Missing FLDS Leader has Local Cops Looking
 
The Eldorado Success
 
"Uncle" Fred Jessop, 94, the man once thought to the be the heir apparent to former Prophet Rulon Jeffs of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was reported missing by family members last week. The concerned relatives filed the report in person at the Washington County Sheriff's Department in St. George, Utah.

Rumors about Jessop's whereabouts, have run rampant among members of the FLDS twin cities of Colorado City/Hildale. With increasing numbers of former FLDS leaders being stripped of power and/or excommunicated from the church, many in the towns, as well as numbers of anti-polygmay activists, thought Jessop was either dead or being held hostage at the group's new Eldorado, Texas compound by new Prophet Warren Jeffs. Even then, it was nearly eight months before anyone came forward to file a formal missing persons report.

Recently, a letter attributed by some to Fred Jessop, made the rounds in C-City/Hildale, and Eldorado. In the letter, the writer pledged loyalty to Warren Jeffs and urged his followers to do the same. Many doubters, including family members who worry about Fred Jessop believe the letter to be a fake.

Sheriff David Doran of Eldorado explains that he is aware of the speculation connecting Fred Jessop with the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado. He said he and his officers would take the missing persons complaint seriously. "If Fred Jessop is here I want to find him," Doran said.
 
MyEldorado.net
Originally published August 19, 2004
 
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