From Deseret News archives:

Phone number in Texas abuse report linked to Colorado woman

Published: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 1:24 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — One phone number used to report alleged abuse at a polygamist retreat in Texas had been used previously by a Colorado woman, according to an arrest warrant affidavit made public Wednesday.

The affidavit said a call was placed from that phone number to a crisis center in Texas before authorities there raided a Fundamentalist LDS Church ranch and removed more than 400 children.

The affidavit said 33-year-old Rozita Swinton of Colorado Springs had used the same number previously, but it was not clear whether authorities suspect Swinton made any of the calls that triggered the raid.

Her whereabouts were unknown and she did not immediately return a phone message. It wasn't known whether she had an attorney.

Swinton was arrested on April 16 on a misdemeanor charge of false reporting in a February incident in Colorado Springs with no known ties to the Texas case. The affidavit released Wednesday was filed in court in connection with the February incident.

Swinton has not been arrested or charged in connection with the calls made to the Texas crisis center, but authorities have called her a "person of interest" in that case. Two Texas Rangers were with Colorado officials when they searched Swinton's home.

Story continues below
Texas authorities said the search turned up several items suggesting a possible connection between Swinton and calls regarding compounds in Texas and Arizona owned by the FLDS Church. The items weren't identified.

Recent comments

'Mormon fundamentalist' is such a misappropriated term. Polygamy has...

Michael | April 23, 2008 at 10:03 p.m.

The search warrant called for a collection of evidence of child abuse...

Not just Sarah | April 23, 2008 at 8:15 p.m.

It seems to me the Texas Rangers went to Colorado to make sure...

John Lambert | April 23, 2008 at 7:46 p.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

School Veterans Day may be cut

Our school had an amazing Veteran's Day celebration today too. Outstanding!...

Since you're living in the low-life gutter pool you don't know anything else...

Koerber faces 19 new charges

Are you kidding me? This must be his wife or lawyer posting. or his mother.

PETA = People eating tasty animals?

good move lou

Good to get an update on the injury list. Sad to hear the Sorenson got hurt...

Maybe he'll go to FOX like Beck did. CNN replaced him with Jane Velez Mitchel...

PETA targets U. laboratories

It is amazing to me how a group that can "skirt" the law, and seems to be a...

That is my borrowed money...they would give me back a bit of my borrowed money.

Mega wind project goes online

This needs to be done in more locations.

Advertisements
Advertisement