Sheryl Ruthven (also known as Sheryl Walker) is an American religious figure who gained attention as the leader of a cat-centered ministry called Eva’s Eden. Based in Washington state and later Tennessee, she preached unconventional, apocalyptic beliefs and encouraged followers to rescue cats as divine beings. According to investigative reports, Ruthven claimed prophetic authority and even presented herself as a modern-day Mary Magdalene or messianic figure. Former adherents describe her ministry as a “cult of personality” devoted to Ruthven. Media profiles note she was a tall, charismatic leader with blonde hair. Public information about her personal background (such as birth date or family) is very limited; sources mention her mother, Georgia Snow, was one of her followers, and she had at least one daughter, Nicole Walker. Details like her age or exact height are not publicly documented (she has been described simply as “tall”).
Early Life and Ministry
Little is publicly known about Ruthven’s childhood or education. She lived in Whatcom County, Washington (near Bellingham and Custer) in the 1990s. In that period she was known as Sheryl Walker and became active in a small Pentecostal church called Gates of Praise in Bellingham. Church members remember her as an engaging speaker, and one early convert recalls Ruthven had an “almost irresistible magnetism”.
By 2001 Ruthven left Gates of Praise to found her own congregation, originally called Freedom Fire Ministries. In the following years, as her teachings evolved, the church underwent several name changes. Around 2005 she renamed it Moriah Ministries, and later it became known as the Oneness Foundation. During this time Ruthven began to introduce new doctrines: she claimed to receive direct messages from God, identified herself as a prophet or reincarnated Biblical figure, and incorporated various New Age and Jewish elements into worship. For example, she reportedly stated she was a Divine Magdalene (a reincarnation of Mary Magdalene) and a messianic “Bride of God”. Her services mixed Pentecostal-style songs with chants and rituals; followers say Ruthven even offered them communion wine laced with drops of her own blood during worship.
At the same time, Ruthven emphasized the spiritual importance of cats. She taught that stray cats were angelic creatures — each cat’s life mirroring a human soul — and that rescuing them would secure salvation in the end times. Followers were expected to foster dozens of cats in their homes, believing the animals would “transform back into angels” at the apocalypse and carry them to safety. In one account, a member quoted Ruthven as saying: “As long as you take care of them, then in your time of need, they will transform and take care of you.”. These teachings earned Ruthven the nickname “Cat Cult Prophet” in news reports.
Key Ministry Timeline:
- 2001: Ruthven left Gates of Praise and started Freedom Fire Ministries, drawing most congregants with her charismatic style.
- Mid-2000s: The church was renamed (first Moriah Ministries, then Oneness Foundation) and shifted toward apocalyptic cat-centered teachings.
- 2013: Ruthven and dozens of followers relocated to Columbia, Tennessee, establishing Eva’s Eden as a public cat rescue and their private ministry base.
- 2016: After media scrutiny, Eva’s Eden abruptly cancelled public adoption events, took down its website and social media, and disappeared from public view.
Eva’s Eden and Controversies
In Tennessee, Ruthven’s group operated Eva’s Eden, ostensibly a non-profit cat sanctuary. Publicly, Eva’s Eden rescued and fostered stray cats, complete with an adoption van and mobile pet playground. It presented itself as devoted to animal welfare and “bringing love to the world, one cat at a time”.
Behind the scenes, former members and investigative journalists reported that Eva’s Eden was deeply tied to Ruthven’s religious doctrine. Followers were instructed to adopt many cats each, under the belief that each cat carried human souls and would protect them in the apocalypse. They say Eva’s Eden was essentially a front to propagate Ruthven’s teachings. According to ex-followers, Ruthven had demanded absolute loyalty: dissenters were ostracized, and she insisted that cats come before family or personal needs. Michelle Lamphier, a former member, recalled that Ruthven’s followers “drank communion juice tinged with her blood,” reflecting extreme devotion.
Eva’s Eden’s activities eventually drew public attention. A 2016 Nashville Scene investigation found that former devotees described Ruthven as a self-proclaimed prophet who claimed to be “Divine Magdalene” and led a cult-like ministry. The article noted that after a reporter sought comment, Eva’s Eden went dark: its website and social accounts vanished, and a planned adoption event was cancelled. Around the same time, Ruthven’s daughter Nicole Walker (Eva’s Eden manager) filed a criminal complaint against a critic, alleging harassment. Beyond these events, no further public information is available about Ruthven’s Tennessee group. Eva’s Eden has not been active online since 2016.
