Jeffs tried to kill self, papers say

Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs tried to kill himself in the Purgatory Jail and repeatedly renounced his role as "prophet," newly released court documents say.

Additional information  » Court filings: State of Utah v. Warren Steed Jeffs

In a mental competency evaluation unsealed late Tuesday, doctors wrote that Jeffs tried to hang himself inside his cell in January. That led to a trip to the emergency room, and he returned to the jail under a suicide watch.

A few days later, doctors said Jeffs was observed "throwing himself against the walls," which led jail staff to give him a tranquilizer.

"On Feb. 2, 2007, he was banging his head on the wall. He denied any hallucinations at that time but simply described himself as anxious," Dr. Eric Nielsen wrote, noting that a psychiatrist who interviewed Jeffs determined the suicide attempt was a "cry for help."

When pressed about whether he was really intending to kill himself, Jeffs told Nielsen, "not really." The report said Jeffs claimed to be feeling better, which he attributed to "prayer and study."

Jeffs was diagnosed with a depressive disorder and ultimately declared competent to stand trial. The FLDS leader recently was convicted of rape as an accomplice, a first-degree felony, for performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin.

A 5th District Court judge in St. George ordered more documents unsealed Tuesday after requests from several news media outlets, including the Deseret Morning News, and a private investigator.

"Obviously, in Warren's own words he is a fraud," said Sam Brower, the private investigator who has been looking into Jeffs and the FLDS Church for lawyers suing the polygamist sect.

Transcripts

Other papers released include transcripts of Jeffs' jailhouse conversations in which he renounced his role as "prophet" of the FLDS Church.

In a visit that was videotaped Jan. 25 at the Purgatory Jail, Jeffs met with his brother, Nephi. He dictates a message of hope to his followers, saying that the Lord is testing them. Then, he tells his brother: "Write this down."