Murder of a Prophet: The Dark Side of Utah Polygamy

A riveting fact-based story of intrigue, murder, and sex. Lusting for worldwide power and recognition, the fanatical leader of a Utah polygamist cult launches a plan to become "the prophet" of all the polygamist cults—and then to take over the entire Mormon Church. Detectives encounter a doomsday Waco-type standoff with women and children. As the drama unfolds, the personal background stories of individuals portray a realistic portrait of: 1. Easy manipulation of deeply faithful people taught unquestioning obedience by unscrupulous leaders. 2. Depictions of the negative social and genetic effects of many polygamous cults. 3. Vibrant, playful little girls often devolving into lifeless, emotionless women. 4. Occasional men, sexually intimidated by mature women, and having absolute control over their children, fall into pedophilic behavior as they train girls "when they are still young" to become a pleasing wife to the husband. 5. While claiming polygamy is simply a mandate by God to raise up a righteous progeny, and that men are being "holy" as they fulfill this directive to qualify for Celestial Glory, two polygamist leaders lustfully pursue a beautiful new woman convert, each wanting her as wife.A riveting fact-based story of intrigue, murder, and sex. Lusting for worldwide power and recognition, the fanatical leader of a Utah polygamist cult launches a plan to become "the prophet" of all the polygamist cults—and then to take over the entire Mormon Church. Detectives encounter a doomsday Waco-type standoff with women and children. As the drama unfolds, the personal background stories of individuals portray a realistic portrait of: 1. Easy manipulation of deeply faithful people taught unquestioning obedience by unscrupulous leaders. 2. Depictions of the negative social and genetic effects of many polygamous cults. 3. Vibrant, playful little girls often devolving into lifeless, emotionless women. 4. Occasional men, sexually intimidated by mature women, and having absolute control over their children, fall into pedophilic behavior as they train girls "when they are still young" to become a pleasing wife to the husband. 5. While claiming polygamy is simply a mandate by God to raise up a righteous progeny, and that men are being "holy" as they fulfill this directive to qualify for Celestial Glory, two polygamist leaders lustfully pursue a beautiful new woman convert, each wanting her as wife.

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They hesitated at the back door. The leader opened it a crack, peering outside. The Pontiac was there, the motor running. He pushed open the door just as a car entered the parking lot next door. The car pulled to a stop adjacent to the Pontiac, just beyond the retaining wall. A woman climbed out, walked around to the passenger side, and began unbuckling a child in a car seat. Seconds passed. “What’s the matter?” whispered the man in the windbreaker. “Who’s out there?”“Some woman with a kid just drove up.”The phone rang at Hilda’s desk. The two younger men jerked their heads toward the sound as their leader watched the woman stuff something in a pink diaper bag.The man with the windbreaker placed his hand on the shoulder of the leader and squeezed. “We got to get out of here,” he whispered. The telephone continued to ring, a third time, a fourth. “The woman is taking her damned time,” he retaliated. The relentless ringing continued. The tension and fear in the three men mounted to a dangerous crescendo.“The hell with it, let’s go. Walk, don’t run.”The three nervous men stepped onto the porch and down the three steps to the cement. The Pontiac was ten paces away. The mother, baby in her arms and diaper bag slung over her shoulder, closed the back door of her car as two of the men came around the rear of the Pontiac. Her eyes met the eyes of man in the sport coat. She turned and walked away. The teenagers climbed in behind the driver, and slouched low in the seat.“We’ve been seen,” the leader said under his breath, griping the handle of the automatic in his coat pocket. “She can identify me, I’ve got to kill her.”The driver raced the engine and reached over and opened the passenger door. “Come on,” he pleaded. “Come on,” the driver cried a second time. But the leader just stood there undecided as the lady with the child walked further away. Aware of watchful eyes, she nervously glanced over her shoulder at him. “Come on,” they all pleaded with panic. “Let’s get the hell out of here!” The leader jumped in and the Pontiac eased down the driveway, turning south on State Street, disappearing in the traffic.

About the Author

Llewellyn has appeared on NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, Fox Cable News with Paula Zahn, and other television and radio shows. He also wrote A Teenager's Tears: When Parents Convert to Polygamym, published in 2001. Investigator John R. Llewellyn was a deputy sheriff for twenty-three years in the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office. Considered an expert, he spent a number of years in prolonged investigation of polygamy cults. He was often placed on loan to do special investigations for the County Attorney, District Attorney, and Attorney General. Conducting the preliminary investigation of mass murderer Ervil LeBaron, who was convicted of ordering the murder of Dr. Rulon C. Allred in 1977, Deputy Llewellyn complied an extensive intelligence profile of the infamous polygamist. He also assisted French, British, and local television companies—all wanting to film documentaries—in making contact with appropriate members of polygamous groups. Mr. Llewellyn writes feature articles on the subject for newspapers and magazines. The author pioneered the Morals Squad of the Sheriff Department, which handled the investigation of polygamous complaints. He also wrote a sex crimes manual for the Utah State Police Academy, where he taught Sex Crime Investigation, Interview, and Interrogation. So compelling was the polygamist position that Mr. Llewellyn finally became one and associated with the Allred Group after he retired from the Sheriff's Office. But when he discovered the corruption that was going on, he disassociated himself from the group, and is no longer involved.

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