Media Coverage and Public Attention
Ruthven’s story has been covered by local media and true-crime programs. The Nashville Scene cover story (2016) and a follow-up in Whatcom News (2016–2026) detailed her move from Washington to Tennessee and the controversies of Eva’s Eden. In faith-based press, Bob Smietana wrote about Ruthven’s unusual beliefs in Sojourners magazine.
Her case gained wider attention through podcasts and TV. For example, an episode of Investigation Discovery’s documentary series The Curious Case Of… (2025) is devoted to “The Doomsday Cat Cult,” featuring Ruthven’s story. That episode’s summary notes: “Sheryl Ruthven runs Eva’s Eden, a cat rescue that operates like a cult. She convinces her followers to… adopt cats to ensure their own salvation.”. (Other podcasts such as The Opportunist and The CULTure have also explored Eva’s Eden and Freedom Fire Ministries.) Overall, media coverage has highlighted Ruthven’s unconventional mix of beliefs, prompting many people to search online for “Sheryl Ruthven cult,” “Eva’s Eden,” and related terms.
Personal Details
Specific personal details about Sheryl Ruthven are scarce. She is often referred to by the names Sheryl Walker (her name during much of her Washington ministry) and Sheryl Ruthven (name used later). Sources do not give her birth date or age; one Facebook post claims a 1963 birth year, but this is unverified. She was described as “tall, blond, rich” in the 1990s.
Family: Ruthven has at least one daughter, Nicole Walker, who managed Eva’s Eden. Her mother, Georgia Snow, was a devoted follower. Ruthven’s last name suggests a marriage, and indeed she was called Sheryl Walker earlier, implying a husband named Walker (often identified as Mark Walker in follower accounts). However, details of any marriage or other children are not documented in reliable sources.
Social Media: There are no known active social media profiles for Sheryl Ruthven herself. The Eva’s Eden organization maintained a website and Facebook/Instagram/Twitter accounts until 2016. Those accounts were abruptly taken offline after media inquiries, and they remain inactive.
Residence: After 2016 Ruthven’s whereabouts became uncertain. She lived in Washington state until 2013 (in Whatcom County), then in Columbia, Tennessee (2013–2016) during the Eva’s Eden period. Some former members suggest she later moved (there are unverified reports of a relocation to Kentucky), but no public confirmation of that has appeared in news sources. As of now, her current location and activities are unknown.
Public Interest & FAQs
Ruthven’s unique story has led to many public questions. Below are answers to common queries:
- Who is Sheryl Ruthven?
Ruthven is an American religious leader best known for founding Eva’s Eden, a purported cat sanctuary that operated from 2013–2016 in Tennessee. Former followers describe her as a self-styled prophet who combined evangelical Christianity with doomsday cat worship.
- What is Eva’s Eden?
Eva’s Eden was a nonprofit cat rescue run by Ruthven’s followers in Tennessee. Publicly it appeared to be an animal shelter, but insiders say it was tied to Ruthven’s religious teachings about cats and salvation.
- Did Sheryl Ruthven commit any crimes?
There is no public record of Ruthven being charged with a crime. News reports discuss allegations (including a purported murder plot against a critic), but these claims were never substantiated with legal charges. Investigators have not reported any arrests of Ruthven.
- What happened to Eva’s Eden?
In 2016, after media attention, Eva’s Eden shut down its website and social media and cancelled public events. The organization effectively disappeared from public view. It is not active today and no official statement explains its closure.
- Where is Sheryl Ruthven now?
Ruthven’s current whereabouts are not publicly known. After 2016 she faded from news; her Tennessee cat ministry ended, and no further public information has emerged.
- Are there any TV shows or podcasts about her?
Yes. Her story was featured in Investigation Discovery’s series The Curious Case Of… (2025). It has also been discussed on true-crime podcasts such as The Opportunist and The CULTure. These programs summarize her past ministries and allegations from ex-followers.
- How old is Sheryl Ruthven?
Her birth date has not been reported in reliable sources. (Some unauthenticated accounts suggest 1963, but this is unconfirmed.) No official public records of her age are available.
- What did she believe about cats?
Ruthven taught that cats are divine creatures and that rescuing them would save a person in the apocalypse. Followers were told that each adopted cat carried a human soul, reflecting apocalyptic interpretations of Revelation (the “144,000” souls).
Conclusion
Sheryl Ruthven is a controversial figure whose life story is documented mainly through the accounts of former followers and a few investigative reports. Outside of her religious activities, verifiable personal information is nearly nonexistent, as Ruthven has kept a very low profile. Readers interested in updates should note that official sources are scarce; any new developments would likely appear in true-crime media or local news. For now, Ruthven remains best known for her role in Eva’s Eden and the questions it raised about belief, leadership, and social influence.