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From Mary’s FaceBook Page

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https://www.facebook.com/mary.tocco/posts/10217394397270793?__tn__=K-R

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From: Mary E. Tocco

Date: August 20, 2018

Time: 10:19 PM

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Why I Had to Leave Kent Hovind…

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In July of 2017, I made the decision to leave my husband, Kent Hovind, and Dinosaur Adventure Land (DAL) where we had been residing together. My initial intention was to create a brief separation that would expedite the immediate correction of what had become a list of my serious concerns based on the things I had learned after just fifteen months in my husband’s life. The day I left I truly had no idea that I would never return.

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After months of silence, and as my family and loved ones have witnessed a plethora of online allegations ranging from somewhat accurate to completely absurd, I have decided I would like to have the privilege of making one public statement on the matter. My goal is not to create controversy or to be inflammatory in any way. However I would like to think that some good can come from this major upheaval in my life and that I learned these lessons for a reason that can provide insight to others who may be considering involvement in the ministry.

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Kent is intelligent, charming, humorous and talented. I cannot deny that I fell in love with Kent and his ministry whole-heartedly and believed that he was the man that of God I was preparing my life for. I did not date him while he was married and I never spoke with him while he was in prison as some people have alleged. We saw each other professionally for the first time when I went to Pensacola, Florida in April of 2016 for the purpose of using Kent’s videography resources to produce an educational video on my own area of research that happens to be a cause that Kent supports. At that time I knew nothing about Kent’s personal or family life.

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Becoming personally involved with Kent had never even been a fleeting thought in my mind. It was not until after his separation and divorce filing that we shared even a conversation about anything other than our two separate areas of work.

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Later, when the topic of marriage arose, I realized that I was very concerned about his past and if it would have implications on my future life. His personal history is the most complex and dramatic of anyone’s I have ever met, filled with controversy and conflicting stories about why his former ministry had been targeted, accused, and decimated; why his family had been stripped of almost everything; why he and his former wife were convicted and imprisoned; and eventually why his family deserted and disclaimed him.

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On one side, historically and Biblically, some of the people most greatly called by God, and even Jesus Christ Himself, had been accused and convicted just the same as criminals.

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The question of whether Kent is one of the greatest saints and martyrs of our times, or if he is a rebellious, rogue, deceiving, man with no regard for the law, who is ultimately hurting his ministry, is one that surrounds Kent Hovind. It has created two opposing, impassioned groups – one who loves and supports him to the degree of providing millions for funding his ministries and his defense; and the other group, an obsessed party of internet fanatics who invest an impractical amount of time and focus, dedicated to revealing to the world their perception of Kent as a fraud and con-artist. A simple online search reveals dozens of court documents, documentaries, websites, articles, and social media debates arguing both sides. It is virtually impossible and somewhat ignorant for anyone to proclaim to know the full truth about Kent’s past, without having been personally involved and physically present throughout the entire former ministry debacle that spanned more than a decade.

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Rightfully, my five adult children were very concerned about my association with Kent. They are all wholeheartedly in support of the mission of his ministry, but the fact that his former wife was sentenced to jail caused enough apprehension for all of us that my final marriage decision was determined after a series of meetings that were able to satisfy the most serious of concerns for my freedom and safety.

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During this “due diligence” process I consulted with attorneys, experts in accounting, and owners of 501c3 organizations. The summary of all of our communication was that they collectively were one hundred percent, completely committed and dedicated to handling every single aspect of Kent’s ministry in absolute compliance with all laws and regulations. I relied completely on the promises made during meetings with Kent and the members of the DAL board. At that time, it was not appropriate to demand privilege to review all internal documents, business and non-profit filings, bank and financial records, nor do I personally have the expertise in all applicable areas of study to conduct that type of investigation. However, we did speak explicitly about the structure of DAL; about proper handling of donations; about book keeping and accounting; about payment to staff; and most importantly about the team of experts, including attorneys and finance professionals, who were said to exist for the sole purpose of making sure everything was conducted to provide longevity, security and safety for the ministry.

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At some point, I had to make the decision. And that decision was to accept Kent’s marriage proposal and to leave my family to relocate my whole world to Alabama, and to temporarily take focus off of my career to become his wife, to create our home, and to support him as a wife should. I made those sacrifices easily, happily and willingly but with one, single, non-negotiable, permanent expectation that was clearly communicated multiple times verbally and in writing to Kent and his whole team:

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I have absolutely no compromise with my expectation that all things related to Kent and his ministry be handled in compliance with all laws, IRS tax codes, ethics, honesty and transparency.

