Skip to main content.
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
A Random Image


Related

More news articles & news archive on FLDS, Polygamy


Translate



Advertisements *

What is a cult: Cult Definition
Simple steps to financial health and a good credit score


Elsewhere

Calvary Chapel was founded on the alliance of pastor-teacher, Chuck Smith Jr. and hippie evangelist Lonnie Frisbee


FLDS, Polygamy:

Warren Jeffs tried to commit suicide in jail

ABC4, Utah, USA
Nov. 1, 2007
Brent Hunsaker
www.abc4.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 19833 • Posted: Friday November 2, 2007  

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark
Click here... More articles on this topic: FLDS, Polygamy

Sources familiar with both Warren Jeffs and his confinement in the Purgatory Correctional Facility tell ABC 4 that on at least two occasions he tried to harm himself. Both incidents took place back in January of this year. Neither came close to succeeding.

In one instance, Jeffs rammed his head against the wall of his jail cell. In the other instance, he apparently tried to use his jail-issued clothes to strangle himself.

Also in January, Jeffs was briefly taken to a hospital emergency room. But a Washington County Sheriff’s spokesman says that it had to do with his heart.

Suicide attempts should not be surprising given the diagnosis of depression from two mental evaluations of Jeffs. Always thin, Jeffs had lost 30 pounds in his first few months in PCF. He was not sleeping well. And after the suicide attempts, Jeffs was confessing to friends and family members that he was a “wicked man”.

Depressed or not, former FLDS member Carolyn Jessop says she was surprised. “We believe that suicide is a horrible sin. That’s one of the worst,” she said. “I always considered him narcissistic and a person like that protects himself.”

Carolyn Jessop knows Warren Jeffs well. Before escaping polygamy in April of 2003, she was married to one of Jeffs’ top Lieutenants, Merril Jessop. He is the bishop of the FLDS compound near El Dorado, Texas. That compound is now seen as the headquarters of the group and home to its first and only temple.

In the past, Jeffs preached that some sinners could only receive forgiveness by spilling their own blood, “blood atonement”.

But Carolyn Jessop does not believe blood atonement had anything to do with Warren’s would be suicides. “With blood atonement it has to be done properly or it is of no value. I don’t believe there was a religious connotation…I think it was more based on his own emotional desperation of being behind bars. Warren is an incredibly controlling individual. And for the first time in his life he has no control over his environment.”

Nor will he have control for quite a while. He faces 5 years to life for his conviction in Washington County on two counts of rape as an accomplice. His sentencing is later this month. Plus he still faces trial in federal and Arizona courts.

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark


What You Can Do From Here

Read More Articles On These Topics
more cult news articlemore religion news Categories: FLDS, Polygamy
more religion news aboutmore Religion News Blog articles about
Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Follow Religion News Blog on Twitter


Read Another Article
Find Related Information
cult research search enginecountercult information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults
Find Related Books


Most Popular Today


Share This Article

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:





Counter Cult Search

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.


Apologetics Search

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.

Home
Latest Headlines
RSS news feed [?]
Headlines by Email
News Trackers
Free content for your site
About RNB
Privacy Policy
Contact RNB
Link to RNB
Advertise on RNB
Apologetics Index
Cult FAQ
Apologetics Search Engine
CounterCult Search Engine