Cult Insanity

by Irene Spencer

As strenuous as the job was, I found solace in the fact that I loved selling. The interaction with people fed my empty soul after years of isolation in Mexico. I took pride in the fact that I could so easily convince someone to buy jewelry. For years, I’d felt emotionally incapable of expressing myself. Now, through conversations with total strangers, I began to feel validated. My ego was really stroked when, on two different occasions, strangers offered me a job. One gentleman watched my performance for over an hour as he relaxed in an oversized chair in the lobby. During that time, I’d convinced three men in their thirties to buy a necklace, something none of them had ever worn before. Their first reaction was “Absolutely not!” But, in no time, I’d secured one around each of their necks. Between their reflections in the mirror and my insistence that the different-colored necklace suited them perfectly, they bought it. The spectator took note of my persuasive skills and offered me a position with him to sell insurance. For one fleeting moment, I entertained the idea, wishing I had the courage to run away and be on my own. But how could I? I didn’t own a vehicle, let alone have a driver’s license. The unfamiliar culture in Dallas was scary enough without my entertaining any ideas that I could make it in the big world alone with eight of my children. The very thought paralyzed me.

  Before the summer was over, all three of us attention-starved and neglected women were being pursued by interested men, testing our loyalty to Verlan. Of course we all felt guilty. No one had committed adultery yet, but our love-starved minds and bodies entertained such shocking ideas.

  I felt it my God-given duty to call Verlan and have him come rescue all of us before three more wives abandoned him.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Delfina’s recurring breakdowns exceeded the number of her nine children. She existed from moment to moment, chain-smoking in hopes of calming her frazzled nerves. She finally quit counting the months since she had seen Ervil. After all, he had abandoned her emotionally years earlier, right after he had married Mary Lou.

  Ervil convinced his daughter Alicia to travel to Mexico to Colonia LeBaron to get her mother and three siblings and take them to his newest home in Mississippi. Delfina, of course, rebelled when Alicia explained her motive for being there. Delfina knew darn well that she would be abandoned again in some place far out of her comfort zone. She understood very little English and didn’t think she could cope with an unfamiliar environment.

  Alicia was loving, yet firm, insisting that she would not leave without her mother and promising to take Delfina to a safe haven in the U.S. Alicia knew it was a risk to try to cross the border with her mother and three siblings without any legal documents, but fair-skinned Delfina and three towheaded children easily made their declaration of citizenship “American” and crossed the border into El Paso, Texas, without raising any suspicions.

  The three children were excited to stop at a McDonald’s for the first time, where they ate their first hamburgers and fries. The group then wasted no time in getting on Interstate 10 East, headed for Jackson, Mississippi.

  Once in Jackson, and without Alicia, Delfina felt she had exchanged abandonment for imprisonment. She was virtually a slave to Ervil’s numerous children and a couple of his wives. Most of the cooking became her daily chore. The house was overcrowded with teenagers, who tried to boss her around. She had been forced into a situation that she abhorred. Not only did she hate her husband’s religion and resent his wives, but she now loathed him as well.

  Ervil avoided Delfina. The two shared no more physical contact, and their few conversations were brief and to the point. When Ervil had heard enough of her ranting and tearful accusations, he distanced himself even more. Yet whenever she could, Delfina begged Ervil to allow her to visit her daughter Rebecca. She had been out of contact since Rebecca was given to Victor Chynoweth in marriage.

  When Ervil saw that Delfina wasn’t going to quit hounding him, he tried to silence her by telling her the lie he’d been circulating, that Rebecca had run off with a lover, disappearing into Mexico. When Delfina heard the story, her heart told her it was a lie. She knew her daughter well enough to know that Rebecca would never venture into the unknown, especially after being isolated all her life.

  Relentless in her demand to know the truth, she wept and fought with Ervil, begging for him to level with her. Her other daughter Lillian, who was married to Mark Chynoweth, pleaded with her mother to remain silent, warning her that she was jeopardizing her life. Finally fearing that she might be killed, Delfina decided to play their game. She asked to be rebaptized into the Lambs of God Church, committing her allegiance to Ervil as a prophet and promising to uphold their cause.

