From Deseret News archives:

Phone number in Texas abuse report linked to Colorado woman

Published: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 1:24 p.m. MDT
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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.

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