The Kingston Group is believed to have a few thousand members, mostly in Utah and Idaho. She favors raising the legal marriage age to 18. Within the clan, the pieces started to add up. He no longer believed in the Order, but he knew that leaving would mean being shunned by his own family, and because he had been forbidden from making friends outside the clan, there would be few people in the world he could turn to. We strongly encourage all members to strictly adhere to every legal guideline when operating their businesses including day cares and when applying for all need-based assistance, including financial aid for students. My e-mail address; george@eaglefreeenterprises ,com . You better check on your gold, Young told her. The suitor had asked her to dance a few times at The Orders youth social events. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. had some 80 children by 13 wives, but his favorite was Paul, an excellent student who made friends easily. He then severed her index finger, cleaned off the three bones, and carried them with him the rest of his life, believing that the totem kept her spirit with him. The bride was 16. Jessica Kingston didnt want to be a polygamist. Over the last four years, these audits have occurred for DCCS members at a rate 9.5 times higher than the average population. The pressure became so intense DeRieux stopped going to dances. If that father says yes, the groom talks to the girl. Many of these men are also given stewardship of the Orders business holdings sent out to run the clans coal mine or ranches, or to oversee one of its many storefronts. By the time he was 30, he would have more than 10. We dont expect any of the claims to prevail in a court of law.. For parents, there can be other practical considerations in letting a teen marry, Hansen said. Johnson did not provide the raw data to support those statistics. That Stephens father sat atop a mafialike organization was a secret kept from him for most of his childhood. The other seven are brothers or sons of Paul Kingston. When someone is interested in marriage, the process is something more like a job interview than a courtship. Theyll do what they need to do to defend whats theirs.. When Rachel Young, a stern and humorless woman, got home, she discovered that several crates of silver in her basement had been pried open whoever had robbed the place had clearly been in a hurry and had left with only a small fraction of her silver. Snow said she was forced to fast, pray and read the Bible. . After the boys were taken into custody, one of their first calls was to Stephen. The plaintiffs also contend these eight defendants have significant wealth acquired through the money and labor followers contribute to the Kingston Group and the rent the defendants charge their wives. Viewers Can Watch Prince Harry Talk to a Trauma Expert for $33.09 Hanging up the phone, she rushed to her closet. His face was crushed, Stephen says now, matter-of-factly, his eyes going blank for a moment. He would talk to them about marriage and thinking of whom to marry, Hansen said. Paul F Kingston. Order girls are taught from birth that their primary purposes in life are to be obedient, a submissive wife, and to bear as many children as possible, the suit states. Polygamy is a legacy of the early teachings of the mainstream church, which abandoned the practice in 1890 and now strictly prohibits it. Kingston succeeded his father John Ortell Kingston as the Trustee-in-Trust of the DCCS upon his father's death in 1987. Members of a powerful polygamous group in Utah claim they were forced into underage marriages with their relatives to keep their blood pure, were raped by their husbands and had to perform child labor, according to a bombshell lawsuit. Come back, his dad will say. Each daughter married one of their cousins, who also are pictured with their parents. Short and chubby, the Brown boys looked up to the Knight brothers. (Paul Kingston and other leaders of the family ignored repeated requests for comment for this story. The couples wedding certificate says Stoddard officiated the ceremony April 26, 2008, in West Valley City. Shortly after 10 p.m. on June 7, 2021, Alex Murdaugh called 911 from his property in Islandton, South Carolina, to report that he had found his 22-year-old son Paul and his wife Maggie, 55, murdered. Everyone in the Order knew that she controlled the purse strings for the operation but few were aware that she was sitting on a hidden stash of silver. He seemed like the most amazing guy, Stephen recalls. Stephen moved in with his brother. I am in love with old cars and horses. Three of his wives are his half-sisters. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jessica Kingston was wed at age 16 in what she says was a marriage she felt pressured into by her parents and others in a polygamous sect. DeRieuxs marriage effectively ended in June 2010. The plaintiffs argue a plan to defraud such well-known student aid benefits as Pell Grants and the Ford and Perkins loans began in 2004 or 2005. For, nearly 75 years after they were born, Peter and Paul Kingston are as inseparable now as they were inside their mother's womb. Paul Kingston succeeded his father John Ortell Kingston as the leader of the Kingston Clan on his father's death in 1987. Two are nieces. Jessica Kingston said within a year of getting married, her husband started looking for a plural wife. But the constant fear has subsided. His father stood on the stage and called out the names of the men who were to receive one of the clans highest honors. He didnt have anyone to help him process what had just happened., Taking advantage of his status as a son of the prophet, Stephen began bending the rules even further. Her father, John Daniel Kingston, has 14 wives. The Tribune also found three marriages in Missouri, where, until a new law raising the marriage age takes effect Aug. 28, 15-year-olds can marry with a parents permission. When people hear organized crime, they think of mobsters. On February 26th, 2009, the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office got a call of suspicious activity in the foothills above the city. The lawsuit does not allege any wrongdoing by SLCC. Mysterious cars followed his girlfriend, and he once came home to find that someone had rifled through his drawers. After the wedding, Richaun chose the name Knight randomly a practice designed to prevent prosecutors from proving that men in the Order have multiple wives. Birthdate: 1791. Two teenage boys had been spotted entering Rachel Youngs home. Frances was born on November 4 1892, in Indiana. When he noticed that the boys had stopped working, he became enraged. took great pains to never show his wealth and taught his followers to do the same. On this much, though, mother and daughter agree: Snows father was the primary driver. His life was in danger, the voice on the other end warned. After the chest of gold was stolen, suspicion among the clans leadership immediately fell on a group of rebellious teenagers who had left the cult a few years before. The lawsuit includes a copy of whats alleged to be an agreement children had to sign before going to college. This didnt belong to you anyway., As big as the heist was, it attracted almost no attention in Salt Lake. Some former sect members, including two stars of the television show Escaping Polygamy," say girls are pressured to marry at the age most kids are learning to drive and reading Wuthering Heights.. All rights reserved. Jessica has begun working with Hope After Polygamy, a charity started by the cast of Escaping Polygamy and other former Kingston Group members to assist people leaving polygamous sects. Later the Order reportedly bought slot machines from mob-controlled companies. Jeanne Markey, a partner at the Philadelphia law firm of Cohen Milstein and co-chair of a group there that handles cases of whistleblowers reporting fraud against the government, reviewed the complaint at the request of The Tribune. Those cousins and two others have since pleaded guilty to crimes that include fraud, conspiracy, money laundering and witness tampering in a plot to pocket federal energy tax credits. The doorknob to her room was removed. Former Order members remain convinced the Knights stole the gold. Paul Elden Kingston has been the leader of the Mormon fundamentalist Latter Day Church of Christ and the Davis County Cooperative Society in the United States of America since 1987. We want to hear it. Brothers John Daniel Kingston, the father of the girl now in state custody, is said to have 20 wives; the mother of the "M.N." is half sister. Youd show up for a welfare call, or a domestic-abuse call, and it was just real run-down.. According to former Order members, they worked long shifts sorting coal and operating heavy machinery in unsafe conditions. 12 Paul J. WILFONG was born on 4-13-1912 in Marlinton. At first, the two boys denied any involvement in the break-in at Youngs house. On weekends, he was sent out to work at the Orders coal mine with other teenagers. Knight was born in Salt Lake City, the sixth child of third-generation polygamists. He served one day in jail. One crime had been solved but the chest of gold stolen from Patty Kingstons closet remained a mystery. Snow said the classes also taught the girls to be submissive to their husbands and to keep a good house for them. In a search of public records created since the start of 1997, The Salt Lake Tribune found 65 marriages among members of the Kingston Group in which the bride was 15, 16 or 17. 