Ellen Rachel Craig, 62, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for the manslaughter of her two-year-old daughter, Tillie Craig, who was beaten to death in 1987. The case, which had remained unresolved for decades, came to light following a tip-off to police in 2022.
Tillie disappeared from the Ministry of God farm in New South Wales (NSW) in 1987, leading her father, Gerard Stanhope, to believe she had been adopted. In reality, she was killed with a plastic pipe after her mother was dissatisfied with her chore performance. Her remains were allegedly burned by the sect’s leader, Alexander Wilon, and scattered at the commune.
Justice Natalie Adams, in sentencing Craig, acknowledged that while there was no intent to cause severe harm, the incident was a profound tragedy. Children at the commune were subjected to harsh discipline, often involving a black pipe for punishment. Craig, then 25, brought Tillie’s body to a bathtub, claiming she had “stopped breathing” before awaiting Wilon’s return.
Wilon, charged as an accessory to the murder and later with separate sexual assault allegations, has been deemed unfit for trial due to terminal illness. Craig was expelled from the cult later in 1987 and lived in New Zealand under various aliases until her arrest and extradition in 2021.
In a court-read letter, Craig expressed remorse, describing her actions as “horrible” and “terrible.” She stated she is “at peace” with her imprisonment and seeks justice for her daughter.
Tillie’s father, Gerard Stanhope, who had tirelessly searched for his daughter, was devastated to learn of her death only after Craig’s arrest. Craig will be eligible for parole in November 2027, after serving six years in custody.
