisconsin schools:
madison.com/news/local/e...
Trump is gutting an agency that gave $300 million to Wisconsin mental health initiatives
The funding brought innovative programs to Wisconsin that gave hundreds of rural students access to mental health care in their school buildings, offered free therapy sessions and found kids who
madison.com
June 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Trump is gutting SAMHSA, a federal agency that has given more than $300 million to Wisconsin mental health initiatives, including about $35 million to support school mental health.
Here’s how SAMHSA funds have helped Wisconsin schools:
madison.com/news/local/e...
Here’s how SAMHSA funds have helped Wisconsin schools:
madison.com/news/local/e...
My latest story explores how the state and federal government are gutting school mental health funding as depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation are rising among youth:
madison.com/news/local/e...
madison.com/news/local/e...
As our kids battle a rise in suicide and self-harm, we’re gutting the funding to fight it
Mental health issues among children are rising, and school officials say it's a crisis. At the same time, millions in federal aid for mental health was cut and state funding
madison.com
June 19, 2025 at 8:46 PM
My latest story explores how the state and federal government are gutting school mental health funding as depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation are rising among youth:
madison.com/news/local/e...
madison.com/news/local/e...
Reposted by Emily Hamer
‘Cult’ church member molested small boy while his children napped, new victim says (Golden Dawn Tabernacle, connected to William Branham's The Message movement)
tucson.com/news/local/a...
(Branham: bit.ly/WilliamBranhamCult)
#cults #religion #religionnewsblog #williambranham #themessage
tucson.com/news/local/a...
(Branham: bit.ly/WilliamBranhamCult)
#cults #religion #religionnewsblog #williambranham #themessage
‘Cult’ church member molested small boy while his children napped, new victim says
Jonathan Santos, 23, said a member of his former Tucson church molested him when he was about 8 years old. He's coming forward now to support another victim of the
tucson.com
June 3, 2025 at 5:13 PM
‘Cult’ church member molested small boy while his children napped, new victim says (Golden Dawn Tabernacle, connected to William Branham's The Message movement)
tucson.com/news/local/a...
(Branham: bit.ly/WilliamBranhamCult)
#cults #religion #religionnewsblog #williambranham #themessage
tucson.com/news/local/a...
(Branham: bit.ly/WilliamBranhamCult)
#cults #religion #religionnewsblog #williambranham #themessage
A new victim of the alleged child molester from the Golden Dawn church “cult” has come forward. He is sharing his story of abuse and recovery publicly for the first time.
tucson.com/news/local/a...
tucson.com/news/local/a...
‘Cult’ church member molested small boy while his children napped, new victim says
Jonathan Santos, 23, said a member of his former Tucson church molested him when he was about 8 years old. He's coming forward now to support another victim of the
tucson.com
June 3, 2025 at 4:09 PM
A new victim of the alleged child molester from the Golden Dawn church “cult” has come forward. He is sharing his story of abuse and recovery publicly for the first time.
tucson.com/news/local/a...
tucson.com/news/local/a...
Reposted by Emily Hamer
In November, @emilyhamer.bsky.social and I published a series digging into The Message religious sect. Among all the revelations, nothing was as surprising as the admission by a Tucson church member that he had sexually abused a child. Now he's been arrested.
tucson.com/news/local/c...
tucson.com/news/local/c...
Man charged with child-sex crimes after Star's investigation of Tucson church
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Jose Mora, 57, before he was arrested on suspicion of five counts of child molestation.
tucson.com
April 20, 2025 at 7:51 PM
In November, @emilyhamer.bsky.social and I published a series digging into The Message religious sect. Among all the revelations, nothing was as surprising as the admission by a Tucson church member that he had sexually abused a child. Now he's been arrested.
tucson.com/news/local/c...
tucson.com/news/local/c...
The latest from my investigation into the cover-up of child sex abuse allegations at a Tucson church. One congregant has been arrested:
tucson.com/news/local/c...
tucson.com/news/local/c...
Man charged with child-sex crimes after Star's investigation of Tucson church
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Jose Mora, 57, before he was arrested on suspicion of five counts of child molestation.
tucson.com
April 19, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The latest from my investigation into the cover-up of child sex abuse allegations at a Tucson church. One congregant has been arrested:
tucson.com/news/local/c...
tucson.com/news/local/c...
One of my favorite holidays!!!
Shows my two sides: Pink-princess-strut-pop and bachelor podcast listener. Van-life-indie-rock and daily news consumer.
