Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Polygamist Sect Mothers Deny Allegations of Abuse
Fox News ^ | April 16, 2008 | FoxNews

Posted on 04/16/2008 1:39:51 PM PDT by MissouriConservative

Several women from the polygamist retreat raided more than a week ago defended their lifestyle Wednesday in an exclusive interview with FOX News, calling it "a wonderful pure life," and saying government officials deceived them when they raided the ranch where they live.

***SNIP***

"I want the world to know that our children have been torn from us and that they need us," said Sally, a mother of nine.

"They told us that they were going to put us on a bus and take us to where it was a bigger, better place to be — where our family could be together," she added.

***SNIP***

On Monday, officials began separating women and some of their offspring without warning, members of the sect said.

***SNIP***

Texas Children's Protective Services spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner said officials decided that children are more truthful in interviews about possible abuse if their parents are not around.

"I can tell you we believe the children who are victims of abuse or neglect, and particularly victims at the hands of their own parents, certainly are going to feel safer to tell their story when they don't have a parent there that's coaching them with how to respond," Meisner said.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: concentrationcamps; jeffwarren; sect
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240241-259 next last
To: Marie2

SIX chose not to back to the compound.


221 posted on 04/16/2008 8:40:50 PM PDT by bonfire
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 215 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat
And would not apply in this cult case anyway.

Yes it would. The law went into effect in 2005. That's three years. It could apply to girls who are now up to 19 years old.

222 posted on 04/16/2008 8:41:19 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: Paleo Conservative
In post #45 you said " Wrong! The minimum age to marry was raised to 16 a few years ago just after this group moved to Texas.

I said "And would not apply in this cult case anyway".

You said, "Yes it would. The law went into effect in 2005. That's three years. It could apply to girls who are now up to 19 years old."

No one at any time can give consent to marriage to someone already married. The act is illegal. Besides the state attorney has already said there were several girls much younger than 16. Per fox news on april 11th.

223 posted on 04/16/2008 8:58:07 PM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 222 | View Replies]

To: bonfire

I stand corrected. Hope they are doing well. I’d be very interested in hearing from them why they stayed at the shelter.


224 posted on 04/16/2008 9:10:33 PM PDT by Marie2 (I used to be disgusted. . .now I try to be amused.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 221 | View Replies]

To: Marie2

Ditto that! I hope Carolyn Jessup has hooked up with them. Maybe they will be a bit more open with someone who was once in their shoes.


225 posted on 04/16/2008 9:11:59 PM PDT by bonfire
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 224 | View Replies]

To: Texas_shutterbug
The point was merely that crimes, regardless of the nature, must be investigated and prosecuted equally. You have to agree that you'd appreciate a fair investigation if you were accused of a crime, right? Horrible stories aren't proof that crimes were committed. An anonymous phone call isn't proof of a crime. Let's keep a level head - all citizens are entitled to justice. Remember Nifong and the Duke students? Lastly, investigating is fine, but taking children away from their homes is common for CPS. I agree that it's probably better to remove any possible and, more importantly, credible threat to helpless people. CPS staff are not above suspicion themselves- here is an article from Senator Schaefer from Georgia about hte abuses of CPS: http://www.senatornancyschaefer.com/articles.php?filter=6
226 posted on 04/16/2008 9:15:51 PM PDT by DilJective (Where is Francisco D'Anconia?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 194 | View Replies]

To: MissouriConservative

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=402761&in_page_id=1770

I’n an Australian and I just don’t get it - this guy was arrested and jailed in 2006 - yet the cult continued to operate?

Man who had 80 wives and 250 children arrested on rape charges
by BARRY WIGMORE

Last updated at 18:20pm on 29th August 2006

Warren Jeffs, the ruthless leader of a breakaway branch of the Mormon Church who had 80 wives and 250 children was arrested today after a five-month manhunt.

Jeffs, 50, who was on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list with a $100,000 price on his head, was arrested at a routine traffic stop in Las Vegas.

He was wanted on charges of polygamy, child rape, kidnapping, and tax evasion.


227 posted on 04/16/2008 9:24:12 PM PDT by Fred Nerks (a fair dinkum aussie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat
No one at any time can give consent to marriage to someone already married. The act is illegal. Besides the state attorney has already said there were several girls much younger than 16. Per fox news on april 11th.

So that means the State of Texas can prosecute a the "men" hell of lot more rapes, of underage girls. Even if the parents gave "consent" for their daughter to marry some 50 year old married pervert, it's still a rape and can be prosecuted as rape of a minor if charges are filed within the statute of limitations. This just amplifies my point.

