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Police Questioning Those Removed from Polygamist Compound Save Email Print
Posted: 12:52 PM Apr 7, 2008
Last Updated: 12:52 PM Apr 7, 2008
Reporter: Mike von Fremd

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Police are questioning more than 200 women and children who were removed from a polygamist compound in Texas.

They are also searching for a 16-year-old girl who allegedly called police to say she was being abused there.

The group is affiliated with former church leader Warren Jeffs, convicted last fall as an accomplice in rape.

60 Women and 159 children were all bussed out of the polygamist compound.

Everyone admits to being related to one another.

They share the same names and now officials are having an impossible time figuring out if one of them is the 16-year-old woman who called the crisis hot-line to report that she was physically abused by her 50-year-old husband inside the compound.

"I am confident that this girl does indeed exist, and I am confident that the allegations that she brought fourth are accurate," stated Marleigh Meisner, with Child Protective Services.

ABC News was given a birds-eye view of the compound Warren Jeffs' followers built here in Eldorado.

The spectacular sanctuary is surrounded by 1,900 acres to seal themselves off from the outside world.

"You have water, sewer, they are growing crops, there is an irrigation, they have chickens, they have dairy cattle," stated a pilot flying over the compound.

Jeffs was their self-proclaimed prophet, with an estimated 70 wives.

He was the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a polygamist offshoot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, otherwise known as the Mormon Church.

The two denominations have no official connection.

"He is their God," said Flora Jessop, who escaped from the compound.

"He's told these people, 'I am Jesus Christ.'"

In court a jury felt otherwise.

Jeffs was convicted last fall of being an accomplice to rape for arranging a marriage between then 14-year-old Elissa Wall and her 19-year-old cousin.

"He came over and pulled me over to the bed and I just said I can't do this, please just don't, and I was sobbing," recalled Wall.

It was her testimony that may have been an inspiration to others to speak out as well.

"I have followed my heart and I have spoken the truth," said another victim.

"There's a saying by Emily Dickinson that says 'opinion is a flitting thing, but truth outlasts the sun.'"

Investigators are in their fourth day of searching for evidence at the polygamist compound.

Texas law prohibits girl under 16 from marrying, even with parental consent.

No arrests have been made.

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