Who is Merrianne Jessop: Everything you need to know about Warren Jeffs’ youngest wife
The story of Warren Jeffs, a former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS Church), stands out among controversial figures. His marriage to his youngest wife, Merrianne Jessop, is central to his story. The relationship between the two is characterised by numerous intriguing aspects that illuminate the complexities of patriarchy and cultic movements.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Merrianne Jessop is best known as the youngest wife of the leader of the FLDS Church, a polygamy-centered subgroup of the Mormon church founded in 1930. Authorities discovered that Warren had entered a "celestial marriage" with two minor girls, including Merrianne Jessop, who was only 12 when she got married.
Profile summary
| Full name | Merrianne Jessop |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 3 July 1994 |
| Age | 30 years (as of July 2024) |
| Place of birth | United States of America |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Weight | 110 lb (50 kg) |
| Hair colour | Strawberry blonde |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Mother | Barbara Jessop |
| Father | Merril Jessop |
| Marital status | Married |
| Husband | Warren Jeffs |
Who is Warren Jeffs' 12-year-old wife?
Merrianne Jessop is best known as Warren Jeffs' 12-year-old wife. She got married to the founder of the FLDS Church when she was only 12. FLDS Church is a religious sect of the fundamentalist Mormon denominations whose members are polygamous.
How old is Merrianne Jessop?
Merrianne Jessop's age is 30 years as of July 2024. She was born on 3 July 1994 in the United States of America. She is an American citizen of white ethnicity, and her Zodiac sign is Cancer.
Who is Merrianne Jessop's mother?
Merrianne Jessop's mother is Barbara Jessop, and her father is Merril Jessop. Her mother was Merril's third and favourite wife.
Merril Jessop's family tree shows that before he died on 28 February 2022, he had six wives and about 54 children.
Merril relocated Merrianne and the rest of her family to Longing for Zion Ranch in Texas in 2003 when she was nine years old. The force behind the move was for Warren Jeffs, the church's new head, to train Merrianne to become a "heavenly comfort woman."
Source: Original
What happened to Warren Jeffs' youngest wife?
On 27 July 2006, Barbara, Merril, and two of her siblings accompanied Merrianne Jessop to the temple. There, she was permanently and eternally bound to Warren Jeffs.
Warren had already married Merrianne's three nieces, 11 sisters, and one aunt when she was eternally bound to Warren Jeffs. Jeffs is her first cousin.
Warren Steed Jeffs is an American cult leader who is serving a life sentence in Texas for child sexual assault following two convictions in 2011. After his father, Rulon T. Jeffs, passed away in 2002, Warren assumed leadership of the FLDS Church.
At 18, he was appointed Principal of Alta Academy, a school for FLDS students. The prominent role allowed him to dominate the young females, who would later become his victims.
Most of his crimes allegedly occurred at the Yearning for Zion Ranch (YFZ) Ranch, initially run by Merrianne's father, Merril. In 2005, Warren was placed on the FBI's Most Wanted List after forcibly marrying two adolescent girls to adult men.
He was arrested in 2006, and in 2011, the authorities found him guilty of abusing two minors. Merrianne, who was only 12 at the time of her marriage, was one of the minors. The other minor was Veda Keate, who married Warren when she was 14.
Jeffs' arrest came after a local domestic abuse hotline received a call from someone claiming to be a sixteen-year-old FLDS member. The caller reported underage marriage and sexual abuse by Jeffs.
The report triggered a massive investigation that led to an epic child custody battle. The court sentenced Warren Jeffs to life in prison for abusing the two minors.
After Warren's arrest, the authorities placed Merrianne in foster care before granting her cousin Naomi Johnson Carlisle guardianship. In August 2009, she allegedly returned to the YFZ Ranch in Texas.
What happened to Veda Keate?
When the authorities invaded the ranch, Veda Keate was already a mother. A DNA test confirmed that Warren was the child's biological father.
Veda Keate and her daughter Sereena were among more than 400 church members taken into protective custody after a 2008 raid on the FLDS ranch in West Texas.
Who was Warren Jeffs' favourite wife?
Naomi Jessop, one of the first of Rulon's former wives to marry Jeffs, was his favourite spouse. She was his confidant, and she was tasked with writing down his daily activities and spiritual directives to document the FLDS leader's life. Naomie is Merrianne's older sister.
Is Merrianne Jessop still in the FLDS?
Merrianne is no longer a member of the FLDS. She escaped the FLDS Church in 2007 and has since become a vocal advocate against polygamy and underage marriage.
Source: Getty Images
Merrianne Jessop's children
Merrianne had not given birth to a child when her husband was arrested and sentenced to life in prison. While it is known that she resides in Texas, it remains unclear whether she is a mother now.
Where is Merrianne Jessop in 2024?
Merrianne Jessop now lives in Texas but is no longer a member of the FLDS Church. Due to the cult's extreme secrecy, little is known about the whereabouts of all of Warren Jeffs' spouses.
What is the significance of Merrianne Jessop's story?
The story is significant because it sheds light on the harmful practices of the FLDS Church. Merrianne's story has helped to raise awareness of the issue of polygamy and underage marriage.
FAQs
- Who is Merrianne Jessop? She was Warren Jeffs' youngest wife.
- How old was Merrianne at the time of her marriage to Warren Jeffs? She was only 12 years old. The two tied the knot in July 2006.
- Who is Merrianne's father? Her father was Merril Jessop, a one-time overseer of the YFZ Ranch.
- How many wives did Warren Jeffs have? Before his imprisonment, he had 78 wives.
- Who was Warren Jeffs' favourite wife? His most-liked wife was Naomie Jessop, Merrianne's older sister.
- What is Merrianne Jessop's age? She is 30 years old as of July 2024. She was born on 3 July 1994.
- What happened to Warren Jeffs' youngest wife? After his arrest, Merrianne was placed under the guardianship of her aunt. She is now an adult based in Texas.
Merrianne Jessop is widely recognised as Warren Jeffs' youngest wife. She was married to Jeffs at the tender age of 12. She was rescued from the child abuser, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2011.
Yen.com.gh recently published Beatrice Jean Howard-Gabel's biography. Beatrice is the daughter of American celebrities Bryce Dallas Howard and Seth Gabel.
She hails from a family of famous people in the entertainment industry. Her grandfather is the iconic Ron Howard. Beatrice loves movies and is a huge fan of Jurassic World, a film that features her mom.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over six years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She received the 2023 Writer of the Year Award. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
Racheal Murimi (Lifestyle writer) Racheal Murimi is a content creator who joined Yen in 2022. She has over four years of experience in creating content. Racheal graduated from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology with a bachelor's degree in BCom, Finance. She has amassed sufficient knowledge working on various topics, including biographies, fashion and lifestyles, guides, and more. In 2023, Racheal finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her at wambuimurimi254@gmail.com
