Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Polygamist Leader Warren Jeffs was hospitalized in Texas hospital Monday, and there are conflicting reports as to what his health status really is.
ABC News says Jeffs is in a coma and may die, but The Associated Press says it's a medically-induced coma and he's expected to survive. Either way, a struggle for control of his group has already begun on the Utah-Arizona border.
Three weeks ago, a jury sentenced Jeffs to life in prison for sexually assaulting underage girls. Texas Corrections officials say he has not been eating or taking in enough fluids. They hospitalized him in critical but stable condition Monday.
He thought God was going to take all of his problems away. Now he's got to realize that God wants him right exactly where he's at.
–Issac Wyler, former FLDS member
Private investigator Sam Brower says Jeffs seems to be having trouble adjusting. "The realities of prison life, and the fact that he's going to spend the rest of his life there, has started to sink in," he said.
Former FLDS member Isaac Wyler still lives in the FLDS home base on the Utah-Arizona border. He believes the fallen polygamist prophet is suffering major depression.
"He thought God was going to take all of his problems away," Wyler said. "Now he's got to realize that God wants him right exactly where he's at."
In recent months, a quiet battle has been unfolding for leadership. Former church spokesman Willie Jessop joined forces with William E. Jessop, also known as Will 'Timpson' Jessop. They've been holding their own Sunday services and recently distributed fliers demanding the faithful renounce Jeffs and his immorality.
Related:
Warren Jeffs in medically induced coma
Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was hospitalized Monday in a medically induced coma in critical condition after fasting in the weeks since receiving a life sentence for sexually assaulting underage followers he took as spiritual brides, officials said."I think they're going to continue to gain more converts," Wyler said. "I understand they're upwards of 250 already."
But close to 10,000 members apparently remain loyal to Warren Jeffs and his brother Lyle.
"Lyle Jeffs is the next man in line," Brower said. "But of course there's no real rite of succession with the FLDS, and so it's up for grabs. Anybody who wants it and is quick enough on their feet, and thinks they can drum up enough support from the FLDS people, is going to get it."
If Warren Jeffs were to die, the betting would be on his brother Lyle. But a power struggle would be predictable; the fundamentalist movement has splintered many times.
"It's going right now, it's fracturing right now. If he dies, it will bring things to a head though," Brower said.
In a short statement, Texas corrections officials said that Jeffs has other medical conditions that contributed to the decision to put him in a hospital. They didn't say what those problems are, and they did not confirm he is in a coma.
Email: hollenhorst@ksl.com
