Ruby Jessop
Ruby Jessop | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 3, 1986 |
| Known for | 2013 escape from FLDS |
| Spouse | Haven Barlow (divorced) |
| Relatives | Flora Jessop Carolyn Jessop John Horne Blackmore Winston Blackmore |
Ruby Jessop (born March 3, 1986) is a former member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and child bride known for her family connections, her 2013 escape from an FLDS-controlled polygamous community, and the criminal probe prompted by her escape.[1]
Ruby is the sister of author and ex-FLDS member Flora Jessop.[2] In Flora's book, Church of Lies, she recounts how, as a fourteen-year-old, Ruby called her asking to help her escape after learning that she was to be married off to her second cousin and step-brother, Haven Barlow.[3][4] Flora writes that while the authorities were contacted, they were unable to locate Ruby as she was being moved from place to place to avoid contact with Flora.[2][3]
FLDS Prophet Warren Jeffs officiated at the wedding of 14-year-old Ruby and Barlow, who was then in his mid-20s.[4][5] When the two were married, this made Barlow her brother-in-law,[6] second cousin, step-brother and husband.[2][3][7] The intermarrying of Fundamentalist Mormon members is very common, as families have many members and only people inside the faith are deemed marriageable.[8][9] This can result in inbreeding and can cause genetic defects.[10]
After Ruby's escape, a press conference was held by Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne with Ruby and her sister Flora to announce not only the escape, but a probe into the alleged FLDS practice of holding women against their will and an investigation of the police force in Colorado City.[3][7] Horne also intervened and prevented Barlow from keeping Ruby's children away from her.[11]
Ruby has appeared on Katie Couric,[5] Oprah,[12] Anderson Cooper: 360°,[13] and appears in Jon Krakauer's non-fiction book Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith.[14]
Ruby is cousin-by-marriage of Carolyn Jessop, author of the New York Times Best Seller Escape and ex-FLDS member.[15] She is a relative of Winston Blackmore, the leader of a Canadian polygamous group, and also his uncle John Horne Blackmore, first leader of what became the Social Credit Party of Canada.[16]
References
- ^ Ng, Christina (January 23, 2013). "Arizona Former Child Bride 'Escapes' FLDS Community With Children". ABC News (20/20). Retrieved August 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c Jessop, Flora (2010). Church of Lies. Jossey-Bass. ISBN 0470565462.
- ^ a b c d Lee, Ken (January 25, 2013). "Former Child Bride, Held Over a Decade, Escapes Polygamist Sect". People. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ a b Ng, Christina (January 23, 2013). "Arizona Former Child Bride 'Escapes' FLDS Community With Children". ABC News. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ a b Couric, Katie. "FLDS Escapee Ruby Jessop Tells Story of Abuse for First Time". KatieCouric.com. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ "Arizona mother of six escapes 12-year nightmare in Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect". Fox News. January 23, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ a b Quigley, Rachel (January 23, 2013). "Revealed: Harrowing ordeal of child bride forced to marry her stepbrother who escaped Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect with her six young children". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ Khan, Razib (August 31, 2006). "Inbreeding among Mormons". Discover. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ "Polygamist Sects: How They Avoid Inbreeding Problems". Huffington Post. April 30, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ Johnson, Kirk (July 31, 2004). "By Accident, Utah Is Proving An Ideal Genetic Laboratory". New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
- ^ Keneally, Meghan (January 29, 2013). "No sex with your husband... just a three-second handshake: Woman who escaped Warren Jeffs' FDLS reveals bizarre rules cult leader imposed from his prison cell". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ Damitio, Stacy. "Flora Jessop speaks about her experience with the polygamist lifestyle". The Voice. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ Cooper, Anderson (January 28, 2013). "Tonight on AC360: Escape from the FLDS". Anderson Cooper:360. CNN. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ Krakauer, Jon (2003). Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. First Anchor Books. pp. 51–52. ISBN 1-4000-3280-6.
- ^ Jessop, Carolyn (2008). Escape. Broadway Books. ISBN 0767927575.
- ^ Bramham, Daphne (March 12, 2005). "Escape from Polygamy". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