  After her submissive request, Lillian and Mark told her they planned to take her to a movie, but first they had to run a quick errand to the warehouse, promising to return in twenty minutes. Delfina suspected she was being lured away to her death. When they left, Delfina knew it was now or never. She had no time to change her house slippers. Her apron was wet from preparing the evening meal. She grabbed her small daughter Delia and fled out the front door. They ran a block to a convenience store, where, crying pitifully in her broken English, she begged a clerk to help her. Seeing that she was desperate, one of the clerks hid her in a storeroom, where Delfina’s daughter helped translate their predicament. Having compassion on Delfina, the clerk took her to the bus station where she intended to travel to El Paso and on into Mexico.

  Before boarding the bus, Delfina called her mother, who was in San Diego. By sheer chance, police officers happened to be interviewing her mother there, so they arranged to have an investigator meet Delfina in El Paso. Already familiar with Ervil’s violence and needing more evidence to detain him, the FBI flew Delfina and her daughter Delia to Salt Lake City.

  Soon she was also reunited with her sons Isaac and Pablo, who were legally placed in her custody and given new identities.

  The information Isaac provided and Delfina’s courageous revelation of Ervil’s doings and plans ultimately led to his arrest and conviction.

  Tragically, Delfina’s brush with death sent her again into a private mental hell. She suffered from insomnia and spent many nights chain-smoking, listening to every noise, wondering if she would be found. She knew her fate would surely be death. She feared it, yet longed for the peace it would bring. Reality was too harsh, yet she hung to it for the sake of her children.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  Once again, one of Joel’s widows caused a scandal throughout the Church of the Firstborn. It had been five years since Joel’s death when Jeannine convinced her eighteen-year-old daughter that a righteous man would descend from heaven to marry her. She informed everyone of the particulars. In fact the groom’s name was John Franklin, a sinless soul, who merited a young woman as select as the late prophet Joel’s daughter. The mother and daughter were both absolutely convinced that John Franklin would appear from heaven and the prophet Joel himself would rise from the grave to perform the ceremony. Wedding invitations were distributed throughout Joel’s group and many were mailed to other splinter groups.

  Verlan was sickened when he received his invitation. He knew this would just bring more ridicule and condemnation to the already scandalous LeBaron group. Curious spectators arrived at the church on time, to witness the “heaven-ordained” wedding. They watched as the disillusioned bride in her flowing white gown was finally brought to tears from embarrassment. After two hours, it had become evident that the bride had been jilted. Not only did the groom leave her standing at the altar by herself, but her late father Joel didn’t attend either. Of course the no-show was attributed to the disbelief and skepticism of the attending saints.

  In spite of the absurdity, I told Verlan that at least it was one wedding that the bride and groom didn’t have to wait till death do us part.

  ERVIL’S PROPHECY FORETELLING that all Mormon factions, as well as the LDS Church, would crumble by May 3, 1977, had not transpired. The day had come and gone—and the lack of events caused Lloyd Sulli
van, third in command of the Lambs of God, to lose all faith in Ervil once and for all. Four years earlier, when he confronted Ervil about the prophecy timeline of “A time and a time, and a time and a half,” Ervil had explained to Lloyd and his other commandos that it meant in three and a half years their troubles would be over. Not only had the prophecy failed, but his supreme leader, Ervil himself, had abandoned his flock and fled to Mexico.

  Disillusioned, broke, and depressed, Lloyd hid for several months from the police and his accomplices. He spent endless hours reevaluating his troubled life. He listed every one of Ervil’s failed prophecies. He read through hundreds of pages of his writings, in which Ervil quoted scriptures proving he was a servant of God. When he finished Lloyd came to the painful conclusion that Ervil was not a servant of God but a son of perdition. He sent letters to other cult members explaining his new viewpoint.

  In September, the authorities snared Lloyd in a bust. Among his personal belongings were his own writings of disbelief in Ervil. The investigators felt that with this information they soon would have a break in the case.

  When he was interrogated, Lloyd confessed his dissatisfaction with Ervil but refused to elaborate. He was extradited to Utah and at first he did very little talking. Yet he was determined not to go down with his partners in crime, so he became an informant for Dick Forbes, the investigator. He knew it was to his own advantage, because he would never feel safe until Ervil was incarcerated. Soon, Lloyd was free, out on bail, and living in Denver.

