Arizona

Immortal Consciousness & Dr. Duran: Arizona woman leaves cult to find happiness, advocacy

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2024

Press Room

Immortal Consciousness & Dr. Duran: Arizona woman leaves cult to find happiness, advocacy

No matter what expert you ask, they’ll say there are still thousands of cults in the United States.

A Gilbert, Arizona woman says many of them are all around us in Arizona – and she would know.

She says she experienced a cult firsthand and wants to help others avoid what she fell for.

Arizona woman leaves cult to find happiness, advocacy

Immortal Consciousness & Dr. Duran

Flipping through childhood photos, everything seems normal.

But, Brooke Walker sees it differently now.

“We celebrated Halloween, we celebrated Easter,” she said.

She says she was raised in a cult. “100%. Unfortunately.”

As an 8-year-old girl, her parents moved her family to a Mesa neighborhood to live with another family and join the church of Immortal Consciousness.

“Looking for faith, but also something different than what they had,” she said. “You know, the mainstream stuff.”

What they found was a church leader and medium who said she could speak with and summon a 14th-century Englishman named Dr. Duran.

“You could be heavily corrected by the spirit for what you’re doing,” Walker explained.

She played for us her recording of what they called “a trance.” Eventually, the church leader would speak as Duran.

“I had a lot of mixed emotions about it. Mostly, I’m surprised about the amount of power it used to hold over me,” Walker said. “This is what the teaching is telling me. This is what the spirit is telling me. All these things are, if something is wrong, it’s me. I’m the problem. So you create this belief set that if anything goes sideways, must be your fault.”

The church headed north. About 150 members lived in Tonto Village.

Walker turned 19 and was in an arranged marriage arranged by Dr. Duran. The wedding was held in a room and was officiated by the 700-year-old spirit.

“You’re going to be in a relationship with who the spirit says you’re in a relationship with,” Walker explained.

After two babies, her husband left, telling her he needed to leave.

“Everybody continued telling me after that, ‘It’s about you. He just doesn’t love you and won’t tell you the truth.’ So, I spent 10 years believing that,” she said with tears in her eyes.

‘You should be in environments where you are allowed to ask questions’

Now, things are different.

Walker lives in Gilbert and is happy with her new life.

She spends her time in front of a microphone.

“I’m here for you, and I’m here to support you, and I’m here to share with you a space that you can get past that,” Walker said on her podcast.

She started the podcast out of her house called “How to Leave a Cult.”

“For me, it’s about creating a place where people can get some tools to heal,” Walker said. “Most people think of a cult, and they immediately go to the worst of them, right? Drink the Kool-Aid, Jim Jones stuff, Waco stuff … so, you have these extreme sides to it,” she explained.

She says the church she was raised in wasn’t extreme like that, but she says it had all the trademarks of a cult.

The church has long denied that publicly, and Walker says it disbanded years ago.

Cults are all around us in many forms, she says, which is why she believes her podcast can be healing for people.

“You should be in environments where you are allowed to ask questions. You should be in environments where you’re making the decisions for yourself about your life. I feel like nobody is a better advocate for who you are, what you need, how to parent, than you are as a person, and when somebody says they have a better way, that’s where we get sideways,” Walker said.

She’s already recorded multiple podcasts, using her story to connect to others. Ultimately, she hopes to help anyone leave a cult.

“You’re leaving your family behind. You’re leaving your faith behind. Leaving all your friends behind. Probably leaving your means of living behind. Leaving a cult is a really f—— hard thing,” Walker warned.

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Arizona

Arizona Lottery Pick 3, Fantasy 5 results for Dec. 11, 2025

Published

11 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Arizona Lottery Pick 3, Fantasy 5 results for Dec. 11, 2025

The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers

5-2-5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers

08-10-23-28-33

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Triple Twist numbers

04-14-19-36-37-38

Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news and results

What time is the Powerball drawing?

Powerball drawings are at 7:59 p.m. Arizona time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

How much is a Powerball lottery ticket today?

In Arizona, Powerball tickets cost $2 per game, according to the Arizona Lottery.

How to play the Powerball

To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball.

You can choose your lucky numbers on a play slip or let the lottery terminal randomly pick your numbers.

To win, match one of the 9 Ways to Win:

5 white balls + 1 red Powerball = Grand prize.
5 white balls = $1 million.
4 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $50,000.
4 white balls = $100.
3 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $100.
3 white balls = $7.
2 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $7.
1 white ball + 1 red Powerball = $4.
1 red Powerball = $4.

