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| Texas law enforcement officers raided the YFZ compound on ] ] following allegations of ] and ] of a 16-year-old girl.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080405/NEWS01/804050310 | title=52 children taken during raid |publisher=] | date=April 4, 2008 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2008-04-06}}</ref> Authorities were seeking ], age 50, suspected of marrying the girl and fathering a child with her, born eight months prior to the raid. | Texas law enforcement officers raided the YFZ compound on ] ] following allegations of ] and ] of a 16-year-old girl.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080405/NEWS01/804050310 | title=52 children taken during raid |publisher=] | date=April 4, 2008 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2008-04-06}}</ref> Authorities were seeking ], age 50, suspected of marrying the girl and fathering a child with her, born eight months prior to the raid. | ||
| As of ], a total of 219 people had been removed from the compound by authorities. This number included 159 children, mostly girls. Eighteen of the girls had been placed in state custody because authorities believed they "had been abused or were at immediate risk of future abuse," a state spokesman said.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/06/texas.ranch |
As of ], a total of 219 people had been removed from the compound by authorities. This number included 159 children, mostly girls. Eighteen of the girls had been placed in state custody because authorities believed they "had been abused or were at immediate risk of future abuse," a state spokesman said.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/06/texas.ranch/ | title=219 children, women taken from sect's ranch |publisher=] | date=April 6, 2008 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2008-04-06}}</ref> | ||
| . The ranch was home to as many as 400 individuals at the time of the raid.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.myeldorado.net/ | title=Operation at YFZ Ranch continues into third day |publisher=] | date=April 6, 2008 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2008-04-06}}</ref> | . The ranch was home to as many as 400 individuals at the time of the raid.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.myeldorado.net/ | title=Operation at YFZ Ranch continues into third day |publisher=] | date=April 6, 2008 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2008-04-06}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 05:54, 7 April 2008
The YFZ Ranch is a 1,900-acre (8 km) compound just outside of Eldorado in Southwest Texas. It is owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is about 145 miles (233 km) southwest of Abilene and 4 miles (6 km) northeast of Eldorado, Texas. The Ranch was settled by members of the FLDS Church who left Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona under increasing scrutiny from the media, anti-polygamy activists and law enforcement officials. YFZ is short for Yearn for Zion (also reported as Yearning for Zion).
Background
The church purchased the ranch in 2004 and quickly began development on the property. When William Benjamin Johnson, who was fined for hunting without a license, purchased the property he insisted that the buildings were a corporate hunting retreat. Later, ranch officials disclosed that the hunting retreat story was untrue; the buildings were part of the FLDS church's new compound.
Currently the ranch, home to as many as 400 people who relocated from Arizona and Utah compounds, houses a temple, a waste treatment facility, a 29,000-square-foot (2,700 m) house for FLDS Church President Warren Jeffs and his wives, a meeting house, and several dormitory-style buildings. There are generators, gardens, a grain silo, and a large stone quarry that is being cut for the temple. The ranch is thought to be self-sufficient. According to preliminary tax assessments, about $3 million worth of buildings have been put up. The sect has been fined over $34,000 over environmental violations in connection with buildings on the ranch, mainly due to its failure to obtain the required permits for its cement mixing operations.
A local newspaper, the Eldorado Success, reported that the temple foundation was dedicated January 1, 2005 by Warren Jeffs.
April 2008 raid
Texas law enforcement officers raided the YFZ compound on 3 April 2008 following allegations of physical and sexual abuse of a 16-year-old girl. Authorities were seeking Dale Barlow, age 50, suspected of marrying the girl and fathering a child with her, born eight months prior to the raid.
As of 6 April, a total of 219 people had been removed from the compound by authorities. This number included 159 children, mostly girls. Eighteen of the girls had been placed in state custody because authorities believed they "had been abused or were at immediate risk of future abuse," a state spokesman said. . The ranch was home to as many as 400 individuals at the time of the raid.
Similar Events
Coincidentally in Texas, a similar event ocurred when the Branch Davidians, under the leadership of David Koresh were seized in 1993. This occurred on February 28, 1993
References
- ^ Have polygamists found their Eldorado? West Texas compound may be a haven from scrutiny, but neighbors worry March 6, 2005
- FLDS temple nearly complete January 31, 2006
- "Corporate retreat or Prophet's refuge". The Eldorado Success. March 25, 2004. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- 137 children removed from polygamist ranch
- "TCEQ seeks $18813 fine against YFZ". The Eldorado Success. March 3, 2005. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- "Jeffs dedicates FLDS temple site at YFZ Ranch". The Eldorado Success. Jan. 11, 2005. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "52 children taken during raid". The Eldorado Success. April 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- "219 children, women taken from sect's ranch". CNN. April 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- "Operation at YFZ Ranch continues into third day". The Eldorado Success. April 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
Further reading
- Bistline, Benjamin G. Colorado City Polygamists: An Inside Look for the Outsider (2004). A Colorado City historian presents the beginnings of the group and its original religious doctrine.
- Bistline, Benjamin G. The Polygamists: A History of Colorado City, Arizona (2004)
Links
30°55′30″N 100°32′10″W / 30.925°N 100.536°W / 30.925; -100.536