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John Hollenhorst ReportingFor much of 2006, one of our top newsmakers was never seen because we didn't know where he was. But now that polygamist leader Warren Jeffs is in custody, he'll be a top story in the coming year as well.
It's our Number Three story of 2006.
The year began with the legal knot tightening on the Utah-Arizona border.
Bruce Lindsay/KSL: "Arizona's attorney general just increased the reward for finding polygamous fugitive Warren Jeffs."
In February KSL reported on a hidden secret in the closely intermarried Jeffs community. At least 20 children suffer severe retardation from a birth defect called Fumerase Deficiency.
Isaac Wyler/ Relative of victims, February 14: "I don't want to describe it in too much detail. It's not a real pretty sight."
We learned more about Jeffs' expanding empire, new colonies in South Dakota and Nevada.
Sam Brower/ Private Investigator, February 22: "They're zealously loyal to Warren Jeffs."
Then, Utah filed new, much more serious charges and in May, Jeffs became big national news.
Timothy Fuhrman/ FBI, May 9: "We are here to announce the FBI has placed Warren Steed Jeffs on its top 10 most wanted fugitives list."
In August a cop pulled over a car near Las Vegas. It contained Jeffs and his caboodle.
Steve Martinez/ Las Vegas FBI Special Agent In Charge, August 29: "Everything from a large number of cellular telephones, laptop computers, three wigs, quite a bit of cash, in excess of fifty thousand in cash."
August 31: "Are you Warren Jeffs?"
Warren Jeffs: "Yes."
Jeffs has been in custody ever since. The charges relate to a marriage ceremony at a Nevada motel. A 14 year old testified Jeffs pressured her to marry and have sex with her own first cousin, and she was powerless to resist.
Voice of Alleged Victim/ November 22: "He was God to us here on earth."
Walter Bugden/ Jeffs' Defense Attorney, November 22: "We believe a jury or the court will see this prosecution for exactly what it is-- unacceptable religious persecution!"
At year's end, some of Jeffs' closest followers abandoned their homes, heading for points unknown.
Isaac Wyler/ Former F.L.D.S. Member, December 13: "I wouldn't be surprised if he's got a compound in almost every state in the union."
Jeffs was bound over to stand trial on April 23, 2007.
