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Police Raid Compound Of Texas Polygamist Sect Washington
Post Authorities who removed 219 women and children from a polygamist compound were struggling Sunday to determine whether they had the 16-year-old girl whose report of an underage marriage led them to raid the sprawling rural property. Many people at the compound, built by followers of jailed polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, are related to one another and share similar names; investigators said in some cases they were giving different names at different times. Law enforcement agents entered the compound's temple late Saturday to search for the girl, after a standoff with Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints members.
"There were some tense moments last night, but everything has remained calm and peaceful, and they are continuing their search," said Allison Palmer, a prosecutor from a nearby county handling the case. State troopers were looking for evidence of a marriage between the girl, who allegedly had a baby at 15, and a 50-year-old man. Under Texas law, girls younger than 16 cannot marry, even with parental approval. Marleigh Meisner, a spokeswoman for Child Protective Services, said investigators were still trying to determine whether the girl who called authorities last week was among the people, including 159 children, removed from the compound.
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