Utah and Arizona authorities said that they were unsure of a Mexico compound's existence.

Authorities are hoping Jeffs will surrender, ending the possibility of a violent stand-off in an attempt to capture the fugitive prophet. Former followers said that in a 2003 sermon, Jeffs compared himself to Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and declared that if he ever went to jail he would not come out alive.

"We all want him to turn himself in," Shurtleff said.

Doran said he will continue to negotiate with Jeffs' followers in Eldorado in an attempt to avoid what happened in Waco, Texas. In 1993, more than 80 people — including two dozen children — died in a fiery siege with federal agents at the Branch-Davidian cult's compound in Waco.

"Unlike most law enforcement, we are at least able to communicate and go on the property," he said.

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