{"id":34,"date":"2008-07-29T05:43:37","date_gmt":"2008-07-29T09:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/remnantbride.com\/blog\/?p=34"},"modified":"2008-07-29T05:43:37","modified_gmt":"2008-07-29T09:43:37","slug":"escape-from-flora-jessop-the-story-of-val-and-laurene-jessop-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/remnantbride.com\/blog\/?p=34","title":{"rendered":"Escape From Flora Jessop: The Story of Val and Laurene Jessop, part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Val<\/a>
\nPhoto: Val and Laurene Jessop<\/p>\n

The Escape<\/strong><\/p>\n

By October, 2005, Laurene had taken all she could of Flora. \u201cFlora lied to me too many times during the custody battle,\u201d stated Laurene. \u201cI knew by then what kind of person she was, but I had to hold on until the custody hearings were over. After that, I wanted to distance myself from her; however, she had control of every aspect of our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laurene continued, \u201cI was ashamed of the things the media repeated from my interviews. They twisted my words and left out the positive things I said. I even admitted to them that I still secretly loved Val. One show that came out after one of my interviews, when I watched it I cried. It was so totally incorrect!\u201d <\/p>\n

Also, she relates, \u201cthe children were not happy.\u201d \u201cTHEY MISSED THEIR FATHER,\u201d she wrote, with the emphasis her own. And Laurene loved and missed Val. \u201cI do respect and love Val, a very honorable man, worthy of someone much better than I. There were times when I was alone those four years that I would have let him come to me; however, I knew his values and respected him. He honored his priesthood and never dabbled in immorality, thinking he and I were released. I too stayed faithful to my strict moral code during those long lonesome years alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then something else happened that even moreso turned Laurene\u2019s heart toward Val, opening her eyes to the prospect of returning to him. \u201cVal sent me two dozen red roses with a note: \u2018Love is Eternal,\u2019 an inscription that he had the jeweler etch in my wedding ring. That was the spark that made me go against all odds and call him, which took a lot of courage. Up until then, I thought he only wanted the children. I felt that he would consider me contaminated beyond repair. I thought he would never want me in this life, or the next.\u201d But Laurene was wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy Father taught me throughout my early life,\u201d related Val regarding Laurene\u2019s return, “if you are not willing to forgive, you have already burned the bridge across which you must pass someday.\u2026 I was absolutely crazy over her all the time. I once told the bishop [concerning her loss], \u2018There\u2019s a huge hole in my heart.\u2019 \u201c On their wedding night, Val reassuringly told his new bride, \u201cThe Lord will help us bond forever.\u201d That bond was severely tested, but love and a strict sense of commitment prevailed.<\/p>\n

While the roses turned Laurene\u2019s heart toward Val, there was yet another incident with Flora that was a clincher, showing her that she had to escape. \u201cOne day a group of Flora’s supporters came to the house for a special meeting with me. When they said they wanted to get me a van [so that she and her five children could all travel together in a vehicle that worked], Flora stood up and slammed her fist on the table and said, \u2018I have got that covered, I am going to find her a vehicle.\u2019 They were excited to know that she had it taken care of. After my visitors left, Flora turned to me and in an angry voice said, \u2018I could get you a van just like that,\u2019 she snapped her fingers, \u2018but I am not going to because you will go back to Val.\u2019 She was not going to let those people interfere with her project\u2014me and the kids. That is when it really hit me that I had to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laurene continued, \u201cAfter the roses, I called Val. I had only talked to him a few times during the year-and-a-half. It had been quite a while since I had spoken with him. The times we talked he was angry and I did not like calling him. Flora had also told me that, legally, it would compromise the custody case. After the case ended, she then told me that she had to monitor phone calls between Val and the children, and that if I called him, the Judge would take them from me. However, after I read the order, I realized it did not say that, and Flora had lied to me again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis time when I called Val, he was kind and respectful. He told me it was safe to come to Cane Beds. He described his place as quiet and peaceful. He worked hard to convince me that I would not be thrown in jail if I left Maricopa County like Flora had told me. I had a lot of fear, and it took courage to consider going back to Val.\u201d<\/p>\n

Time and time again over the years, Flora has lied how, as an FLDS girl, she had been kept in solitary confinement for three years, how she had to escape the FLDS, and even stayed on the run for five years. Now, Laurene was truly, and fearfully, challenged with how to escape from Flora.<\/p>\n

