Cult-like religious organization raided by Baltimore County SWAT Team in Pikesville: FBI joins

PIKESVILLE, Md. - The FBI & Baltimore County Police are investigating a cult-like religious group, living in Pikesville.

It started late Tuesday night.  Officers investigated a first degree assault of an 18-year-old girl.  She was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition.

Officers thought something wasn't right, so they went back to the home on Michelle Way this morning.

The SWAT team waited until a search warrant was signed before entering the house, just after 11 o'clock Wednesday morning.  No one was in the house, but officers are now talking to a person of interest in the case.

ABC2News has learned that the searched home is owned by Dr. Avraham Cohen. Cohen is the leader S.I.S.T. 

S.I.S.T. stands for Samanta Institute of Science & Technology.  The group is thought to be a reclusive religious organization. 

The group originated in Wisconsin and was the subject of an investigation by WSAW-TV.  You can see the station's series by clicking here .

The FBI has been investigating the organization for at least three years.  A Canadian businessman told agents that S.I.S.T. members faxed him a list of 60 people from the town of Shawano, Wis.  The list included the mayor, police chief, judges and business leaders.

The list was titled Redrum, which is murder spelled backwards.  No charges were ever filed.   

Neighbors tell ABC2News, they've seen cars with Minnesota license plates outside the home frequently over the past decade.  They also noticed that the blinds were always drawn, keeping the house dark.

Those same neighbors have been in contact with the FBI & Baltimore County Police, during that time period.

 For more of the history of the group, click here .