The Voice of Eldorado and Schleicher County Since 1901

Sheriff questions phone call from Fred Jessop

AUGUST 26, 2004
Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran received a phone call this week from a man identifying himself as Fred Jessop, the 94-year-old patriach of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Doran said that the man phoned him last Saturday at the urging of officials from the YFZ Ranch.

"I can't say whether or not it was Fred Jessop. He provided me with the right pieces of information that would tend to identify him and he certainly sounded as if he could be 94, but I still have my doubts," Doran told the Success.

Doran said the man told him he was fine and didn't need any help, adding that he was retired and staying out of church business.

Jessop, known as "Uncle Fred" to the FLDS faithful, was slated to succeed former FLDS Prophet Rulon Jeffs. But, that office was claimed by the late prophet's son, Warren Jeffs. in 2002. Shortly thereafter, the new prophet excommunicated many in the church's heirarchy. Then, late in 2003, as construction was getting under way on the group's new compound near Eldorado, Fred Jessop went missing.

Despite rampant rumors that Jessop had been kidnapped, and/or killed, no one in the closed communities of Hildale, Utah or Colorado City, Arizona, came forward to report Jessop until two weeks ago. That prompted a missing person report being filed in the national law enforcement data banks and led to inquiries here in Eldorado as to Jessop's whereabouts.

Sheriff Doran noted he was contacted last week by YFZ officials who wanted to clear up the matter and they offered to put him in touch with Fred Jessop. He said he told the men he had to meet with Jessop face-to-face in order to confirm his identity. Doran said that Saturday's phone conversation falls far short of proving that Jessop is alive and well.

"In fact it raises more suspicions than anything," Doran told the Success.

He then noted that he has been in close contact with Sheriff Kirk Smith in St. George, Utah, who has jurisdiction over Hildale, and with whom the missing person report was filed. Doran said that Smith assured him his department was closely monitoring things here in Texas.

Doran says he has also contacted Colorado City Police Chief Sam Roundy who tells him that his contacts report Fred Jessop is alive and well and wanting to be left alone. "I still have very serious doubts about this whole thing," Doran added.

True to form, no one connected with the FLDS Church or the YFZ Ranch is willing to comment about Fred Jessop's whereabouts. The Success has made repeated attempts to contact church and ranch officials concerning the issue. So far, no one is willing to comment.

The Eldorado Success invites Warren Jeffs and/or other leaders of the FLDS church to comment on this or any other story surrounding the FLDS and the YFZ Ranch