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| {{Short description|Criminal, former leader of the Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God}} | {{Short description|Criminal, former leader of the Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God}} | ||
| {{BLP sources|date=January 2024}} | |||
| '''William Heber LeBaron''' is a convicted murderer who once led the cult ]. | '''William Heber LeBaron''' is a convicted murderer who once led the cult ]. | ||
| ==Early years== | ==Early years== | ||
| William Heber LeBaron was one of 54 children sired by ], a member of a polygamous ] group.<ref name=winslow>{{citation|last=Winslow|first=Ben|title=FBI offering reward for Ervil LeBaron's daughter|newspaper=Desert Morning News|date=Nov 26, 2007 |
William Heber LeBaron was one of 54 children sired by ], a member of a polygamous ] group.<ref name=winslow>{{citation|last=Winslow|first=Ben|title=FBI offering reward for Ervil LeBaron's daughter|newspaper=Desert Morning News|date=Nov 26, 2007}}</ref> The LeBarons were descendants of ], one of the earliest followers of Latter Day Saint movement founder ]. When ] renounced ], Johnson and his family became ]s and continued the practice. | ||
| Johnson's grandson, ], believed that Johnson was the rightful successor to Smith, and that Johnson had appointed Alma to follow him. Alma LeBaron moved his family to Mexico, where the government showed no interest in prosecuting polygamists. After Alma's death, his son ] founded ] and named himself the ]. Ervil LeBaron served as his brother's second-in-command for several years, but in 1967 began preaching that he, and not Joel, was the true leader of the church. | Johnson's grandson, ], believed that Johnson was the rightful successor to Smith, and that Johnson had appointed Alma to follow him. Alma LeBaron moved his family to Mexico, where the government showed no interest in prosecuting polygamists. After Alma's death, his son ] founded ] and named himself the ]. Ervil LeBaron served as his brother's second-in-command for several years, but in 1967 began preaching that he, and not Joel, was the true leader of the church. | ||
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| ==Cult leader== | ==Cult leader== | ||
| Heber LeBaron was 20 years old when he assumed leadership of the cult after his elder half-brother's death. Under his leadership, the cult fully embraced criminal enterprises.<ref name=anderson>Anderson</ref> He was convicted in Arizona of operating a large auto theft ring. He was also charged with attempted murder of a guard during a bank robbery in Texas.<ref name=carter>{{citation|last=Carter|first=Mike|title=Dangerous Clan's Children on the Run|date=Nov 12, 1989|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url= |
Heber LeBaron was 20 years old when he assumed leadership of the cult after his elder half-brother's death. Under his leadership, the cult fully embraced criminal enterprises.<ref name=anderson>Anderson</ref> He was convicted in Arizona of operating a large auto theft ring. He was also charged with attempted murder of a guard during a bank robbery in Texas.<ref name=carter>{{citation|last=Carter|first=Mike|title=Dangerous Clan's Children on the Run|date=Nov 12, 1989|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-12-mn-2056-story.html|access-date=Jul 19, 2018}}</ref> | ||
| LeBaron committed to enforcing his father's wish to blood atone perceived traitors. After his younger half-brother Richard agreed to testify against him, LeBaron was convicted of killing former cult member Mark Chynoweth in one of what was known as the 4 O'Clock |
LeBaron committed to enforcing his father's wish to blood atone perceived traitors. After his younger half-brother Richard agreed to testify against him, LeBaron was convicted of killing former cult member Mark Chynoweth in one of what was known as the ]. Chynoweth's brother Duane, Duane's 8-year-old daughter Jennifer, and LeBaron's half-brother Ed Marston were also killed at approximately the same time, 4 pm on June 27, 1988.<ref name=upi>{{citation|title=Former cultists face trial on charges linked to four slayings|date=Jan 9, 1993|publisher=UPI|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/01/09/Former-cultists-face-trial-on-charges-linked-to-four-slayings/5520726555600/|accessdate=Jul 19, 2018}}</ref> | ||
| ==Post-conviction== | ==Post-conviction== | ||
Latest revision as of 02:36, 11 October 2024
Criminal, former leader of the Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God | This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. Find sources: "Heber LeBaron" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
William Heber LeBaron is a convicted murderer who once led the cult Church of the Lamb of God.
Early years
William Heber LeBaron was one of 54 children sired by Ervil LeBaron, a member of a polygamous Mormon fundamentalist group. The LeBarons were descendants of Benjamin F. Johnson, one of the earliest followers of Latter Day Saint movement founder Joseph Smith. When the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints renounced polygamy, Johnson and his family became Mormon fundamentalists and continued the practice.
Johnson's grandson, Alma Dayer LeBaron Sr., believed that Johnson was the rightful successor to Smith, and that Johnson had appointed Alma to follow him. Alma LeBaron moved his family to Mexico, where the government showed no interest in prosecuting polygamists. After Alma's death, his son Joel founded The Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times and named himself the One Mighty and Strong. Ervil LeBaron served as his brother's second-in-command for several years, but in 1967 began preaching that he, and not Joel, was the true leader of the church.
By 1972, Ervil founded his own sect, the Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God. He preached the importance of blood atonement, a long-renounced Mormon principle that required that the blood of sinners be shed to ensure that they have a place in Heaven. Ervil LeBaron also claimed that he was the true leader of all polygamous Mormon sects, and that they should all tithe to support him and his church. Those who refused were threatened with violence. Ervil died in jail in 1981, after being convicted of plotting the murder of Rulon C. Allred, leader of one of the largest polygamous sects. While incarcerated, Ervil crafted a list of people who deserved blood atonement, consisting of people who had left his church or otherwise upset him. Ervil's manifesto also included a list of men who would succeed him as leader of the cult. His son Heber was listed second, after Ervil's eldest son Arturo.
Cult leader
Heber LeBaron was 20 years old when he assumed leadership of the cult after his elder half-brother's death. Under his leadership, the cult fully embraced criminal enterprises. He was convicted in Arizona of operating a large auto theft ring. He was also charged with attempted murder of a guard during a bank robbery in Texas.
LeBaron committed to enforcing his father's wish to blood atone perceived traitors. After his younger half-brother Richard agreed to testify against him, LeBaron was convicted of killing former cult member Mark Chynoweth in one of what was known as the 4 O'Clock murders. Chynoweth's brother Duane, Duane's 8-year-old daughter Jennifer, and LeBaron's half-brother Ed Marston were also killed at approximately the same time, 4 pm on June 27, 1988.
Post-conviction
LeBaron claims to have converted to Christianity and to be ashamed of his actions while with the cult.
Notes
- ^ Winslow, Ben (Nov 26, 2007), "FBI offering reward for Ervil LeBaron's daughter", Desert Morning News
- Anderson
- Carter, Mike (Nov 12, 1989), "Dangerous Clan's Children on the Run", Los Angeles Times, retrieved Jul 19, 2018
- Former cultists face trial on charges linked to four slayings, UPI, Jan 9, 1993, retrieved Jul 19, 2018
Sources
Anderson, Scott (1992), The 4 O'Clock Murders: The True Story of a Mormon Family's Veneance, Doubleday, ISBN 9780385419048
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