Texas investigation into FLDS child abuse nears an end

Texas child welfare authorities are wrapping up their investigation into allegations of abuse within the Fundamentalist LDS Church.

Letters declaring if a finding of abuse has been made or not are being sent to FLDS parents and, in some cases, alleged abuse perpetrators, Child Protective Services officials confirmed Thursday.

"There are findings in the case because letters have gone out," CPS spokesman Patrick Crimmins told the Deseret News. "But we're not prepared at this point to say that the investigation is complete. There still is work that has to be done."

The letters detail whether the agency has reason to believe, unable to determine or have ruled out abuse. Crimmins could not say how many letters have gone out. An FLDS Church spokesman said families had received "lots of them."

"How do you react to it?" Willie Jessop said Thursday. "They decided to cookie-cutter everybody up, and it depends on which caseworker you get. It's not based on facts."

The findings, including details of how many children may have actually been abused, may not be released because they are confidential by law in Texas, Crimmins said.

"The bulk of the investigative activities, interviews and that kind of thing are completed, but there's a lot of information that has to be compiled and reviewed before we can say the investigation is complete," he said.

If there is a finding of abuse, it does not necessarily mean a criminal action or a re-removal of any children. Instead, it is entered into a database that is used when someone applies to work or volunteer in a child care-related field. If CPS is called to investigate another case of child abuse, the information is used in future cases. Families who are the subject of an abuse finding can appeal.

As of Thursday, there were 72 children still involved in pending lawsuits that were filed when the children were removed from the YFZ Ranch back in April.

"It's a huge relief," Jessop said. "But the relief isn't truly there until everyone's returned and everyone can come home. You still have families torn apart. They're saying, 'This child's nonsuited but we're keeping this one.'"

A total of 393 people have now been "nonsuited" in a San Angelo, Texas, court. The Deseret News' tally includes 26 so-called "disputed minors," FLDS women CPS initially believed were underage but later nonsuited when they were determined to be adults.

"There could be more nonsuits," Crimmins said Thursday.

Nonsuiting drops the child from court oversight, but does not necessarily end the child welfare investigation. The reasons vary from no abuse, to a parent taking appropriate steps to protect their children.

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