@@Abuse, allegations DEPRIVED OF NUTRITION, FORCED TO SIT IN CLOSETS, DENIED EDUCATION http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/09/AR2008040904065.html Documents Offer Details On Practices At Ranch By Sylvia Moreno Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, April 10, 2008; Page A02 SAN ANGELO, Tex., April 9 Court documents released late Tuesday also said children at the ranch "are deprived of nutrition as a method of punishment, as well as being forced to sit in closed closets as a method of punishment." (this based on a fraud, unverified phone call) In a petition asking for a court order to remove the children from the compound, officials said a number of the children who were interviewed were not able to provide the names of their biological parents or such information as their birth dates or birthplaces. Conclusion - All are false allegations based only on fradulent phone call. CPS forced a boy to sit in a closet all night in Eldorado. %%Education DEPRIVED OF NUTRITION, FORCED TO SIT IN CLOSETS, DENIED EDUCATION http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/09/AR2008040904065.html Documents Offer Details On Practices At Ranch By Sylvia Moreno Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, April 10, 2008; Page A02 SAN "The Department is concerned about the possibility that some of these children have been denied a proper education," the petition said. Conclusion - tests showed children tested above state average, children in Eldorado scored well below average. Agency did NOT provide for education while children were in custody, saying that it was more important they be placed in "normal" living circumstances. %%Violence FLORA: THEY BEAT YOU. THEY WHIP YOU. THEY BRUTALIZE YOU AND THEY PSYCHOLOGICALLY DESTROY YOU http://texaslastfrontier.com/prairie_fire_journal/blog1.php/2008/04/24/arrest-of-rosita-swinton-raises-new-ques Flora Jessop: "I know first-hand that what this little girl is saying is the absolute truth, and that she is in imminent danger. They do lock you up. They beat you. They whip you. They brutalize you and they psychologically destroy you. Most of the children would not be able to withstand the psychological torture that they put you through." said. (Never verified to have happened at the YFZ ranch) %%worse http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:I0kv5ojwjawJ:gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2008/05/yfz-kids-abused-and-neglected-under-cps.html+%22Lee+Roy+Jessop%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us doran said... Ten Things that happen to kids which are worse than sexual abuse: 1. Being drowned to death by their mother. 2. Suffering a skull fracture by being beaten. 3. Suffering brain damage by being shaken. 4. Suffering broken ribs, broken legs, and broken arms by being beaten. 5. Gunshot wounds. 6. Being kidnapped by strangers, and placed in the custody of strangers. 7. Being separated for what seems like forever from brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers. 8. Being dropped out of high windows. 9. Being savagely chewed on by dogs. 10. Being scalded. I've either seen all these things in my practice,or have seen them reported. 5/14/2008 02:02:00 PM kbp said... 11. Grounded from the X-Box AND Play Station for a week. Threw that in for humor on a slow day, but some kids might agree with it. @@Abuse, CPS According to Marie Musser, the children never suffered abuse until they suffered at the hands of CPS. Others agree. %%Family Support Center "The children, no doubt, suffered extreme psychological abuse at the hands of the people who were seeing themselves as rescuers." "Texas harming FLDS children, Utah group says" By James Thalman Deseret News Published: April 22, 2008 deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695272632,00.html Texas authorities' attempts to save children from being abused at the YFZ Ranch are doing much more harm than good for the 437 children they removed from the FLDS Church property, a Utah child welfare advocacy group said Monday. A byproduct of actions by child protective services in Texas is exposing children to a special kind of trauma, fear and mistrust that they are likely to have not known were it not for the raid at the compound, said Bonnie L. Peters, executive director of The Family Support Center. While well-meaning, removing the children and keeping them sequestered "is not in the best interest of the children and will have devastating effects on their mental health," she said, starting with the heavily armed Texas law enforcement officers who arrived at the ranch of the Fundamentalist LDS Church in SWAT gear. the public should keep in mind that the Texas CPS workers have placed the children in an isolated compound, in absolute secrecy, at risk of abuse and barred from contact with the outside world. "That's what CPS said they were protecting the children from in the first place," he said. %%Interogation - Children interrogated past midnight for 6 hours %%MOTHERS WE ARE BEING TREATED LIKE THE JEWS IN NAZI CAMPS http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/15/sect.mothers/#cnnSTCText Tue April 15, 2008 State now a danger to children, sect's mothers say the state is placing their children in greater danger by exposing them to things they would have never seen at the ranch. "They are clean and pure," one mother said of the children. "This is the worst thing happening to them. They are learning terrible things from the questions being asked, things that they have never been exposed to. They have been so protected here @@ACLU http://www.acluutah.org/texasFLDraid.htm A Chronological History of the ACLU Response to the Texas FLDS Raid On April 3, 2008, Texas law enforcement officials obtained a search warrant related to the suspected sexual assault of a child and then conducted a raid on the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado, Texas. Texas Supreme Court Calls Removal Of Children From Yearning For Zion Ranch “Unwarranted” - Ruling Concurs With ACLU Position Posted 5/29/08 - The Texas Supreme Court today agreed with the American Civil Liberties Union that the state failed to provide evidence sufficient to justify its removal of children from 38 mothers at the Yearning For Zion Ranch (YFZ) in Eldorado. Read More >> ACLU Brief at Texas Supreme Court: State Can’t Separate Families Based Solely On Beliefs - Brief Highlights Due Process Rights Of Families Impacted in FLDS Case Posted 5/29/08 - The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Texas today submitted a friend of the court brief with the Texas Supreme Court opposing a petition from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) to retain custody of the children of 38 mothers from the Yearning For Zion Ranch (YFZ) in ElDorado, Texas. Read More >> ACLU Statement On Texas Appellate Court Decision Regarding Yearning For Zion Ranch Posted 5/22/08 - The ACLU applauds the Texas Third Court of Appeals for ensuring that members of the Fundamental Church of Latter-day Saints receive the due process to which they, like all Americans, are entitled. Read More >> National ACLU Statement on the Texas raid of FLDS Ranch Posted 05/02/08 - On April 3, 2008, Texas law enforcement officials obtained a search warrant related to the suspected sexual assault of a child and then conducted a raid on the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado, Texas. Based upon news reports and other available information, the ACLU has serious concerns that the state’s actions so far have not adequately protected the fundamental rights at stake. Read the whole statement >> ACLU of Texas Observing FLDS Custody Hearings in San Angelo Posted 04/18/08 - A representative of the ACLU of Texas is in San Angelo observing the custody hearings currently underway concerning the 416 children of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FDLS) that were taken into state custody. Read more >> The ACLU Responds to Texas FLDS Raid Posted 4/16/08 - The ACLU of Utah has received many inquiries from the public and media regarding our position on the April 3rd raid which took 416 Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints children into state custody after allegations of some sexual and physical abuse. Karen McCreary, Executive Director of the ACLU of Utah, states, "The government has the obligation to protect children from danger, and the obligation to do so constitutionally, particularly given the impact on this community." The ACLU of Texas is following the situation. @@Age determination Birth Certificates and Drivers licence could not be used to prove age, they looked at the girls to make the determination. Some were as old as 35. %%Identification According to Brooke Adams, Salt Lake Tribune polygamy reporter, Judge Walther denied birth certificates as proof of identification &/or age. http://blogs.sltrib.com/plurallife/2008/04/identity-theft.htm %%Sight JUDGE CUTS OFF QUESTION ABOUT VOSS ABILITY TO TELL AGE BY SIGHT LIVE FROM THE COURTHOUSE: Day 2 of updates from FLDS custody hearing Trish Choate Originally published 11:00 a.m., April 18, 2008 http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2008/apr/18/live-from-the-courthouse-day-2-of-updates-from/ Another parents' attorney wants to know whether Voss has established her expertise in domestic violence and determining the age of a person "by sight." No, Voss says. You have no expertise in determining a woman's age by sight? the attorney says again. She goes on to say Voss has "magically" determined ages. The attorney wants to establish this isn't credible testimony. "We're kind of creeping into argument," the judge says. She tries to redirect the hearing to information that would allow her to figure out whether the children should go back to their parents. The judge ends up cutting off the parents' attorney. 10:11 a.m. - http://patterico.com/2008/04/17/day-1-flds-child-custody-testimony/ That these females don’t look over 18 to CPS workers means diddly. I have a 25 year old daughter who is regularly taken for 15 or 16, and a 23 year old likewise, and once or twice somebody has guessed that she was 12. They aren’t all 16. Ross says there are 10 girls between the ages of 16 and 19 who are married, five of whom are pregnant or have children. So first of all, I don’t even know what the 19 year old(s) are doing on that list. That’s an adult. SEcondly, at least one of them is a married to a 17 year old, not an old man. We don’t know about any of the others because the CPS witness says she ‘doesn’t know’ if she’s ascertained whether or not any of the young men 17 and under are involved with the girls. Comment by DeputyHeadmistress — 4/18/2008 @ 12:13 pm http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/2008/07/flds-july-10th.html ONE OF OUR DEAR MOTHERS WAS 35 It was amazing to watch one of our dear mothers whose age was 35. CPS had refused to let her see an attorney because they had judged her to be under 18. Then at this point, they took her 11-year-old son away from her and sent him with the group of boys. It seemed that whenever any treacherous act was performed, they would then and there decide what age we were to justify their deeds. At one point, the CPS workers told this dear mother, “You should feel complimented by how young you look.” The mother replied, “That does no good for me in this situation.” @@Anderson, Andy IF EVEN ONE PERSON COULD BE SALVAGED FROM CHILD ABUSE, I THINK IT WAS WORTH IT." Trouble in the Hills Gretel C. Kovach and Andrew Murr Newsweek Web Exclusive Apr 10, 2008 | Updated: 11:53 a.m. ET Apr 10, 2008 http://www.newsweek.com/id/131379/output/print "Numerous people are going to have much better lives as a result of this raid," Anderson said. "And if even one person could be salvaged from child abuse, I think it was worth it." Pastor Andy Anderson of First Baptist Church, which temporarily housed some of the group. He and leaders of all the churches in town, which far outnumber restaurants, had been waiting for years for this chance to minister to them in Christ's name. Residents and local businesses donated carts full of food and sodas, boxes of teddy bears, and cots and cribs to the women and children at the Eldorado shelters. @@Anonymous tip comment on Polygamist Sect's Kids Face Health Issues Lack of Vaccinations, Chickenpox Outbreak Among Medical Hurdles By DAN CHILDS ABC News Medical Unit Apr. 11, 2008 http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Germs/story?id=4633483&page=1 The Supreme Court of the United States has repeatedly ruled that an anonymous tip is NEVER probable cause (one of the very few things they have been able to get right in the last 100 years). Yet it is in this case. Why is that? Where is this supposed 16 year old that called the abuse hot line? Even if these Socialist moonbats could produce this imaginary 16 year old; their so-called “probable cause” was still an anonymous tip; by their own description . Again; how is that probable cause? How absolutely outrageous. Under what authority do these kidnappers hold 416 children? Are they claiming all of them are sexually abused? Where are these children's parents? I have absolutely no idea what was going on here. But I know probable cause when I see it; & the absolute, total lack thereof; as well. This is a case of all knowing, benevolent government; knowing what is best for these people. These Statist whackos; who know what is best for these people, & their children; are by far; the greatest evil; & the greatest threat to freedom; this country has ever faced. Has the whole United States forgotten; Waco Texas, & Ruby Ridge? As long as these hardcore Marxists scream "Save the children"; the United States Constitution, & the Bill of Rights; are of absolutely no consequence. Just remember: Today it is this group of polygamists; these Marxist whackos are persecuting; tomorrow it will be you. Bob Fletche I agree with this guy 100% Posted by: mod70xtr2 9:20 PM @@Apostate narrative http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/06/escape/ It sounds like an interesting book. But I really have questions about how much we can take away from it. There’s all sorts of research that’s been done on the reliability of apostate narratives, and the general view is that they’re highly unreliable. In particular, the more marginalized the group is from mainstream society, the more likely exit narratives will pander to or reinforce inaccurate perceptions about the group. (For a really interesting discussion, ask Armand Mauss some time about the reliability of apostate narratives.) This is a problem, of course, because for groups like the FLDS, apostate narratives may be all that we’ve _got_ for some areas. Some people have tried to get around the reliability problems by trying to find ways to locate