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John Hollenhorst ReportingA West Jordan mother says a faulty court order and careless school officials allowed her six children to be snatched away by their divorced father into a polygamist lifestyle. School officials say they just followed the law and raised questions about whether a letter from the principal might have been partly fabricated.
One child was at Jefferson Junior High, five others were at Jim Bridger Elementary. School officials handed over all six to a constable, placing them in the custody of their father, Nathan Burnham.
Randy Ripplinger, Granite School District: "The constable was the one bearing the court order. We gave the children to the custody of the constable, as we were ordered to do."
The kids' mother, Laurice Jessop, says she divorced Burnham when he started moving back into the polygamist religion they both grew up in.
Laurice Jessop, Mother: "That's his main concern, to get another wife."
She says a judge who heard both sides granted her custody, but the husband got a custody order from a different judge who heard only his side. She says she doesn't want her kids growing up in the polygamist culture she fled.
Laurice Jessop, Mother: "I was always forced to believe the way somebody else believes. I want to give my kids the opportunity that they deserve to have to make their own decisions."
Randy Ripplinger, Granite School District: "We're not in the position of playing judge and jury in these cases. Frankly we'd rather stay out of the divorce issue altogether. But when a court order comes, you get one court order one day, you get another court order the next day, you follow the one in front of you."
Laurice Jessop held a news conference with her cousin, anti-polygamy crusader Flora Jessop. They released a letter from the principal, including a short paragraph describing the emotional scene at the school.
Flora Jessop, Child Protection Project: "And these children were visibly traumatized by the fact that they had to go, begged the school staff not to make them go, and they didn't care."
The school district's copy of the principal's letter does not include the paragraph on the kids' emotions.
Randy Ripplinger: "That statement was not in the letter that the principal sent."
Laurice Jessop: "I know for a fact that statement is true because my daughter repeats it all the time."
The question remains unanswered: Did the principal write the paragraph and remove it later? Or did someone else add it for its emotional fireworks?
The parents may face off in court again tomorrow. An emergency custody hearing is planned in St. George.
