Reaction

In the FLDS strongholds of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., news of Jeffs' suicide attempt and his renunciations generated mixed reaction.

"He tried to hang himself? Wow," said Richard Holm, an ex-FLDS member who was ousted by Jeffs and had his wives given to his brother.

Isaac Wyler, another ex-FLDS member who lives in Colorado City, said FLDS faithful still view Jeffs as their prophet.

"They believe it's a test," he said. "Warren's photo is still the one that's up in homes."

But so are portraits of Wendell Nielsen and William E. Jessop, top leaders in the polygamous church. Wyler said there may be a split coming in the FLDS Church.

"It won't be a mass wake-up or recognition of the deception that he's been perpetrating or the fact that he's been a raging wolf in sheep's clothing," Holm said.

Jeffs faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 20. The FLDS leader is also facing charges in Arizona, accusing him of performing more child bride marriages. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said in an e-mail to the Deseret Morning News the newly unsealed documents "are of great interest to us."

The Utah Attorney General's Office has also been investigating Jeffs for other possible crimes, including an organized crime probe.

"Certainly we have ongoing investigations into other allegations," Utah attorney general's chief of law enforcement Ken Wallentine said Tuesday night. "I'll certainly assign an investigator to spend some time taking a look at what's in those documents."

A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City has also indicted Jeffs on unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, stemming from his time on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com