Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Teen From Texas Sect Gives Birth

State says she's younger than 18, but ranch officials deny it

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 29, 2008 7:06 PM CDT

(Newser) – One of the teens taken from a polygamist sect in Texas gave birth to a boy today as state police stood guard outside her hospital room, the Houston Chronicle reports. State officials say the mother is younger than 18 and that she will be taken to a foster care facility with her newborn to await a custody hearing, the AP notes. A sect spokesman says the girl is 18.

"I hope they're not planning to take the baby away from her," he said. "I think they consider it property of the state. What's to stop them?" The mother is one of more than 400 youths taken into temporary state custody as authorities investigate sex-abuse charges at the sect's Eldorado ranch.

A Washington County EMS vehicle, rear, follows charter buses carrying women and children of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in this file photo. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Ruth, right, 34, a mother of four and a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, talks to the press April 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints file out of the Tom Green County Courthouse April 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Ruth, right, 34, a mother of four and a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, talks to the press in this April 24 file photo. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Ex-FLDS Member Wants Hard Time for Polygamists

Author: Texas hung Eldorado kids out to dry

(NEWSER) - Former FLDS member Flora Jessop is “hoping against hope” that the men charged with child abuse at the polygamist compound in Eldorado get harder time than those convicted in similar crimes elsewhere, she told the Houston Chronicle. “Thirteen days, 45 days, nine months,” says Jessop, rattling off sentences handed down in Arizona and Utah. “Will Texas have the guts to give them more?” More»

Sect Elder Blasts 'Terrorist' Raid

'It does not require a foreign country to commit terrorist acts on American soil,' letter to Bush reads

(NEWSER) - An elder of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints condemned the raid against a sect compound in Texas last month as a “terrorist act” in a letter to President Bush, CNN reports. Members of the FLDS have complained of the treatment of the families whose children were seized in the "intrusive invasion" by "a heavily armed militant force." More»

Many Kids From Sect Had Broken Bones

State also says boys may have been sexually abused

(NEWSER) - Of 463 children seized from a Texas polygamist compound, 41 show evidence of broken bones at a young age, the Dallas Morning News reports. "Several of these fractures have been found in very young children," said the head of Child Protective Services, which also said it's looking into possible sexual abuse of sect boys. More»

Eldorado Sect Has Branch in South Dakota

No abuse allegations, but police wonder about 'locked-down operation'

(NEWSER) - The polygamous sect currently under investigation in Eldorado, Texas, has a sister compound in Pringle, SD—and it's making locals queasy, USA Today reports. The Pringle compound was started by the same leader in 2003, and is valued over $4.5 million. "They don't just open their doors," says the local sheriff, adding that there have been no abuse allegations. "It's a locked-down operation." More»

'Sex Bed' for Girls Found in Polygamist Temple

Temple used for sex with underage brides, tipster tells cops

(NEWSER) - Members of a polygamous cult had sex with underage girls inside the group's temple immediately after "spiritual weddings," according to court documents. Investigators found the bed, described by a tipster, in the temple of the Texas ranch. Men had sex with "brides" as young as 13, reports CNN. Police removed 416 children—including several pregnant girls—after a plea for help last week from a 16-year-old girl who called a hotline. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Teen From Texas Sect Gives Birth

State says she's younger than 18, but ranch officials deny it

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Texas • polygamy • teen pregnancy • Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints • Eldorado • sect • kids giving birth

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Ex-FLDS Member Wants Hard Time for Polygamists

Author: Texas hung Eldorado kids out to dry

Sect Elder Blasts 'Terrorist' Raid

'It does not require a foreign country to commit terrorist acts on American soil,' letter to Bush reads

Many Kids From Sect Had Broken Bones

State also says boys may have been sexually abused

Eldorado Sect Has Branch in South Dakota

No abuse allegations, but police wonder about 'locked-down operation'

'Sex Bed' for Girls Found in Polygamist Temple

Temple used for sex with underage brides, tipster tells cops

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Teen From Texas Sect Gives Birth

State says she's younger than 18, but ranch officials deny it

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Texas • polygamy • teen pregnancy • Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints • Eldorado • sect • kids giving birth

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Ex-FLDS Member Wants Hard Time for Polygamists

Author: Texas hung Eldorado kids out to dry

Sect Elder Blasts 'Terrorist' Raid

'It does not require a foreign country to commit terrorist acts on American soil,' letter to Bush reads

Many Kids From Sect Had Broken Bones

State also says boys may have been sexually abused

Eldorado Sect Has Branch in South Dakota

No abuse allegations, but police wonder about 'locked-down operation'

'Sex Bed' for Girls Found in Polygamist Temple

Temple used for sex with underage brides, tipster tells cops

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?