Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

"A total of 53 girls between the ages of 14 and 17 are in state custody after a raid 3 1/2 weeks ago at the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado. Of those girls, 31 either have children or are pregnant, said Child Protective Services spokesman Darrell Azar. He didn't specify how many are pregnant."

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

No kidding.

I know I talked a lot about the nature of the phone call, but you also have to wonder why it took so long to do the raid.

Why wasn't the testimony of the women who escaped or left the group earlier considered enough to intervene before now? Have I missed an article someplace on that topic?

[jon1856]

Under guard, polygamist teen goes into labor

SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) -- One of the hundreds of young polygamist-sect members taken into custody by the state was giving birth Tuesday while child welfare officials, state troopers and fellow sect members stood watch outside the maternity ward.
The teenager was admitted to the Central Texas Medical Center and was in labor, said Rod Parker, a spokesman for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a renegade Mormon sect. He contends she is 18, but state officials have the girl on a list of minors taken into state custody.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/29/....ap/index.html

[Thetagirl218]

Originally Posted by jon1856

Under guard, polygamist teen goes into labor

SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) -- One of the hundreds of young polygamist-sect members taken into custody by the state was giving birth Tuesday while child welfare officials, state troopers and fellow sect members stood watch outside the maternity ward.
The teenager was admitted to the Central Texas Medical Center and was in labor, said Rod Parker, a spokesman for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a renegade Mormon sect. He contends she is 18, but state officials have the girl on a list of minors taken into state custody.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/29/....ap/index.html

Even though she is a minor, (I am siding with the state on this one), will they let her keep the baby?

[epchick]

Originally Posted by Thetagirl218

Even though she is a minor, (I am siding with the state on this one), will they let her keep the baby?

In this case, they might not. With the cases of abuse and all, the state might find that the mother & the environment is unfit.

[Benzgirl]

Question....Do they have their own doctors on the compound to do deliveries and file birth certificates/

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Question....Do they have their own doctors on the compound to do deliveries and file birth certificates/

IIRC, part of the problem is that there are no birth certificates.
As for doctors-may just use mid-wifes. I have not seen any comment about doctors at/in/on compound.

[Drolefille]

I think that the pregnant teens/teen mothers are allowed to stay with their children. If they do make a fitness ruling it'll be a whole separate process at this point.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Official: History of injuries to polygamist kids

At least 41 had broken bones; possible sex abuse of boys investigated

AUSTIN, Texas - The chief of protective services in Texas told state legislators Wednesday that investigators have uncovered a history of physical injuries, including broken bones, in children taken from a polygamous sect.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24388249/

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Official: History of injuries to polygamist kids

At least 41 had broken bones; possible sex abuse of boys investigated

AUSTIN, Texas - The chief of protective services in Texas told state legislators Wednesday that investigators have uncovered a history of physical injuries, including broken bones, in children taken from a polygamous sect.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24388249/

From the article:

The agency later released more information on its Web site, stating that:

• "Medical exams and reports by the children indicate that at least 41 children have had broken bones in the past. We do not have X-rays or complete medical information on many children so it is too early to draw any conclusions based on this information, but it is cause for concern and something we’ll continue to examine."
• "Based on interviews with the children and journal entries found at the ranch, we are continuing to look into the possible sexual abuse of some young boys."

[DeltAlum]

According to various news reports, the young woman had the baby. I haven't heard about custody -- temporary or other.

Also, in fairness, NBC News pointed out that many doctors say that broken bones in what is about 10% of the children may not be that out of line for children who basically live on a farm.

I have no other information or statistics, just a couple things I heard on radio and TV today.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Official: History of injuries to polygamist kids

At least 41 had broken bones; possible sex abuse of boys investigated

AUSTIN, Texas - The chief of protective services in Texas told state legislators Wednesday that investigators have uncovered a history of physical injuries, including broken bones, in children taken from a polygamous sect.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24388249/

CNN has story as well:
Sect's boys may have been abused too, agency says

CNN) -- Investigators are looking into the possible sexual abuse of some of the boys taken from a polygamist sect's ranch in Texas and into how several children apparently suffered broken bones while there, officials said Wednesday.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/30/...use/index.html
Here is something I have not seen before:
The ranch has a medical clinic staffed by a licensed physician who is able to treat simple fractures and consults with non-FLDS specialists in nearby San Angelo for serious cases, he said. FLDS residents are also sent to San Angelo for emergency treatment.
Parker said he asked the doctor about the reports of broken bones.
The doctor described the fractures as "run-of-the-mill injuries," Parker said.
"They are very active children," he said. "They're kids, and they play; they fall down, and they get injuries. ... To suggest that they're all sitting around quietly and their bones are breaking -- there's no evidence of that."


Tom Vick, who is on the board of directors for the Texas State Bar and is charged with organizing the attorneys to represent the children, said the reports would need to be reviewed

[jon1856]

Polygamists erred when they messed with Texas

ELDORADO, Texas (Reuters) - When a renegade Mormon sect was looking for a quiet place to live out its polygamous beliefs, it made a Texas-sized mistake when it picked this state to move to.
Texas responded by raising the age at which children can legally get married with parental consent, and law enforcement agencies immediately put the sect in its crosshairs........
http://www.reuters.com/article/inDep...nnel=0&sp=true

[jon1856]

Polygamist Sect Newborn Ordered Into State Custody

SAN ANTONIO — A judge ordered that the baby boy born to a teenager taken from a polygamist sect's ranch in West Texas be placed in state custody, according to documents released Thursday.
Texas District Judge Barbara Walther signed the order Wednesday giving the state custody of the 1-day-old infant born to a teen believed to be 15 or 16 years old.
The girl has claimed to be 18 and based on a bishop's record used during the custody hearing two weeks ago, she would be 18 now. But officials believe she is younger and placed her in foster care with other children taken from the ranch.......
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353919,00.html

[a.e.B.O.T.]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Official: History of injuries to polygamist kids

At least 41 had broken bones; possible sex abuse of boys investigated


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24388249/

Weren't there like 463 kids? That is like 9% of them. Isn't that common for kids? It is not like it says 41 CURRENTLY have broken bones, but kids have injuries all the time, and a lot of people break a bone with they are a kid. I bet its more then 9%