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SALT LAKE CITY -- A brother-in-law to Warren Jeffs says it appears the deposed polygamist leader "has lost his mind." It's in reaction to the latest legal filing in Texas from Jeffs, where three purported revelations from Jesus Christ call on Texas courts to free Jeffs and several other FLDS polygamists.
"I'm absolutely appalled at the lack of coherent expressions," said Dan Wayman, who was booted from the sect 8 years ago. "It appears that he has just totally lost all judgment and reasoning."
The revelations are in a petition for discretionary review filed Tuesday before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
When I knew him as the principal of Alta Academy he was absolutely polished and eloquent and very, very intelligent. I'm just absolutely amazed at the lack of intelligence that was demonstrated in some of these expressions that are coming out and some of these revelations.
–-Dan Wayman
"I, Jesus Christ, even son Ahman, speak to Supreme Court of Texas," one revelation begins. Another reads, "If you do well, reverse ruling of lower courts, and let my servant Warren Jeffs go free. Amen."
Jeffs was convicted and sentenced last year to life in prison plus 20 years for sexually assaulting two underage girls.
The revelations call Texas judge Barbara Walther "unjust" and claim she tried to "destroy the family relationship of pure children." The filing also calls on the state to free Merril Jessop, among other Jeffs contemporaries.
The final purported revelation is signed in type print "Jesus Christ," but says "In behalf of Jesus Christ, Warren Jeffs is to sign for court to know I represent our Lord." Beneath that line, Jeffs signed his name.
Wayman told KSL Thursday Jeffs has changed "1,000 percent" from his earlier days as well as when he was in "full power and control" of the FLDS group. Wayman said he had known Jeffs virtually his entire life and married his sister, but Jeffs "cut him off" about eight years ago.
"When I knew him as the principal of Alta Academy he was absolutely polished and eloquent and very, very intelligent," Wayman said. "I'm just absolutely amazed at the lack of intelligence that was demonstrated in some of these expressions that are coming out and some of these revelations."
Wayman said Jeffs appears to continue to wield influence in the FLDS community.
"I'm just really surprised because, if these people are reading these, I'm just really surprised that they can make any sense out of it," he said.