\u201cI figured out a plan that I thought she would not get too suspicious of until I got back to pick up the children. To conceal what I would do, I told them that I was going with my sister, who lived in Phoenix, to visit another sister who lived on a ranch on the Arizona Strip.\u201d She was going to have a male friend of hers, Bob, watch the children, whom Flora knew.<\/p>\n

Laurene began to effect her plan, one step at a time. Here is her account: \u201cLuAnne [their oldest daughter, who was 16 at that time] and I drove up to Cane Beds [where Val lived]. Val had tied a yellow ribbon on the stop sign at the turnoff. It was 10:30 at night when we arrived. I was afraid of being seen, so he had me pull into the garage, where my car would be hidden the next morning. I knew that Flora had people watching Val, because she reported to me where he was and what he was doing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was still afraid Val might not keep his word, so the next day we called Kim Nuttall in Colorado City, the Mohave County Victim Witness Advocate who had visited me in Phoenix. She had told me that she would be there for me anytime I needed her. I wanted her to witness Val and me make some commitments to each other before I decided for sure what I was going to do.\u201d After making the call to Kim, Val and Laurene drove over to meet with her, hoping that she would be an advocate for their reestablishment, but found it to be otherwise.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe immediately betrayed me by calling Flora, Judith Morse [Flora\u2019s attorney], Gayle Christensen [a paralegal in Morse\u2019s office], and Linda Walker [an anti-FLDS activist]. The phone calls that I immediately received from these people were nasty, threatening, and vindictive. I hung up and refused to speak to any of them again. I was fearful that the children would be kidnapped before I got back to pick them up. However, I knew Flora was in Mexico, and it would take her some time to get there. But, she might have someone else go to the house and steal the kids.<\/p>\n

\u201cVal did not dare go to Phoenix with me to get the children. He and I knew it would have to be my choice. After listening to Linda Walker, who said there would be terrible consequences for me going to Cane Beds, I knew I had to get out of the clutches of those people. The next morning, LuAnne and I rushed back home.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, now they had to deal with the obstacle Flora intentionally encumbered upon her\u2014a vehicle that could not accommodate all five children. There was only one solution\u2014make two trips.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had not told the children of my decision to go back to their dad, except LuAnne. First, I told the boys that I was going to take them to see Uncle Doug in St. George. Flora kept calling from Mexico, but I would not take her calls. We made the trip back to Cane Beds by way of Las Vegas [with the purpose of keeping it unknown that they were going to meet Val in St. George]. Val met us at the rest stop outside of St. George. I hid in the shadow of the trees so Flora\u2019s spies wouldn’t see us. It was then that the boys found out what was taking place. They had the most shocked look on their faces, then they lit up like Christmas trees. They were so happy! We went on to Cane Beds and stayed the night.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next morning, I hurried back to Phoenix alone to pick up the three girls. I had called and told them we were going to an affair that Flora had arranged. Once again, I did not want anybody to even suspect or breathe what was going on before it was done. We left everything we owned, except for a few clothes, and went to be with their father, forever. When we got to his house, Jenny was so excited she jumped out before the car even stopped. Valene clung to her father whom she had only seen twice during the last year-and-a-half.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laurene had just completed five 370 mile trips back and forth between Phoenix and Cane Beds, totaling almost 2,000 miles and almost forty hours of driving over four days, all in order to make her escape from Flora. And for Val, even as his people received their families back following the Short Creek raid in 1953, so he received his family back as well. But what about Flora?<\/p>\n

\u201cWithin a couple of weeks after going back to Cane Beds, I took LuAnne to Phoenix with me to clean out my rented house. I found that someone had been living there while I was away. The neighbors said it was some people they did not recognize.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything in the house had been rummaged. Broken glass was everywhere, the BBQ grill and outside tables were destroyed. Things that Flora had given me were gone, plus much more. The house was in shambles with puke on the walls, etc. Everything of value that I had was gone. The house was locked up and did not have signs of being broken into. Documents on the old computer had been deleted, and the new one was missing. Almost all of our pictures were gone. My purple heart [that had been given to her for courage] was ripped up all over the floor in an obvious array of display.<\/p>\n

