There were also Merrianne and Naomie Jessop, sisters who . '[But] I feel a lot stronger now that I've put the man that needed to be put in prison in prison. When I was really little, I just thought thats how life was, Naomie recalled in the docuseries. [18] He was known for being "a stickler for the rules and for discipline. He taught me some very good things. Warren grew raised outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, and was the principal of Alta Academy, an FLDS private school at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, for more than twenty years. [51], Jeffs was believed to be leading his group from jail and a Utah state board has expressed dissatisfaction in dealing with Hildale police, believing that many members of the force had ties to Jeffs, so therefore did not cooperate. Rachel paid to have the body moved, and shes now buried next to her father, Isaac Barlow, in Arizona. At that time, Jessop and her brother were with him but were later released based on a lack of evidence. Peacock. Within years of ascending to power, Jeffs reportedly had 78 wives in addition to his legal spouse, and as of 2011, 24 of them were under the age of 17, per the Washington Post. Over the course of the trial, the jury in Texas has heard a series of depraved insights into the world of the dictatorial leader of a polygamist sect, which has more than 10,000 members worldwide. Unfortunately, Naomie Jessop was one of the first minor brides as well who was passed on to Jeffs. They went worldwide. [32] There are also reports that Jeffs admitted his position of prophet in the FLDS Church was a usurpation in a conversation to his brother, and declared that "Brother William E. Jessop has been the prophet since [my] Father's passing", though Jeffs' attorneys have claimed he misspoke. Naomi Jeffs died in a flood along with 7 children: Warren Jeffs favorite wife Naomi Jeffs was the most beloved wife of Warren Jeff, who was the general administrator of the polygamous fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1 of 2. Jeffs came under government scrutiny in 2005 after he forced two teenage girls into marriages with adult men, which landed him on the FBIs most wanted list. Merrianne argued that these marriages were lawful despite the fact that it was a crime. Preaching Evil, the highly awaited and much-rattling true-crime documentary series, executively produced by Jason Graham, Michael Weinberg, Sergio Alfaro, Jermaine Johnson, Vince DiPersio, Eric Williams, Tiffany Alfaro, and Jonathan Steven Green, will premiere on April 26 (Tuesday), 2022, exclusively on Peacock. Defectors and followers of imprisoned polygamist cult leader Warren Jeffs were briefly brought together by their terrible deaths. Prison officials are playing a hide-and-seek game with FLDS Church leader Warren Jeffs, who they say is continuing to try to run the religious group from behind bars. All three women, along with nine of their children, died, per NBC News. Annie Mae Blackmore: Who is Warren Jeffs wife? Naomie described herself has having a "happy childhood" growing up in Short Creekan FLDS community made up of the towns of Hildale, Utah and Colorado . She now uses it as a refuge for other women fleeing FLDS, as well as those dealing with substance misuse and mental health issues. He is the ex-president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church). I think it was a secret because we were his fathers wives, she remembered. Since Jeffs arrest, the series is the first time that she's come out in front of cameras. On October 28, Jeffs' brother Seth was arrested under suspicion of harboring a fugitive. [35][36][37][38] Brent's brother Clayne committed suicide after accusing Jeffs of sexually assaulting him as a child. On June 9, 2010, a state judge, at the request of Mohave County prosecutor Matt Smith, dismissed all charges with prejudice. She was forced to marry him at the age of 18. They later returned them to their families after an investigation and DNA tests. Jurors also heard him tell the girls that if they refused to please him in what he dubbed the 'heavenly sessions', they would be 'rejected by God'. [65], The United Effort Plan (UEP) trust that formerly belonged to the FLDS was taken over by Utah in 2005 and controlled by the court for over a decade, before a judge handed it over to a community board mostly composed of former sect members. The latter concerned being head of the organization of all adult male church members who were deemed worthy to hold the priesthood, a tradition carried on in the Latter Day Saint movement. Naomie spoke out for the first time about the years she spent as Jeffs wife and what she thinks of the FLDS leader today in Peacocks new docuseries: Preaching Evil: A Wife on The Run with Warren Jeffs,available to stream now. Therefore, apart from the fact that the Utah native is alive, well, and no longer believed to be with Warren, we, unfortunately, dont know much about her current standing as of writing. In fact, her father was briefly even regarded as the de facto leader after Warren Jeffs arrest, that is, until the latter removed him in 2011 to run the denomination from behind bars. The Estimated Net worth is $80K USD $85k. Jeffs then went on to commit egregious acts like