The family of a woman from Texas who was recently located in a Scottish forest have shared their concerns, even though the woman claims she chose to be there.
Kaura Taylor, a 21-year-old mother, captured media attention after she was discovered in Scotland following her mysterious disappearance from her home in the US.
She was found with two individuals who identify as a ‘King and Queen’ of a so-called lost tribe in the woodland. They claim to be reclaiming land in Jedburgh for their ancestors, naming it the Kingdom of Kubala.
Kaura now goes by the names Asnat of Atehene and Lady Safi. She is accompanied by King Atehene, 36, a former opera singer, and Queen Nandi.
Kaura’s family expressed their distress to The Independent, explaining that she vanished three months ago.
Her aunt, Teri Allen, stated: “It is very stressful, and difficult. It breaks our heart. We’re overly concerned about Kaura, but she doesn’t think anyone is concerned about her.”
In contrast, Taylor has responded to these claims, asserting that she was never ‘missing’ and chose her path of her own free will, emphasizing that she is ‘an adult, not a helpless child’.
She posted on Facebook: “I’m very happy with my King and Queen, I was never missing, I fled a very abusive, toxic family,” mentioning she initially connected with King online in 2023.
Her family contests her statements, insisting she was raised in a protective environment and was ‘very sheltered’.
King Atehene explained: “We live a very simple life of returning to innocence.”
“We connect to nature. We connect to the trees around us. We get grounded every morning. We bathe in the springwater. We are living a simple life of relying daily on the creator for food, shelter, and clothing.”
“We live in a tent without walls, but we are not afraid of anyone, for we have the protection of the creator, Yahowah.”
Allen criticized the tribe’s religious beliefs, calling them “a bunch of hogwash,” and claimed Taylor discovered the group through a high school classmate.
According to her aunt, Taylor concealed her activities and gradually distanced herself from loved ones, despite living with another aunt, Vandora Skinner.
Skinner recounted that Taylor disappeared in May, describing her as a ‘very, very unruly teen,’ who could be ‘very disrespectful’.
She reflected on Taylor’s upbringing, saying: “She lived in a four-bedroom house, with her own room, and maybe I shouldn’t have been as light on her as I was, I allowed her boyfriends to come over, but maybe I shouldn’t have. But I did get her to graduate high school.”
Reportedly, Taylor attempted to convince her boyfriend to join her in Scotland, but her aunt noted he was deterred by the tribe’s ‘ungodly rituals’.
Her child was just eight months old at the time she left.
Kaura had texted her aunt saying “We had to get out and explore a little bit,” but failed to respond when Skinner sought to locate her, and she hasn’t been heard from since.
Skinner learned of Taylor’s whereabouts after speaking with her ex-boyfriend: “I called her ex-boyfriend and that’s when he told me about the [Kingdom’s] Facebook page and that she said she was going to the U.K. I looked up the Facebook page and sure enough, there she was.”
Taylor’s mother reportedly believed the photos she found online were ‘photoshopped’.
Images have surfaced of Taylor in ceremonial robes, participating in campfire dances, and serving food to the King and Queen in a position of reverence.
Her family is particularly troubled by a video where Taylor expresses her view of being the King’s second wife.
“Now she’s talking about, she’s married to this man and he can have as many wives as he wants?” Skinner remarked.
The family anticipates Kaura’s return to Texas when her six-month tourist visa, which they believe started on May 25, expires in November.
King Atehene added: “We follow the laws of the creator – everything belongs to the ones who made it. We do not believe that any authority owns the land. The earth belongs to the father.
“We do not know about any eviction – all we know is that we are here to stay and establish our authority and power, just like our ancestors did.”
The Scottish Borders Council has collaborated with the police, offering guidance on housing options and other support services.