  Unbeknownst to his fellow Lambs of God, he sent a letter to Verlan. When Verlan received the letter, he wondered if Lloyd was sincere or if the communication was just another setup. Lloyd begged forgiveness from every member of the Church of the Firstborn: “I was a victim of one of the greatest deceptions ever perpetrated upon any member or members of the human race. I feel humbly to apologize to each of you and beg forgiveness for any wrong I have been guilty of ” (The 4 O’Clock Murders, p. 212).

  He later sent an impassioned letter to his son Don and his cousin John: “I led you to this man because I was sincere and was truly deceived by him. Now let me lead you away from him and his bloody tenure. I testify to you in the name of the Lord God of Israel that from all that I can find out through prayer, research and study, this man is Satan!” (Prophet of Blood, p. 281).

  In early February 1978, Verlan left his hiding place and came to see me and the children. The loneliness and long absences were wearing me down. I longed to set aside all our fears and hoped that we could communicate and laugh once more as husband and wife.

  We sat at the table together and Verlan spoke quietly, not wanting to frighten the children. “I received a letter from Lloyd Sullivan. I think he’s sincere, but it could be a setup.”

  Dreading his answer, I asked, “What did he say?”

  “He said he’s repented from ever getting involved with Ervil. He wants to see me in person to ask for forgiveness.”

  “Why you, Verlan? Aren’t you afraid it’s just a ploy?”

  “He feels that since Joel appointed me patriarch of the church, he owes his apologies to me.”

  “Please don’t go. I don’t think you can trust him.”

  Verlan sighed. “For some reason, I believe he’s sincere. I’ve already contacted the authorities in Salt Lake City and the FBI. They want me to set up a meeting with him in Denver.”

  Upon leaving, he pulled me into an embrace; we kissed, clinging to one another hungrily. Both of us knew there was a probability that we would not see each other again.

  On February 13, 1978, an agent promising security met Verlan at the Denver airport and then drove him to the local FBI office. The agents made it plain that they desperately needed Lloyd’s testimony, but officially they were unable to ask it of him. If Verlan was killed, they’d be held responsible.

  Verlan felt this was a job he had to do, not only for the authorities, but for Lloyd. He felt if Lloyd told him the truth, maybe more lives could be saved.

  Verlan was taken to an upscale hotel, where authorities registered him under a fictitious name. When Verlan called Lloyd he communicated his mistrust and asked if Lloyd would submit to a pat down.

  “I’ll show up naked if it makes you feel better,” Lloyd replied. With that, Verlan pushed his fears aside and met Lloyd in the hotel lobby.

  Verlan was surprised at how genuinely happy Lloyd was to see him. The two seated themselves inside the hotel restaurant. Lloyd asked Verlan if he was being protected, and Verlan told him there were undercover agents nearby.

  After they’d eaten, the two moved to big chairs in the open lobby and continued to converse.

  They met the following day also. Verlan took careful notes, writing down every pertinent detail. The longer they talked, the more certain Verlan became of Lloyd’s sincerity. He could sense Lloyd’s desire to repent for any involvement with the Church of the Lamb of God.

  This was only Verlan’s second encounter with Lloyd. He’d seen him shortly after his baptism into the Church of the Firstborn. At that time Lloyd and his son Don and both their wives discussed the priesthood that Ervil was trying to usurp from Joel. Seeing that Lloyd was taking Ervil’s side, Verlan warned him, insisting it would be a great mistake to follow Ervil. Lloyd showed his colors, vowing that if he did convert to Ervil, he’d help destroy those who opposed him. At the time, Verlan felt that Lloyd could be a dangerous man.

  In Lloyd’s confession, he told of his blind obedience, his complete submission to Ervil. He’d been forced to sever all other ties, showing complete loyalty to his new prophet. Thus Lloyd, believing he was following a man who was God’s anointed for all the earth, was soon caught up in Ervil’s obsessive delusions.

