COLORADO CITY, Ariz., Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Some former members of a Colorado City, Ariz., polygamist group have said the recent arrest of the group's leader could create a power vacuum.
Former members of Warren Jeffs' sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which also has members in the border towns of Hildale, Utah, have also raised the possibility that one of two exiled members of the church could return to assume leadership, Time magazine reported Thursday.
Carolyn Jessop said her ex-husband, Merrell Jessop, who oversees a compound in Texas, or Wendell Neilson could return to Colorado City and make a play for leadership of the group. However, she said that possibility would depend on Jeffs voluntarily relinquishing power to one of the men, a scenario she sees as unlikely.
"I don't think Warren would give away any of his power; he's too controlling and hungry for it and these men would be threats to his leadership. Plus they would never go against Jeffs' wishes."
"He has had it too good for too long to let this thing go -- he would rather watch the whole church dissipate than let someone else take over power," Jessop said.