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My agreement to marriage was permanently tied to trusting Kent that the ministry be handled “above-board” and in full adherence to the law. Satisfied with our mutual understanding and agreement, our life began. I worked hard as his partner and wife and loved it very much. It was happy and peaceful. But it wasn’t long before I began noticing certain things that didn’t seem to add up. My list of concerns started slowly, and then began to grow.

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Finally, I requested the opportunity to address these concerns in a meeting with Kent and the trustee of the DAL board. I had learned enough to be able to ask specific questions about how the business was being conducted. Much to my dismay, their side of the discussion was a terribly disappointment, and more accurately appalling. I shook my head in disbelief as I heard statements repeatedly such as, “well, that’s a gray area” and “I think we could explain it this way to defend ourselves, if we had to in court”. I was told to forget my concerns because they would likely be civil issues anyway, not criminal. It was one of the most unacceptable discussions I have ever witnessed, especially given the past of the men speaking.

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Looking back, I was most alarmed at the Kent’s response when I questioned a particular, serious matter that could create severe consequence: “The board doesn’t answer to you, Mary.”

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That was when I realized the lesson they had strategically waited to try to teach me – there is a veil of secrecy between Kent and the board of DAL. The wife of the ministry’s patriarch is not allowed to penetrate that veil and has she no business questioning the board’s decisions.

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And that was when Pandora’s box was opened.

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After two weeks of intense discussions, consultation with professionals and further research, I had to remove myself from the premises until specific changes were in place for my safe return. My terms were very clear and reasonable. Furthermore, I challenged Kent and the board to please find a single professional in the area of law or finance who would disagree with my demands or indicate they were unnecessary. I begged Kent to find just one, single, licensed expert who could explain to me that I was wrong – and that current practices of Kent and the board of DAL were not likely to jeopardize our personal lives and the entire ministry. I prayed that Kent would and could do that. I thanked God for opening my eyes but prayed that somehow, I was wrong about what I was seeing.

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I facilitated meetings with totally impartial third-party experts in Alabama to provide an opinion on my concerns, and to help guide any necessary changes. According to Kent, the trustee of the DAL board advised him not to participate and I was informed that the board would not discuss internal matters with any professional unless they determined it was necessary. In the following months I only received continuous pressure and reprimand and I was told numerous times, “Just come home and be a Proverb 31 wife.”

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Kent removed his wedding band three months later. In November 2017, he renounced his marriage to me and informed me he was looking for a new wife. He is now married to his third wife, Cindi Lincoln, who was previously my friend when I lived in Alabama.

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Under the commitment of marriage, the husband takes a vow to care for and protect his wife, and to put her before anything else under God. I was not demanding extreme protection but refused to accept decisions that blatantly and foolishly welcomed risk, easy and valid attack, and the predictable demise of the life we were building together. The most disturbing aspect is that the problems I discovered were not accidental mistakes, nor were they impossible to correct. Instead, I had exposed and was demanding a complete revision of the planned, deliberate, voluntary way that Kent and his board are dedicated to operating DAL. Who was I to think I was going to persuade them all to change?

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My marriage with Kent would have survived had I “been a good wife”, understanding that a woman’s place is in the home and her job is to support her husband without question. And a wife is certainly never to meddle in the men’s business affairs. Yes, our marriage would have survived for some time…

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For all of the people who are just bursting with curiosity about why I left Kent Hovind, I will reduce it to one sentence. I decided I don’t want to play a lead role in the next debacle.

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Update – Kent Hovind’s Response

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See: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kenthovindsworstnightmare/permalink/1053398724829256/

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Update August 22, 2018

Text of Kent Hovind’s Initial Response to Mary (since deleted from her page)

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(Begin quote.)

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Oh Mary, it’s sad that you would tell half the story like this but I know you need to try to justify the fact that you broke your vows to salve your conscience.

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You demanded that I meet with you and an IRS attorney and disclose all CSE records. I told you then and I’ll remind you now: 1. I don’t have the records. The board handles that. 2. The board spent $12,000 on CPAs and attorneys having all the books and records of CSE looked at to try to satisfy your concerns. They assured you the [that] everything was being done lawfully. This didn’t satisfy you. You demanded that I fire the board. Mary, I can’t fire any board members. If I could[,] that would make them an alter ego and create the very problem you feared. 3. As is obvious to any who followed my ministry or my court case, the enemies of Christ hate me and will twist anything they can to harm or destroy this ministry. They broke over 1`00 laws to imprison me. See Kent Hovind is innocent.com. 4. CSE board member and attorney J.R. Hughes told me 6 times in BOLD PRINT in one letter DO NOT GO to meet with the IRS attorney and you. CSE board members Ernie Land and Bill Sardi said I shyould not go. 5. CSE has been audited every year and nothing is being done wrong. 6. The board was very concerned that you had been in contact with the IRS or some agency to try and find something, anything, to arrest me again both to silence the creation message and doo damage control over the bad name they got from the evil they did to me 112 years ago. Those who do wrong nearly always try to justify it—like this post of yours.

