52 children taken during raid
 
By Randy Mankin
The Eldorado Success
The Spectrum
 
ELDORADO, Texas - Two buses from First Baptist Church of Eldorado were used Friday afternoon to remove 52 children, mostly girls, from the YFZ Ranch, a large Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints complex north of Eldorado, Texas.

Residents of the YFZ Ranch are members of the church once led by self-proclaimed prophet Warren Jeffs, who was convicted last year in Washington County, Utah on two counts of rape as an accomplice for his role in arranging and performing a marriage between one of his male followers and his underage cousin.

Jeffs faces similar charges in Arizona as well as a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted fugitives list until his capture near Las Vegas in 2006.

The children removed from the complex Friday were taken to the Schleicher County Civic Center approximately two miles south of town. Once there they were reportedly turned over to Texas Child Protective Services. Meanwhile, other buses were observed headed back into the YFZ Ranch.

CPS workers are seeking immediate temporary custody of 18 of the children ranging in age from 6 months to 17 years. The other 34 children are being interviewed and treated as if they are "at risk," according to investigators.

It is not clear who will end up with custody of the children once hearings are held Monday before 51st District Judge Barbara Walther in San Angelo, Texas.

Authorities set up a perimeter around the YFZ Ranch late Thursday afternoon to support an effort by CPS to investigate a report that an underage girl had been sexually abused at the ranch.

Lawmen reportedly entered the ranch late that evening and escorted a number of CPS investigators onto the property where they began a lengthy process of interviewing the residents.

CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner stated that the residents at the YFZ were cooperating with investigators and providing access to children they need to interview.

Preparations were under way Friday night to provide cots and a warm place to sleep for the 52 children at a local church.

It remains to be seen if more children will be removed from the ranch as the raid continued into the evening hours on Friday. Lawmen were told to prepare for another long and chilly night on the roadblocks around the YFZ Ranch.

The FLDS church purchased the property for the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado in late 2003. The following year they began construction of numerous dormitory style buildings and a massive white limestone temple. Since that time a small town has been built on the property.

www.myeldorado.net
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published April 4, 2008
 
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