Monday, April 7, 2008 at 12:12am
Texas seizes 401 children from sect
Texas authorities said Monday they took custody of 401 children from a polygamist compound built by jailed "prophet" Warren Jeffs, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Sains. The children are kept at Fort Concho in nearby San Angelo while authorities investigate a tip from a 16-year-old alleging physical and sexual abuse, CNN reported Monday.
Authorities also held 133 women, mostly mothers, taken from the sprawling ranch, said Marleigh Meisner, Texas Child Protective Services spokeswoman. The women can return to the compound, but many chose to remain, while the children's fathers are not allowed to see them at this time, officials said.
A court hearing is scheduled April 17 and the children will be appointed lawyers and legal guardians in about two weeks, she added. She said the shelter is filling up and there is a "critical shortage" of foster homes. Officials will try to keep siblings together, she added.
Authorities are still searching the ranch for evidence and other children, said Tela Mange of the Texas Department of Public Safety. One man was arrested for interfering with investigators, authorities said.
Authorities would not say whether they located the teen whose call prompted the raid. On March 31, she called to report physical and sexual abuse on the ranch and said she was married to a 50-year-old man. Authorities are looking for evidence she had a child at 15.
Authorities also held 133 women, mostly mothers, taken from the sprawling ranch, said Marleigh Meisner, Texas Child Protective Services spokeswoman. The women can return to the compound, but many chose to remain, while the children's fathers are not allowed to see them at this time, officials said.
A court hearing is scheduled April 17 and the children will be appointed lawyers and legal guardians in about two weeks, she added. She said the shelter is filling up and there is a "critical shortage" of foster homes. Officials will try to keep siblings together, she added.
Authorities are still searching the ranch for evidence and other children, said Tela Mange of the Texas Department of Public Safety. One man was arrested for interfering with investigators, authorities said.
Authorities would not say whether they located the teen whose call prompted the raid. On March 31, she called to report physical and sexual abuse on the ranch and said she was married to a 50-year-old man. Authorities are looking for evidence she had a child at 15.