good information in those narratives. In particular, I know Seth Payne has written a little about this, in the LDS context (such as his Sunstone West presentation this year, which was really good and interesting stuff). He’s of the view that you can find good information in apostate narratives, but that’s in part because LDS culture is sufficiently mainstream that apostate narratives are less likely to be sensationalized. And, he’s got a database of 200 of them. (Neither of which apply to FLDS/Escape.) And I still don’t know if Armand buys Seth’s theory. Comment by Kaimi — June 1, 2008 @ 9:21 pm (I should note that I’m good friends with some former members of the church, and my “reliability of apostate narratives” comment isn’t meant to denigrate anyone’s individual story, certainly not my friends’ stories. I’m just refering to what I believe is, in my own limited understanding of the sociological literature (and conversation with Armand and his much greater knowledge of the material), a known and recognized phenomenon.) Comment by Kaimi — June 1, 2008 @ 9:37 pm @@Apology http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080916.BCPOLYGAMY16/TPStory/National Canadian seized in Texas set to be free Judge to end supervision of teen, now 18, one of 400 young people removed from religious sect's compound ROBERT MATAS September 16, 2008 http://iperceive.net/real-ugly-americans-texas-cps-refuses-to-apologize-to-canadian-girl-wrongly-held/ the Toronto Globe and Mail reports on the heartless, insolent response of CPS spokesman Patrick Crimmins when asked if CPS had made any mistakes or owes any apology — to FLDS families or to the 18-year-old Canadian girl held since April — for removing them from their homes and brutally separating parents and children without cause: Despite the reversal in court orders, Patrick Crimmins, a spokesman for Child Protective Services, said yesterday that authorities do not believe they made any mistakes. Investigators acted on information they had at the time of the raid, he said in an interview. “We stand by the fact that at the time, given the circumstances and the information we had, we did act appropriately and no, we haven’t changed that position,” he said. Asked whether an apology were necessary, Mr. Crimmins said: “Absolutely not.” In other words, Crimmins and CPS don’t give a damn for the joint judgment of the Texas 3rd Court of Appeal and the Texas Supreme Court, both of which found that CPS violated the law in removing these children and separating them from their parents. In the face of such condemnation, Crimmins is unmoved. This says a lot about Texas CPS 11 TxBlogger { 09.16.08 at 2:23 pm } They could start here with apologizes: Rep Naishtat, on the committee that overseees CPS, “There’s something called due process rights and you can’t deprive children, or families, or anyone in this country of their due process rights. And that was a big mistake.” @@Arrested http://www.crimeandjustice.us/forums/lofiversion/index.php?t9366.html UPDATED: Record child welfare rescue Web Posted: 04/08/2008 09:58 AM CDT Janet Elliott Express-News Austin Bureau one man was arrested and charged with interfering with the duties of a public servant, a class B misdemeanor. That is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. "He was not doing what the officers at the scene wanted him to do," Mange said, giving no other details of his actions or his name. Search of FLDS temple site complete By Brian West Deseret Morning News Published: Thursday, April 10, 2008 11:05 a.m. MDT Texas Rangers said the FLDS faithful involved in the brief stand-off were "passive and loving" and did not offer physical resistance, with the exception of Levi Barlow Jeffs, 19, who was arrested for interfering with the duties of a public servant. @@Barlow, Dale 50 year old man accused of assaulting "Sara", who was made up in a hoax. Ranger Long believed on the basis of the call that he was on the ranch, but they soon found out he was still in Arizona and was never on the ranch, something they could have determined (as well as traced Rozita's calls) well before the raid was initiated. http://www.nbc10.com/family/15803481/detail.html Standoff With Polygamist Sect Eases 200 Women, Children Removed From Polygamist Compound Earlier POSTED: 6:24 pm EDT April 5, 2008 Officials in Texas declined to comment Saturday on whether they had found Barlow, citing the gag order, but the man's probation officer told The Salt Lake Tribune that he was in Arizona. "He said the authorities had called him (in Colorado City, Ariz.) and some girl had accused him of assaulting her and he didn't even know who she was," said Bill Loader, a probation officer in Arizona. Barlow was sentenced to jail time last year after pleading no contest to conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for three years while he is on probation. His lawyer in that case, Bruce Griffen, said he had not spoken to Barlow in a year. @@Baptist Child Family Services http://iperceive.net/texas-cps-100k-club-members-bcfs-janel-voss/ I Perceive By proving contraries, truth is made manifest. Texas CPS $100K club members: BCFS & Janel Voss by Kurt Schulzke The Texas CPS child kleptocracy includes an elaborate web of vendors, not all of which are funded equally. Our research department — kbp — is curious about a Janel Voss who appears on the current list of Texas DFPS vendors with “active service contracts” exceeding $100K. Does Janel have any connection to Chief CPS investigator Angie Voss, up to her neck in the FLDS mess? We’d be delighted to hear from anyone who knows more about Janel, including Janel herself. (See update on Janel, below.) Also newsworthy is that Baptist Child and Family Services — Johnny-at-the-YFZ-Ranch with an armada of official Baptist buses, back on that fateful night in April — has no less than eleven (11) such $100K+ contracts. In an earlier version of the list, BCFS was showing only eight. Rewards of loyalty? Any wonder that they were so quick to respond to CPS’s call to spirit off those “abused” FLDS kids? Money, power, religion and CPS. It’s a killer combination for Texas families. Prairie Fire Journal documents the extensive “command and control” involvement of BCFS in the FLDS affair and poses pointed questions: I think all Texans should be questioning why a religious organization is put in a supervisory position over state, county and city personnel under any circumstances. When did the citizens of Texas delegate the powers of the state to religious organizations? What’s equally alarming is the BCFS’s involvement in the GPS tracking of the child-relocation buses as they were dispatched throughout the state. I’m trying to figure out how GPS tracking for buses full of abducted FLDS children fits into providing humanitarian services. @@Best interest of the children Definition: best interest of CPS.Betrothed: Married but did not "know" her @@Betrothed Betrothed: Married but did not "know" her The Polygamy Files: The Tribune's blog on the plural life Friday, May 23, 2008 The photo Just when you think this whole saga can not get any ''curiousier'' there is another twist in the rabbit hole. A day after a knocked-down appeals court ruling, state attorneys went for broke and offered as evidence damning photos of FLDS sect leader Warren S. Jeffs during a 14-day hearing Friday afternoon for Richard Daniel Jessop, born 10 days ago to Louisa and Dan Jessop. The worst of the photos shows Jeffs kissing a pint-size girl. The girl is Dan's sister -- and the daughter of YFZ Ranch overseer Merrill Jessop. She is so small that Jeffs has to cradle her in his arms to kiss her on the lips. The state gave her date of birth as July 1994, and described her as 13 when the photo was taken. Based on a handwritten note on the photograph, which said it was taken on July 27, 2006, she would have been 12 -- assuming the state has the date of birth properly matched up to the right person. The state also produced two other sets of photos but did not make much ado about the girls' ages. Louisa, who is 22, said one of them is older than she is. The FLDS bar physical contact between men and women until they are married. That means no hugs, hand-holding, kisses or anything else. Jeffs has taught that, until their marriages, girls are to treat boys like snakes. So there is no doubt what this photograph means: Warren Jeffs is sealed -- married -- to this little girl. If any one out there has a different explanation, offer it up. The photograph was taken almost exactly a month before Jeffs was arrested in 2006 on an empty stretch of freeway north of Las Vegas. I heard rumblings about this information about a year ago but nothing substantial enough to know whether it was true or not. I tried to ask CPS attorney Ellen Griffith where the photos came from but she would not comment. There was no comment from CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner about the photographs, either. It is unclear how it surfaced here. Was it found at the ranch or did it come from some other helpful source? So we have a photo, but what is the context? Is there any possible explanation for what we see other than the worst possible conclusion? What happened next? Web site of FAIRon the multiple purposes of polygamous marriages in the past. Some were dynastic, aimed not at procreation but at tieing ''faithful families together.'' ..whether Joseph Smith consummated all his marriages or simply entered into some marriages to create family ties... .. many of the women who joined Brigham Young's family after Smith's death were wives in name only. Carolyn Jessop offers another reason for marriages to the prophet: Honor and glory in the afterlife. http://blogs.sltrib.com/plurallife/2008/05/photo.htm At 3:55 PM, Hugh McBryde said... Brooke, In the story of Mary and Joseph, Joseph was betrothed to Mary, but had not yet "known" her. This was customary. She becomes pregnant with a child Joseph knows he could not have fathered. Why? Because he had not BEEN with Mary. The simple answer as to whether or not this was abuse is to see if the girl and her parents will consent to any examination to determine virginity. If she consents and she demonstrably is virginal, no abuse has ever occurred as a result of being married. Otherwise she could be asked, and if she says no relations ever occurred, well we'll have to go with that testimony as well. If she chooses to say nothing, we have nothing. The FLDS in many ways are very traditional Biblically. I am sure marriages are arranged as they were in Biblical times and quite often before those marriages could be consummated. In any case, from the state's point of view, Warren isn't there and thus isn't an immediate threat to anybody and if he ever gets out, this girl will be "of age." @@Birth certificate "During custody hearings in April, a Texas judge refused to accept birth certificates offered by FLDS women as proof of their age or their status as a parent. Duncan said Texas officials never contacted his office about the authenticity of the documents." [http://www.sltrib.com/polygamy/ci_9625046 Utah birth records sought in probe of FLDS couples' ages Salt Lake Tribune 6/19/2008] http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/17/dispatch-from-the-flds-hearing-cross-examination/ Dispatch from the FLDS hearing: Cross Examination Posted: 10:52 PM ET Permalink | 16 Comments Ismael Estrada, CNN Supervising Producer Other issues raised: Why did they take the boys? Were children taken even after birth certificates were provided? [yes]And more… @@Bistline A Prophet in Purgatory Will throwing the book at polygamist Warren Jeffs bust up his sect or be a boon to it? Don Lattin SF Chronicle Sunday, November 19, 2006 www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/11/19/CMGTTLVBEJ1.DTL author of "Colorado City Polygamists -- An Inside Look for the Outsider," points out that the legal morass and public reaction against the 1953 government raid only strengthened the polygamist community along the Utah-Arizona border. "If they would have just let us alone we'd probably have died out by now," said Bistline, said Bistline, who was 18 when the government agents moved on the settlement. "They were just kickin' the mustard tree and scatterin' the seeds." IT WAS TOTAL MISERY ... THIS IS A JUSTIFIED RAID SAYS BISTLINE http://www.rickross.com/reference/polygamy/polygamy805.html Girl whose call triggered raid complained of being beaten, officials say Child agency workers finish search of ranch, but investigation continues. Austin American-Statesman/April 9, 2008 By Corrie MacLaggan "It was total misery for them," said Ben Bistline, now 72. He was 18 when authorities raided the remote community on the Arizona-Utah line, taking 200 children into custody as part of an effort to wipe out a "nest of polygamy." ** Bistline was not rounded up in the 1953 raid ** , but the woman he married later in life was 15 when she and her seven siblings were shipped to Phoenix, far from friends and family. Despite the potential new hardships for the children and women in Texas, Bistline said the raid is appropriate if children are being forced into marriages. "This situation in Texas is a justifiable raid," he said. @@Boise Leon Blogger who thinks it started with McCain campaign against Romney that got out of hand. http://deseretnews.com/user/comments/1,5150,695270749,00.html Boise Leon | 12:11 a.m. April 16, 2008 It all started when Mitt Romney let it out that he was going to be candidate for President in the spring of 2006. Then someone in Washington convinced the FBI to add Jeffs to the 10 most wanted list along with Osama and a string of murders and bank robbers. Then the reward was raised twice to $100,000 with press releases throughout the USA. Finally an unknown snitch whispered in the Sheriffs ear that there were beds in the temple, attack now! At the same time the No Mitt for VP ad was released. Sheriff, check the phone records of your snitch. She probably has disappeared by now. No use looking for the 16 year old. Look for the snitch. Sometimes there really is a conspiracy. Texans, remember the Alamo, the Texas book depository, Waco and the FLDS "compound" This is not about child abuse, religion or polygamy, it's politics at its ugliest. Follow the $100,000 reward money. @@Bones CPS full body x-rayed all children without permission or medical reasons, evidently to find "proof" of abuse, but 3 children (1%) broke bones just being rounded up and in CPS care in just 2 weeks. 