  He’d joined Ervil in hiding and their paranoia escalated. They believed they were being persecuted by their enemies. Lloyd was convinced he was special because Ervil shared his revelations from God almost daily with him. He assumed he was a confidant and friend of the great One Mighty and Strong.

  So convinced was he that Ervil’s visions and utterances were from God, he finally surrendered his own will to do the bidding of the Lord’s anointed. He would help Ervil cleanse the earth. When God spewed forth orders to kill, Lloyd would obey without question.

  Explaining how he’d been duped, he convinced Verlan he wanted to confess all he knew, even if it implicated him or sent him to prison. His guilt consumed him because he knew others were marked for death. If Ervil’s “soldiers” were not apprehended, more innocent people would be killed.

  As Lloyd gave Verlan a detailed account of his involvement with Ervil, Verlan felt great empathy for Lloyd. His sorrowful words conveyed deep regret as he shared his testimony. He knew his confession would brand him as a traitor and he would likely be blood atoned.

  Nevertheless, Lloyd agreed to confess all he knew to the authorities. So, accompanied by his lawyer, he met with prosecutor Dave Yocum and confirmed his involvement in many of Ervil’s blood atonement missions. He admitted that in the plan to kill my aunt Rhea Kunz, he became spooked and abandoned the mission. He related how he had accompanied Eddie Marston and Mark Chynoweth in killing Robert Simons. He stated he heard Ervil’s announcement that Dean Vest should die. He recalled Vonda White’s confession to him, concerning the details of how she shot Dean. He retold about her involvement in Neomi Zarate’s case, how she had described to Lloyd the incident of Neomi’s death, admitting she had pulled the trigger. The most awful, grisly account was that of Rebecca’s death, Ervil’s own daughter. Eddie Marston had confessed to Lloyd that he had strangled her while Duane Chynoweth held her down in the backseat of the car. Eddie had complained that his hands and wrists ached for days from applying so much force and pressure.

  Lloyd claimed Ervil had sent him to Jackson, Mississippi, because he wanted him out of the way while my uncle, Rulon Allred was assassinated. Lloyd confirmed Ervil’s plan to lure Verlan to the funeral where he would be killed by his soldiers.

  After confessing to the authoriti
es, Lloyd’s greatest fear was that he and his family would be blood atoned. He had made a blood covenant with Ervil, which, if broken, carried the death penalty. When Lloyd led police to the shallow grave in the mountains where Simons’s body had been buried, any doubts they may have had about him were erased.

  * * *

  SHORTLY THEREAFTER, on a police raid on a LeBaron safe house in Denver, Colorado, Vonda was arrested. She was soon back in California facing murder charges.

  This time, on April 24, 1978, she appeared in San Diego for a preliminary hearing on the murder case of Dean Vest. Now, in addition to the original evidence, Lloyd Sullivan was available as an incriminating witness.

  According to Verlan, who told me the terrible details of Lloyd’s confessions, Lloyd gave a graphic account of all the exploits of Ervil LeBaron’s cult and of the control that he exerted over his blood-atoning warriors. He testified about the revelation Ervil proclaimed, dooming Dean Vest to be sacrificed. He then related how Vonda had confessed and admitted exactly how she had killed Dean.

  Considering the possibility that Lloyd might be killed before Vonda’s trial, the judge allowed Lloyd to be taped as he testified about the murders of Neomi Zarate, who had also been shot by Vonda, and Rebecca LeBaron, who had been strangled by Eddie Marston and Duane Chynoweth. To all who heard the facts, the testimony was both astonishing and damning.

  Vonda was arraigned, bond was set at $350,000, and she was inescapably detained in the county jail.

  Most unfortunately, while all were anxiously awaiting Vonda’s trial, Lloyd Sullivan had the gall to up and die of a heart attack.

  On July 19, 1978, Vonda’s trial began on charges of both murder and conspiracy, which complicated matters because conspiracy obviously implicated other conspirators.

  Lloyd’s previously recorded testimony was read to the jury. Isaac LeBaron (fifteen-year-old son of Ervil and Delfina) served as the primary witness by testifying to what he had heard, and he also quoted Vonda, hoping to show her callousness. He testified that Vonda had said her own son Craig had been “bad,” and “If he doesn’t straighten out, he’s going to be put to death.”