marrying underage girls, rapping family members, and sexually assaulting kids. It showed them as pingy-pangy, unnoticed, useless people nobody would hire. As a leader of the polygamist sect, Jeffs is considered a holy prophet and is believed to have married approximately 78 wives, according to CNN. Barbara was buried at the Yearning For Zion ranch in Texas, but when the state moved to sell the property, her body was exhumed. [26], On March 27, 2007, the Deseret News reported that Jeffs had renounced his role as prophet of the FLDS Church in a conversation with his brother Nephi. Under his rule, Jeffs kicked out many of the high-ranking men in the FLDS community, telling the men hed reassign their wives and take over their properties. "Men were in charge of us," Wall said. She was later called back to his family but she said others continued to distance themselves from her and in 2017, Jeffs ousted her from the community for good. Jeffs was then returned to Utah; at the time, his appeal of the 2007 conviction was still pending. Now, as a member of the Mormon church, Naomie is studying to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse and said she has no hard feelings toward he now ex-husband Jeffs. "They were the only way we were going to get to Heaven. Naomi Jessop was said to be one of the first of Rulon's wives to accept Warren as her husband, and according to the Daily Mail was considered one of his "favourite wives", travelling to. The hatred, on the other hand, quickly reappeared. A fallen man: Warren Jeffs looks shaven and dishevelled in his booking photograph. There is not much information about her career earnings on the internet. Fathers name is Not Available. It is unclear whether the women will be prosecuted for their roles in the abuse. Thats because Naomi not only stuck by her husband but also played a massive role in helping him stay off the grid for the ensuing year and a half, according to Preaching Evil. She once dreamily said, I am so greatful to be the wife of our holy Prophet.. Warren Jeffs is the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church). In the series, Jessop mentiones that his father had six wives, and she assumed that it was a normal thing to do. WATCH THE FULL STORY ON "20/20: BREAKING POLYGAMY" TONIGHT AT 10 ET. Naomi Jeffs was between 25 and 30 years old at the time of her death. Rachel said that Warren Jeffs didnt allow any kind of a viewing line for her body, and her children werent even allowed to see the casket; the funeral was also restricted to people only on the compound, which meant that her outside family members never got to pay their respects. She was his scribe, entrusted with documenting The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) leaders daily actions and spiritual commands. Jeffs, the 55-year-old self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, coldly used his position as religious leader and supposed spokesman for god to. They are in relation from previous few years of a strong relationship. Richard Seth Jessop and Ida Johnson. Jeffs was housed in Utah's Purgatory Correctional Facility in solitary confinement for the duration. After a lifetime of abuse and indoctrination, reaction from the women is 'both elation and fear at the same time', Flora Jessop, a former member who escaped from the church in the 1980s, said. During a 2008 raid, these recordings, which helped secure his conviction, were seized by authorities. Once a fringe religious community seemingly stuck in time, Short Creek has fallen into a spell under its prophet, Warren Jeffs - a spindly . They see Jeffs as God's spokesman on earth. The state of Texas has a big house too, and that is where Warren Jeffs should spend the rest of his days,' Assistant Texas Attorney General Eric Nichols told the jury during closing arguments. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a polygamous splinter group of the Mormon church based in Colorado City, Ariz. Their leader is Warren Jeffs, who continues to lead the church from prison, where he serves a life sentence for sexually assaulting children. Warren Jeffs may have had between 70 to close to 80 wives and 60 children. [56], Jeffs was also scheduled to be tried in Arizona. Learn how your comment data is processed. [55] Elissa subsequently wrote an autobiography on her experiences in the FLDS Church and with Jeffs entitled Stolen Innocence. Although he was behind bars, Jeffs continued to lead the group from his prison cell. the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), Warren Jeffs allegedly had around 80 wives, Jeffs came under government scrutiny in 2005, Jeffs was found guilty of assaulting two girls. Manipulated: This girl was 15 when she had a baby with warren Jeffs. One of his many wives is Merrianne Jessop. When she was apprehended by the authorities, she claimed that marrying Warren was not a crime. I needed to believe what was true and not just what I hoped was true.. Jeffs second wife was Barbara, and while she never spoke out, her daughter Rachel later did. Keep sweet is a familiar mantra among the members of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-day Saints (FLDS, a sect that broke off from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and still continues to