DNA Testing Complete For FLDS Kids, What's Next
 Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

Authorities in Texas announced today that DNA samples have been collected from all of the children - most of whom's paternity is in question - from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) ranch raid near Eldorado, Texas.  DNA samples are still being taken from the parents at the ranch, and the children are currently being moved into foster homes per an order from State District Judge Barbara Walther yesterday.

Child Protective Services in Texas say that the children need to be out of the limelight and back into a normal routine, and the state is trying to keep mothers who are under 18 (yes, mothers) with their underage children in the distribution of kids to foster care.

There are estimated to be over 100 adults living at the Eldorado ranch.  All children and adults who were at the Yearning for Zion Ranch will also be fingerprinted, photographed, and given DNA tests.

Some lawyers representing the children have expressed unhappiness with the verdict of sending the FLDS kids and underage mothers into state foster care; however, with the enormity of the DNA match-ups the state of Texas is facing, it will be a while before there are answers about what abuse took place at the ranch.

ConnieTalk's Recommended Read:  Escape by Carolyn Jessop

I expressed some criticism this week of CNN's coverage of the FLDS sect, but from it I did learn of Carolyn Jessop, an extremely courageous woman that was born into the FLDS polygamist cult and was made the fourth wife of a fifty-year-old man at age 18.  Jessop, who co-authored the book with Laura Palmer, tells a shocking tale of the inner workings of a religious sect with over 10,000 followers, that (until the past two weeks) was tucked away from mainstream America.

From Salt Lake City to Colorado City, Carolyn's family began as relatively normal, but as time went on and plural marriage was introduced into her household, abuse and neglect took hold.  Carolyn went from being a college student to the new wife of Merril Jessop--a man almost three times older--nearly overnight, and was pushed further into a world of intense competition, preferential treatment of "wives," back-to-back pregnancies, loveless marriages, and a community that policed itself to cover up physical and psychological abuse and forced nuptials.

This is her story:  how she realized she was "brainwashed," how she gained her own ground, and how she fled with $20 and eight children to make a better life for all of them.  Jessop built up bravery within herself not only to "Escape," but to play a pertinent role in the reporting of church abuse(s) that led to the arrest and prosecution of FLSD "prophet" Warren Jeffs.

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