From Deseret News archives:
Final tally: 416 children removed
Legalities: Details come out in disturbing affidavit
Some children ran around in circles, playing and chasing each other with a ball and a jump rope, while a few mothers watched at their temporary makeshift shelter home at the historic Fort Concho.
Across town, no one appeared to venture into the parking lot outside the second shelter at the "Cattle Arena" annex of the San Angelo Coliseum. A group of 170 children and women were taken there Tuesday.
A team of a dozen attorneys for the FLDS Church has been preparing for a court hearing this afternoon, when they will "tell our side of the story," attorney Patrick Peranteau told the Deseret Morning News.
The hearing will be held before Schleicher County 51st District Judge Barbara Walther, who issued the search warrants authorizing Texas officials to gather evidence and remove all 416 children from the YFZ Ranch where they lived and place them into state custody. The judge is expected to hear arguments about the constitutionality of the warrants and possible requests to return certain seized evidence, Peranteau said.
A hearing to determine custody of the children won't be held until April 17.
Now that the search for children living at the remote polygamous ranch is over, other legal issues begin.
Texas child welfare officials say they've taken temporary legal custody of the children in order to protect them.
"We believe all of the children have now been safely removed from the ranch," said Marleigh Meisner, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Tuesday. "We believe every child at that ranch, if they were not abused or neglected, they were certainly at risk."
Details about the 16-year-old girl whose phone call prompted officials to raid the 1,700-acre YFZ Ranch and remove all the children were explained in a disturbing court affidavit released Tuesday afternoon.
The teenage girl living at the secluded ranch called a local family violence shelter March 29 to report that she was being abused by a man to whom she had been "spiritually married."
Recent comments
There is really no reason to even bring Jehovah's Witnesses into this...
Amber | April 17, 2008 at 6:28 p.m.
I think the raid finally answered the prayers of the young victims.
VegasBaby | April 12, 2008 at 1:02 p.m.
Thank god that girl called. I cannot believe that there are unknown...
ds | April 11, 2008 at 8:52 a.m.
- NFL: Week 12 recap 12:50 a.m.
- '12 Days' bill would top $87K 12:35 a.m.
- Study finds autism therapy works 12:35 a.m.
- Boy shot following traffic stop 12:35 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:24 a.m.
- Herbert builds his team of rivals 12:21 a.m.
- Corroon a step closer to governor 12:21 a.m.
- Monday on TV 12:18 a.m.
- Editorial: East, West and religion 12:17 a.m.
- A deficit commission? 12:17 a.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
869 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
473 - Max Hall issues apology
145 - BYU is champion of the state
137 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
79 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
68 - Utes fall to Seattle U. at home
65
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
I find it interesting that many of the same people who say that we can't...
None of these teams is going to be easy. They all have fine football...
Max, no apology was necessary, but the apology was polically correct. If...
Very good piece of writing, Amy. You summarized what many of us have been...
How is a top 25 finish make Utah a top twenty team? I think what the poster...
90% of the BYU & Utah fans have class, and Hall knows it. If you don't...
This might be my favorite article I've ever read from the Deseret News. Kudos.
Thank you for not giving up and don't give up now brother and sister...
Dr. Lois Lee's work with children who are victims of child sexual...
Look at the preview for Pixar's "Up". The whole move is summarized in...



