The state of Utah has filed kidnapping charges against the nephew of imprisoned polygamous leader Warren Jeffs, who continues to issue orders to his followers from behind bars.
Officials allege that Heber Jeffs, 54, and his 10-year-old niece have vanished, presumably to separate the child from her mother under Warren Jeffs' commands from prison.
Prosecutors claim Heber Jeffs fled his home with the girl in August after his uncle claimed to receive a "revelation" from God telling his followers to "gather" the community's women to move to other locations.
According to the charging documents obtained by KSTU, Heber Jeffs was caring for his sister's daughter while she and her husband were splitting and leaving the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When the girl's mother went to visit her child, the affidavit says Heber Jeffs told her he was cutting her off, and that she would not be allowed access to her child unless she was going to get back in the church, per the outlet.
The mother went to authorities and a judge issued a preliminary injunction on Sept. 21 that ordered Heber Jeffs to return the girl to her mother, KSL reported. When the mother went back to his home, this time with law enforcement and the court order, Heber Jeffs and the girl were nowhere to be found.
An arrest warrant was issued Monday for Heber Jeffs, who remains at large with the girl.
Warren Jeffs has continued to lead the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as its prophet while inside a federal prison in Texas, the Associated Press reported. He is serving a life term after being convicted of charges related to child sexual abuse resulting from underage marriages.
