Polygamist Sect

Members of the congregation showed up for court hearing.




The case - one of the biggest, most convoluted child-custody hearings in U.S. history - presented an extraordinary spectacle: big-city lawyers in suits and mothers in 19th-century, pioneer-style dresses, all packed into a historic courtroom.

Authorities raided the 1,700-acre ranch south of Eldorado, Texas on April 3 and take custody of 416 children seized from a polygamist sect compound name Zion ranch after received call from a 16 years old girl claimed to be raped and beaten by her husband. There are at least five girls who are younger than 18 are pregnant or have children among those in custody.

The state wants to keep the children in its custody, and likely move them to foster homes while officials continue investigating abuse allegations. The state must provide evidence the children were physically or sexually abused, or are in imminent danger of abuse. Identifying children and parents has been difficult because members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have given different names and ages at various times.

The congregation is one of several groups that split from the Mormon church decades after it renounced polygamy in 1890.