Deceived

Deceived" is a memoir of Detective Mike King's 1991 investigation and the ultimate take-down of a deviant polygamous cult called the Zion Society. For over a decade, gossip swirled around northern Utah that a secretive group of religious zealots were buying up homes to take over a developing neighborhood in an Ogden community. The homes were known far and wide for their immaculately landscaped yards. Rumors spread that a well-known landscaper in the city had proclaimed himself to be a prophet of God and was being commanded to start his own secret religion that promoted polygamy. It was also believed these extremists were stockpiling weapons as part of their doomsday beliefs. In reality, the leader was directing some of the most repugnant crimes against women and children ever seen in the state. The hidden atrocities of the cult may never have been discovered if not for the courage of one of its members. Thirty years later, victims reconnected with each other and with the lead investigator to address the shortcomings of the criminal justice system regarding child victims.

In 1991 a brave, young women stepped into the Weber County Attorney's Office and admitted she had been part of a religious cult that was sexually abusing children. Burdened by guilt and expecting jailtime, she willingly revealed everything she knew about the cult and its members. Her effort at redemption would ultimately lead to the rescue of 32 children who were being sexually assaulted every day. This was only the beginning of the story in what became the largest, most successfully prosecuted case of ritual sex abuse in the state of Utah, perhaps the nation.

Weeks later following hundreds of hours of investigation, 70 police officers and social workers stormed the close-knit community with search and arrest warrants. Volumes of evidence was seized but the group's leader avoided capture. Many of the children were taken into protective custody and the legends about stockpiled weapons, pharmaceuticals and food storage were confirmed. Several days later the leader of the group would be captured and confess to the assaults. Within a few months, eleven more cult members would be indicted. In all, these predators committed more than 750 felony crimes of sexual assault. As I walked to my car on that final day in court, I thought to myself, "I hope the children we are praying for today are not the predators we are putting in jail tomorrow."

Over the years, I followed many of the cult members as they moved from one polygamist group to another. One by one, the correctional system released each predator as their time was served. The self-proclaimed prophet would die in prison. Now, 30 years later I'm sharing the story of the people who led the cult and why the people followed. Most importantly, I'm telling the remarkable story of some of the victims who rose above the horror and the extraordinary moment when they came back together 29 years later.