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John Hollenhorst ReportingFugitive polygamist leader Warren Jeffs remains out of sight, whereabouts unknown, but his followers are wrapping up work on a highly visible monument to their religious zeal. Jeffs' first temple is now a huge, eye-catching sight on the Texas prairie.
When we first flew over the Warren Jeffs compound in 2004 with Texas Judge and pilot James Doyle, there were only a few residential buildings. On New Years Day, 2005 photos captured a ceremony on the temple site, possibly led by Warren Jeffs.
Now, 13 months later, Judge Doyle is stunned by what he sees.
James Doyle, Pilot & Judge: "The temple is really spectacular. It's a beautiful building. They are wonderful craftsmen."
Over the last couple of years, Judge Doyle has piloted his plane frequently over the huge compound as his son takes photos. They post the pictures on a website, monitoring the Utah-based polygamy group as it enlarges its footprint in Texas.
James Doyle: "It's just really, you can just see it from long distance and it's really something to look at."
Numerous other buildings are under construction, but the gleaming centerpiece is the temple, clad in white limestone.
James Doyle: "They quarried the material right here off their property. The east side of the temple is their opening and it's beautiful, it looks like the steps of the United States Capitol."
As the temple is completed, Doyle believes more Jeffs followers will move from Utah and Arizona. He doesn't know if Jeffs is in the compound, but he predicts trouble if the FBI ever tries to serve arrest warrants.
James Doyle: "You know, if they refuse to open the gates and let the warrants be served, that's going to cause a confrontation of some kind."
At the moment, only insiders know if Jeffs has ever even seen the stunning monument created by his followers. Jeffs is wanted in Arizona on sex charges stemming from marriage ceremonies he performed involving underage brides. Several of his followers have also been indicted.
