Warren Steed Jeffs, the polygamist leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that has 10,000 followers, has 79 wives and nearly 60 children. These relationships can teach about the dangers of allowing a person such as Jeffs to have so much control over others' lives, especially the lives of young girls.

After being put on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List in June 2005, he was arrested in August 2006.

He was convicted in September 2007 and sentenced to prison on November 20, 2007. The Utah Supreme Court reversed those convictions in July 2010. In August 2011 Jeffs was convicted of child sexual assault.

Here is more information about Jeffs and his relationships.

 

News Updates:

8/09/2011: Receiving the maximum sentence on both counts," Warren Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison.

8/04/2011: Warren Jeffs, 55, was found guilty of child sexual assault by a Texas jury which threw out his claim of "spiritual marriages." Earlier in the trial Jeffs read a statement he said was from God that demanded the trial end.

 

Born:

Warren Steed Jeffs: December 3, 1955 in San Francisco, California. Warren Jeff's mother was the fourth wife of his father.

Polygamous Marriages:

In July 2011, Anderson Cooper announced the prosecution said during Jeffs' trial that Warren Steed Jeffs had seventy-nine wives. Of those wives, twenty-four were under the age of 18 when he married them. Other reports have noted that approximately twelve of Jeffs' wives were previously married to his father.

Children:

It is thought that Warren Steed Jeffs has approximately fifty-six children.

Residences:

Jeffs lived at one time in Eldorado, Texas in a 29,000 sq. ft. mansion. He also had residences in Eldorado, Texas; Mancos, Colorado; Pringle, South Dakota; Colorado City, Arizona; Hildale, Utah; British Columbia; and a farm near Pioche, Nevada. More Info: "From Hunting Ground To Polygamist Ranch."

Occupations:

A fugitive and on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list since June 2005, Warren Steed Jeffs became the leader/president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) in September 2002.

He was also the principal at Alta Academy near Little Cottonwood Canyon, Arizona.

 

Marriage Beliefs of Warren Steed Jeffs:

 

• Women must be submissive aka "keep sweet" to their husbands. Women are kept semi-literate. They have no access to television, radio, or the Internet.

Pam Black, former member: "Keep sweet, it's exactly that. No matter what, it's a matter of life and death. You don't ask why. You don't do anything except do what you're told."
Source: Dan Harris, Chris Strathmann, Kiran Khalid, Imaeyen Ibanga. "The Life of a Polygamous Woman." ABCNews.go.com. 4/08/08.

• Wives become the property of their husbands for eternity.
• Although men need to have at least three wives and produce many children in order to be accepted into heaven, Jeffs reportedly selected just 15 men who would be allowed to father children.

Snejana Farberov, Alex Ward: "Fundamentalist Latter Day Saint women are not allowed to cut their hair because it is believed that they will need it to wash men's feet in heaven ... More importantly, Jeffs has ordered married couples in his community to stop having sex or even touching one another. Instead, he selected 15 men from among his trusted followers to father all the future FLDS children. Now, if a woman wants to have a baby, she has to approach one of the men handpicked for the task by Jeffs. The sexual act must be witnessed by two other men from the group."
Source: Snejana Farberov, Alex Ward. "The shocking truth about life inside Warren Jeffs' FLDS." DailyMail.co.uk. 11/24/2012.

 

Education and Interests:

Warren Steed Jeffs graduated in 1973 from Jordan High School. He did not attend college. Jeffs is said to enjoy writing songs and singing.

Arrest and Trial:

12/29/2010: Warren Jeffs pleaded not guilty in San Angelo, Texas to charges of felony bigamy, aggravated sexual assault and assault. The trial will begin on January 24, 2011.

7/27/2010: The two convictions of first-degree felony rape of polygamist leader Warren Jeffs were reversed by the Utah Supreme Court. The court ordered a new trial.

4/09/2008: Warren Jeffs built the 1,700-acre Yearning for Zion Ranch compound in Eldorado, Texas where over 400 children were rescued by Texas state officials.

2/27/2008: Jeffs pled not guilty to four counts each of incest and sexual conduct with a minor.

11/20/2007: Warren Jeffs was sentenced to two consecutive prison terms of five years to life. "It will be up to the Utah parole board to decide how long he actually stays behind bars."
Source: SFGate.com.

9/25/2007: Warren Jeffs was found guilty of being an accomplice to rape. Facing five years to life in prison, his sentencing is set for 11/20/07. He still faces charges of fleeing to avoid prosecution and being an accomplice to both incest and sexual misconduct.

9/25/07: Warren Jeffs was found guilty of being an accomplice to rape. Facing five years to life in prison, his sentencing was set for 11/20/07. He still faces charges of fleeing to avoid prosecution and being an accomplice to both incest and sexual misconduct.

9/10/07: The trial of Warren Jeffs began in St. George, Utah.

5/14/07: Another civil law suit has been filed against Jeffs adding to the number of several civil cases currently pending against him.

8/28/2006: Warren Steed Jeffs was arrested north of Las Vegas on a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, sexual misconduct charges, and two felony counts of rape as an accomplice.