7 YR OLD GIRL BROKE BONES IN CARE OF CPS IN WELLS FARGO PAVILLION http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd368.htm FLDS RAID AND THE NAFTA SUPER HIGHWAY By: Devvy June 13, 2008 "Isn't it ironic that (Child Protective Services) is talking about broken bones when a little 7-year-old girl in the care of CPS broke an arm while she was at the Wells Fargo Pavilion?" @@Book http://iperceive.net/texas-flds-ad-litem-expect-pissed-off-flds-teens-sassing-the-judge/ 8 Ronald Schoedel { 06.25.08 at 5:23 pm } I have long been hoping that a book telling the truth of the story will be the first to press; so I can’t wait for your book, Kurt. It will be sorely needed and I hope it becomes an authoritative tome on the matter. We know there will be plenty more Elissa Wall/Carolyn Jessop-style novels written about “how the state of Texas managed to send hundreds of children back to their abusers” and those purveyors of fiction must not be allowed to stand as the sanctioned historians of this terrible tragedy. @@Boys CHILDREN DOMINATED BY GIRLS 14 TO 17 http://themothertongue.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/flds-boys/ According to a CNN article: Of the 463 children, 250 are girls and 213 are boys. Children 13 and younger are about evenly split — 197 girls and 196 boys — but there are only 17 boys aged 14 to 17, compared with the 53 girls in that age range @@Brainwashing Brainwashing: FLDS are accused of brainwashing their wives and children, mental health worker thought the rest of us have been brainwashed into persucuting the innocent INTOLERANT FAITH, BABY FACTORIES, HAD BRUISES AND WELTS, BRAINWASHING http://www.rickross.com/reference/polygamy/polygamy789.html Former polygamists tell of isolation and brainwashing Ft. Worth Star-Telegram/April 6, 2008 By Jack Douglas, Jr. @@Canadian Canadian seized in Texas set to be free Judge to end supervision of teen, now 18, one of 400 young people removed from religious sect's compound ROBERT MATAS September 16, 2008 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080916.BCPOLYGAMY16/TPStory/National Five months after an unprecedented raid on a polygamist sect in Texas, a Canadian teenager who was picked up by child-protection workers will finally be free to leave the state and return to Canada. A Texas Supreme Court judge is expected to sign an order within a week that will end court supervision of the teenager's care, Mary Ann Gonzales, a deputy clerk, said yesterday in an interview. Once the court order is lifted, the young woman may live where she wants and is no longer required to stay in Texas, Ms. Gonzales said. The former FLDS members said the young women were taken across the border to be assigned as so-called celestial brides to older men. At the time of the raid, the Canadian teen's parents said she was visiting her grandmother at the polygamist compound. The young woman, who was 17 then, was initially placed by the court in foster care. In June, she was allowed to live with a guardian, but a court order required her to remain in Texas. Her caregivers had to be available for unannounced visits by child-protection workers. However, she turned 18 this month and, as a result, is no longer under the jurisdiction of the state child-protection agency. Her parents, who live in a polygamist FLDS community outside Creston in southeastern B.C., did not respond to a request for an interview yesterday. @@CASA http://iperceive.net/texas-flds-ad-litem-expect-pissed-off-flds-teens-sassing-the-judge/ 12. While CPS is routinely high-handed and arrogant, this case is full of anomalies. One is that it features two kinds of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). One variety is the full, legally appointed thing as in the head CASA in San Angelo. The other variety is a thing called a “courtesy CASA,” not legally appointed but filling a sort of intelligence-gathering role for the head CASA who “instructed” the couresty CASAs not to talk with AALs and “not to interact with the children.” Millie found this to be just weird. The whole purpose of a CASA is to help these poor kids get through the agony of separation from their families. Yet these CASAs were told to coldly watch the kids and do nothing but take notes and inform the head CASA in San Angelo! If an AAL said something like, “Child A needs shoes. Would you please get some for her?” the CASA would respond, “I’ve been instructed not to interact with the children.” She hastens to add that some of the CASAs were active and some expressed concerns about the children. CASAs are normally good and helpful. Millie did have a phone conversation with two different CASAs who had met with girls and had hoped to be able to get more involved. @@Cast %%Adults %%Children 7-year old girls with broken bones in WFPavillion @@Cellphones http://patterico.com/2008/04/17/day-1-flds-child-custody-testimony/ not good enough to remove 416 children from their homes and warehouse them at Fort Concho in conditions that were so bad the judge ordered cell phones confiscated for no other reason than that the women in the shelters used them to take pictures of the conditions CPS put them in and share them with reporters. Comment by DeputyHeadmistress — 4/18/2008 @ 12:13 pm @@Child Abuse %%Evidence Horror of the Texas Child Sex Cult Ranch By Anton Antonowicz Mirror (United Kingdom) April 10, 2008 Hundreds of children bred for sex Girls of 10 forced to wed older men http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/04/10/horror-of-the-child-sex-cult-89520-20378179/ Investigators said some of the children were unwilling or unable to provide the names of their biological parents. Children in the sect were allegedly deprived of food and forced to sit in closed cupboards as a form of discipline. They knew nothing of the world beyond the locked iron gates of the compound. There was no access to televisions, newspapers or magazines. Neither the children nor their mothers knew how to use crayons given to them by social workers after they were rescued. They were physically sick after their first meal on the outside because their stomachs couldn't handle processed food or rich sauces. "They are like aliens - or we are like aliens to them," said Helen Pfluger, a volunteer at a local Baptist church who helped to care for the children. "It was like talking to people from 1870." The pioneer-style dresses, worn over long handstitched underwear all yearround are part of the cult's strict dress code. The women spent their days tilling the fields and quilting and are thought to have stood by as the men preyed on the younger girls. %%No abuse MILLIE OBSERVED LITERALLY NO EVIDENCE OF ABUSE http://iperceive.net/texas-flds-ad-litem-expect-pissed-off-flds-teens-sassing-the-judge/ CPS is routinely high-handed and Millie admits to allowing them to get away with it in other cases where the evidence of abuse was clear and abundant. This case is the opposite. Millie says she has seen literally no evidence of abuse (unless you count as evidence the five young women currently identified as pregnant underage) and remarked at how, during the now infamous 14-day hearing in San Angelo (download full transcipts of April 17 and April 18 here), Judge Walther allowed totally unauthenticated material into evidence, routinely over-ruling or simply ignoring solid objections to admission of hoakey material offered by CPS. At the same time, CPS has refused requests for simple stuff like an admission that an 18-month-old boy can’t possibly have sexually abused anyone. @@Child Support http://hughmcbryde.blogspot.com/2008/09/another-plan-to-bankrupt-flds.html Friday, September 26, 2008 Another plan to bankrupt the FLDS Buried in articles are often the most fascinating bits of information, that are just tossed off and nothing more said; The Deseret News - "As of Monday, Barbara Jessop had started paying child support, undergone a psychological evaluation and had a social study conducted on her home. However, she has refused to sign a family service plan that outlines the steps she must take to be reunited with her daughter." Now multiply that by over 400 children. The original plan of attack against the FLDS had their property trust being attacked (it still is) and plundering their wealth in that way. What I ignored, and should not have, was the effect of the child custody cases in terms of Child Support. Your child is taken from you, it's not just the legal cost of trying to get that child back. You have to PAY for their captivity, much as the families of the crew of the Titanic were in some cases ordered by Whitestar Lines for their dead loved ones lost uniforms. Were the children still in CPS custody, all FLDS parents would be bled through child support right now, along with the legal costs of their predicament. Sphere: Related Content Posted by The Pharisee at 9:20 AM Labels: CPS Nazis 2 comments: ztgstmv said... What CPS doesn't get is that it doesn't cost the FLDS nearly as much money to raise a child as a regular person in mainstream society. The FLDS make all their own clothes, grow their own food, and man their own activities. There's no need for expensive shopping trips to spoil their kids, getting the latest clothes in fashion, make-up, CDs, trips to disney, day care, dance classes, Taik won du, trips to Rome, etc. that "ordinary" children require. Thus the $600 a month Barbara and Merril are required to pay those foster care parents is excessive! FLDS kids don't cost that much money to raise! If CPS weren't so prejudiced, they would put Merrianne with another FLDS family, so that her cultural values are preserved. 2:09 PM Me said... But that wouldn't fit their plan. No matter what they won't put her with an FLDS family, because the money would end up right back where it came from. The object is to break them financially as you said. Besides, the FLDS belief system is what is hurting the children, right? @@Children %%Jessop, Willson http://www.truthwillprevail.org/index.php?parentid=1&index=144 Willson Jessop was born August 3, 2006. As a baby he was very attached to me. I nursed him for 13 months. He was contented and happy, very much “Mama’s boy.” At 20 months old his carefree babyhood turned into a nightmare... The morning that he and his siblings were torn from my arms at the Coliseum, they hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, and they were half-sick from the change in diet and the air conditioner being on all the time. CPS hadn’t allowed me to cover his crib even partway to block out some of the light and cold so he could sleep. They couldn’t find his bottle when I was forced out, and vivid in my mind are his screams, with his outstretched arms reaching for me as I was marched away—robbed of my dearest treasures on earth. Lilly (his 8-year-old sister) said they didn’t get anything to eat until noon. what a change—he was not even the same warm, affectionate, charming little person. He refused to let me hold or even hug him. He just gave me a bewildered, accusing look from pain-filled eyes as if I was the one who had abandoned him They would only let me visit one hour once a week, and it was such an oppressive atmosphere that I could hardly encourage the children, with the CPS caseworker taking notes and threatening to “terminate the visit” if she could not hear every word I said. The separation has delayed his speech. He mostly babbles, but he can say very clearly, “No,” “Don’t,” and “Mine.” If he feels wronged by his playmates, then he must revenge himself by kicking them. He is very aggressive and self defensive. The scars run deep, and it will take a lot of love to restore him to the happy, secure child he once was. they performed a SANE examination on him as requested by his ad litem. (CPS was not even aware of this examination until after it was done. Those are only supposed to be ordered by Law Enforcement on an allegation of child abuse.) I %%LIST http://patterico.com/2008/04/17/day-1-flds-child-custody-testimony/ The state has in custody the three children of an EMT licensed adult woman married as an adult to an adult her own age- and they are monogamous. The state has in custody the 13 year old son of a 56 year old divorced woman who only arrived at the ranch last August. The state has in custody at least one Canadian girl who was merely visiting her grandmother. There is no evidence these children were or are at risk from their parents. Comment by DeputyHeadmistress — 4/22/2008 @ 11:49 am http://truthwillprevail.net/index.php?parentid=1&index=123 Faith of the Children By Donald Richter After the mothers were separated from the children at the Pavilion, the older children took on the role of protectors and hugged and comforted the younger ones when they cried for their mothers. One of the Mental-Health workers who assisted the mothers and children shortly after the YFZ raid reported that the children “wanted to be busy and asked to rake, sweep, or wash windows The children asked the staff to please not use sugar in the bread, but they continued using sugar and making toast with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top….The children were so hungry that they decided to eat just a little of it.” They enjoyed swimming and having water fights but insisted on engaging in these activities fully clothed. “On one occasion, one of the girls’ sleeves was up a little bit, and one of the staff saw her underwear. The staff member went over and touched it and said, ‘Oh, do you guys wear that? I am sorry. That is why you are so hot. Why don’t you just take it off? We will get you some earrings and makeup,’ naming all this stuff they would get us so that we would just come out and be like the world. Our reply was ‘NO way, we will not do that. “On one occasion, one of the girls’ sleeves was up a little bit, and one of the staff saw her underwear. The staff member went over and touched it and said, ‘Oh, do you guys wear that? I am sorry. That is why you are so hot. Why don’t you just take it off? We will get you some earrings and makeup,’ naming all this stuff they would get us so that we would just come out and be like the world. Our reply was ‘NO way, we will not do that. The girls stood true and never watched any cartoons regardless of the persuasions of the staff members.” ‘Dear God, bless this food. Bless these children while they are here with us. Bless them to come back to their mothers. Amen.’ Some of the children, after the prayer, would ask the staff, ‘Well then, can you bring us back to our mothers?’ They would simply answer, ‘Only CPS can do that.’ @@CPS %%Mismanagement $85 MILLION WASTED ON CONVERGYS, $12M ON FLDS CASE http://www.johntfloyd.com/comments/september08/11a.htm "we have been consistently been critical of the methods used by law enforcement and the CPS efforts to destroy the FLDS church" We have repeatedly charged that the decision by CPS to orchestrate the April law enforcement raid on the FLDS compound was mismanaged as has been the agency’s ongoing “investigation” designed to separate FLDS children from their parents. The most recent state audit disclosing a pattern of fiscal mismanagement by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the parent supervisor of CPS, lends credence to this charge of mismanagement against CPS in the FLDS. The Commission has wasted $85 million on the Convergys contract and CPS has wasted another $12 million on the FLDS case. @@Crayon THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CRAYONS WERE Town residents were just miles from sect, but worlds apart Web Posted: 04/09/2008 11:41 PM CDT John MacCormack Express-News "I felt like I was from Mars, that I was alien to them. There was not one thing we had alike, except that we were female and had children," said Helen Pfluger, a local church leader who said communication never rose above the most basic level in the 30 hours she spent with sect members. She said the children, dressed in 19th-century garb, didn't know what crayons or breakfast cereals were. They huddled together. It was very obvious they were scared. They were non-responsive. They looked like deer caught in the headlights," Pfluger, 59, said of the 70 women and children housed at First Baptist Church. "Our food made some of the children sick. They are used to drinking raw milk and they asked for it. Where do you find raw milk?" she asked. "When they had clothing needs, it was impossible to give them what they needed. Where are you going to find a long-sleeved, high-neck, loose-waist, long dress for a 3-year old girl?" @@Court Orders Order for Investigation http://www.flds.ws/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/order_investigationchildabuse_4-3-08.pdf need for the department to have investigatory acess to the children's home at YFZ ranch, eldorado TX 76936 and to have access to the following children: (sarah barlow, baby of sarah)... and to transport the children for purposes relating to the investigation.... signed 4/3/08 Walthers (does not give permission to take every child on the ranch, we have not found this document yet which is mentioned in news stories to produce every child to authorities) CIVIL ACTION TO REMOVE ALL CHILDREN FROM RANCH http://deseretnews.com/article/content/mobile/1,5620,695269082,00.html?printView=true Majority of Utahns say removal of FLDS children was justified Copyright 2008 Deseret Morning News By Brian West Deseret News Published: April 10, 2008 Walther who authorized agents to search the ranch. She signed the first search warrant April 3, then authorized a second, more expansive search warrant April 6. She also authorized a civil action, ordering officers to remove all children from the church's ranch. Search of FLDS temple site complete By Brian West Deseret News Published: Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:29 p.m. MDT http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695269191,00.html Doran, who was armed with a court order to remove everyone 17 and under from the YFZ ranch, said it was sometimes difficult to locate the children because some were hiding or being hidden from police. "They were shuffled around houses," Caver added. "They were playing kind of the egg shell game, and we had issues with that." Texas authorities find more women and children at FLDS compound Reported by: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News Originally broadcast April 7, 2008 The children have been removed under a court order that directs the Texas Bureau of Child and Family Service to determine if any are being abused. http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2008/04/legal-background-for-police-raid-of.html Monday, April 07, 2008 Legal Background For Police Raid of FLDS Texas Ranch Religion clause by Howard M. Friedman Professor of Law Emeritus University of Toledo Once inside the compound, authorities used evidence of past or imminent abuse or neglect to remove children and women. (Deseret Morning News.). On Friday Judge Walther issued another order-- this time a gag order to prevent further information about the investigation being released. (Ft. Worth Star Telegram). Judge Walther also issued an order directing officials to bring all children, including boys under age 18, out of the compound. (Salt Lake Tribune). http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8822573 (paid search) @@Crying How much crying can you catalogue in this mess?? date: 4/4/2008 "these armed policemen, they had taken the girls, strapped them on the bus, pulled them away from their mothers... I could hear screaming and crying and people forcing them into the bus and pulling them away, and the bus going away." http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0804/19/lkl.01.html ESTHER:. the next day my oldest girl saw these other girls going down and so she came to me and says, they're going to take me. Mother, they're going to take me. Don't let them take me. I don't want to go. 6:30 Marie observes: CPS comes out with neighbors children in single file. Father followed children onto bus, then ordered off the bus. Man walked around bus to each window and waved to each of his children who waved back. **Tears were coming down Marie's cheeks**. The bus pulled away, all the CPS workers and armed men left, and there stood this father with his two older sons. He put his hands up to his face and covered his face. **He was weeping** "The sight of the lost, anxious faces of the women and children looking out the bus windows or hiding behind their coats as they left the compound was enough to make more than one Eldorado man cry" [Trouble in the Hills http://www.newsweek.com/id/131379/output/print Gretel C. Kovach and Andrew Murr Newsweek Web Exclusive Apr 10, 2008 | Updated: 11:53 a.m. ET Apr 10, 2008 ] date: 4/5/2008 MEN PRAYED AND CRIED http://www.religionnewsblog.com/21116/flds-52 ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 21116 • Posted: Friday April 11, 2008 ELDORADO, Texas - When authorities moved to search the large white temple on the polygamist compound in West Texas, about five dozen of the sect’s men prayed and cried around the structure, state date: 4/9/2008 Heart-broken three-year-old A three-year-old girl cries aloud, long and hard for approximately one and a half hours until she is hoarse and falls asleep. She keeps crying out her mother's name. Her mother, gone to an out-of-state appointment when the raid happened, has been trying to get into the shelters where her children are, but has not been able to yet. 11:00 PM The little three-year-old is coughing hard and wheezing badly. CPS workers are notified and decide to send her to the hospital on an ambulance. Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:00:00 PM date: 4/15/2008 http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-04-24-1190589243_x.htm Mothers from polygamous sect separated from young children Posted 4/25/2008 7:27 AM By Michelle Roberts, Associated Press Writer "MOTHER, MOTHER WE WANT TO GO WITH YOU", AS SHE BEGAN TO CRY "My two oldest were just terrified and they clung to me saying, 'Mother, mother, we want to go with you,'" said Ruth, her voice breaking as she began to cry. THERE WERE TEARS BY CHILDREN, WOMEN AND OUR CASEWORKERS "There were tears by the children, by the women and by some of our caseworkers," Azar said of the parting. @@Cult @@Danger Neon Gods: Ludicrous! 5/22/08 http://trakker.typepad.com/neon_gods/flds_news_and_issues/ Claiming infants were in danger just because they lived in the compound where men took more than one wife and allegedly forced very young girls into plural marriage is ludicrous @@Darby, Rep. Drew http://www.childbrides.org/raid_des_fallout_from_raid_intense.html http://www.childbrides.org/images/YFZ_raid_des_44.jpg http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695270818,00.html Fallout from FLDS raid is intense Texas authorities defend removal of 416 children By Amy Joi O'Donoghue Deseret News Published: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 12:12 a.m. MDT Rep. Drew Darby addresses the media during a briefing in San Angelo, Texas, Tuesday. "As a human being, none of us like human misery, nor do we like the abuse of children," he said. "We have a saying here: 'Don't mess with Texas.' I'm going to change it up and say, 'Don't mess with the children of Texas.'" @@Disputed Minors @@Pamela, Janet Jeffs @@Pamela Jessop http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/magazine/27mormon-t.html?ex=1374811200&en=8509d8da8adb6e7a&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink The Young Women of the F.L.D.S. - NYTimes.com Stephanie Sinclair/VII Pamela Jessop, 18; and Janet Jeffs, 19, who, along with their own young children, were removed from the ranch in the raid. Pamela and Janet, as well as nearly two dozen other mothers, were originally misclassified as minors by the state (under age 18). CLAIMED TO BE 18 BUT WAS TAKEN ANYWAYS http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/2008/05/flds-updates-for-52.html http://www.kristv.com/global/story.asp?s=8258677 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/02/home/main4064012.shtml May 2, 2008 Judge orders FLDS newborn into state custody " A judge ordered that the baby boy born to a girl taken from a polygamous sect's ranch in West Texas be placed in state custody, according to documents released Thursday. Texas District Judge Barbara Walther signed the order Wednesday, giving the state custody of the 1-day-old infant born to a teen believed to be 15 or 16 years old. The girl has claimed to be 18, according to an affidavit signed by Ruby Gutierrez, a Child Protective Services caseworker, but officials believe she is younger and placed her in foster care with other children taken from the ranch. The newborn is the teen's second child; the first is a 20-month-old boy. The father of both children was identified as Jackson Jessop, 22, but state officials say they don't know his whereabouts " However old she is, I am quite sure she is perfectly content to let CPS believe she is a minor, since that means she can stay with her baby and toddler. CPS UNSUITS "DISPUTED MINORS" CPS revises FLDS numbers — again By Ben Winslow Deseret News http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700256619,00.html Published: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008 1 As of Friday, CPS said it has filed to nonsuit 268 individuals, including the 26 "disputed minors" whom the agency initially believed to be children but were really adults http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4164416.ece June 22, 2008 Yearning for Zion: What next for the polygamists? Girls, believed to be the victims of paedophilia at the hands of a religious sect in Texas, were rescued in April. So why are they now back with their alleged abusers? Bryan Appleyard On May 13, I had watched Judge Walther preside over a preliminary hearing in the case of Pamela Jeffs, aka Pamela Jessop. Again the turquoise prairie dress, again the sleepy eyes, again the sharp nose, but this time the hair is lustrous and even more elaborately arranged, the braid at the back forming a pattern like a prawn shell. The skin is fresh and clear. In profile she could be 14, and there is something childish about her whole demeanour. She chews her tongue a lot and she has a cereal bar in the side netting of her bag. Full-face, however, she looks older, anything between 18 and 25. It is this ambiguity about her appearance that is the point of this hearing. When taken from the ranch, Pamela was regarded by the CPS as a child, though she gave her age as 18. She was pregnant and, if she was a child, this amounted to sexual abuse. The baby, Jonathan, was born after her removal from the ranch. She also has another 18-month-old son, Matthew; his age suggests she must have been pregnant when she was underage. The father of both is said to be 22-year-old Jackson Jessop, whose whereabouts is unknown. But today the CPS has accepted Pamela is 18. She is no longer a child but the authorities still have her children. This has led to appalling legal complications about who is allowed to represent whom. As a result, tension is mounting between the social workers and the lawyers. The legal wrangling suddenly explodes. “I take great offence that you should discuss this in front of the press!” shouts Randy Stout, a lawyer acting for the child. He gestures with contempt at the local-paper guy and me and storms out. “You started it, Randy!” yells Andrea Sloan, one of Pamela’s attorneys. Finally, Stout, a kind of fat comedy Texan, but decent, is placated and some sort of deal is done. @@Doran, Sheriff David Picture: www.myeldorado.net/YFZ%20Pages/YFZ040104.html Authorities suspect local ranch tied to flds April 1, 2004 @@Duclos, Susan Susan Duclos - SourceWatch Susan Duclos is the owner and editor of the Wake up America Blogspot, where she posts as Spree. She also cross-posts at the Israel Related (Israelated) Blogspot: www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Susan_Duclos Conservative Wake up America was heavily anti-FLDS until the court released the children. @@Editorial http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/05/what-does-texas.html What does Texas church raid say about us? Before one applauds the roundup at the ‘FLDS Corral,’ we should first look at what’s taking place in the nation outside the Eldorado compound — where anti-cult stereotypes can cause government to forget about some religions’ pesky First Amendment protections. By Mary Zeiss Stange Arguably, the raid was spurred more by negative stereotypes about FLDS and members' practice of polygamy than by a thorough investigation of evidence. @@Eldorado, Texas Index of news articles: http://www.wikio.com/us/states/texas/cities_and_towns/eldorado @@False report http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/253408 Update On The FLDS Custody Hearing Regarding the Children of the YFZ Ranch From the blogs A Little Ditty About The Eldorado Kids Posted Apr 18, 2008 by Susan Duclos this is evidenced by Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, when he said, "the case really doesn't hinge upon that particular 16-year-old", he goes on to add, "Once investigators, in good faith, go into the compound and determine whether or not there was any kind of wrongdoing; the case is on its own after that." @@FBI FBI agents were part of the raid, photo of them at the temple search, but not in early news reports. Now a federal search warrant has been issued, the church's lawyers said in court Wednesday, and FBI agents have been seen entering the compound. [http://www.newsweek.com/id/131379/output/print Trouble in the Hills Residents of a rural Texas county were suspicious of a secretive religious sect that moved in several years ago. Now hundreds of children are in state custody, as authorities investigate possible abuse.Gretel C. Kovach and Andrew Murr Newsweek Web Exclusive Apr 10, 2008 | Updated: 11:53 a.m. ET Apr 10, 2008] http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-04-20-eldorado_N.htm Polygamist ranch turns Texas town upside down Posted 4/20/2008 4:48 AM By Todd Lewan, Associated Press On April 3, hundreds of agents — a SWAT team, FBI agents, Texas Rangers, San Angelo police, highway patrol, and sheriff's department officers from four counties — raided the YFZ ranch http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-compound10apr10,1,2512549.story By Miguel Bustillo, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer April 10, 2008 Bed discovered in sect temple FBI confirmed that it had joined the investigation. FBI officials declined to elaborate @@Forged documents FORGED DOCUMENTS? TxBluesMan said... Anon 10:43, http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:I0kv5ojwjawJ:gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2008/05/yfz-kids-abused-and-neglected-under-cps.html+%22Lee+Roy+Jessop%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us from published reports and the published Property Transfer, there is evidence that a two birth certificates were found showing one individual, one father, but two different mothers. Once it was established that there were possible forged documents, the court clearly had the right to discount all presented documents and require DNA ...until they have some sort of further evidence, it would be within the judge's discretion not to accept the documents. @@Fort Concho Fort Concho: Historic fort use to mis-house women and children in inadequate, primitive, cramped conditions %%Restrooms TWO RESTROOMS PER 141 PEOPLE AT CONCHO http://bedrockof87.