| Texas authorities find more women and children at FLDS compound | |||
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Reported by: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News | |||
SAN ANGELO, Texas (ABC 4 News) -- The number of women and children removed from the polygamist stronghold outside of Eldorado, Texas is now believed to be 260. On Sunday, most were transported from Eldorado to San Angelo, a much larger community 45 minutes north. The children have been removed under a court order that directs the Texas Bureau of Child and Family Service to determine if any are being abused. Authorities say the women have come along voluntarily and are believed to be the mothers of young children. Throughout the day and into the night busses rolled into "Fort Concho" Park in San Angelo where the women and children will be housed until authorities decide what to do with them. It is hard to image what the children must be thinking as they step off the busses in the dark. For some of the young children, they only life they've known is on the ranch. All of the change, the strange places and people, have to be frightening. Only 18 children have actually been placed in state protective custody by a Judge. They have already been taken to foster homes in undisclosed cities. But the rest, approximately 192 as of Sunday night, are left in a limbo while workers with the BCFS try to determine if any of them have been abused or are at high risk of being abused. It could take weeks or even months to make individual determinations and hold court hearings. The goal of authorities is to put the children in a neutral environment where some might be willing to talk about what has been going on at the ranch over the last 4 years. In Eldorado, Texas state troopers continue controlling access to the ranch. No one is allowed in or out unless troopers give the okay. It is not known if the roadblocks will come down after authorities are satisfied they have removed all of the group's children. Lawmen continued searching for children at the ranch for a 3rd straight day on Sunday. State Troopers report a "calm" day. | |||
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ABC4.com Originally broadcast April 7, 2008 | |||
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