183 Children and Women Are Taken from the Compound; 18 Girls in State Custody
By Brooke Adams
The Salt Lake Tribune
April 5, 2008
http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_8823648
ELDORADO, Texas - After four years of quietly building a polygamous enclave in west Texas, the fundamentalist FLDS sect has been sundered by a major state raid that by Saturday had brought out 183 boys, girls and women for questioning about their well-being.
Spurred by a report of physical abuse at the compound on Monday, Texas law enforcement and child welfare workers have scoured the compound for evidence that the women and children were in peril.
 |
| FLDS children out for fresh air in a courtyard at the First Baptist Church in Eldorado, Texas, on Saturday. The 97 girls, 40 boys and 46 women who have been taken from the compound are being housed, questioned and cared for by CPS investigators at the Schleichter County Civic Center and Eldorado's First Baptist Church. Photo by Trent Nelson |
As of Saturday, 18 of the girls remained in state custody, meaning they are considered to be under threat of physical, mental or sexual abuse, or of neglect, said Marleigh Meisner, spokeswoman for the Texas Child Protective service. The state had found foster families for them, but they had not been moved by Saturday evening, she said.
 |
| A young FLDS girl after being removed from the "Yearning for Zion" compound. The girl was initially taken to the Civic Center in Eldorado, where many FLDS youth are being temporarily sheltered, but was then taken in this car to an unknown location on Saturday. Photo by Trent Nelson |
The remainder - 79 girls, 40 boys and 46 women - were being housed, questioned and cared for by CPS investigators at the Schleicher County Civic Center and the town's First Baptist Church, whose members offered food, supplies and comfort.
"The kids are doing remarkably well," Meisner said. "We're really, really trying to be aware that their whole world has changed. And be sensitive to the fact that we've taken them from their surroundings."
As for the girl who made the complaint Monday, Meisner said, "I cannot confirm that we have found" her.
Law enforcement and court officials on Saturday declined to speak about the investigation; 51st District Judge Barbara Walther earlier issued a gag order. Nathan Butler of San Angelo, attorney for the FLDS in Eldorado, also declined to comment.
A hearing is scheduled Monday in juvenile court to consider what to do with the children in state custody.
The abuse report that triggered the investigation resulted in a warrant being issued for Dale Evans Barlow, who is being investigated for purportedly marrying and impregnating a 16-year-old girl in Eldorado.
However, Barlow, of Colorado City, Ariz. - which with Hildale, Utah, is the traditional home base of the FLDS - said he has no knowledge of the girl, his probation officer said Saturday.
Barlow is one of eight Colorado City men charged in Arizona in 2005 of marrying underage girls and committing sex crimes. He pleaded no contest in April 2007 to conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, and a second charge was dropped. The victim was a 16-year-old girl with whom he had a son.
Barlow was later sentenced to 45 days in jail and three years on probation.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.