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A review by cornmaven
The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice by M. Bridget Cook, Rebecca Musser
5.0
Just an amazing and heart-breaking account of Musser's life in the FLDS, her escape from the abuse, and how she helped Texas bring Warren Jeffs to justice, all the while trying to raise young children and create a life in the modern world.
I remember watching news reports of the raid on Jeffs' YFZ compound Eldorado, TX. I knew of the polygamist beliefs in this very extreme religious cult. But Musser's accounts, along with the evidence uncovered reveals something more sinister and evil than most of us can imagine. If you think her "marriage" to the FLDS 84 year old prophet, at 18 years old, and subsequent 46 "marriages" is bad, that's just the beginning. Warren Jeffs' assumption of the mantle when his father dies begins a literal rein of terror, including forcing 12 year old girls to "marry;" removal of children from mothers and given to other, more loyal, women; systematic ousting of young men seen as competition; ritualized rape of young girls while male leaders "officially" witnessed it; and more.
Musser's escape was extraordinary in itself, and the fear ruling the community is typical of cults. But even more extraordinary is her coming to terms with the reality of the FLDS and her ability to trust a Texas sheriff and a no nonsense Texas Ranger. As she herself can attest, it was only Texans who were willing to expose and go after the criminality, not Utah, not Idaho. And treat her with the respect she deserves.
This edition is read by Musser herself, and that was a bonus. She could voice the FLDS women who were trained to be "sweet" in a way no one else could. She was the go to expert and advisor for the legal community, child protective services, and others as they tried to navigate what they uncovered, including mentoring them on how to approach the kids and the women in their questioning. Example: Ask a 15 year old FLDS "married" girl if she had ever had sex with a man and she'd say no. Ask her if she had had "marital relations" with a man and the answer would be yes, simply because of how she was brainwashed and trained.
At times I was aghast that Musser still hadn't accepted that the entire FLDS belief system is evil, until I got to the epilogue. May she have a lovely life of freedom.
I remember watching news reports of the raid on Jeffs' YFZ compound Eldorado, TX. I knew of the polygamist beliefs in this very extreme religious cult. But Musser's accounts, along with the evidence uncovered reveals something more sinister and evil than most of us can imagine. If you think her "marriage" to the FLDS 84 year old prophet, at 18 years old, and subsequent 46 "marriages" is bad, that's just the beginning. Warren Jeffs' assumption of the mantle when his father dies begins a literal rein of terror, including forcing 12 year old girls to "marry;" removal of children from mothers and given to other, more loyal, women; systematic ousting of young men seen as competition; ritualized rape of young girls while male leaders "officially" witnessed it; and more.
Musser's escape was extraordinary in itself, and the fear ruling the community is typical of cults. But even more extraordinary is her coming to terms with the reality of the FLDS and her ability to trust a Texas sheriff and a no nonsense Texas Ranger. As she herself can attest, it was only Texans who were willing to expose and go after the criminality, not Utah, not Idaho. And treat her with the respect she deserves.
This edition is read by Musser herself, and that was a bonus. She could voice the FLDS women who were trained to be "sweet" in a way no one else could. She was the go to expert and advisor for the legal community, child protective services, and others as they tried to navigate what they uncovered, including mentoring them on how to approach the kids and the women in their questioning. Example: Ask a 15 year old FLDS "married" girl if she had ever had sex with a man and she'd say no. Ask her if she had had "marital relations" with a man and the answer would be yes, simply because of how she was brainwashed and trained.
At times I was aghast that Musser still hadn't accepted that the entire FLDS belief system is evil, until I got to the epilogue. May she have a lovely life of freedom.