Green wife leaves; family in transition

Deseret News, July 23, 2002
By Geoffrey Fattah
Deseret News staff writer
PROVO — The wives of polygamist Tom Green have stood together in the spotlight, weathering public scrutiny for their religious beliefs and a common love for their husband.

But nearly a year after Green was sentenced to five years in prison for bigamy and criminal nonsupport, the family’s image of solidarity may be showing some cracks.

John Bucher, Green’s defense attorney, told the Deseret News Monday that one of the five women Green claims as a “spiritual wife” splintered from the group about two months ago.

It is unclear why LeeAnn Beagley-Green left the family.

Conflicting reports are coming from Green’s attorney, his other wives and Juab County Attorney David Leavitt.

Bucher says the scrutiny of the media and disagreements with Green’s other wives are the main reasons Beagley-Green left the clan, which is made up of five wives and more than two dozen children.

“She couldn’t stand the pressure,” Bucher said.

There also was some disagreement among the wives about who could visit the family’s patriarch at the Utah State Prison, he said.

“She wanted a closer relationship with Tom, and she wasn’t getting it,” Bucher said. “There was some jealousy. She kind of felt put on second-burner to Linda and some other wives.”

But Linda Kunz-Green, who is Green’s only legal wife, denied any dissention among wives. Beagley-Green moved to Riverton to attend a cosmetology school, she said.

David Leavitt, the Juab County attorney, says his office is handling all inquiries about LeeAnn’s departure from the family.

And a statement issued by Leavitt on behalf of LeeAnn appear to be in conflict with the claims of Bucher and Green’s other wives.