The family of a missing Texas woman, Kaura Taylor, speaks out after she was found living with a self-proclaimed king and queen in Scotland’s Jedburgh forest.
The family of Kaura Taylor, a 21-year-old mother from Texas, has spoken out after she was discovered living in a Scottish forest with a self-proclaimed King and Queen. Despite the family’s concerns, Kaura insists that she is in Scotland by choice and is leading a life of her own design.
Kaura, who now goes by the name Asnat of Atehene or Lady Safi, was found in Jedburgh, Scotland, living with King Atehene and Queen Nandi, who claim to lead a “lost tribe” in the forest. The group, which calls their area the Kingdom of Kubala, says they are reclaiming land that once belonged to their ancestors.
Kaura Taylor’s Disappearance and the Family’s Reaction
Kaura’s family, who had reported her missing in May, were shocked by her decision to join this group and cut ties with them. Kaura’s aunt, Teri Allen, expressed the family’s distress, saying:
“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.”
However, Kaura has taken to Facebook to defend her actions, stating that she wasn’t “missing” at all. She wrote:
“I’m very happy with my King and Queen, I was never missing, I fled a very abusive, toxic family.”
She emphasized that she is an adult and made the decision on her own terms. The family, however, insists she was raised in a sheltered environment and had no prior history of making such drastic decisions.
Life in the Kingdom of Kubala
The group that Kaura is living with practices a simple life, according to King Atehene. He described their lifestyle as one of returning to innocence, relying on nature and the creator for food and shelter. He said:
“We live a very simple life of returning to innocence. We connect to nature. We get grounded every morning. We bathe in the springwater. We live in a tent without walls, but we are not afraid of anyone, for we have the protection of the creator, Yahowah.”
This spiritual lifestyle is something Kaura’s family finds difficult to understand, with Teri Allen dismissing it as “a bunch of hogwash.”
Family Concerns and Claims of Isolation
Kaura’s other aunt, Vandora Skinner, described her niece as “a very very unruly teen,” and said that she had been disrespectful at times. Skinner mentioned that Kaura left behind her eight-month-old daughter when she disappeared. Kaura allegedly tried to convince her boyfriend to join her in Scotland, but he was reportedly put off by the “ungodly rituals” associated with the tribe.
Skinner explained that the last time she heard from Kaura was via a text, where Kaura mentioned, “We had to get out and explore a little bit,” but did not respond after that.
It wasn’t until Skinner reached out to Kaura’s ex-boyfriend that she discovered the truth about her niece’s location. Skinner found Kaura’s Facebook page and confirmed she had indeed traveled to the UK.
The ‘Kingdom’ and Their Beliefs
The Kingdom of Kubala is based on a belief in the sovereignty of their ancestors’ land. King Atehene and Queen Nandi assert that their lifestyle follows the laws of the creator and that they are not bound by any government or authority. Atehene said:
“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.”
The group’s beliefs, including Kaura’s role as the second wife of King Atehene, have deeply concerned her family. Vandora Skinner voiced her distress:
“Now she’s talking about, she’s married to this man and he can have as many wives as he wants?”
Visa and Legal Concerns
Kaura reportedly arrived in the UK on a six-month tourist visa, which will expire in November. Her family hopes that this may force her to return to the United States once the visa expires.
Authorities in Scotland are aware of the situation, with the Scottish Borders Council providing advice to Kaura about housing options and other support services. However, there is no indication that she plans to leave the group or return to Texas voluntarily.
What’s Next?
While Kaura has made it clear that she is happy with her new life, her family remains deeply worried about her well-being and future. They continue to hope that the legal expiration of her visa will prompt her return to Texas. Until then, Kaura remains in the Kingdom of Kubala, continuing her unconventional life with King Atehene and Queen Nandi in the Scottish forest.
