(April 17, 2008)—Parents and attorneys are expected to pack a courtroom Thursday in San Angelo as a custody hearing gets underway that will determine the fate of 416 children removed from a polygamist compound in West Texas.
About 350 lawyers were expected to converge on the courthouse Thursday.
It is believed to be one of the largest child custody cases in the history of the U.S.
Because of the larger number of parties involved in the hearing, seating for reporters is limited
A live video feed of the proceedings will be shown in the auditorium of San Angelo’s City Hall.
State authorities raided the site about two weeks ago in search of a 16-year-old girl who claimed in a call to an abuse hotline that her husband beat and raped her.
The search of the one-time wildlife ranch revealed that a soaring white limestone temple at the ranch held a bed where officials believe underage girls were required to consummate their spiritual marriages to much older men.
Welfare officials removed all 416 children living at the ranch, but the 16-year-old has yet to be found.
Members gave a few tours of the sprawling and secluded compound this week to show their lives center on family and faith.
A 24-year-old named "Dan" says each family begins and ends the day with prayer.
Dan also said it was "lifeless" at the site without the children.
His wife remains at the San Angelo Coliseum with their 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.
The mothers of older children were returned to the compound.
Afterward, some of the mothers complained the state deceived them, revealing the plan only after they and their children boarded buses from historic Fort Concho, where they had been staying, to the larger San Angelo Coliseum.
"They took my little seven year old girl," said Marilyn, an FLDS member who declined to give her last name.
"And they lied to us."
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