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The boards [board’s] refusal to open books and records to you (they did to the CPAs and attorneys who found nothing wrong) was because they feared that you had become an enemy and were3 seeking to cause harm not harmony. Attorney Hughes met with you and I and told you to just be a godly wife and stay out of ministry business so you could not be in danger IF they ever came after me again.

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I begged you to come back over 100 times Mary. The way you and your daughter cleaned out the house while I was gone preaching was wrong and unnecessary. I knew your leaving would further harm the cause of Christ. After it was obvious that you were not returning the board advised that the marriage be annulled.

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I have hundreds of texts and emails to you about all this Mary. I don’t want to harm you or your fabulous ministry exposing the dangers of vaccines so I’ll continue on without you and not expose our private lives.

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During the battle of Brandywine George Washington had his two favorite horses shot and killed right under him. He got another horse and went on to win the battle.

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Your message is important Mary. I pray you can find a godly man who will help you continue spreading it.

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As I’ve told you 100 times, you left not me but you and your family are still always welcome here. I’ve never blocked your texts or calls or ignored your questions… Call me if you need anything.

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Kent Hovind

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(End quote.)

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Since Kent’s initial response above, there have been other posts from Mary and Kent, and Kent’s man Ernie Land, that have been deleted.  Many other comments remain on Mary’s page in the thread referenced above.  Further discussions of these latest developments are also taking place, among other places, at my Hovind FaceBook page at:

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/kenthovindsworstnightmare/

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Update August 22, 2018

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Mary Tocco has re-posted her statement about leaving Kent Hovind and it has a few comments.  The thread link is as shown below and that is followed by screenshots of 3 of the comments, including one from me pressing for more clear, precise, explicit details regarding the marital relationships involved.

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https://www.facebook.com/mary.tocco/posts/10217402893363190

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Update August 25, 2018

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Mary Tocco has again posted her statement to her personal FaceBook page at the following link, and so I again posted in that thread my concern about the status of her marriage to Kent and Kent’s relationship with Cindi Lincoln.

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https://www.facebook.com/mary.tocco/posts/10217438505493471

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https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2006/13297/13a-13-1.html

TEXT of Above

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2006 Alabama Code – Section 13A-13-1 — Bigamy.

(a) A person commits bigamy when he intentionally contracts or purports to contract a marriage with another person when he has a living spouse. A person who contracts a marriage outside this state, which would be bigamous if contracted in this state, commits bigamy by cohabiting in the state with the other party to such a marriage.

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(b) A person does not commit an offense under this section if:

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(1) He reasonably believes that his previous marriage is void or was dissolved by death, divorce or annulment; or

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(2) He and the prior spouse have been living apart for five consecutive years next prior to the subsequent marriage, during which time the prior spouse was not known by him to be alive.

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(3) The burden of injecting the issues under this subsection is on the defendant, but this does not shift the burden of proof.

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(c) Bigamy is a Class C felony.

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Confronting Mary E. Tocco

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Link to thread where following exchange took place:

https://www.facebook.com/mary.tocco/posts/10217394397270793

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Update August 27, 2018

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Kent Hovind Acknowledges 3rd Wife!

https://youtu.be/Udqb-TzvzRA?t=1m57s

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August 28, 2018

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Kent’s man Ernie Land has confirmed that Kent and Mary have not legally, civilly, dissolved their marriage.

https://www.facebook.com/ernest.land1/posts/10216451905067710

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Update October 31, 2018

https://youtu.be/qbRnoWZf-_k?t=14

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Update January 12, 2020

I added another note to the Wikipedia page to reflect that I had asked Mary Tocco if she initiated that Wikipedia action and that she has not answered.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Kent_Hovind

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Update January 29, 2020

A report from McKinnon Mitchell regarding the relationship between Cindi Lincoln and Kent Hovind!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/kenthovindsworstnightmare/permalink/1451078225061302/

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Update February 2, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGNBxvA95Ww

 

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