A week after 440 children from a polygamist sect were reunited with their parents, a majority still haven’t returned to the Yearning for Zion Ranch in West Texas.
Child Protective Services spokesman Patrick Crimmins said 178 children are living in 33 households in the San Antonio area and 143 children are living in 30 households at the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado.The remaining 19 children are scattered across Texas, but Crimmins said CPS officials are not providing more details about their whereabouts to protect their privacy.Under the court order signed last week by District Judge Barbara Walther, families cannot change their address without first giving CPS a one-week advance notice, cannot travel more than 100 miles without giving a 48-hour notice and cannot leave Texas.Rod Parker, an FLDS attorney based in Salt Lake City, said Tuesday that many mothers have opted to stay away from the Eldorado compound on the advice of their lawyers. Crimmins also said CPS will be evaluating information from DNA tests that are still being returned to a San Angelo court.“When we get the results, we’re going to review them to see if they will help us in any ongoing abuse and neglect investigations,” Crimmins.He also repeated that CPS officials reserve the right to interview children, parents or other individuals if necessary.BILL HANNA, 817-390-7698