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/cps-subjected-flds-kids-to-outrageous-living-conditions/ FLDS children and parents had two restrooms to share per 141 people in the early days after the raid. At that time, CPS was housing the FLDS at the Fort Concho National Historic Landmark, which consists of some original and some reconstructed buildings on the site of a 19th century fort. A petition for writ of habeus corpus filed by attorneys representing three monogamous FLDS fathers (whose wives were “of age at the time of their marriage”) provided the ratio of restrooms to people at this facility (thanks to Grits for Breakfast for providing the link to the filing). @@Foster Care http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/hccfoster06/hccfoster06_revised.pdf Strayhorn Special report on foster children 12/14/2006 http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/2008/04/collectivist-child-abuse.html In 2004, noted Strayhorn, 38 foster children were killed; 48 were killed the following year. In addition, "about 100 children received treatment for poisoning from medications; 63 foster children received medical treatment for rape that occurred while in the foster care system; and 142 children gave birth while in the state foster care system." "As alarming as these cases are," she continues, "we can only imagine how much worse the Fiscal 2005 data is because Gov. [Rick] Perry's Health and Human Services Commission has refused to provide the data needed to complete my investigation." During 2004, "four-year-old twins living in the same foster home received medical treatment in the hospital for rape," recalled Strayhorn. "A five year old boy in the same foster home received medical treatment in the hospital for rape two days later. A 15-year-old girl who was not pregnant when she entered our state's foster care system in 2002 gave birth in February 2004....[A] 12-year-old boy died in December 2005, while in our state's care, at a facility that treats children with learning disabilities and emotional problems. The boy suffocated while being restrained from behind by an employee of the facility." "The crisis is minute-by-minute and child-by-child," concluded Strayhorn. "I renew my call [to Gov. Perry]. He must act now to save children's lives." @@Full adversary hearing http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/FA/content/htm/fa.005.00.000262.00.htm#262.201.00 § 262.201. FULL ADVERSARY HEARING; FINDINGS OF THE COURT. (a) Unless the child has already been returned to the parent, managing conservator, possessory conservator, guardian, caretaker, or custodian entitled to possession and the temporary order, if any, has been dissolved, a full adversary hearing shall be held not later than the 14th day after the date the child was taken into possession by the governmental entity. @@Germany RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE IT WAS LIKE NAZI GERMANY http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695270818,00.html Fallout from FLDS raid is intense Texas authorities defend removal of 416 children By Amy Joi O'Donoghue Deseret News Published: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 12:12 a.m. MDT Meisner rejected some critics' comparison of the state's action to that of Nazis during wartime Germany. "I respectfully disagree with that," she said. "I feel very good about the job we are doing in Texas. I understand there are going to be those who disagree with us." WE ARE BEING TREATED LIKE THE JEWS IN NAZI CAMPS http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/15/sect.mothers/#cnnSTCText Tue April 15, 2008 State now a danger to children, sect's mothers say at least one woman at the YFZ ranch say they're being treated like Jews during the Holocaust. "We have been persecuted for our religion," Kathleen said. "We are being treated like the Jews were when they were escorted to the German Nazi camps." NEAREST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IS NAZI GERMANY http://patdollard.com/2008/04/first-look-inside-polygamist-ranch-with-video Deseret News article By Nancy Perkins and Brian West here. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695270108,00.html “This whole situation is abusive and out of hand,” said Merril Jessop, a presiding elder in the FLDS Church. “The nearest thing I have ever seen comparable to this, even on the TV shows, is Nazi Germany.” MATCHES ANYTHING IN RUSSIA OR GERMANY OUTRAGE Merrill Jessop, who oversees the YFZ compound -- which stands for Yearning for Zion -- told the Salt Lake Tribune. "What's coming we don't know. The hauling off of women and children matches anything in Russia or Germany." http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-compound9apr09,1,2635622.story Teen mothers reported at polygamist sect's compound By Miguel Bustillo, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer April 9, 2008 http://www.crimeandjustice.us/forums/lofiversion/index.php?t9366.html response: purpleghostieApr 9 2008, 07:43 PM QUOTE "There needs to be a public outcry that goes far and wide," Merrill Jessop, who oversees the YFZ compound -- which stands for Yearning for Zion -- told the Salt Lake Tribune. "What's coming we don't know. The hauling off of women and children matches anything in Russia or Germany." Excuse me?!?!? I think a better comparison would be that of Jeffs and his abusive followers to the minds that came up with concentration camps in the first place! These men groom little girls to be basically slaves, subjected to whatever whims their "leaders" come up with. They desert young boys on the side of the road to eliminate competition. The public outcry should be as it is right now - people disgusted by the behavior of a bunch of old perverts. @@Griffin "I don't want them here. Whatever rapport we had is gone." County Judge Johnny Griffin Town residents were just miles from sect, but worlds apart Web Posted: 04/09/2008 11:41 PM CDT John MacCormack Express-News "I don't want them here, but whatever rapport we had with them is gone. To my knowledge we've never once had any trouble with them," said County Judge Johnny Griffin, whose worst fear is that the rural county with a $2.4 million annual budget will have to pick up legal costs for indigent sect members. "I don't know if they are violent or abusive, or if law enforcement knows more than I do. I'm just worried sick about how to pay for it," he said. Griffin has ample reason for anxiety. The state is seeking custody of hundreds of children, which will make Schleicher County the county of origin for the legal cases. Unless the county gets help, it will go broke, he said @@Health Care HEALTH: STRICT INFECTION POLICY (THEN WHY ARE THE KIDS ALL SICK?) http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695270818,00.html Fallout from FLDS raid is intense Texas authorities defend removal of 416 children By Amy Joi O'Donoghue Deseret News Published: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 12:12 a.m. MDT briefing also included some descriptions by Dr. Adolfo Valadez, assistant commissioner with the state Department of Health, who has been on-site with the children. He has overseen the delivery of medical care for the children, including implementing a "strict and stringent infection control policy." The care, which includes mobile clinics and a variety of nursing staff, is not unlike care delivered during the height of Texas hurricane season. He said that two or three more cases of chicken pox have been detected among the children, bringing the total to 23 so far. At the outset of the raid, officials said that several children were ill with the common childhood disease On Tuesday, the doctor said there were no children in isolation, but he did not rule out the possibility of additional chicken pox cases because of its long incubation period. IF WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT WARRANTS A SEXUAL EXAM WE WILL FOR FORWARED (all children were examined with no evidence) He said 100 healthcare workers are on hand to tend to any medical needs, including administering routine physical exams and addressing any urgent care situations. His agency has not been involved in performing any medical examinations to assess the possibility of sexual abuse. That role, he said, would fall under the direction of child protection workers, with Meisner adding that "if we have evidence that warrants a sexual exam we will go forwa @@Helicopters http://iperceive.net/trio-of-helicopters-buzz-yfz-ranch-terrorizing-kids/ Trio of Texas helicopters buzz YFZ ranch, terrorizing kids by Kurt Schulzke on July 26, 2008 Bill reports that Saturday afternoon, around 2 pm, a trio of Apache helicopters gratuitously buzzed and hovered over the YFZ Ranch, in Eldorado, Texas, scattering screaming children. Why would the government do something like this? Maybe they’re growing increasingly desperate in their war against the FLDS. Perhaps they’re creating the impression of a “search” for the five men indicted in San Angelo on Tuesday. Whatever the reason for the latest Texas incursion onto private property, a recent ABCNews video suggests an alternative use for military aircraft. Texas: Leave those kids alone! Otis 07.28.08 at 7:17 am Kleiglights, Didn’t happen. They were at least 1500 feet above the ground and went between the PAVE PAWS radar site and compound. NO GUNS STICKING OUT. I was there as I live close to Pave Paws. That’s how I know about the choppers. FLDS says they have pics.. prove it! No photo shop touch-ups superimposing Blackhawks over the compound please Shasri 07.28.08 at 9:06 am Ok, I followed the link under Otis’ name and it led me to myeldorado.net. He says he saw choppers at 1500 feet http://www.flds.ws/2008/07/26/texas-isnt-finished-abusing-the-children-on-the-ranch/ THE CHILDREN ON THE RANCH In a mindless maneuver that had to come from the Governor’s office, 3 Apache Attack helicopters swooped into the Ranch compound in Eldorado Texas, sending children working their gardens and milking cows screaming for shelter believing another attack by armored personnel carriers, snipers with machine guns and swat teams in full dress battle gear were once again coming back to kidnap them. Coming in low and fast, the aircraft, with guns bristling from every hole and door available, circled feet off the ground as clouds of sand and dirt billowed into the air pelting the children as they ran terrorized by the site and the remembrence of the earlier attack just month’s earlier. If this is the State of Texas’s idea of how not to abuse children, they are doing as miserable a job of it as CPS did while their victim’s were in their care for 8 weeks beginning on April 3, 2008 It takes a very special breed of people to abuse, terrorize, emotionally and psychologically cripple women and children, but CPS, the Texas Rangers and the local residents appear to have what it takes to be really good at their jobs. @@Highway One popular conspiracy theory on many websites and blogs is that the state is really after land needed for a highway that would run through the property. http://iperceive.net/texas-flds-ad-litem-expect-pissed-off-flds-teens-sassing-the-judge/ Gravitas { 06.25.08 at 9:17 pm } Now I understand the 1,700 acre FLDS compound was at the intersection of the proposed international highway through Texas. No wonder Gov. Rick Perry was happy to cooperate in the effort to drive the FLDS out of Texas. More on that coming soon, I hope? @@Hilderbran, Harvey "I feel pretty darn good. I've got some pride in it. It's one of those things I knew it was the right thing to do." RECORD CHILD WELFARE RESCUE http://www.crimeandjustice.us/forums/lofiversion/index.php?t9366.html WEB Posted: 04/08/2008 09:58 AM CDT Janet Elliott Express-News Austin Bureau Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, to push for changes in the marriage law, including increasing the minimum age at which teenagers can marry to 16, if they get parental consent or a court order. Previous law allowed someone as young as 14 to get married with parental consent. "Had this bill not passed, there would have been quite a few of them that were married and were pregnant for instance — or married with kids — that were under 16, that they could not have done much about," he said. "I feel pretty darn good. I've got some pride in it. It's one of those things I knew it was the right thing to do." @@Hill Country Community Mental Health-Mental Retardation Center Mental health workers said they had never seen women and children treated so badly, like concentration camp. Story was not reported outside of San Antonio (May 10), Salt Lake City (May 13) Only source that CPS completly lost one boy who was found after the shelter was closed down, and that toddler had been left in stroller without food or water for 24 hours and hospitalized for dehydration, malnutrition. Mental health staffers blast state care of sect kids - 12:37pmMay 10, 2008 http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/MYSA051108_01A_mhmrreports_3a4fa3e_html2888.html Kevin Dinnin, the president of Baptist Children and Family Services who served as incident commander at the shelter under a contract between his agency and the state, said he couldn't confirm many of the allegations made by the MHMR workers. “Some of it is unfounded,” he said. “Some of it is accurate, depending on your point of view. Were the shelters crowded? Yeah. But it's a shelter. And yes, CPS workers were taking notes and listening. Yes, they were always around. I'm not defending CPS, but it's hard to give people privacy in a shelter.” Dinnin said he remembers a young MHMR staffer making announcements at the shelter that contained misinformation to a group of FLDS women. He asked the staffer to leave, and a DPS trooper escorted her out. “I didn't even know who she was. It was inappropriate. You need to be on the same page,” Dinnin said. ...