Shows my two sides: Pink-princess-strut-pop and bachelor podcast listener. Van-life-indie-rock and daily news consumer.
December 4, 2024 at 6:58 PM
One of my favorite holidays!!!
Shows my two sides: Pink-princess-strut-pop and bachelor podcast listener. Van-life-indie-rock and daily news consumer.
Shows my two sides: Pink-princess-strut-pop and bachelor podcast listener. Van-life-indie-rock and daily news consumer.
Reposted by Emily Hamer
Eve had sex with the serpent. Race-mixing is "hybreeding" -- "a dangerous and damnable thing." In an online-only coda to our project, Twisted Message, @emilyhamer.bsky.social and I tell of the racial ideologies passed down from a 1960s preacher still being spread today.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
tucson.com/life-enterta...
Videos show 'Message' pastors preach against interracial marriage across U.S.
One former member of the sect said he felt “inferior” as a Black teenager because of his church’s racist beliefs on mixed race relationships.
tucson.com
December 4, 2024 at 2:14 AM
Eve had sex with the serpent. Race-mixing is "hybreeding" -- "a dangerous and damnable thing." In an online-only coda to our project, Twisted Message, @emilyhamer.bsky.social and I tell of the racial ideologies passed down from a 1960s preacher still being spread today.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
tucson.com/life-enterta...
Last story in the Twisted Message series posted today.
I was shocked to learn that’s it’s pretty normal for Message churches to advise against interracial marriage.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
I was shocked to learn that’s it’s pretty normal for Message churches to advise against interracial marriage.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
Videos show 'Message' pastors preach against interracial marriage across U.S.
One former member of the sect said he felt “inferior” as a Black teenager because of his church’s racist beliefs on mixed race relationships.
tucson.com
December 3, 2024 at 10:13 PM
Last story in the Twisted Message series posted today.
I was shocked to learn that’s it’s pretty normal for Message churches to advise against interracial marriage.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
I was shocked to learn that’s it’s pretty normal for Message churches to advise against interracial marriage.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
Reposted by Emily Hamer
Videos show 'Message' pastors preach against interracial marriage across U.S. @emilyhamer.bsky.social
Videos show 'Message' pastors preach against interracial marriage across U.S.
One former member of the sect said he felt “inferior” as a Black teenager because of his church’s racist beliefs on mixed race relationships.
tucson.com
December 3, 2024 at 9:12 PM
Videos show 'Message' pastors preach against interracial marriage across U.S. @emilyhamer.bsky.social
Reposted by Emily Hamer
Our project on The Message religious sect, and a Tucson church that is part of it, shocked a lot of people. It also overwhelmed some readers. Now you can go back chronologically through Twisted Message, at this landing page, and take your time with the stories.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
tucson.com/life-enterta...
Twisted Message: A prophet’s unchecked global sect
A religious sect called “The Message” has spread worldwide — and also sprouted destructive “cults.” An investigation exposes the child abuse, misogyny and manipulation in some of the faith’s subgroups...
tucson.com
November 27, 2024 at 5:29 PM
Our project on The Message religious sect, and a Tucson church that is part of it, shocked a lot of people. It also overwhelmed some readers. Now you can go back chronologically through Twisted Message, at this landing page, and take your time with the stories.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
tucson.com/life-enterta...
The final chapter of @timsteller.bsky.social and I’s church “cult” series ends on a more hopeful note
Congregants who escaped share the joy they felt as they danced, traveled, wore high heels, watched movies and celebrated holidays — activities the church considers sinful
tucson.com/news/local/f...
Congregants who escaped share the joy they felt as they danced, traveled, wore high heels, watched movies and celebrated holidays — activities the church considers sinful
tucson.com/news/local/f...
Tucson 'cult' church's former members experience ‘freedom,’ possibilities after escape
Dancing for the first time. Celebrating holidays. Seeing the ocean. For people in one strict Tucson church, leaving has meant freedom to do 'wrong' things that others find normal.
tucson.com
November 26, 2024 at 9:40 PM
The final chapter of @timsteller.bsky.social and I’s church “cult” series ends on a more hopeful note
Congregants who escaped share the joy they felt as they danced, traveled, wore high heels, watched movies and celebrated holidays — activities the church considers sinful
tucson.com/news/local/f...
Congregants who escaped share the joy they felt as they danced, traveled, wore high heels, watched movies and celebrated holidays — activities the church considers sinful
tucson.com/news/local/f...