There’s a chance to have your winnings increased two, three, four, five and 10 times through the Power Play for an additional $1 per play. Players can multiply non-jackpot wins up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Arizona Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $100 and may redeem winnings up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Arizona Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket and a copy of a government-issued ID to P.O. Box 2913, Phoenix, AZ 85062.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID to any of these locations:

Phoenix Arizona Lottery Office: 4740 E. University Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4400. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Tucson Arizona Lottery Office: 2955 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85716, 520-628-5107. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Lottery Office: Terminal 4 Baggage Claim, 3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4424. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.

Kingman Arizona Lottery Office: Inside Walmart, 3396 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ 86409, 928-753-8808. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://www.arizonalottery.com/.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy Arizona lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arizona Republic editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Arizona

Fruit-flavored cocaine being sold to young people, Arizona official warns

Published

23 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Fruit-flavored cocaine being sold to young people, Arizona official warns

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona’s attorney general is sounding the alarm over a new illegal drug being marketed toward kids and young women.

The Attorney General’s Office says law enforcement agencies in Arizona are seeing an increase of fruit-flavored cocaine in the illegal drug market.

Attorney General Kris Mayes says dealers are marketing the flavored drug toward younger people and women, attempting to lure new users to using cocaine.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is issuing a warning of fruit-flavored cocaine being marketed to young people.(Arizona Attorney General’s Office)

Mayes said the drug is being sold in flavors like piña colada, strawberry, coconut and banana, which may appeal to children. She added that illegal drugs like cocaine often contain the deadly drug fentanyl.

“We want everyone to stay safe and avoid the harms that come from using illegal drugs,” Mayes said.

The warning from the AG’s office comes after a man was sentenced in Pima County last month for selling fruit-flavored cocaine.

A release from Mayes’ office says that on July 17, Jaden Alfredo Covarrubias sold about 1.55 pounds of cocaine to another person after advertising his access to coconut, strawberry and banana flavored forms. Mayes said Covarrubias offered to sell the drugs on social media platforms like WhatsApp.

Jaden Alfredo Covarrubias was setenced to 1.75 years in prison and ordered to pay fines after... — Jaden Alfredo Covarrubias was setenced to 1.75 years in prison and ordered to pay fines after selling fruit-flavored cocaine in Pima County.(Arizona Attorney General’s Office)

Covarrubias was sentenced on Nov. 24 to 1.75 years in prison. He was ordered to pay $4,500 to the State Anti-Racketeering Revolving Fund and $300 for investigative costs to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

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Arizona

Volunteer pilots bring Santa, gifts to Title I schools on Utah-Arizona border

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Volunteer pilots bring Santa, gifts to Title I schools on Utah-Arizona border

COLORADO CITY, Ariz. — Santa Claus traded his sleigh for small planes Wednesday as 20 volunteer pilots from Angel Flight West’s Utah wing flew hundreds of miles to deliver Christmas gifts and school supplies to two Title I schools on the Utah-Arizona border.

The annual “Santa Flight” brought toys, winter coats, backpacks and more than 500 books donated by PBS Utah to about 500 students from Water Canyon Elementary in Hildale, Utah, and Cottonwood Elementary in Colorado City, Arizona. The schools gathered at the Colorado City airport to greet Santa, Mrs. Claus, some elves and the pilots.

“Well, this is just excitement,” said Brad Jolley, principal at Water Canyon Elementary in Hildale. “I mean, you look at the faces of the kids, you see smiles, and just a great opportunity, great atmosphere.”

“This is the first time that our two schools in our valley have come together and done an activity,” said Natalie Hammon, principal at Cottonwood Elementary in Colorado City. “So Santa Flight has really helped us unite our valley and let our two schools work together for a great cause.”

The donations were made possible by community groups and sponsors, including the John C. Kish Foundation, Bank of Utah and the Leavitt Group. Lou Rossi, Utah Wing leader for Angel Flight West, said the effort reflects the generosity of pilots and donors during a tough economic time.

Angel Flight West is best known for providing free air transportation for patients traveling long distances for medical care. Volunteer pilot Steve Booth said the holiday mission is just one way to give back.

“For somebody that might need a four- or five-hour car ride after a cancer treatment, a 45 (-minute) or one-hour flight just makes a huge, huge difference in their life,” Booth said.

The Santa Flight tradition began in 2000 and rotates among rural schools each year.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

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