Fear and Loathing in Utah

The legal investigations appear to have reduced the prevalence of underage marriages in the FLDS, says Gary Engels, a Mohave County, Arizona, investigator who has been tracking the group for years. But Holm, the polygamist pushed out of the group, says "those in power behind Warren still have a very tight grip. The majority of people will be in a continued state of captivity." Carolyn Jessop, who fled in 2003 with her eight children, calls the FLDS "a cult, a destructive cult." The only difference: "We were all born into it, so none of us have any reference to anything that's the norm." She described Jeffs as a cruel dictator who controlled his people through fear. "The longer he is locked away, the less he will be able to intimidate." It will be gradual, but eventually, she says, "more of the truth will come out and his power will diminish among the people." For now, Jeffs is said to still lead the church from his jail cell in the appropriately named town of Purgatory. His followers must reach their own verdict.

© 2007