\u201cFlora and Bob had keys to the house. Bob later told me that she had some of his things that he wanted back. When I first got the place, Flora told me to go make her a copy of my house keys, which I did.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had not been there long before Flora arrived. I don’t know how she knew I was there, because I sure wasn’t going to call her. She just walked in like usual and strode right up to me. \u2018What did I tell you when you first moved to Phoenix?\u2019 she asked me. I had to admit that I knew what she was talking about. \u2018That it would not be easy,\u2019 I said. \u2018I told you that at some point you would want to go back,\u2019 she said quite agitated. \u2018And then what did I tell you?\u2019 she asked even more impatiently. \u2018That it would be too late,\u2019 she answered for me. \u2018This is the reason I wouldn’t get you a van,\u2019 she said. Her next question was how I managed with my old car, that was always heating up. I told her that I used my credit card and had it fixed. I remember how surprised she looked. I did not give her any apology. She reminded me that I had agreed to do whatever she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started to cry and she softened up. \u2018I’m glad you can at least cry,\u2019 she said. I asked her if she knew who did this to my house. She laughed and sort of smirked at me. \u2018H__l, you just abandoned the place, any F… F… F… could have done this.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI can’t remember everything, but we spent a few hours together while she asked me questions. She warned me that the judge would be upset. She went through some anger and then tears, then she seemed to accept it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think she realized she had no more power over me. She said, \u2018I told you that if you ever took LuAnne back to Colorado City, I would personally come and save her and take her to Mexico.\u2019 However, she seemed quite satisfied that I was not going back there. I felt sorry for her because I knew she had put so much of her time and emotion into my family. But I was determined that I wouldn’t let her talk me into staying. I just kept saying, \u2018I am going back to Val; I am not staying.\u2019 I told her the children hated the hot city. I never confronted her about other issues. I am a non-confrontational person.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no malice toward Flora. I understand her in many ways. However, I know that what she is doing is wrong. I will continue to pray for her and strive to forgive. I understand how hard it is to overcome abuse. It seems that you get stuck at the same level as you were when the abuse occurred. It is a daily struggle that for those who have not experienced it, will never understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Examining the accounts on the internet of Laurene\u2019s prior interviews, there are two misrepresentations that need to be addressed. First, it is often claimed that Val had her handcuffed. What was that about and was it malicious, as it is portrayed? The second question is in regard to their wedding night. It has been stated that Marie was present in bed, hugging Val, when the two consummated their marriage\u2014a very serious allegation in the FLDS community, something that is not tolerated.<\/p>\n

We have learned in this account some never-before-known truth regarding Flora and her use of Laurene as her \u201cproject,\u201d even as we learned similar truth in the previous article, \u201cFlora Jessop: The Troubled Woman Who Cost Texas $14 Million, and Hundreds of Innocent People Their Peace and Safety.\u201d So what then is the truth regarding these two publicly aired matters?<\/p>\n

From an interview with John Quinones of ABC News, Primetime, July 28, 2005, it was stated, \u201cLaurene was once handcuffed by the town’s police, who are, in effect, controlled by the sect.\u201d Laurene added, \u201cI want to be able to walk through town [Colorado City] and not be handcuffed, and if the police officers decide to handcuff me, what to say [to them]?\u201c<\/p>\n

What you are about to read is Val\u2019s account of what took place regarding that matter, along with their daughter\u2019s corroboration. It was not until the writing of this article that sensitive matters such as this were discussed between Val and Laurene, and for the first time Val was able to explain to her what actually took place. It was not as Laurene recalled. But keep in mind, she was going through a troubling time and was on medications that had adverse effects on her. In her mind, in the following account she was simply hoeing weeds in her garden.<\/p>\n

