Today, behind the scenes at Cameroun Liberty, we’re delighted to be joined online, between Cameroon and the United States, by an author still little known to the general public—but whose name is bound to make waves: Jeremia Peterson. Born on July 17, 1955, in Austin, Texas, Jeremia is an archaeologist and researcher, a graduate of the prestigious Oriental Institute of Chicago. For years, he has nurtured a deep obsession with the enigmatic city of Reytac. This fascinating place became the subject of his thesis, and it’s also the inspiration behind a unique book set to be released in September 2025 by Ewing Publication.
Cameroun Liberty: Hello Jeremia Peterson, we’re thrilled to welcome you on Cameroun Liberty to talk about your book Reytac: A History, which will be published under the literary branch of the Mason Ewing Corporation.
Jeremia Peterson: Hello! What can I say about myself? Other than that my name is Jeremia Peterson, I’m celebrating my 70th birthday this year, and archaeology has always been the beating heart of my life.
Cameroun Liberty: What an impressive journey! But tell us, how did this passion first come into your life?
Jeremia Peterson: It’s a pretty simple story. As a child in Austin, I loved listening to radio shows about the paranormal with my father. I also devoured a popular magazine at the time, Archaeology Magazine. That’s where my thirst to understand lost civilizations was born.
Cameroun Liberty: So the call of ancient mysteries came early. And after high school, you followed that path naturally?
Jeremia Peterson: Exactly. At 18, fresh out of high school, I left my parents and two brothers to study in Chicago, at the Oriental Institute. That’s where I discovered what would become my obsession: Reytac. A forgotten city, tucked away in the Sonoran Desert, along the road to Palm Springs.
Cameroun Liberty: That’s the title of your book: Reytac: A History. If I understand correctly, you conducted extensive research and excavations around this vanished city. So we can expect quite a few revelations…
Jeremia Peterson: Absolutely. Reytac always felt unreal to me. At first, I even doubted it existed. Everything about it seemed like folklore. I had to dig through the National Library of Los Angeles, comb through dusty archives, explore forgotten documents. That’s the beauty of my job: you never know what a dusty box might reveal.
Cameroun Liberty: While doing some research, I stumbled upon an intriguing website run by a certain Tod Blunt, a businessman in Denver, who also seems fascinated by Reytac…
Jeremia Peterson: Yes, Tod Blunt, like me, fell under its spell. Reytac pulls you in. What’s heartbreaking to me is that a city that once stood on the sacred land of the Cahuilla people has been almost completely erased from memory. It was founded in 1823 by Abraham Reytac. But not everything is clear… There’s one chilling case in particular: a young girl, Gwendolyn Porter, found dead at age ten, her face torn off, her mouth sewn shut. A mystery that still remains unsolved…
Cameroun Liberty: I read about that on Tod Blunt’s website. If I’m not mistaken, Gwendolyn was the first in a series of murdered children?
Jeremia Peterson: Sadly, yes. She was found on November 2, 1857. And I’m convinced that date is no coincidence. I searched in vain through the site of the old Reytac train station. There are still so many unanswered questions. And eleven children, still waiting for justice…
Cameroun Liberty: That’s disturbing… To be honest, I assumed all this was just part of some local legend. What touches you personally about this story?
Jeremia Peterson: There’s something visceral about it. My mother used to say she believed I might be the reincarnation of a Reytac resident who died in the 1861 fire. I never knew if she was joking. But this city haunts me.
Cameroun Liberty: Do you believe in reincarnation? In your book, you also talk about the Cahuilla people. Did they believe in life after death too?
Jeremia Peterson: I’ve studied this fascinating people in depth. And yes, they did believe in a form of life after death. As for me… I’m torn. Archaeology is a search for answers. But sometimes, the silence of the centuries is stronger than we are. That’s also what makes this field so captivating.
Cameroun Liberty: I’m sure our readers—and all lovers of ancient mysteries—are eagerly awaiting your book.
Jeremia Peterson: I hope so. My goal is to prove that Reytac did exist, that it was destroyed by fire in 1861, and that lives were lost due to tragic human decisions… I’ll stop there! The rest is in the book. It will be published in multiple languages and will contain revelations I’m still keeping secret. One thing’s for sure: no one will be bored reading it.
Cameroun Liberty: So we’ll see you in September 2025 for the release. There are also rumors of an art exhibit?
Jeremia Peterson: You’re well-informed! Yes, an exhibit titled The Children of Reytac is in the works. Paintings will be unveiled in an art gallery. This project, carried out by a visual artist, is very dear to me. More and more people are starting to question Reytac’s “legend” status. Let me be clear: the Reytac train station did exist. And I can’t wait for the world to finally discover its story. Thank you to Cameroun Liberty for this fascinating conversation.