“What they saw was so horrendous, they had to report it to the board,” Dawson said. “We were taken aback. I have every confidence their stories are accurate. Our people are professionals, with years and years of service in their fields.” ...“We were literally astounded at what they told us,” Kite said. “They are trampling all over human decency and those people's civil rights. How do we stop an agency that is out of control? We should not just sit here and let it happen These lovely women and children were gracious and kind always,” one wrote. “They tried to cooperate with every request, even when terrified that they were going to be separated from their children. The mothers are incredibly loving and patient with the children. The children were well-socialized and well-behaved and interacted willingly and happily with us.” Another wrote, “The children were sweet and well-mannered upon our arrival. They obeyed their mothers and appeared to be healthy and well-nourished. They had none of the traditional withdrawal common in abused children.” Mental health workers rip CPS over sect Staff complains agency traumatized kids, disregarded mothers' rights By ROGER CROTEA San Antonio Express-news May 10, 2008, 10:39PM http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/5770183.html Caregivers blast Texas' treatment of polygamous sect's women, children http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9238520 http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfthx7q4_705dqqjcxcj By Julia Lyon The Salt Lake Tribune Article Last Updated: 05/13/2008 09:17:24 AM MDT http://www.truthwillprevail.org/index.php?parentid=1&index=11 Truth Will PrevailMay 10, 2008 ... "The children were sweet and well-mannered upon our arrival," another worker reported. "They obeyed their mothers and appeared to be healthy ... www.truthwillprevail.org/index.php?parentid=1&index=11 Mental Health Workers Report FLDS Women Good Mothers By Donald Richter Reports submitted by employees of the Hill Country Community Mental Health-Mental Retardation Center and discussed in an article by Roger Croteau on The San Antonio Express-News Website of May 10, 2008, substantiate what those who have had personal association with the FLDS mothers and their children have known all along---these are loving mothers with well-behaved and well-adjusted children. MHMR workers praised the mothers as "parents of healthy, well-behaved and emotionally normal kids." "These lovely women and children were gracious and kind always," one worker stated. "They tried to cooperate with every request, even when terrified that they were going to be separated from their children. The mothers are incredibly loving and patient with the children. The children were well-socialized and well-behaved and interacted willingly and happily with us." "The children were sweet and well-mannered upon our arrival," another worker reported. "They obeyed their mothers and appeared to be healthy and well-nourished. They had none of the traditional withdrawal common in abused children." All nine reports were favorable to the mothers but were highly critical of the state’s Child Protective Services agency (CPS) for removing the children from their community and separating them from their mothers and described many CPS workers as "high-handed, rude, or uncaring." Conditions at the shelter also were sharply criticized. "I have worked in Domestic Violence/Sexual abuse programming for over 20 years," one worker said, "and have never seen women and children treated this poorly, not to mention their civil rights being disregarded in this manner. It makes us all wonder how safe anyone is who has children." Some reports claimed that overcrowded conditions at the shelter contributed to the rapid spread of upper-respiratory infections and chicken pox. Another report described these deplorable conditions as a deliberate form of coercion: "The more uncomfortable they were the more CPS thought they would talk." One MHMR worker claimed that he had been threatened with arrest when he protested the separation of special-needs children from their mothers after the mothers had been told earlier in the day that this would not happen. That same worker was among three who reported that the CPS lied to the mothers. One report stated that such lies were a tactic used to make it easier to separate the children from their mothers. Several reports said that mothers were denied access to their lawyers. When the www.captivefldschildren.org Website earlier reported in its timeline that six FLDS ladies, mothers and caretakers, had chosen to be taken to the Family Violence Shelter because CPS workers had told them that they would get their children back sooner if they did, a CPS spokesman called the claim "blatantly untrue." Apparently, the desire of the CPS was to make it appear that the ladies had gone to the shelter because they were afraid of something happening to them if they returned to the Ranch. One of the reports by MHMR workers makes an almost identical claim to that stated in the Website. One MHMR worker reported, "The entire MH support staff was ‘fired’ the second week; we were sent home due to being ‘too compassionate." The reports were written at the request of the MHMR regional governing board. Board member Jack Dawson remarked, "What they saw was so horrendous, they had to report it to the board. We were taken aback. I have every confidence their stories are accurate. Our people are professionals, with years and years of service in their fields." Board President John Kite is trying to get Gov. Rick Perry and a legislative delegation to meet with MHMR workers. "We were literally astounded at what they told us," he said, regarding the reported CPS abuses. "They are trampling all over human decency and those people’s civil rights. How do we stop an agency that is out of control? We should not just sit here and let it happen." %%Resignations http://gosanangelo.com/news/2008/oct/25/case-figures-leaving/ FLDS case figures leaving 2 public faces resign for unrelated reasons By Paul A. Anthony (Contact) Saturday, October 25, 2008 STORY TOOLS E-mail story Comments iPod friendly Printer friendly More Local News Students' display focuses on water GAFB COMMENTARY: Heroes help in any challenge Christoval students boycott school food Social Bookmarking Two attorneys who have been among the most public faces of Texas' legal action against a fundamentalist polygamist group with a home in Schleicher County have resigned this month. Charles Childress, the Austin attorney who in recent months has been the head of the San Angelo legal team seeking custody of children from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Gary Banks, the local attorney who led the team during the months immediately after an April raid on the YFZ Ranch, have tendered their resignations. In his resignation letter, provided by the state's Child Protective Services agency, Banks told supervisors he was leaving to work for a local law firm. "It has been a difficult decision for me to make as I have enjoyed working for the department, and I have enjoyed working with you, and I appreciate your efforts over the years to try to support me in this position," Banks wrote. "However, I have concluded this decision is best for me and my family, and I hope you will understand my decision." ... Childress notified his supervisors more recently, sending his letter this month, with an effective date of Nov. 1. The letter does not provide a reason for his departure. In his letter, Childress told state officials he expects the agency to resolve "all but a handful of the pending cases" against FLDS members, which CPS has accused of forcing young girls to marry much older men at their Schleicher County compound. The attorneys join a growing list of officials associated with the April raid who have since left their jobs. Cary Cockerell, commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services - of which CPS is a part - retired Aug. 31 for personal reasons, while Texas Ranger Lt. Barry Caver, who commanded the April raid, left law enforcement in June to pursue a better-paying oil-industry job. None of the officials has cited the FLDS case as a reason for leaving. In Cockerell's case, CPS officials said specifically the case was not a factor in his decision. Childress, a former University of Texas law professor who worked for CPS in the late 1990s, was brought back to help coordinate the massive case, which involved 439 children and 26 adults initially believed to be children. The loss of essentially the two lead attorneys in the case .. Posted by JulieW on October 25, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. To the list of resignations the article could have added Thomas Davis, head of DPS. So the heads of CPS and DPS, the ranger over the raid, and a couple of top lawyers. Looks like a bunch of scapegoats, when the ultimate responsibility for this travesty lies with Rick Perry Gary Banks- Lead Atty Charles Childress- Lead Atty Cary Cockerell- TDFPS Commissioner Lt Barry Carver- Tx Ranger who commanded the raid Thomas Davis- Head of DPS Walther to retire? From the comments section: To the list of resignations the article could have added Thomas Davis, head of DPS. So the heads of CPS and DPS, the ranger over the raid, and a couple of top lawyers. Looks like a bunch of scapegoats, when the ultimate responsibility for this travesty lies with Rick Perry. %%Text pdf files: This letter contains many of the letters typed out in text filed: \priv\flds\MentalHealthComplaints.html http://www.voicesforthechildren.org/viewpetition.php?id=4 Aug 9, 2008 A letter to Governor Perry A Texan ashamed of her State and its Governor. Aug 13, 2008 4:26 pm Eldorado, Texas When first arriving at Fort Concho in San Angelo we were debriefed about “The Guests” at the fort; the “guests” were the women and children from the Eldorado Ranch. During the debriefing I learned that these women and children came from a culture very different that ours. I heard that they would likely not talk to us, make eye contact with us, and that they were brainwashed. Within the first two days of being among the women and children from Eldorado I learned though observation and interactions that the initial information we received was false. The women and children did make eye contact; Things stuck me immediately. These women carried themselves confidence; they were polite and respectful; they displayed what we would consider a great deal of self-esteem. An incident happened that helped me understand how brainwashed we all are; in my professional opinion brainwashed is the same as conditioned and/or socialized =; and we all have been socialized/conditioned in our respectful cultures, subcultures or societies. A woman requested to be escorted across the parking lot (from the shelter) to the make shift clinic were an EMS vehicle had pulled up because she believed a child of a close friend was hurt. When we asked CPS staff permission to escort the woman we were told no, she can not go there. We told the woman she was not allowed to leave the shelter area. I later regretted having asked the CPS worker for permission to begin with; I wished I had simply accompanied the woman across the parking lot to the clinic. This incident made me aware of how conditioned/brainwashed I am. I was obviously afraid to challenge the rules because I might have painful consequences for me. I actually pictured myself being stopped by a law enforcement person and possibly removed for the premise and/or accuse of interfering with legal proceedings. The entire experience at fort Concho and the Coliseum was sure-real; at times it felt like these woman and children were prisoners; I head some people wonder out loud if this was Nazy Germany? The thought had struck me too. Is this what it was like for the people in concentration in Germany? The women and Children from Eldorado were lied to and deceived on several occasions. I often felt helpless; I also felt in awe of the grace, and self-confidence in which the woman behaved. My culture, my society could learn from these woman and children; they have my at-most respect. • We were told before we ever saw these woman that they would not talk with us and that they were dressed “fancy” and had the best of everything. That they would only respond to us with “You will have to talk to my lawyer” This was an absolute lie and it was to “brain wash” MH to think like CPS. I never heard talk to my lawyer once while I sat and talked and played with the children. Everyone was polite and nice but very upset and confused… They were gracious and tried very hard to not be afraid and nervous. • We were also told to observe only and not to help. We were told we were surrounded by DPS and there were snipers on the buildings for out protection. Our badges were checked constantly by CPS to make sure we were not in the “wrong place.” • The women and children were placed in barracks built in 1800 with no air and no indoor plumbing, 80 women and children on cots side by side, even pregnant ladies. • Separated from older children (12 and up) and for days not even allowed to wave at them across the open field- told they would never see them again if they continued to wave-threatened with jail for waving at them. • Constant reminders that the adult women were only guests and that they were not in charge of the children and what CPS did to them. They belonged to CPS now and they could talk, interrogate, separated and treat them any way they wanted. This included physical exams and x-rays without adult supervision. • Not allowed to talk to the outside world. • Women were constantly lied to about where their children where and when they could see their lawyers and about when they would be reunited with their children. • No consideration for their diets so all the children had diarrhea for days. . No consideration for food, (meals served as late as 8pm, when these children were used to going to bed by then) clothing ( Only 1-2 sets of clothing) or cleaning of sheets and clothing-washers were brought but