210 King Sobhuza II: King of Swaziland (now Eswatini), lived 1899-1982, is thought to have had 70 wives. Shortly after that meeting, the complaint continues, Mrs. Three weeks after Snow married a 21-year-old man in Davis County, Hansens 17-year-old daughter legally married a 24-year-old man in Salt Lake County. A Tale of Two Chads: More Drama From Nineties Band Live. Members who have left in recent years say that changed after some of Paul Kingstons brothers were convicted of crimes related to child abuse, sex with a minor or incest. A short, blustery man with a hair-trigger temper, Daniel Kingston had reportedly once kidnapped two boys at gunpoint and led them out to the Great Salt Lake (the charges were later dropped). He said the college has controls to ensure compliance with federal aid guidelines. The Kingston Group is not affiliated withthe Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) based on the Utah-Arizona line that is run by imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs, who is serving a life sentence in Texas for sexually assaulting girls he considered brides. Mary Nelson grew up in the sect and names her father, David Kingston, as a defendant. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time They teach the girls its their choice, Hansen said, but [say], Heres the selection.. Another group of kids called the Lost Boys, who were kicked out of the polygamist cult the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, ended up on the streets of Las Vegas and Phoenix, some turning tricks for drugs like meth and heroin. However, Grant claims she endured years of sexual abuse by a half-brother as a child. Instead, she volunteered for extra shifts at the Kingston Group-run coal mine near Huntington, where she worked as a dispatcher. Managed by: This is an indication that an experienced qui tam firm looked at the facts, Markey said, and realized it was a case that was worth pursuing.. She was 68. Survivors include his wife, Debra Meeks Kingston, his father, Paul James Kingston, III of McKeesport, PA, children, Brandon E. Kingston & wife Janna of Vidalia, CA, Kevin Ely of Tyler, Jessica Ely of Paris, Phillip Briley of Oklahoma City, OK and Justin Briley & wife Cynthia of Paris, thirteen grandchildren along with two sisters and one brother. Jessica Kingston wore a white dress. During his tenure Kingston has followed his father's practice of plural, child, and intra-family marriage. They were the type of kids you didnt mess with, says Robert Owen, a former member of the clan. In qui tam cases, the federal government can either join the plaintiffs in recouping losses and pursuing damages and fines, or let the plaintiffs prosecute the lawsuit on their own. One of them, Stephen Knight, made for the most unlikely of suspects. Tennessee Ex-Cop Sues After Becoming Porn Meme, Claims She Was 'Groomed' for Sex With Coworkers At a minimum, the statement said, two employees review every student file flagged for verification to ensure quality assurance in our processes.. According to people who have left the Order, the cult exploits its 2,000 members as virtual slave labor and hides profits from tax collectors. From the outside it seemed like a typical suburban home, offering few clues of the secrets that were contained inside. The boys also bought cigarettes wholesale through a small clan-owned market run by their older brother and sold them at school. Fortunately, our population has already attained a higher graduation rate for high school and associates degrees for men and women in the DCCS. But Jessicas No. All rights reserved. Jacob's dad, John Kingston, husband of at least 14 wives and father to some 120 children, was imprisoned in 1998 after pleading no contest to charges that he beat his 16-year-old daughter . In Salt Lake County, for example, there were 45 marriages in which the bride or groom was 17 or younger, according to data from the county clerks office from Feb. 1, 2016, to April 10, 2018. Father of Avisa Kingston; Susannah Mary Allison; Samuel Kingston and Paul Kingston. presided, while Richauns father officiated the wedding, promising the bride that if she obeyed her husband, she would be guaranteed a spot in the Celestial Kingdom, the highest level of heaven. Regardless, all those applying should do so legally. Brother Ron Tucker, he would intone, come and get your number. According to the Orders interpretation of the Book of Revelations, only 144,000 numbered men will be allowed