Lawyer says two FLDS boys unaccounted for

John Hollenhorst, Andrew Adams and AP reporting FLDS mothers say Texas officials have lost track of two of the 462 children they seized from the YFZ Ranch. The Deseret News reports attorneys have been told three children are hospitalized, but officials won't tell mothers the kids' conditions or whereabouts. It's the latest twist in the drama that began to unfold more than three weeks ago, and it continues to capture major national attention.

National and even global interest doesn't seem to be fading. NBC "Dateline" devoted more than half the show to the FLDS story Sunday night. As for the two kids unaccounted for, we don't know if they're really gone or if it's just the latest accounting error by Texas officials. Cynthia Martinez, of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, says the boys -- a 16-month-old and 11 year-old -- are not on any of the state's placement lists.

"It's a very emotional time for them. These parents are just desperate to find out more information about their children. These are people who care very deeply about their children. There's some real emotional pain being inflicted on parents and children in this process that really shouldn't be happening," FLDS spokesman Rod Parker says.

Child welfare workers in Texas say they're not worried. They told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times newspaper that no children have been lost, but that parent-child relationships have been difficult to determine.

Department of Family and Protective Services spokesman Patrick Crimmins says he is not aware of children being unaccounted for.

More than 400 kids have now been scattered to group foster homes. According to an FLDS spokesman, siblings have been separated in violation of court orders. In one case, a mother of 13 now has children in five locations as much as 800 miles apart. One mother said, "My 2-year-old son was screaming, 'Mother, don't let 'em take me.'"

FLDS mothers say Texas Child Protective Services (CPS) cannot tell them where two of the children have gone. CPS has lost track. CPS did report to attorneys that another child is very ill and hospitalized but won't tell the mother where.

"There's some real emotional pain being inflicted on parents and children in this process that really shouldn't be happening," Parker said.

We've been unable to reach Texas officials to respond. But Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot told NBC "Dateline" the state is checking out a surprising claim that, if true, might explain some confusion

"Children were removed from their mothers at birth, some mothers may not even know who their children are," Abbot said.

"I think that every child in there has a name. And of course every child has a parent. I'm beginning to think that CPS just doesn't have their act together," Parker said.

"Dateline" also featured fierce criticism from activist Flora Jessop, who left the FLDS community many years ago. She said, "Be aware that this is a group that is systemically abusive to their own children."

But FLDS supporters say they're just like any other parents who love their children. Richard Jessop, a father in the community, said, "There's no abuse, period. There's healthy, happy children, and they've all been snuffed away."

FLDS lawyers are so frustrated in their dealings with Texas officials they're planning to make a federal case out of it. A big federal civil rights lawsuit is in the works. Look for a filing later this week in San Antonio.

Meanwhile, an FLDS member sent a letter to the Texas governor accusing child welfare officials of "horrific" human rights violations.

Sect leader Willie Jessop sent a letter asking Gov. Rick Perry to keep the 437 children with their mothers.

Jessop says Texas can't properly care for or account for the children. He claims many have been left in critical medical conditions and are suffering separation anxiety.

E-mail: hollenhorst@ksl.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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