others had to do the washing. • The more uncomfortable they were the more CPS thought they would talk. • We were told that if we interfered with any o the investigation we would be arrested and handcuffed and placed in jail. This was said often to MH workers. • There were no baby beds or high chairs for days and often our woman had to go buy this for the women. • The entire MH support staff was “fired” the second week; we were sent home due to being “too compassionate”. • The children and women learned quickly who to trust and if you did not have a CPS badge they would talk with you. • After being removed the women stopped talking to CPS and we were “begged” to come back. When we returned we were told again to not interfere but “to do what we did best”. THE WOMEN HUGGED US AND STARTED TALKING AGAIN. Then they sent them all home with no children. • The children were kept inside the arena for 23 hours a day. • The children arrived healthy and happy and left sick and crying. • Mothers and children were watched like they were criminals and every word or deed they did was written down by CPS. • CPS yelled at the children & would not allow the women to talk with their lawyers, deprived them of sleep and constantly accused them of things most of them did not understand. • Never once did I see a mother loose her temper, strike out at a child or discipline a child in an inappropriate manner. • The last 2 days were the worst- over 100 State troopers surrounded these women and children taken away from them and only the nursing mother’s could keep their children. They were then escorted to a bus by a CPS worker and a DPS officer. • Again we were warned if we interfered or helped the women we would be arrested, place in handcuffs and would go to jail. I am thankful I was able to go and see all of this. Never in all my life, and I am one of the older ladies, have I been so ashamed of being a Texan and seeing what and how our government agencies treat people. Thank God for the Mental Health field, who have not forgotten what compassion looks like and still tries to help everyone. This must stop somewhere and somehow. This invasion of their property and disruption of their lives could happen to anyone anytime if all power and authority is give to CPS. Remember this was an anonymous phone call. May 7, 2008 Our experience in San Angelo during the “Eldorado Incident” was unique is that it was very different from what we expected, or from anything any of us had every experienced. It was frightening to watch women and children being herded and separated like cattle with no regard for human rights or the needs of the group or individual. How could this happen in America? How could this happen in Texas? If this had happened in another country, our government would have tried to prevent it! Old films of Concentration Camps came to mind. The first night we were there, we worked to get air mattresses for the pregnant women who were sleeping on army cots with no padding. That first week was spent being a friendly face to the women and children. It was a relief to them to be able to speak with someone who was not writing down and reporting everything they said, and who would try to help get their simple needs met. We developed trusting relationships with them and came to respect and admire them. They needed decent food such as vegetables, whole grain bread and meat instead of candy, cookies and processed foods, the sugar and additives were making the children sick because they had never eaten junk food. The boys and woman and girls had to share a bathroom and there were no showers available for several days. Then a shower trailer was moved to the parking lot and they were allowed to go there to shower, always under guard by CPS or DPS. CPS workers were everywhere and these people had no privacy. CPS intruded on their every activity and conversation, and even followed us around and made notes on everything we said. They noted everything we said even when we were outside of shelters if they heard us. We provided arts and crafts and school lesson for the children to the extent that CPS would allow us. There were very few things they were allowed to have as CPS had designated almost everything “weapon”. Obviously they did not know these people at all. Violence is not a part of their culture of belief. If they had been given a truck load of weapons they would have not used them. These lovely women and children were gracious and kind always. They tried to cooperate with every request, even when terrified that they were going to be separated from their children. The mothers are incredibly loving and patient with the children. The children were well socialized and well behaved and interacted willingly and happily with us. All of the children were healthy when they were taken from their home, but when herded into extremely crowded quarters with an artificial environment (lighting on 24 hours a day, no fresh air, no sunlight, strange food, uncomfortable beds, surrounded by strangers watching there every move) they became ill. Chicken Pox ran rampant through the children, diarrhea, respiratory conditions and other illness created grater discomfort and even hospitalizations. The woman were lied to and denied access to their attorneys. They were told that they were going to be moved to another location so families that had been torn apart during the move from the ranch could be reunited, but when the got off of the bus at the new location the mothers of children ages 12 and older were taken through a door and loaded on another bus to take them back to the ranch. They didn’t even get to say goodbye to the children. The children that were left behind were cared for by the mothers with younger children who remained. Living conditions in the coliseum were not conductive to good health for anyone, and the presence of hostile CPS workers who spied on them constantly, kept them awake at night by shining lights in their faces and talking and laughing created enormous stress for the mothers and children. None of them slept well or enough. One the awful day that they separated the mothers and children the level of cruelty and lack o respect for human rights was overwhelming. Crying, begging children were ripped away from their divested mothers and the mothers were put on buses to either return to the ranch or to go to shelters. Most went to shelters because they were told they would be able to see their children if they did not return to the ranch. This, of course, was another lie. Try to imagine all these children from ages 1 year to 12 years, left in that coliseum with only CPS and DPS to care for them. The only others were the mothers who CPS decided were under 18 and kept in their custody along with their children. The floor was literally slick with rears in places. A baby was left in a stroller without food and water for 24 hours and ended up in the hospital. A 4 year old boy was so terrified that he snuck away and hid and was only found after the coliseum and been emptied the next day. I witnessed a small boy, maybe 3 years old, walking along the rose of cots with a little pillow saying “I need someone to rock me, I just want to be rocked, I want to find a rocking chair.” Two CPS workers were following him and writing in their notebooks but not speaking to him or comforting him. Sally and I started toward him but his 8 year old brother came and picked him us saying, “I will take care of him.” He took the child to a rocking chair a held him in his lap. That little boy will always be in my mind. How can a beautiful healthy child be taken from a healthy, loving home and forced into a situation like that, right here in America, right here in Texas? It would take a book to tell about this “incident”. There was so much that happened. This situation was a tragedy and surely illegal. Please pray fro these mothers and children every day. Observations in San Angelo at the FLDS Shelter April 2008 I arrived at the pavilion on my first night and was startled by my feelings of admiration for the women and protectiveness for the children. By the second day, I was ready to run in front of CNN cameras to shout that there was a travesty happening inside those walls. I could not fathom the thought of removing the children from their mothers. Of course I was cautioned not to interfere in a “crime scene investigation”/ The mothers were patient, attentive, and sweet with their children, working within the crowded and difficult environment to keep some control over the behavior or their children, their intake, and there schedule, on the first days I was in the Pavilion, women thanked me for all we had done and did not complain for the mistakes that had been made. They were grateful for our attempts to get air mattresses for the pregnant mothers. Some were friendly and engage in conversation, while others did not welcome our efforts to visit. Some who were previously sullen or reluctant to speak would brighten when they learned we were not CPS; others said they been lied to by everyone and would not alter their viewpoints about our team either. I sat with Audrey while three of her children were removed for six hours of questioning. She cried but then apologized for crying, saying she did not want to be “burden” to her sisters. She also denied feeling angry, even though her eyes flashed at the CPS worker who had denied her ability to speak to her children as they were lead away. She said that remaining serene and polite through such a trial would only serve to make her stronger in her faith. While she waited for news of her children, she returned to her cot and to her other children. Amazingly, none of the other mothers acknowledged her or come to comfort her. (My interpretation is that Audrey has been trained not to fell her true feelings, and that the other woman were afraid to be seen as associating with someone whose children may have revealed secrets.) At the end Audrey (pregnant) was ferried to the shelter while her six children were split among three placement locations. After she was whisked away I sat with her oldest child, Rose, age 12, while we labeled her mothers additional belongings in a bag and hoped it would be delivered to her. Rose was obviously distraught and not eager to trust anyone, though she did tell me that she had heard from her lawyer about the sites where the children would be sent the following day. I saw Jeannette rocking her 4 month old baby boy in a chair on the afternoon of April 23. I could see what I interpreted as anguish on her face, so I approached her and asked how she was. She began to weep almost immediately and I invited her into a screened area where the woman could nurse their babies. She was terribly distraught, and I gave her information about the effects of stress, the likelihood of depression and the possible treatments. Her eyes revealed pain but they welcomed me to continue. I comforted and tried to find some hope for a speedy resolution. I did not get to see her the following day when she and her infant were separated from her older children. This woman’s mental health status is in grave danger, in my opinion. On Wednesday, April 23, I also visited Pauline who told me that she intended to leave the ranch and to move to the closest city to her children, wherever they were moved, in order to be able to visit them as much as possible. She was more committed to her children than any convenience for herself. The next morning 40 woman boarded the bus to the shelter, including Pauline. To my knowledge none of these women actually wanted to leave her home on the ranch, but they felt they had no option if they wanted to see their children. Some of the supposedly underage mothers spoke to me, revealing that they were indeed over twenty but the judge had declared that they appeared younger so they also must stay. Some did indeed look very young, and I also thought they might be underage. One extremely pretty young mother talked to me and said there her name was the same name as her mother. I asked if it wasn’t customary for a woman to take her husband’s name when she married, and she said she couldn’t talk about that and quickly turned away. I had stepped into a sensitive area of conversation. Many complained that this was only a way to prevent them from practicing their religion. They quoted Bible verses and said they had expected to be persecuted for their religion. I told them that we too learned Bible verses, and that despite all their training otherwise, there are some good people out in the world, some who care about these women and their children’s welfare. The children were sweet and well-mannered upon our arrival. They obeyed their mothers and appeared to be healthily and well-nourished. They were curious about us and asked questions about nail polish, hair-cuts, jewelry and about how we spoke. They wanted to be busy and asked to rake, sweep or wash windows, since without toys in their society, these were the “fun” activities open to them. They played awkwardly with balls that had been given to them, though as the days progressed, I saw the children having a wonderful time and developing some skill as they played actual games with CPS workers. The children laughed easily and gave eye contact. They had none of the traditional withdrawal common in abused children. On the last day of my stay in the coliseum (April 24), the mothers had been removed, with the exception of those who were minors or suspected of being minors. The children had cried bitterly on the removal of the mothers, and they were now with strangers. The noise level went up several decibels as crying and running and screaming took over. Children were grabbing toys from others and using toys as play weapons against each other and their “captors.” In my estimation they were acting out their fear and anger. One little boy of about four was frantically running from CPS workers, avoiding capture in every way he could. Once caught, I held firmly in my arms while he wept that he didn’t want them to take his mother Child Protective Services (CPS) Personnel I personally did not see some of the individual acts of rudeness or intolerance viewed by some of the others in our group. I did see some wonderful interactions with CPS and some of the children, as they read stories and played comes. One young man sat two hours, comforting a toddler after his mother was taken. However, some of them seemed to be thoughtless in their dress or in their blunt demeanor. Some were totally invested in the CPS philosophy and others had questions about the wisdom of the plan. However, the CPS philosophy itself was the primary problem. I also saw a woman I know personally had been a prison principal now employed with CPS. She seemed to have retained an attitude that these people were inmates! The philosophy