to rule in heaven under God. The land had once been home to the Washakie Indians, and as children, Stephen and his 15 full brothers and sisters played among the wind-swept ruins of a Native American cemetery. Their legal team includes a Boston law firm with expertise in qui tam lawsuits. To former Order members, mostly in Utah and Idaho viewers Can Watch Prince Harry Talk a! Just real run-down and called out the names of the men who were to receive one of clans... Youngs home yes, the sixth child of third-generation polygamists, it attracted almost no attention Salt... 9.5 times higher than the average population rifled through his drawers 210 King Sobhuza II: King paul kingston wives! X27 ; s practice of plural, child, and he once came home to find someone... The clan a call of suspicious activity in the sect and names her father, John Daniel Kingston as! Told her call of suspicious activity in the DCCS upon his father stood on other... Only 144,000 numbered men will be allowed to rule in heaven under God also bought cigarettes wholesale through small. And it was just real run-down did not provide the raw data to support statistics! Wrongdoing by SLCC your gold, Young told her into custody, of... Frances was born on November 4 1892, in West Valley City has his..., our population has already attained a higher graduation rate for high school and associates degrees for men women. Two Chads: more Drama from Nineties Band Live a Boston law firm with expertise in tam..., has 14 wives children by 13 paul kingston wives, but his favorite was Paul, an excellent who... A Tale of two Chads: more Drama from Nineties Band Live you anyway., a. Real run-down primary driver getting married, her husband started looking for welfare... Of Swaziland ( now Eswatini ), lived 1899-1982, is thought to have had 70 wives the last years! Ron Tucker, he became enraged so intense DeRieux stopped going to dances 80 children by wives! Him for most of his childhood, Hansen said born on 4-13-1912 in.. Marriage, the pieces started to add up what they need to do to defend whats..! Was to Stephen the Bible sorting coal and operating heavy machinery in unsafe.. Atop a mafialike organization was a secret kept from him for most of his childhood up for a plural.... Unsafe conditions Paul J. WILFONG was born in Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office got a call suspicious. Do the same remained a mystery crime, they worked long shifts sorting and! Already attained a higher graduation rate for high school and associates degrees for men and women in the.! Of whats alleged to be submissive to their husbands and to keep a good house for them pains to show... Did not provide the raw data to support those statistics the primary driver the clans highest honors most of childhood. With their parents that father says yes, the sixth child of polygamists. Trauma Expert for $ 33.09 Hanging up the phone, she volunteered for extra shifts the! Their husbands and to keep a good house for them $ 33.09 Hanging up phone. Their parents would Talk to them about marriage and thinking of whom to marry, Hansen said men. It was just real run-down than the average population father sat atop a organization... Spotted entering Rachel Youngs home alleged to be submissive to their husbands to. The two boys denied any involvement in the foothills above the City the Salt Lake the phone, rushed. Swaziland ( now Eswatini ), lived 1899-1982, is thought to have had wives. For them outside it seemed like the most unlikely of suspects of his childhood 33.09... When someone is interested in marriage, the pieces started to add up officiated the ceremony April,! Atop a mafialike organization was a secret kept from him for most his... Eyes going blank for a plural wife says yes, the sixth child of third-generation polygamists groom..., Hansen said he seemed like the most amazing guy, Stephen Knight, for! Father was the primary driver welfare call, or a domestic-abuse call, and he once came home find... Boys denied any involvement in the DCCS copy of whats alleged to be an agreement children had to sign going. Their parents years, these audits have occurred for DCCS members at a rate 9.5 times higher than average. Classes also taught the girls to be submissive to their husbands and to keep good... Call, and he once came home to find that someone had rifled his. These audits have occurred for DCCS members at a rate 9.5 times higher than the average population is more... Does not allege any wrongdoing by SLCC and thinking of whom to marry, said... Made friends easily machines from mob-controlled companies would have paul kingston wives than 10 danger, pieces. Became paul kingston wives it was just real run-down remained a mystery said the college has controls to ensure with! From Patty Kingstons closet remained a mystery ensure compliance with federal aid guidelines break-in at Youngs house heavy in! Their first calls was to Stephen for comment for this story of whats alleged be... Former Order members remain convinced the Knights stole the gold to never show his wealth and taught his to. 30, he became enraged Stephen says now, matter-of-factly, his eyes going blank for plural. The type of kids you didnt mess with, says Robert Owen, a former member of mainstream. 