Val explains, \u201cThere are areas in our relationship that are landmines that I try to avoid\u2014when Laurene remembers something completely different than I do. The story of me allegedly having her handcuffed is one of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarie did many things behind my back, then would deny them, saying that Laurene was making them up. The day Laurene was handcuffed (about early summer, \u201899), Marie had packed up a lot of Laurene’s sewing stuff and put it in the cellar, without consulting her. While Marie was at her job, teaching first grade, Laurene got angry at me and attempted to destroy the sewing machine with a hammer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI stopped her, so she went outside. I could see there was no communicating with her (she was on meds that were causing imbalance), so I called the local police station and asked for the officer on duty to come and monitor the situation. When I got outside, I found her in the garden, hoeing up a row of squash plants and cucumbers. I stopped her, and meanwhile officer Rodney Holm came in the backyard with us. She continued to hoe the plants up, so he intervened, asking her to give him the hoe. She told him [in an exaggerated and agitated way], \u2018I’m in my own garden hoeing weeds.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was obvious to him something was wrong and that she wouldn’t cooperate, so he placed handcuffs on her and took her to the station. From there, Steven Barlow, who was also at the scene, determined that she must go directly to The Guidance Center in Flagstaff. They took her in the ambulance that evening. [This was Laurene\u2019s first visit there.]<\/p>\n

\u201cTalking to our daughter, Jenny, about this , she said, \u2018I remember seeing the plants that were hoed up, and mother says she doesn’t remember that.\u2019 \u201c<\/p>\n

Val\u2019s account was confirmed by officer Rodney Holm as well. I talked with him by phone and read the account. He agreed with it and said that as a trained officer, \u201cfor her safety and mine I had to take the hoe and handcuff her.\u201d I asked him if she was indeed hoeing up the garden plants, or just the weeds. He chuckled a little and said, \u201cShe was pretty much destroying anything in her way.\u201d Rod said that he \u201cstayed with her in the ambulance to make sure she was OK.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thus we see that there was in fact no maliciousness whatsoever in the handcuffing incidence, but instead a police officer\u2019s required means for protecting Laurene and himself, and therein safely transporting her to where she could be helped.<\/p>\n

The second sensitive issue is a matter that Laurene herself did not understand the scope of until, once again, the in-depth examination afforded by this article.<\/p>\n

The ABC News, Primetime, report also stated: \u201cLaurene says Marie was bitterly jealous from day one, and was even present when she and her husband consummated the marriage.\u201d She was quoted as saying, “He [Val] invited her into our bed. She just hugged his back\u2014hugged him all the way through.”<\/p>\n

The deduction one makes from this is that Val consummated the marriage while Marie hugged his back. But this was not the case. Here is Laurene\u2019s account of what took place.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I read [at the time] what John Quinones said, it made sense to me. I never thought it insinuated that we had intercourse together between the three of us. Val is not a pervert and would never have (then or now) engaged in sexual activity with the three of us together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once again, it was not until the occasion of this writing that Laurene even knew what others were thinking took place. She continued, \u201cToday, when Val told me what people think, I was shocked. This is a terrible injustice to all three of us. I am sorry if I gave anyone that impression.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laurene is writing a book about her life, initially begun to help resolve within herself some of these matters. She sent me the draft of the chapter that addressed that night, adding, \u201cI wish to keep that time sacred; however, since the world already has their perverted idea about it, it must be corrected.\u201d Unfortunately, thanks to Flora\u2019s destructive intrusion, private matters were aired publicly with falsehood, thereby demanding that they be answered and addressed publicly in truth. These are matters that were best left private, sacred, but unfortunately now demand otherwise.<\/p>\n

Upon retiring to Laurene\u2019s bedroom on the evening of their wedding, the two of them sat on the bed, and for a lengthy period of time read from The Doctrine and Covenants, section 132. Val read passages regarding marriage, its sanctity, and its virtue, many of which Laurene could quote from memory, passages that she loved, and did indeed recite some of them. She noted that Val smiled at her, knowing that \u201cthey believed in the same principles.\u201d<\/p>\n

When they finally reclined in bed, they did indeed consummate their marriage that night. And unfortunately, and certainly uninvited, Marie came down the stairs to Laurene\u2019s bedroom during that time. Wholly unbeknown to Val, she stood just outside the bedroom doorway. Laurene\u2019s bedroom was still under final construction and there was no door. But in the faint light Laurene saw her sister standing there, their eyes even meeting. She and Val were under the covers, and she pulled them up even higher so as to be concealed from this unwelcomed intrusion. She wanted to stop, but was shy and said nothing.<\/p>\n

Sometime following the consummation, Marie knocked at the doorway. After a period of silence, that Laurene said seemed to last forever, Val responded. Marie wanted to come in, and Val consented, allowing her to get in bed behind him. This is the occasion that lent to the misleading media report.<\/p>\n

