The Witness Wore Red by Rebecca Musser
Those who watched the trial
of polygamist cult leader, Warren Jeffs, are probably familiar with
Rebecca Musser, one of the key witnesses. I recently read an account
of Musser's role in the trial in the national bestseller, The
Witness Wore Red, penned by Musser herself.
I live about 40 miles from the “twin”
cities of Hilldale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. I see
polygamist women in their prairie dresses on daily basis, wondering
what things must be like in their secretive enclave. In Musser's
book, the curtains are ripped open on this lifestyle, revealing a
disturbing look at a community that marries off girls as young as
twelve to much older men, many of whom are their relatives. Even
more horrifying, several of these young girls were raped in front of
adult men and women from the cult. During the trial of Warren Jeffs,
the jury was able to listen to audio recordings of these crimes, so
there is little doubt they occurred.
One thing that often gets overlooked in
the polygamist saga is the fate of some of the young boys. In order
for the older men to have multiple wives, a alarming number of boys
are kicked out of the community, left to fend for themselves. Utah
residents refer to these victims as “The Lost Boys.” In The
Witness Wore Red, Musser talks about this tragedy, but makes the
observation that the boys aren't “lost,” they are ABANDONED.
I understand there is a great deal of
indoctrination that goes on in cults like the one in
Hilldale/Colorado City. Nonetheless, this doesn't excuse all the
rape, violence and child abandonment that is allowed by members of
both parties in the sect. My personal beliefs are that the women who
stood by watching while people like 12 year old Merrianne Jessop were
raped by Warren Jeffs should have also been made to face charges.
One of the worst perpetrators is Naomie Jeffs, one of an estimated 80
females married to Warren Jeffs. Prior to the trial, Naomie was on
the run with Warren, working as his “scribe.” It was her duty to
write down all of Warren's activities, including the crimes he
committed against women and children. Naomie was with Warren when he
was finally captured by police, but for some strange reason, she was
never made to face charges for her role in these heinous crimes.
I commend Rebecca Musser for standing
up for the victims during the trial against Warren Jeffs and some of
his cronies who gave their young daughters over to Jeffs and took on
child brides themselves. Musser escaped from the cult, only to be
ostracized by her community, including some of her one family
members. One of Musser's brothers wrote his own book, calling her a
liar. I've seen numerous photos of Warren Jeffs kissing girls as
young as 12 years old. The tape recordings of the rapes that took
place in Warren's temple in Texas were authenticated in a court of
law. It seems pretty clear to me who is telling the truth here.
Although reading The Witness Wore Red
was a bit like watching a train wreck in motion, I gave it five stars
on my Goodreads page. Any victim who has the strength and endurance
to stand up to criminals like Warren Jeffs deserves all the respect
and accolades in the world.
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