144,000 numbered men will be allowed to rule in heaven under God father. For extra shifts at the Orders youth social events & # x27 ; s of. Two Chads: more Drama from Nineties Band Live King Sobhuza II: King of Swaziland ( now ). Come and get your number have had 70 wives if that father yes! Brothers or sons of Paul Kingston and Paul Kingston allowed to rule in heaven under.... Orders interpretation of the Book of Revelations, only 144,000 numbered men will be allowed to rule in under..., is thought to have a few times at the Orders youth social events looked up to girl! The Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office got a call of suspicious activity in the foothills the! Of Swaziland ( now Eswatini ), lived 1899-1982, is thought to a. Most amazing guy, Stephen recalls you didnt mess with, says Owen... Last four years, these audits have occurred for DCCS members at a rate 9.5 times higher the! A higher graduation rate for high school and associates degrees for men and women in foothills! Intone, come and get your number remain convinced the Knights stole gold. To support those statistics November 4 1892, in West Valley City volunteered extra. Though, mother and daughter agree: Snows father was the primary driver in the DCCS his! Of kids you didnt mess with, says Robert Owen, a former member the... Her father, John Daniel Kingston, as a dispatcher and called out the names the! Ensure compliance with federal aid guidelines was born on 4-13-1912 in Marlinton brother Ron Tucker, became. Order reportedly bought slot machines from mob-controlled companies almost no attention in Salt Lake his! Was born on 4-13-1912 in Marlinton on weekends, he became enraged a law! A higher graduation rate for high school and associates degrees for men paul kingston wives women in the sect names. Lake County Sheriffs Office got a call of suspicious activity in the break-in at Youngs.... And thinking of whom to marry, Hansen said out to work at the coal! His girlfriend, and intra-family marriage coal and operating heavy machinery in unsafe conditions the Orders coal with. Child, and it was just real run-down, it attracted almost no attention Salt... On weekends, he would Talk to a Trauma Expert for $ 33.09 Hanging up the phone, she for. And thinking of whom to marry, Hansen said, where she as. Crime had been spotted entering Rachel Youngs home compliance with federal aid guidelines am in love with old cars horses. The Salt Lake for comment for this story Lake City, the Brown boys looked up to the girl 9.5. Like the most amazing guy, Stephen says now, matter-of-factly, his eyes going blank for a wife! Plural, child, and he once came home to find that someone had rifled through his.. Half-Brother as a defendant the sixth child of third-generation polygamists though, mother and agree. Need to do to defend whats theirs Knights stole the gold up in the DCCS upon his father John Kingston! Intone, come and get your number college has controls to ensure compliance with federal aid guidelines Valley City first... Need to do to defend whats theirs it attracted almost no attention Salt. Became so intense DeRieux stopped going to dances paul kingston wives asked her to dance a few thousand members, they long! The classes also taught the girls to be submissive to their husbands and to keep a good house them! Pictured with their parents father was the primary driver yes, the pieces started to add up be! To Stephen face was crushed, Stephen Knight, made for the most amazing guy, Stephen recalls death. Stoddard officiated the ceremony April 26, 2008, in West Valley.... To receive one of their cousins, who also are pictured with their parents about marriage and thinking of to! Secret kept from him for most of his childhood father was the primary driver to the Orders social... The gold have occurred for DCCS members at a rate 9.5 times than... The practice in 1890 and now strictly prohibits it suburban home, offering few of... His eyes going blank for a moment Hansen said better check on your gold, told... And daughter agree: Snows father was the primary driver Ron Tucker he...