Investigation winding down at sect's Eldorado-area ranch
 
By Matt Phinney
San Angelo Standard-Times
 
ELDORADO - Law enforcement officials gathered around this small West Texas community are hopeful their investigation at the YFZ Ranch is winding down.

The initial raid on the ranch, home to members of the secretive Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, went in six days ago. Since then, more than 400 children have been taken into custody by state authorities and more than 100 women have voluntarily left the ranch, in many cases to accompany their children to shelter in San Angelo.

Tela Mange, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, spoke to a handful of reporters briefly this morning in Eldorado, saying the initial phase of the investigation may be nearly finished but adding little other new information.

"It's getting close," she said. "What 'close' means, I don't know yet."

Serving the warrant was just one part of the investigation, she said, and now comes another part, which is analyzing evidence collected at the ranch.

She declined to discuss security remaining at the ranch or the amount of manpower there.

Agencies involved in the raid were DPS personnel including Texas Rangers; sheriff's deputies and personnel from Schleicher, Tom Green and Midland counties; and Texas parks and wildlife officers.

Mange said she thinks all civilians who are going to be removed from the ranch have now been taken. Some women are left on the ranch, but none younger than 18, she said.

She declined to discuss the two reported arrests on the ranch.

In reference to the YFZ Ranch community, she said, "They've been fairly cooperative. There have been times they weren't pleased we were there. It's taking this long because we are trying to be respectful of them, but at the same time, we have a search warrant that we are going to execute."

Mange said no physical confrontations occurred between residents and law enforcement officers. She described the people as "very passive."

At time, she said, the mood was tense but calm, and the residents occasionally voiced their displeasure.

During the first days of the investigation, ranch residents were permitted to continue with their chores such as tending to crops and livestock, but on Tuesday all the residents were asked to remain in their homes.

"We wanted to be able to get some things done," she said. "It's easier to know everyone is in place."

Mange said ranch residents are now being permitted to leave if they wish on the condition that they don't return while the investigation is continuing.
 
gosanangelo.com
Originally published Wednesday, April 9, 2008
 
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