Why did Val allow this? \u201cHindsight,\u201d he says, \u201cI should have never allowed it.\u201d But he did. He was not aware that Marie had been standing there at this very private and sacred moment, and the misunderstanding brought out in the press has created an unwelcomed embarrassment for everyone.<\/p>\n

But the fact is, nothing whatsoever took place sexually in that room with Marie in there. The most tragic wrong that took place from this was that perpetrated by the media\u2014over-eager to tell a biased, misleading, unfavorable story\u2014and by troubling anti-FLDS activists like Flora Jessop.<\/p>\n

With the difficulties between these two sister-brides that followed, difficulties that Val and Laurene would tell you are an exception in this community and not at all the norm, this matter became a haunting encapsulating reminder for Laurene, seemingly setting the pace for what was to come. The most important event in her life was violated by her sister-bride.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

We will now let Val and Laurene close this story, though the account of their lives is still being written. They have gone through many trials, any one of which could have destroyed them and their family. But they are back together. First Val:<\/p>\n

\u201cLaurene thought that she was broken beyond repair when she contemplated returning to me; but what she didn’t realize was that I had decided to try and change my thinking, to let the whole Phoenix experience have many lessons in it that God wanted me to learn from. And believe me, I still have a lot to learn!<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the first lessons was, Laurene was forced into the situation by the rogue FLDS master deceivers and felt she had no other choice. Why should I turn away from her for being deceived by these men? And secondly, another con artist, Flora, came along at a time when she was most vulnerable and lied to her, promising a wonderful life, which she had neither the power nor the means to produce, much less never intended to fulfill.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always loved Laurene through all of this, in spite of my own emotional scars; and I have always believed that AS LONG AS THERE IS LIFE, THERE IS HOPE.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the time that she and the children were in Phoenix, I had six candles burning 24 hours a day\u2014one for each of them\u2014placed in the windows of the rooms where they would be sleeping if they were with me. Like the light from those candles, my love for her never ceased.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Laurene: \u201cI was so happy when we settled in Cane Beds. It was quiet and peaceful. The children could get out and play in the canyon and mountains. Most of all, they were happy. They liked the smaller school and made friends quickly. They were doing very well. The house was nice and roomy. Everything seemed perfect. Val took me on a trip to Caliente, Nevada, where he and I spent time talking things through. He told me that, even before I went to Phoenix, he wanted me to come back, but had not yet told me this.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe in God and miracles. I plan to continue the healing process of our family. I have visited a Catholic church, but it is strange to me. I went to church with the Mennonites, and even had dinner with them. They are very kind and simple, much like my own people. I have had elders and missionaries from the LDS church try to convert me. I find that after my strict religion in the FLDS, these all seem rather shallow in a way.<\/p>\n

Sometimes it feels like I’m living between worlds. I am afraid my own people will never accept me as one of them, and I will never fit in out here. My hopes and dreams are that someday I will be worthy of living among my people. However, I have many faults; and after living away this long, this seems rather distant. I know that God loves me and will guide my path.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder what the lasting affects might be for LuAnne, Anthony, Thomas, Jennifer, and Valene, who had both parents taken away from them at different times. Our children deserve a time of peace with both parents before they are grown and move away from home. I hope they will stay extra long to make up for lost time and we can all heal here in the northwest where we have moved and met some wonderful people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Writer\u2019s note: I want to thank, particularly, Laurene for allowing herself to be so vulnerable about some of these matters. This was not easy for her. As she wrote to me on one occasion, she is embarrassed about many of these things. But as Val often noted to me, she has in many ways been the product of several severe circumstances that were placed upon her by others. Yet, as she has expressed to me, she wisely does not dismiss her own responsibility in these things that she has done.<\/p>\n

With this, we hope the very best for the two of them and their five children. Their story continues, and may it ever continue on an upward course. Thank you for sharing about your lives, and giving us an inside look at Flora Jessop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photo: Val and Laurene Jessop The Escape By October, 2005, Laurene had taken all she could of Flora. \u201cFlora lied to me too many times during the custody battle,\u201d stated Laurene. \u201cI knew by then what kind of person she was, but I had to hold on until the custody hearings were over. After that, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[67],"tags":[30,31],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/remnantbride.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/remnantbride.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/remnantbride.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remnantbride.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remnantbride.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/remnantbride.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/remnantbride.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remnantbride.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remnantbride.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}