Eligio Bishop was born in Harlem in 1982 and grew up in conditions he later described as unstable. According to his own accounts, he spent time in foster care where he reported experiencing abuse. As a teenager, he developed a juvenile record and was placed in detention facilities and a psychiatric ward.
After a brief period in the military that ended in a discharge related to his mental health history, Bishop spent his twenties in Georgia working as a barber, model, and exotic dancer. He was arrested in 2011 for the aggravated battery of a domestic partner, a case that resulted in probation after the victim reconciled with him.
In December 2015, Bishop began building what would later be known as the Etherians or Carbon Nation. From a bedroom in Atlanta, he uploaded a YouTube video titled “Natureboy How I Live & why,” which outlined the foundation of his beliefs. Presenting himself as “Natureboy,” he promoted the idea that Black Americans should leave modern society and return to a natural way of living. His message gained attention in July 2016 after the police shooting of Alton Sterling, when he urged Black followers to leave the United States.
Later that same month, Bishop and a small group of followers traveled to Honduras, where they began living communally. In the early phase, the group — referring to themselves as “Melanation” or “the Etherians” — focused on shared meals, wellness practices, and artistic expression. Bishop described the move as a form of protest against systems he viewed as harmful. Over time, members reported that the group developed stricter internal controls. Individuals who questioned Bishop or broke minor rules, such as eating outside designated times, were expelled.
After a robbery in Honduras, the group relocated to Costa Rica. They settled in a hilltop estate funded largely by a $300,000 contribution from a member. In February 2017, Bishop filmed a video in which he stated, “We are a cult. I am a cult leader.” During this period, the group expanded its online presence, regularly posting videos on YouTube and Instagram. Members were given new names and encouraged to cut ties with their families, relinquish personal belongings, and adopt practices such as nudism, polygamy, and a plant-based diet.
As the group grew, its belief system evolved. Carbon Nation’s ideology combined elements of Black nationalism, New Age spirituality, and Bishop’s own theories about melanin. He taught that melanin provided unique abilities that could be enhanced through exposure to tropical environments and a natural lifestyle. Over time, Bishop began referring to himself as “Th3 3God” and later as “the Messiah,” claiming to be the return of Jesus Christ.
In the years that followed, the group moved between several countries in Central America, and allegations of abuse began to emerge. Multiple women reported being pressured into sexual relationships with Bishop, often framed as part of their role within the group. In 2018, while living in the Mexican jungle, a member named Magdalena Sevilla, known as “Mama Dia,” died of heart failure. Former members later stated that she had stopped taking necessary cardiac medication after being influenced by teachings that emphasized natural healing.
Despite these developments, the group continued to attract new members. The group also encountered repeated conflicts with local authorities. Over time, they were expelled or deported from Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua, often due to immigration issues or concerns related to the group’s activities.
In June 2020, Bishop and 21 followers were arrested in Hawaii for violating COVID-19 quarantine protocols. After leaving Hawaii, the group’s online content increasingly included depictions of fights between members, which Bishop described as staged performances intended for social media. However, later testimony indicated that some of the violence, including the assault of a member named Velvet Marquez, occurred in reality.
The legal case against Bishop began in March 2022 in DeKalb County, Georgia. A member named Jenaé Newell reported that after attempting to leave the group, she was coerced into sexual intercourse and that explicit videos of the encounter were posted online. Bishop was arrested in April 2022 and charged with rape, false imprisonment, and the non-consensual distribution of explicit images. During his 2024 trial, prosecutors described a pattern of exploitation and psychological control. The defense argued that Carbon Nation functioned as a voluntary community and that some actions were part of performance. The jury found Bishop guilty on all counts.
In March 2024, Bishop was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for rape, along with an additional ten years for the remaining charges. The presiding judge described him as a “master manipulator” and stated that he showed no remorse. Following his sentencing, Bishop continued to maintain his innocence. While incarcerated at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison and later at Macon State Prison, he argued that the case against him was part of a broader effort to target Black spiritual leaders, comparing his situation to others in similar circles.
After Bishop’s conviction, the group attempted to reorganize under the name “Imagine Nation,” but it largely dissolved without his leadership.
Key Sources:
Burnett, J. (2020, June 11). Purported cult leader among 21 arrested for violating quarantine order. West Hawaii Today.
Callas, B. (2024, March 2). Accused cult leader “Nature Boy” sentenced to life without parole. Complex.
Cooke, R. (2017, March 20). Who is Natureboy? “Cult” leader says Kayla Reid can leave at any time. CBC News.
Savva, A. (2019, December 6). Leader of stinky cult who told followers not to wash deported back to US. The Daily Star.