228 posted on 04/16/2008 9:27:28 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 223 | View Replies]

To: MissouriConservative
LOST BOY. LINK.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Interview with a so-called 'lost boy' Editor's note: Johnny Jessop, 18, is suing polygamist leader Warren Jeffs to force him to locate Johnny's mother. Jessop, a so-called 'lost boy,' says he was kicked out of his polygamous home at the age of 13. He believes Jeffs knows his mother's whereabouts. CNN's Gary Tuchman interviewed Jessop for tonight's show.

NOTE THE DATE!

229 posted on 04/16/2008 9:38:28 PM PDT by Fred Nerks (a fair dinkum aussie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=559808&in_page_id=1811

picture says it all, the women are lost, everything possible should be done for the children, the boys who were thrown out and who do not know who or where their mothers are will probably never grow up as whole human beings. Cults such as this (and islam) should be banned! Misogyny and child abuse is what they are all about. Nothing to do with religion, it's a cover for lechery and welfare cheating. That's IMO.

230 posted on 04/17/2008 12:06:41 AM PDT by Fred Nerks (a fair dinkum aussie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 229 | View Replies]

To: Mrs Zip

ping


231 posted on 04/17/2008 12:20:18 AM PDT by zip (((Remember: DimocRat lies told often enough become truth to 48% of all Americans (NRA)))))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: muawiyah

I believe that if the State of Arizona believed for an instant thaat this guy did the crime and that there was evidence supporting the prosecution of it, that they would have his sorry backsided arrested and hauled back to the Lone Start State.


232 posted on 04/17/2008 4:57:08 AM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 212 | View Replies]

To: Fred Nerks
It's funny that you included Islam in your post. We see these poor lost and confused women pleading for their way of life on the news. It's plastered up there like a freak show, they should be behind glass with all of the carnival barkers (MSM talking heads) standing in front. But when you see an Arabic woman in her burkha we have nothing but compassion. We have to respect Islam, but not a group of Americans. We are supposed to be full of compassion for the religion of hate, but we have no room for the religion of child love. They should both be condemned.
233 posted on 04/17/2008 4:57:30 AM PDT by benjamin032
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 230 | View Replies]

To: DilJective
I feel good about this CPS investigation because guardian ad litems have been appointed for the children immediately, and because of the public scrutiny. I know of several attorneys who are participating, and they are good folks. They are taking this seriously, but aren't the types who immediately want to rip kids from their mothers.

Most CPS foul ups seem to be a done deal before GALS ever get involved.

However, this situation is just ripe for abuse, because they have to keep these girls ignorant and controlled in order to get them to participate at young ages. As a strong believer in parental rights (I homeschool), I can still see the dangers inherent in this situation. These girls really never have options. By the time they are old enough to make decisions for themselves (legally), they are already married, have kids, a fourth or fifth grade education, and no friends in the outside world to help them. It's tragic. I may exert my parental rights by homeschooling and some people may disagree with that, but when my kids are eighteen, they have legal avenues that these girls just don't really have, practically speaking.

The only way to stop this is to go after the actually polygamy, although, of course, I'm more concerned with the child abuse and rape. It just all goes together, unfortunately.

234 posted on 04/17/2008 5:13:50 AM PDT by Texas_shutterbug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 226 | View Replies]

To: Paleo Conservative
Since most of these aren't legal marriages, I guess the big question is whether parents can consent to statutory rape.

My opinion is a resounding NO! I hope I'm right. (And I do think I am.)

235 posted on 04/17/2008 5:17:36 AM PDT by Texas_shutterbug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 228 | View Replies]

To: bonfire

Yay! Six didn’t go back!

I am thrilled. That means six may have a streak of independence.


236 posted on 04/17/2008 5:26:10 AM PDT by najida (On FR- Everyman is Brad Pitt, Everywoman is Aunt Bea)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 220 | View Replies]

To: Fred Nerks

We are in total agreement on this...
From their dress, to their posture-— they look like broken spirits.

And yes, it is not a religion, those are not marriages and the young girls are not wives.


237 posted on 04/17/2008 5:29:59 AM PDT by najida (On FR- Everyman is Brad Pitt, Everywoman is Aunt Bea)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 230 | View Replies]

To: Fred Nerks

Yep, I said it yesterday-— the pervy old geezers kick out all boys as they enter sexual maturity......no competition for the 13 year old girls allowed.


238 posted on 04/17/2008 5:31:12 AM PDT by najida (On FR- Everyman is Brad Pitt, Everywoman is Aunt Bea)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 229 | View Replies]

To: Texas_shutterbug

It’s sexual slavery of women and children hiding behind religion. All the markers are there. From keeping them isolated and ignorant to raising them to believe this is their lot in life.


239 posted on 04/17/2008 5:33:33 AM PDT by najida (On FR- Everyman is Brad Pitt, Everywoman is Aunt Bea)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 234 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Head
Let's see how far Arizona wishes to be portrayed as soft on pedophiles ~ that's starting today in a court in Texas.
240 posted on 04/17/2008 5:45:24 AM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 232 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240241-259 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson