From Deseret News archives:

Mothers shout 'Help!' as they're bused off

More FLDS kin are separated as legal battle ramps up

Published: Friday, April 25, 2008 1:11 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
SAN ANGELO, Texas — As the big charter bus pulled away from here, the women threw open the dark-tinted windows and shouted: "Help!"

One woman held out a makeshift sign reading: "SOS Mothers separated Help."

On Thursday, more buses ferried women and children away from the San Angelo Coliseum, which has served as a makeshift shelter after the police raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's Yearning For Zion Ranch. The mothers were devastated.

"The children were crying and reaching for their mothers," a woman named Velvet said outside the gates of the YFZ Ranch.

The moves continue as legal motions are filed to challenge the grounds for the raid on the FLDS compound and the decision to put all of the children in state custody. Texas authorities also revised their count of children — raising it to 462.

"Separating women from children is always a difficult thing. There were tears by the children, by the women and by some of our caseworkers as well. It's not easy to do," said Darrell Azar, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. "However, it was in the best interests of the children."

Story continues below
As more buses drove off, some of the children stood up in their seats and waved to people standing on the side of the road. A child sitting in a car seat peered out the window, a look of curiosity and confusion on his face.

Texas child protective services officials said 63 children were taken to foster care facilities on Thursday. Another 64 women left the coliseum; 17 of them will stay with their infant children in a shelter. The rest of the women were given a choice.

"We said, 'We'll take you back to the ranch, or we'll take you somewhere else if you don't want to go to the ranch. No strings attached. It's your choice,"' Azar said.

Seven women returned to the YFZ Ranch; about 40 went to a shelter.

Separation

As the sun rose Thursday morning over this west Texas town, the coliseum was locked down. Dozens of lawmen began gathering outside the cattle arena.

Lawyers for the women and children were turned away at the gates.

"Are attorneys not allowed to see their clients?" one woman shouted to a Texas State Trooper.

"No!" the officer said in an authoritative tone.

"I'm going to the courthouse," said attorney Emmet Fleming, who is representing a little girl who he said has medical needs. "I doubt that I'll even be able to see (the judge), but I'm going to try."

Stephanie Goodman got a frantic phone call from someone at the YFZ Ranch, saying that the mothers had been

Recent comments

The Texas authorities are allowing the women access, to some extent,...

Hand | April 30, 2008 at 8:21 a.m.

When Utah wanted statehood, LDS president John Taylor had a...

Anonymous | April 29, 2008 at 6:01 p.m.

Can you punish people for their beliefs or only their actions. In...

John Lambert | April 29, 2008 at 10:32 a.m.

Image

Protesters stand outside EnergySolutions Arena with signs and chant in support of the FLDS community as fans arrive for Game 3 of the NBA playoffs in Salt Lake City on Thursday.

previousnext

Latest comments

Reading the letter, I am not sure that it is eating that is the sin, but...

The media that Sarah criticizes so much is the same force that is providing...

3A: Juan Diego's last-gasp play

We'll be back next year. I know it, and I hope that all of our coaches and...

Utah Utes whip SDSU

This year TCU has proven to the world how weak the MWC is (MWC=WAC). BYU and...

Secularists and religious arguments

I have no problem with religious people voting their conscience. I do,...

I have to agree that the comment about "the pesky seniors" is uncalled...

I was in my Latin class in High School in California. Our teacher hadn't...

Glenn Beck is Oprah's heir apparent since he has a larger following and can...

Atheist groups flourish on campuses

of atheism just as morally equal to spreading the Gospel of Christianity. To...

Yes, 40% of doctors polled said they will definitely or seriously consider...

Advertisements