Reposted by Emily Hamer
Tucson's Sabino Canyon a pilgrimage site for followers of 'prophet' Branham @timsteller.bsky.social
Tucson's Sabino Canyon a pilgrimage site for followers of 'prophet' Branham
Tucson's Sabino Canyon is a pilgrimage site for followers of preacher William Branham. He said he had mystical experiences there, including a sword materializing in his hand.
tucson.com
November 26, 2024 at 1:45 AM
Tucson's Sabino Canyon a pilgrimage site for followers of 'prophet' Branham @timsteller.bsky.social
A Tucson church “cult” manipulated members’ lives by controlling their health decisions — even when it resulted in deaths.
The COVID death rate at Golden Dawn was 10 times higher than the county, estimates show. But the church stayed open. From @timsteller.bsky.social:
tucson.com/news/local/c...
The COVID death rate at Golden Dawn was 10 times higher than the county, estimates show. But the church stayed open. From @timsteller.bsky.social:
tucson.com/news/local/c...
Health officials ignored as pandemic raged through Tucson church
The COVID fatality rate in a Tucson church was 10 times higher than that of Pima County, estimates show. The pastor ignored health officials and continued services as congregants died.
tucson.com
November 25, 2024 at 5:24 PM
A Tucson church “cult” manipulated members’ lives by controlling their health decisions — even when it resulted in deaths.
The COVID death rate at Golden Dawn was 10 times higher than the county, estimates show. But the church stayed open. From @timsteller.bsky.social:
tucson.com/news/local/c...
The COVID death rate at Golden Dawn was 10 times higher than the county, estimates show. But the church stayed open. From @timsteller.bsky.social:
tucson.com/news/local/c...
A staple of my Twitter was photos of me and my cat Maisie. Wanted to keep that going here.
November 24, 2024 at 2:45 PM
A staple of my Twitter was photos of me and my cat Maisie. Wanted to keep that going here.
This is from last week, but I just joined BlueSky a few days ago so haven’t gotten a chance to share on here yet.
The story by me and @timsteller.bsky.social is one of the most devastating topics I’ve reported on, but I’m glad these victims finally have a voice.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
The story by me and @timsteller.bsky.social is one of the most devastating topics I’ve reported on, but I’m glad these victims finally have a voice.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
Arizona trailer park cult that brutalized more than 100 children exposed 60 years later
The 'prophet' who founded a sect called The Message hailed this Arizona trailer park as an ideal community in the 1960s. Survivors say they suffered hellish abuse as children there.
tucson.com
November 23, 2024 at 4:06 PM
This is from last week, but I just joined BlueSky a few days ago so haven’t gotten a chance to share on here yet.
The story by me and @timsteller.bsky.social is one of the most devastating topics I’ve reported on, but I’m glad these victims finally have a voice.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
The story by me and @timsteller.bsky.social is one of the most devastating topics I’ve reported on, but I’m glad these victims finally have a voice.
tucson.com/life-enterta...
Reposted by Emily Hamer
Listen: Alleged child molester from Tucson ‘cult’ church responds to questions. @timsteller.bsky.social @emilyhamer.bsky.social
Listen: Alleged child molester from Tucson ‘cult’ church responds to questions
Listen to the audio recording and read the transcript of an interview with an alleged child molester in Tucson's Golden Dawn church.
tucson.com
November 22, 2024 at 1:59 PM
Listen: Alleged child molester from Tucson ‘cult’ church responds to questions. @timsteller.bsky.social @emilyhamer.bsky.social
These two stories came out in print today in Tucson, Arizona. It’s some of my most important work:
tucson.com/life-enterta...
tucson.com/life-enterta...
He admitted to molesting a boy. And his Tucson church protected him for years.
A member of a Tucson church admitted he molested a boy. The pastor said he knew and never went to the police, flouting state laws that mandate reporting of such
tucson.com
November 21, 2024 at 7:43 PM
These two stories came out in print today in Tucson, Arizona. It’s some of my most important work:
tucson.com/life-enterta...
tucson.com/life-enterta...
“I know for a fact young women did not want to be 17, 18 years old and marrying a man in his 50s. They were horrified by that idea,” Naomi Wright said. “But the parents had a different view.”
tucson.com/life-enterta...
tucson.com/life-enterta...
Her father was a 'Message' pastor — and then he started a polygamous cult
tucson.com
November 21, 2024 at 6:56 PM
“I know for a fact young women did not want to be 17, 18 years old and marrying a man in his 50s. They were horrified by that idea,” Naomi Wright said. “But the parents had a different view.”
tucson.com/life-enterta...
tucson.com/life-enterta...