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Texas gets DNA sample from polygamist leader Jeffs
2008-05-30
State officials investigating allegations of sexual abuse of young girls at a polygamist ranch in Texas said on Friday they obtained a DNA sample from Warren Jeffs, the leader of the breakaway Mormon sect. Jeffs is in Arizona serving a prison sentence of 10 years to life for being an accomplice to rape by forcing a 14-year-old to marry her cousin. "In the search warrant you will see that evidence was collected that Jeffs married four young girls," said Jerry Strickland of the Texas Attorney General's Office. "Two 12-year-olds, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old. All of these marriages took place at the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Texas." The search warrant alleges that Jeffs, 52, was at the YFZ Ranch on several occasions when young girls at the ranch are believed to have become pregnant. On Thursday, the Texas Supreme Court ruled the state overstepped its authority when it removed about 460 children from the ranch last month. The ruling paves the way for the children to be reunited with their parents. Local television stations were reporting on Friday that children may return to their parents as early as Monday. The high court left child welfare authorities the option of seeking court-imposed restrictions on family reunifications where there is cause for concern. Those restrictions could include orders not to take the children out of the state while investigations continue. Texas child welfare officials have charged that under Jeffs' direction and leadership, leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints trained young girls to become "spiritual brides" of older men. Records seized at the ranch indicate that some men who live there admit to having up to seven wives and dozens of children. (Writing by Anna Driver in Houston; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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