HILDALE — As the search continued in Colorado City, Arizona, for a missing 6-year-old boy presumed drown in a flash flood that killed 12 of his relatives, members of the Fundamentalist LDS community took advantage of media attention to address their battle with the Utah government.

Two husbands of the three women who died in the flood said state efforts to evict FLDS families from homes owned by the church's United Effort Plan Trust is "religious genocide."

But Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said Thursday he fears FLDS leader Warren Jeffs is using this tragedy as "psychological manipulation" over his followers.

And Jeff Shields, an attorney over the UEP Trust, had stronger words, saying, "It makes me sick" that some were using the tragedy as a "political football," even before the final body was found.

The fathers of the three boys who survived Monday's flash flood in Hildale that killed 12 others read prepared statements in front of the media Thursday. They expressed their gratitude for the help they've received from outside police and government agencies, as well as support from people across the state.

Sheldon Black, whose 6-year-old son Tyson Lucas Black is the last person still missing from the tragedy, addressed the media for the first time.

Black stood next to two other sons, each with visible injuries on their faces. His wife, Della May Black, and three other children ranging in age from 4 to 10 were also killed when the powerful flood waters carried away the Suburban they were in.

"Our gratitude is beyond words for the kindness and support we've received," he said.

'Religious genocide'

But after expressing his thanks, Black spent most of the remaining part of his prepared speech talking about being evicted from his home as a result of the UEP Trust controversy and compared it to genocide.

"All FLDS will be without a home by the end of this year," he said. "We ask that this religious genocide stop."

Black also said the funerals for his family members would be private.

"We know that God sees and knows all things. We trust in him. We know our loved ones are safe and home," he said.

Joseph Jessop also addressed the media Thursday, accompanied by his son, also named Joseph Jessop, the lone survivor from the van that killed two of Jessop's wives — Josephine Annie Jessop and Naomi Jessop — and seven children ranging in age from 5 to 11.

As he did Tuesday, Jessop expressed gratitude to rescuers for saving his son.

"So very much from the bottom of my heart, thank you for rescuing our children, our family members, for all the support you have given us in our time of grief," he said.

But like Black, Jessop again talked about his home being taken, referred to the 2008 raid on the FLDS Church's YFZ Ranch in Texas that led to the temporary removal of hundreds of children, and used the term "religious genocide" to describe what is happening in Hildale and Colorado City with the UEP Trust.

"Help get our homes back. Allow us to live our religion in peace," he pleaded.

The twin border cities serve as headquarters of the FLDS Church. The history between the communities and the states of Utah and Arizona have been tumultuous in the past.

UEP Trust

The United Effort Plan was created by the FLDS Church in 1942 on the concept of a "united order," allowing followers to share in the church's assets.

A Utah judge seized control of the trust in 2005 amid evidence of mismanagement by church leader Warren Jeffs and others. The trust is valued at more than $110 million and controls homes, businesses and properties in Hildale and Colorado City.

Most who lived in the homes paid the $100 monthly fee to pay the administrative costs of the trust for a while, but then most stopped paying it, Shields said.

"The money is not the issue. The issue is they're being told by their church leaders not to cooperate," he said. "It appears to me this is their way of rebelling" against the state.

Shields said a handful of evictions were scheduled for this week, but those actions were put on hold following the tragedy. Now, he said he's disappointed that Jeffs and his followers are using "personal tragedy to promote their agenda."

"The real tragedy is Warren Jeffs is breaking these families up like they're cattle," Shields said. "It's a shame what they're doing. And then to use the UEP as the cause of their problem is a sham."

Shields suspects Jessop and Black were being used as pawns and were handed statements to read, because he said neither of them, according to his records, had been evicted by the UEP from their homes. He said according to his sources, Jessop has actually been separated from his family for years.

As for the contention that all FLDS people could be evicted by the end of the year, Shields said that is not true. He said the UEP's job is to give the deeds to those who built the houses. Once they own the deed, the residents no longer need to pay the small fee.

Shields added that "the truth will come out." But for now, he believes the focus should be on the grieving families and the recovery of the final body.

'Psychological manipulation'

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes also addressed the comments made by the fathers Thursday. Reyes said while his office does not have any control over any court-ordered evictions or how they're carried out, "we have asked the court and the fiduciary to forestall any eviction while this community has a chance to heal and get back, and they've agreed to do that."

It was just last week that Reyes attended the premiere of a movie in Springdale as part of the Dixie State University and DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival. The movie was "Prophet's Prey," documenting the events leading up to Jeffs' arrest. Jeffs is serving a life prison sentence in Texas for child sexual assault stemming from two young followers he took as brides.

"And actually in that film, they documented several instances where Mr. Jeffs — even from his prison cell — uses catastrophes and calamities worldwide and locally to tell the people, his followers, that the Lord is unhappy with them, and if they don't comply even more closely with his edicts and mandates, then this will continue to happen," Reyes said on KSL Newsradio's "The Doug Wright Show."

The attorney general said his office has already received several calls from concerned Hildale and Colorado City residents who were either kicked out or voluntarily left the polygamous FLDS Church, but who still have family who are church members.

"They're concerned that (Jeffs) will again use this. And I think maybe the press conference hinted at that, that this was some manifestation of God's displeasure, and that is a very difficult dynamic. Those are the types of psychological manipulation that you would see in abusive situations, that you would see in hostage situation, or you would see in a trafficking situation — someone using that psychological tactic to subjugate others," Reyes said.

Prior to Monday's flash flood, the two communities were already divided between those who have left the church and those who still follow Jeffs, he said. The tragedy seemed to at least temporarily unite them.

But Reyes said he has received calls from former members who fear they will not be allowed to see the bodies of those killed and pay their final respects or will be prevented from attending the funerals.

The Utah National Guard and Utah Task Force One were both in Colorado City to help Washington, Iron and Mohave county agencies in the search for the remaining victim. The search Thursday extended 10 miles down river from where the two vehicles were originally found.

Contributing: Nicole Vowell

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