From Deseret News archives:

Warren Jeffs' accuser no longer anonymous

Published: Friday, Sept. 21, 2007 4:41 p.m. MDT
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ST. GEORGE — Her name is Elissa Wall.

The woman at the center of the case against Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs made her name known today, when her attorneys released a photograph of her at age 14 — the age she was when she claims she was forced into a marriage with her 19-year-old cousin.

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"It's important to keep in mind that she's a 14-year-old girl when this occurred," said her attorney, Greg Hoole. "This picture helps people keep that in mind."

Wall, now 21, was relieved to see the trial go to the jury late this afternoon, Hoole said.

"She's doing well," he said.

The jury is now deliberating whether Jeffs is guilty or innocent of rape as an accomplice, a first-degree felony. Jeffs is accused of performing a marriage between Wall and her 19-year-old cousin, Allen Steed, at a Caliente, Nev., motel room in 2001.

As the prosecution's star witness, Wall presented a heartbreaking case against Jeffs. She testified she did not want to be married to her cousin, and begged Jeffs to be spared from the union. No one, she claims, came to her defense. She said her mother and others betrayed her by insisting she go through with the marriage.

After the marriage, Wall said she met with Jeffs to complain about her husband touching her in ways she didn't like. Jeffs, she claims, told her to repent, return home, and give herself, "mind, body and soul" to her husband.

The girl testified she was terrified the first time the couple had sex and that her husband said it was "time for you to be a wife" when he forced himself on her. She said the event traumatized her so much that she attempted suicide by swallowing bottles of pain reliever, although she later threw it up.

Recent comments

I cannot understand this kind of sect, but I feel that Allen Steed is...

Anonymous | Nov. 18, 2009 at 5:08 p.m.

Will we ever know if the former husband got charged?

Elissa...

Evelyn | June 30, 2009 at 9:41 p.m.

Are they going to do anything to the former husband?

Also I...

Kirk | Nov. 20, 2007 at 5:11 p.m.

Image

Photo of Elissa Wall, at age 14, the alledged rape victim who testified against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs who is charged with being an accomplice to rape in arranging the marriage of Wall to her 19-year-old cousin. Wall is now 21 years old. Photo was released today by Wall's attorney Greg Hoole.

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