LOCAL NEWS

Parents ask for help finding missing kids they say are being hidden by followers of Warren Jeffs

Apr 17, 2023, 5:58 PM | Updated: Apr 21, 2023, 6:00 pm

CEDAR CITY, Utah — A group of parents, who were once part of the FLDS community, gathered to ask for helping finding their missing children. They believe those children have been assisted in running away by those loyal to convicted felon, the jailed Warren Jeffs.

The parents voiced their concerns to law enforcement and the community to ask for help finding their children. The group Holding Out Help, that organized the press conference, said it knows of 19 children that have gone missing, with nine of those found. The group blames the missing children on purported orders from Jeffs, who is in prison but still has powerful influence over his followers.

“I am their only legal guardian,” said Lorraine Jessop, referring to her three children that she says have been kidnapped. “I have full custody. Their father is deceased. When will this be treated as what it is?”

She said they have been missing since January, and she believes they had help leaving in the middle of the night.

“We need to take this more seriously in Utah and in surrounding states,” said Roger Hoole, an attorney representing the parents. “We’re asking to get the message out that we need help. We need law enforcement help. We need to make this a priority to help find these children.”

The parents who have left the polygamous group said the missing kids grew up in a sheltered environment and couldn’t have run away on their own. They allege that the children were provided pre-paid phones and survival gear by loyal Jeffs followers.

Elizabeth Roundy, a parent from Idaho, said her daughter took her car and left in the middle of the night at the start of the year. Police told her they don’t do a lot with a runaway case.

“I’ve tried to explain to them that this is not just her running away; they’re hiding her. She was told what to do and where to go. It has been a completely manipulated situation, I believe, with all of the children that are missing.”

Hoole said there are often parenting conflicts when one parent leaves the FLDS community.

“Rather than let the law provide those rules so that parents can work together, we’re seeing the children disappear from the non-FLDS parent,” Hoole said. “They’re disappearing.”

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said in a statement:

The Utah Attorney General’s Office continues to monitor this situation closely, working with Beaver County who has initiated an investigation.

We take threats against anyone in Utah very seriously.

Our office has historically played a significant role in holding Warren Jeffs — and members of his family who have broken the law — accountable, and we don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.


Larry D. Curtis contributed to this article.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

[File] Utah Highway Patrol State Trooper car (Laura Seitz, Deseret News)...

Larry D. Curtis

Child struck, critically injured by tractor near Coalville

A tractor hit a 5-year-old boy who darted into the road, critically injuring the child.

11 months ago

(FILE) Police vehicles are parked outside the South Jordan Police Department on Friday, April 24, 2...

Michael Houck

Police: Three teens hospitalized after crashing into wall in South Jordan

Three teenagers were injured after crashing into a concrete wall Tuesday morning, police say.

11 months ago

Elephants Zuri and Christie will be transferred from Utah's Hogle Zoo to another accredited facilti...

Josh Ellis

Elephants leaving Utah’s Hogle Zoo after more than 100 years of care

Utah's Hogle Zoo elephants Christie and Zuri will be transferred to another accredited zoo, ending the zoo's continuous care of elephants after more than 100 years.

11 months ago

The town of Hideout wants to annex hundreds of acres from Summit County and Wasatch County, includi...

Michael Houck

Landowners in-between Hideout and Kamas file for township

A group of Summit County landowners filed to incorporate as a new town called West Hills Tuesday.

11 months ago

(Chopper 5)...

Debbie Worthen

Residents meet with Draper leaders to find out what’s next for neighborhood after landslide

Dozens of Suncrest residents met with Draper city leaders for a town hall-style meeting two weeks after the ground below two homes collapsed and sent them sliding down the mountainside.

11 months ago

Flooding temporarily closed state Route 39 in Ogden Canyon Tuesday morning. (Utah Department of Pub...

Josh Ellis

Utah roads, parks close due to flooding and high runoff levels

Several roads were closed due to flooding Tuesday morning, and warm temperatures will keep rivers and creeks running high throughout the day.

11 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Stack of old laptops with dark background...

PC Laptops

Old Laptop Upgrades You Need to Try Before Throwing it Away

Get the most out of your investment. Try these old laptop upgrades before throwing it out to keep it running fast and efficient.

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...

BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.

Close up of an offset printing machine during production...

Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.

vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...

Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.

Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...

Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.

notebook with password notes highlighted...

PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.

Parents ask for help finding missing kids they say are being hidden by followers of Warren Jeffs