is one that removes ALL children from a home in which only one child is suspected of being abused. Since this sect lives in such a communal setting, CPS interpreted all 460+ children as being in one family. They believed they were rescuing the children from abuse and that the mothers were also guilty since they had not protected the children from the suspected perpetrators. CPS had their primary focus the sexual abuse that was alleged, rather then the emotional abuse that I felt they were creating. CPS said they were worried about safety, so numbers of events occurred in which centered on very strict interpretation of safety. For instance, a mother’s request to use a blender to make baby food was denied, since the blender was considered dangerous. Toddlers standing on their cots or babies covered with blankets in their beds were considered safety hazards and CPS commanded the mothers to alter the situation. The mothers had not been charged with a crime, and yet their cell phones were removed, since, I presume, CPS had determined that there might be conversations with outside individuals to plan to kidnap the children. Also as a safety caution, the children in the coliseum were not allowed to go to the neighbor’s football field to play but were kept on a small, dusty corner of the grounds. CPS showed a disregard and disrespect for the mothers’ culture in various ways. We were advised to dress in ways to build trust and foster communication, but obviously CPS had not been so advised. On the morning we arrived at the Pavilion, a CPS worker in snug red capris was given the responsibility of photographing each child and each mother prior to their physical examinations. Tight, revealing cloths were worn daily by many of those in the Pavilion, and bare arms, feet, and legs were standard, even though FLDS custom is to stay covered except for hands and face. The living quarters at Fort Concho and the coliseum were crowded, uncomfortable, and inconvenient. The cots were to close, allowing infections to spread rapidly. Quickly many children became sick with upper respiratory illness. There was no privacy for even a moment of conversation or solitude. The food was sufficiently different from their normal diet causing digestive upsets. Mothers requested that some of the sugary treats be put away since the children were indiscriminately sampling all through the day. Showers were few in number, generously manned by volunteers from Texas churches. The families had not had enough clothing g for more than two days. So dirty laundry was a constant problem, and again the facilities were meager. One mother told me that CPS had allowed her only one bag to pack herself and six children. I was told that on one night the laundry failed to return the washed sheets and blankets to one of the barracks, and the group had to sleep on bare cots on a very cool evening. Sleeping was very difficult, with great numbers of CPS workers there to watch every move and record all activities. One woman told me that the mothers were afraid to sleep because they feared the children would be removed while they slept. Therefore the mothers arranged for some of their own group to stay awake all night to monitor the CPS workers! The woman told the they were particularly uncomfortable with how many men were assigned to watch them. Nap times were also very difficult, since the light level remained too bright, and the noise level was always too high for most people to be able to fall asleep. On the Thursday morning, April 24,2008, I witnessed a young mother named Rosinith be required by CPS to board the bus back to the ranch, though her young child was in the hospital with 104 degree fever and even though the child’s physician had personally requested the mother’s presence at the hospital. This event haunts me still, and I cannot imagine such a heartless act. I spent hours contemplating the scenes I had witnessed, and I listened with an open ear to the news commentary and special documentaries on television. I believed in a free and democratic society where woman are equal to men and are allowed to make choices and even mistakes on their own. I believed older adults should protect young men and woman and not take advantage of their youth and inexperience for their own sexual pleasure. I do not believe in polygamy and I see that as a proof that the men in this sect see woman as property. I do believe that we should do what is necessary to convince this community to abandon these practices as non-essential to their religion. However, I also know the research on long-tern consequences o removing children from loving parents. I do believe that the emotional abuse of 460+ children must be weighted in the equation. Hill Country Mental Health Caseworker at San Angelo Aug 12, 2008 5:33 am San Angelo, Texas I went the & final week. First day when I got badge was given Tip Sheet on rules & how to handle this population. Upon entering the Coliseum noticed several mothers coming at to our group and hugging them (they remembered them). The 1st family I met the mother knew the older children were taken the day before & she was preparing/packing her things. She allowed me to Interact with her children & read stories to them. One of the daughters looked at my badge & went & told mother. Mother knew I was not CPS & allowed me to take her children to the find scotch tape. CPS worker stopped me & checked my badge. At least 3 CPS workers circled us pretended to pick up items off the floor right in front of us while I read to these children. Met another mother who was nursing her son, whom I’d, met & interacted with before, was trying to nap & was restless due to coughing. Asked her if I Could pat his back & help settle him. CPS worker came up to me inquiring about his mother; Worker went up to her with clipboard & said, “You need to take him to nurse right now.” This mother was breast feeding at this time. CPS worker would not let me take him. I spent time with her & other children. She was animated, scared, telling me, “It’s like CPS is dangling something over our heads.” Other children came up to us & all wanted to know what was going to happen & why was this happening & letting me know CPS was mean. Met 2nursing mothers who were breast feeding & let them know I was there to help. Saw them next day at Seton House in San Angela & they came up & hugged me & were grateful they got to stay with their infants & small children. At least 5 mothers reported that at night CPS circled their beds, held flashlights in their faces & then would sit inches away from them as they tried to sleep. Mothers reported they were scared CPS would take their children during the night thus leaving them & their children exhausted. Reports of no privacy & interruptions at pray time were given, as well. Observed CPS in coliseum sitting in chairs some were sleeping, talking to each other, circling the families, facing the wall not even looking at families. Families reported being cold at night & did not get to go outside, “I wish the tornado would come and blow us back home”, one child stated to me. Mothers were gracious, kind, scared, worried, etc. Children had colds, 7 were arguing at this point over toys CPS brought in. On the bus I was not allowed to help Children/Mothers get off or help carry any of their items. Children without mothers were crying, one asked me, will I at least get to stay with my brother, and he was weeping. It was heart wrenching & an experience I will never forget but, am humbled & grateful to have been apart of. An eyewitness to the travesty of Taking the children Aug 11, 2008 1:48 pm Ft. Concho, San Angelo Coluseum, Texas I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such an important event and to be a part of the requisite mental heath services. Many of my colleagues have addressed very valid and troubling aspects of the happenings in San Angelo; therefore I will not reiterate their passionate words. Rather, I will address the vast amounts of hypocrisy I felt I had unwillingly became a part of during this time. Within my own family, we have argued the concepts of the letter of the law and the sprit of law en regards to the FLDS children. First and foremost, I want to address the fact that unlike many of my other colleagues, most of my interactions with CPS workers were pleasant and enlightening. Many of the ladies and gentlemen in San Angelo were genuinely confused as to why their agency was placing so much energy into the removal of these children. On a number of occasions, I saw CPS workers trying to build a healthily relationship with the children and mothers. Furthermore, if they felt that it was better to have me intervene when a child needed the additionally mental health support, they called upon me in a positive manner. As to my issue of the apparent hypocrisy of the basis of the raid, I should address the fact that I am originally from the Texas-Mexico border and spent a number of years working out in the “Colonias” of Laredo prior to my tenure with Hill Country. During my time working in the Colonias and my own personal experiences, I have personally known of a good number of children as young as 11 bearing children fathered by older men as well as by teenagers. I find it strange that, as least these communities in which I am speaking, the Colonias have not been the subject of large raids under the apparent stance that the CPS has taken on the Yearning for Zion compound and its residents. During my time in San Angelo with the mothers and children, the thoughts of the inconsistency created more confusion, as I watched the healthy interaction between mother and child. Many of the mothers tried to continue with their normal daily activities such as education, worship, and chores. I was impressed by their dedication to their children and the needs of their children. For me, on a person level, the most difficult aspect of the entire experience was the apparent lies being told to the mothers. I myself felt the inconsistency in information when we had been told that Special Needs children were to be allowed to stay with their mothers and, yet, by that afternoon, that was no longer the case. This left me in a strange position in which I felt compelled to voice the needs of these children and their mothers. This was met with less then enthusiastic response and after, after I spoke out for the children, I was asked to either leave the bus or be arrested. A Hill Country Mental Health Worker at Ft. Concho Aug 11, 2008 9:30 am San Angelo, TX Dear Governor Perry: I have no allusions that you care in the slightest for the 465 children of the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado Texas, but I do know that this e mail has to be a part of the record by Texas Law of your Administration. I want this letter, written by a member of the team YOU hired to take care of the women and children in San Angelo after they were illegally taken by CPS from their homes. Please make no mistake, if this letter is not made part of the Record, I will bring suit against you in Court for failing to follow Texas Public Records Law. Bill Medvecky I participated in the San Angelo Incident for three consecutive weeks in April 2008. When I first received notification from my supervisor to participate in the incident, I was anxious to take part as I had just received my licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor, less then seven days prior. However, when I arrived on sire with the women and children, I quickly realized that there was nothing in any textbook that could prepare me for what I was about to experience. To sum it up, I felt as if I was working with my hand were tied behind my back, a blindfold on, and I was leading going on human instinct. I tossed all of my years of experience and textbook knowledge as I merely tried to engage in conversation with the women and children to build a rapport to gain their trust, and help them process what they were going through, and what they were going to experience in the days to follow. It ultimately boiled down to treating people with human respect. And you do not have to have advance training to bigher education to do that. When I arrived in San Angelo the first week and participated in the debriefings, I was taken back by the information that was given to us by the representative of the Command Station. We were informed of how resistant and difficult this population of woman and children were. We were given instructions to “merely observe”, and be prepared for responses such as “I want to talk to my lawyer or not without my lawyer”. The information given was quite the contrary. We informed that our shifts would be twelve hour shifts, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. The first week in San Angelo, I found the women and children to be quite pleasant. They were reserved, yet friendly when spoken to. Much of the women’s first comments were, “when are we going home?” or “what is going to happen to us?” All I could say was, “I’m not sure, but I can inquire and pass on the information when it is available.” Much of the women stated that the children were missing their school lessons and their fathers. They also asked when they could get their personal cell phones returned to them. The informed me that their cell phones had been taken from them. When I attempted to ask the shelter manager for a phone or if I could let the woman use a cell phone, she commented to me (with the woman present, behind me), “I already told you, no cell phones”. The representative further stated to me “she is being manipulative; I’ve already told her no”. I was embarrassed when I turned around to speak to the woman because she heard the CPS worker’s comment. The first three to four days that I was present at the Concho Valley Fort, the women and children were all well mannered and extremely cooperative. The unit of the Pavilion where I was stationed, my task was to offer comfort and support the women and children, referred to as “guests”. I worked alongside two BCFS workers and at least four CPS workers. Four CPS workers were stationed at the two doors of the unit. For the most part, they sat y the doors and observed the “guests” who were either discreetly breast feeding their children, on their cot, schooling/teaching their children, or feeding their children with food, drinks, and snacks. I was asked by the unit leader to sit outside of the unit, to monitor who was coming and going out. Most of my day was spent taking shift with MH workers due to the hot sun. The second week I participated with the San Angelo Incident, the “guests” were housed at the Pavilion and Coliseum. My task on the second trip was to comfort and offer support to the children who were escorted to the Coliseum,
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