Polygamist Sect Raid

On April 4, 2008, officials from the Texas department of Child Protective Services, escorted by state troopers, raided a compound of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, removing 400 children and 133 women.

The Yearning For Zion Ranch, in the town of Eldorado, was built by polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, who was sentenced in 2007 to a ten-year prison term for arranging marriages with underage girls. At least one resident, Dale Barlow, is wanted by authorities.

The raid took place after after a sixteen-year-old girl living in the compound complained of physical abuse. The search is continuing for the girl, and authorities aren't sure if she is among the children already taken into custody.

A ruffled bed was found inside the temple that, according to a confidential informant, was used for sex between young girls and adult men at the polygamist compound.

On April 23, 2008, Police named Rozita Swinton as a person they wanted to talk to in relation to the initial phone call that led police to believe underage girls were being abused on the ranch. Swinton is 33 years old and has a history of making false claims.

1. Born: December 3, 1965
2. August 28, 2006: Arrested
3. Official Title: President and Prophet, Seer and Revelator
4. Status: Incarcerated at Utah State Prison
5. Sentence: 5 years to life in prison, will serve at least 10 years in November 2007

• Topix.net: Polygamist Sect Raid

• Google News: Polygamist Sect Raid

• Los Angeles Times: Bed Discovered in Sect Temple (April 10, 2008)

• ABC News: Polygamists Under Siege (April 6, 2008) (Time: 2:50)

• ABC News: Search Continues at Polygamist Compound (April 7, 2008)

• Associated Press (Breitbart): Search Continues at Polygamist Compound (April 6, 2008)

• Associated Press: 52 Girls Removed From Texas Compound (April 5, 2008)

• AFP: US authorities remove girls from polygamist compound (April 5, 2008)

• Salt Lake Tribune: More than 180 youth and children removed from Texas FLDS compound (April 5, 2008)

• BBC News: Texas removes polygamy sect girls (April 5, 2008)

• New York Times: 52 Girls Are Taken From Polygamist Sect's Ranch in Texas (April 5, 2008)

• CNN: 137 children removed from polygamist ranch | Video (April 5, 2008)

• FOX News: Child Welfare Officials Remove Girls...Leader Warren Jeff's Compound (April 5, 2008)