Air hostess and her son, 9, found in shallow grave with 71 other bodies

An air hostess and her nine-year-old son are feared to be among the dozens starved to death in a Kenyan cult.

Police have so far discovered 73 bodies in shallow graves within the Shakahola forest in Kilifi, eastern Kenya.

Authorities believe they were followers of the Good News International Church who thought they would go to heaven if they stopped eating.

An entire family were found among the dead in a secluded area within the Shakahola forest.

Tragic Beatrice "Betty" Ajenta Charles is said to have quit her successful career in Doha, Qatar, to join the church a few weeks ago.

Betty last saw one of her friends on April 4.

Her son Jason is believed to have starved to death in the cult under his grandparents' watch in March.

Beatrice Ajenta Charles worked as an air hostess (Newsflash)

Paul Mackenzie Nthenge (Newsflash)

According to the Kenyan Red Cross, 112 people had been reported missing.

While 33 had been rescued, according to the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

It is believed that cult leader Paul Mackenzie Nthenge had convinced his followers that they would go to heaven and "meet Jesus" if they starved themselves.

Betty's sister Constance Chao had also quit her job in the military to join the church.

It is currently not known whether she was dead or alive.

Betty is said to have sold all her belongings and donated the proceeds to Mackenzie (Newsflash)

The sisters' brother Michael was also unaccounted for at the time of writing, according to reports.

In addition to joining the church, Betty is reported to have sold all her belongings and donated the proceeds to Mackenzie.

Before departing for Kenya on a one-way ticket, she had left a handwritten letter for her husband suggesting that she would not return.

She was said to be following in her parents' footsteps (Newsflash)

Followers of the self-proclaimed Good News International Church had been living in several secluded settlements across an 800 hectare area of the forest.

Mackenzie was arrested on April 14 following a tip-off that pointed towards the existence of shallow graves containing the bodies of at least 31 of his followers.

Mackenzie, who denies any wrongdoing, was arraigned the following day at Malindi Law Courts.

Betty left a handwritten letter for her husband suggesting she would not return (Newsflash)

The judge gave police 14 days to conduct investigations while he was kept in detention.

Kenyan media reported that he is refusing food and water.

There has been no comment from any representative for Mackenzie so far.

National Police chief Japhet Koome said 14 other cult members were in custody.