Warren Jeffs is a notorious religious leader who has been convicted of several sex crimes involving children. He is the self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church), a polygamous sect that broke away from the mainstream Mormon Church. Jeffs is infamous for having 78 wives, some of whom he married when they were as young as 12 years old. We will explore the shocking story of his wives and their fate.
Who are Warren Jeffs’ Wives?
Warren Jeffs’ wives are mostly women and girls who were born and raised in the FLDS Church, a secretive and isolated community that follows the teachings of Jeffs and his father, Rulon Jeffs. The FLDS Church believes that polygamy is a divine commandment and that Jeffs is the only person who can receive revelations from God. The FLDS Church also practices arranged marriages, often between close relatives, and assigns wives to men based on Jeffs’ whims.
According to former church members and court documents, Jeffs had 78 wives, 29 of whom he inherited from his father after his death in 2002. The rest he married himself, often in secret ceremonies that were not recorded or registered. Some of his wives were as young as 12 years old when he married them, and some were already married to other men whom he forced to divorce. Some of his wives were also his nieces or cousins.
Some of the names of his known wives are:
- Barbara Jeffs: His second wife, who died of cancer in 2004 at the age of 39. She was the mother of Rachel Jeffs, who later escaped the FLDS Church and wrote a memoir about her life.
- Naomi Jessop: His favorite wife, who was also his father’s wife. She was the mother of Lyle Jeffs, who became the leader of the FLDS Church after Warren’s arrest.
- Merrianne Jessop: His youngest wife, who was only 12 years old when he married her in 2006. She was also his niece and the daughter of Merril Jessop, a prominent FLDS leader.
- Millie Blackmore: His wife who was married to him at the age of 13 in 2004. She was born in Canada to Brandon J. Blackmore and Gail Blackmore, who were also core members of the FLDS Church.
- Brielle Decker: His 65th wife, who was married to him at the age of 18 in 2008. She later escaped the FLDS Church and became an activist against polygamy.
What Happened to Warren Jeffs’ Wives?
Warren Jeffs’ wives suffered from physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse at the hands of their husband and his followers. They were isolated from their families and friends, denied education and health care, forced to wear prairie dresses and long braids, and subjected to frequent pregnancies and miscarriages. They were also controlled by Jeffs’ strict rules and punishments, such as being locked up in rooms, starved, beaten, or reassigned to other men.
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Some of his wives managed to escape the FLDS Church and expose its crimes to the authorities and the media. Some of them testified against Jeffs in his trials and helped convict him of various charges. Some of them also wrote books or participated in documentaries about their experiences.
Some examples are:
- Elissa Wall: His 14th wife, who was married to him at the age of 14 in 2001. She was also his cousin and the sister of Rebecca Musser, another one of his wives. She escaped the FLDS Church in 2003 and became the star witness in Jeffs’ trial in Utah in 2007. She also wrote a book called Stolen Innocence about her ordeal.
- Carolyn Jessop: His 26th wife, who was married to him at the age of 18 in 1986. She was also his cousin and the daughter of Fred Jessop, another prominent FLDS leader. She escaped the FLDS Church in 2003 with her eight children and became an advocate for women’s rights. She also wrote a book called Escape about her life.
- Flora Jessop: His half-sister and niece, who was married to him at the age of 16 in 1988. She escaped the FLDS Church in 1991 and became an activist for helping other women and children escape. She also wrote a book called Church of Lies about her story.
However, some of his wives remained loyal to him even after his arrest and conviction. They continued to live in the FLDS compounds in Utah, Texas, Arizona, and other states, and followed his orders and teachings. They also visited him in prison and communicated with him through letters and phone calls. Some of them even gave birth to his children while he was incarcerated.
Some examples are:
- Naomi Jessop: His favorite wife, who was also his father’s wife. She was the mother of Lyle Jeffs, who became the leader of the FLDS Church after Warren’s arrest. She remained faithful to Warren and visited him in prison. She also gave birth to his son in 2011 while he was in jail.
- Merrianne Jessop: His youngest wife, who was only 12 years old when he married her in 2006. She was also his niece and the daughter of Merril Jessop, a prominent FLDS leader. She stayed loyal to Warren and visited him in prison. She also gave birth to his daughter in 2007 while he was in jail.
- Annette Jeffs: His wife who was married to him at the age of 15 in 1993. She was also his cousin and the sister of Nephi Jeffs, another one of his wives. She remained devoted to Warren and visited him in prison. She also gave birth to his son in 2012 while he was in jail.
Conclusion
Warren Jeffs’ spouse is a term that refers to his 78 wives, some of whom he married and some of whom he inherited from his father. His wives were mostly women and girls who were born and raised in the FLDS Church, a polygamous sect that follows the teachings of Jeffs and his father. His wives suffered from abuse, isolation, and oppression at the hands of their husband and his followers. Some of his wives escaped the FLDS Church and exposed its crimes, while some of his wives remained loyal to him even after his arrest and conviction. Jeffs is currently serving a life sentence plus 20 years in Texas for sexually assaulting two of his underage wives.