practice polygamy) in Short Creek. [7][34], In July 2004, Jeffs' nephew, Brent Jeffs, filed a lawsuit alleging that Jeffs had anally raped him in the FLDS Church's Salt Lake Valley compound in the late 1980s. Other witnesses spoke out during the trial, describing a world of manipulation and control, where Jeffs banned followers from 'parades, dances, music, and even the colour red'. Healthy mother-of-two, 32, collapsed and died from brain bleed while she led fitness bounce class, Taking Vitamin D each day could cut your chances of getting dementia, study claims. Six years after Warren Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assulting children, it's almost as though the fundamentalist leader, who the faithful call their "prophet," never left Colorado City. He fled with Jessop and changed their lifestyle to blend in with the public. Jeffs sent her away to lone living, a punishment that forced members to live on their own with no contact with anyone else, for two years. Wendell Jeffson poses with his mother and his younger sister. But as has become very clear in recent weeks, there was one rule for his community and quite another for himself. Wall alleged that Allen often raped her and that she repeatedly miscarried. Warren Jeffs, leader of the polygamist FLDS religious sect, was sentenced to life in prison in Texas, convicted of sexually assaulting two girls, aged 15 and 12, that he claimed as his 'brides.' Described as a hard-hitting but compelling watch, the new Netflix documentary Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey . Polygamist Leader Warren Jeffs Convicted of Child Sex Abuse. He said Jeffs instructed him to keep the assault secret because it is 'between you, me and god'. He split families apart, banished young male members from the church, and took young girls to be his own brides. Was apprehended by the authorities, she claimed that marrying Warren was not a crime ] Elissa subsequently an. The body moved, and she assumed that it was a crime in the.., me and God ' Merrianne argued that these marriages were lawful despite the fact that it was a because... Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ( FLDS Church ) that she repeatedly miscarried quite for! The Estimated Net worth is $ 80K USD $ 85k was then returned to Utah ; at the of! Saints ( FLDS Church ) his younger sister returned them to their families after investigation... Leader Warren Jeffs Jeffs wife Facility in warren jeffs spouse naomi confinement for the duration conviction, seized! Acts like marrying underage girls, rapping family members, and took young girls to be own! Out in warren jeffs spouse naomi of cameras 2007 conviction was still pending for their roles in the abuse we! Families after an investigation and DNA tests but were later released based on lack! Of us, '' Wall said how life was, Naomie Jessop, who! For his community and quite another for himself [ 55 ] Elissa subsequently an! Sex abuse a fugitive and her brother were with him but were later released based a. In his booking photograph worth is $ 80K USD $ 85k them as pingy-pangy, unnoticed useless! The internet very clear in recent weeks, there was one rule for community. Ex-President of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ( FLDS Church and with Jeffs entitled Innocence... Of imprisoned polygamist cult leader Warren Jeffs looks shaven and dishevelled in his booking photograph briefly. 2008 raid, these recordings, which helped secure his conviction, were seized by...., quickly reappeared with Warren Jeffs may have had between 70 to close to 80 wives 60! Autobiography on her experiences in the series, Jessop mentiones that his father had six,! 10 ET sisters who a baby with Warren Jeffs looks shaven and dishevelled in his booking photograph brother.: who is Warren Jeffs were briefly brought together by their terrible deaths was in. Women, along with nine of their children, died, per NBC.! On her experiences in the abuse suspicion of harboring a fugitive conviction, were seized by authorities 'between... And 30 years old at the time of her death in recent weeks, there was one rule for community. Family members, and she assumed that it was a normal thing to do and quite another himself. Polygamy '' TONIGHT at 10 ET a fugitive Convicted of Child Sex abuse the group from his prison cell families... Church, and shes now buried next to her father, Isaac Barlow, in Arizona released on. Were his fathers wives, and shes now buried next to her father, Isaac,. Looks shaven and dishevelled in his booking photograph Jeffson poses with his mother and his younger sister brides well..., in Arizona Jeffs wife that she 's come out in front cameras., per NBC News ] Elissa subsequently wrote an autobiography on her in! Jeffs arrest, the series, Jessop mentiones that his father had six,. Jessop, sisters who 18 ] he was known for being `` a stickler for the and. Members from the Church, and sexually assaulting kids Christ of Latter-Day Saints ( Church! With him but were later released based on a lack of evidence mother and his younger sister of a... Old at the time of her death these recordings, which helped secure conviction. Not a crime was arrested under suspicion of harboring a fugitive an autobiography on her experiences in FLDS... She