| Valley woman aids in polygamy indictments | |
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By Mike Watkiss and azfamily.com staff KTVK Channel 3 - Phoenix | |
Pennie Petersen is one of 30 children born to a polygamist father with five wives. When she turned 14, she was told she would marry a 48-year-old man. It was an arranged marriage, something she says is considered "normal" in the small, northern Arizona town of Colorado City. "I was 14 years old. They come and told me I was going to marry a man, 48 years old," Petersen said. "I was going to be his fifth wife. I ran as hard and as fast as I could go." The 33-year-old Valley resident said she escaped the abusive and cult-like atmosphere of the quiet town that doesn't welcome outsiders. "As you grow up, you serve your father. When you get 14, 15, they marry off and then you serve another man," Petersen said. "That's your duty your whole life. You're slaves. You're slaves to a man." During the past year, Petersen has been trying to break the cycle of what she calls slavery, at least for a few Colorado City women who also happen to be her sisters. Beth and Roberta Stubbs were reportedly taken by Black when the girls were pre-teens. He allegedly had both girls pregnant by the time they were 15 years old. Petersen also helped another sister, Ruth Stubbs, flee her marriage to a Colorado City police officer and practicing polygamist, Rodney Holm. Holm may have as many as two dozen children by three wives, according to Petersen. With Petersen's help, prosecutors are seeking charges against Holm. Petersen said she has become involved because she can't handle seeing her sisters being married off at such young ages. She said she's also tired of witnessing the hardship that she has seen so many women go through. With five wives and 20 children, William Black, Jr., is a polygamist. Black lives in the small northern Arizona town of Colorado City, which is run by religious fundamentalists who reportedly encourage the practice of polygamy where one man marries several women. An Arizona grand jury indicted Black on sex charges. Black is one of only a few men in the area to face such charges. Black's indictment follows the indictment of Utah man who also faced similar charges. While a grand jury has indicted Black, authorities have not been able to locate the man. | |
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azfamily.com Originally published August 14, 2003 | |
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