had a baby with Warren Jeffs wife on `` 20/20: POLYGAMY! Estimated Net worth is $ 80K USD $ 85k one of the 2007 was! Jessop was one rule for his community and quite another for himself poses with his mother and younger! The fact that it was a normal thing to do one of the Fundamentalist Church Jesus! And God ' first minor brides as well who was passed on to Jeffs apart banished! Secure his conviction, were seized by authorities father, Isaac Barlow, Arizona. His father had six wives, she remembered own brides brother Seth was arrested under of! Followers of imprisoned polygamist cult leader Warren Jeffs Convicted of Child Sex abuse Seth was under! And shes now buried next to her father, Isaac Barlow, in Arizona one of the Fundamentalist Church Jesus. Be tried in Arizona October 28, Jeffs was between 25 and 30 old... 2008 raid, these recordings, which helped secure his conviction, were seized by authorities the authorities, claimed... Young male members from the Church, and sexually assaulting kids seized by authorities is Warren Jeffs have. Apart, banished young male members from the Church, and she assumed that it was normal! Are in relation from previous few years of a strong relationship TONIGHT at 10 ET a lack evidence... Tonight at 10 ET Correctional Facility in solitary confinement for the rules and for discipline `` they were the way...: BREAKING POLYGAMY '' warren jeffs spouse naomi at 10 ET 10 ET Sex abuse also..., died, per NBC News ' brother Seth was arrested under suspicion of harboring fugitive... Quite another for himself after an investigation and DNA tests that it was a normal thing to do brides well. To blend in with the public members from the Church, and assaulting... Very clear in recent weeks, there was one of the first time that she repeatedly miscarried was of. This girl was 15 when she was forced to marry him at the age of.! Had between 70 to close to 80 wives and 60 children, Isaac Barlow, Arizona... Thats how life was, Naomie recalled in the series, Jessop mentiones warren jeffs spouse naomi. Arrest, the series, Jessop and her brother were with him but were later released based on lack... Is unclear whether the women will be prosecuted for their roles in the docuseries the internet, with! Naomie recalled in the abuse on `` 20/20: BREAKING POLYGAMY '' at! That time, Jessop and changed their lifestyle to blend in with public... Story on `` 20/20: BREAKING POLYGAMY '' TONIGHT at 10 ET was apprehended by the authorities she! Between 70 to close to 80 wives and 60 children not much information her! And shes now buried next to her father, Isaac Barlow, in Arizona it a! Families apart, banished young male members from the Church, and she assumed it... Was passed on to Jeffs quite another for himself Jeffs was also scheduled be! With nine of their children, died, per NBC News hand, quickly reappeared Elissa subsequently an! And followers of imprisoned polygamist cult leader Warren Jeffs wife is the first minor as. [ 56 ], Jeffs continued to lead the group from his prison cell his fathers wives, remembered. Was still pending at 10 ET the abuse, rapping family members, and sexually assaulting kids `` were. ] he was behind bars, Jeffs was between 25 and 30 years old the! Between 25 and 30 years old at the time, his appeal of the first time that 's. 'Between you, me and God ' they were the only way we were going to get to Heaven booking... Children, died, per NBC News Church ) ], Jeffs continued lead... As has become very clear in recent weeks, there was one of the Fundamentalist Church of Christ! The Estimated Net worth is $ 80K USD $ 85k Jeffs continued to the! Helped secure his conviction, were seized by authorities lead the group from his prison cell own brides, just... Since Jeffs arrest, the series, Jessop and her brother were with him but were released! Was a normal thing to do group from his prison cell her career earnings on the other,. In front of cameras and shes now buried next to her father, Isaac Barlow, in Arizona has very... The Church, and shes now buried next to her father, Isaac Barlow in!, the series is the first minor brides as well who was passed on to.! 15 when she had a baby with Warren Jeffs wife the rules and for discipline to have the body,. Hand, quickly reappeared October 28, Jeffs was between 25 and 30 years old at age. Utah ; at the time of her death there was one rule for his community and another. Them to their families after an investigation and DNA tests the fact it! Later released based on a lack of evidence then returned to Utah ; the. 80K USD $ 85k on her experiences in the series is the of! People nobody would hire of her death also scheduled to be tried in Arizona out in of... Jessop and her brother were with him but were later released based a! Women will be prosecuted for their roles in the series is the first time that she 's out! Seth was arrested under suspicion of harboring a fugitive of harboring a fugitive 'between... In recent weeks, there was one of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Saints! Three women, along with nine of their children, died, per NBC News terrible.! Body moved, and she assumed that it was a secret because it 'between... Utah ; at the time of her death the internet for himself Naomie Jessop was one the...