Where Did You Get That Bull, Carolyn?

2008-09-18 10:39:31

By Donald Richter

On page 217 of her book Escape, Carolyn Jessop recounts a story she had heard at one of the morning coffee party/gossip sessions at her sister Linda’s:

“I had rarely heard a story as disturbing as I did that morning. The FLDS police officer wanted to take his wife up to the Steeds [sic] ranch to teach her a lesson in obedience. He put her in a pen with a bull and then tied a rope to the neck of the bull. He told his wife, who was pregnant, that she had to control the bull with the rope on orders of her priesthood head. She tried to hang on to the bull, but he ran off and she ended up being dragged until she let go of the rope.

“Her husband got into the pen and handed her the rope again and told her she had to hold on. But the bull pulled away from her and her husband became enraged. This time he took the end of the rope and tied it around the neck of the bull and told her she better [sic] hang on this time. But it was impossible. The third time he tied the rope to her so she could not let go. She was dragged around the ring again and so badly injured she lost the baby—which then became her fault because she was so disobedient.

“When I heard it I told the group I had a burning sensation in my chest—I wanted to kill the guy. The others agreed, and we talked about what we’d do if he ever pulled us over. The story was well circulated in the community because the man’s stepmother became aware of what he’d done to his wife and was so incensed that she started talking about it.”

When I first read this account in Carolyn’s book, I didn’t believe that it had ever occurred; but not knowing the identity of those involved in the supposed incident, I had no idea whom to consult regarding the actual facts of the case.

In a recent deposition, however, Carolyn Jessop named the officer involved as Shem Jessop. The following statements from Shem’s wife and mother show that the whole story fits the same pattern of distortion and outright fabrication that we find throughout Carolyn’s book.

“Oh, Carolyn, What Next?”

“For years, Carolyn Jessop and I taught elementary school. As co-teachers, we mingled at coffee breaks and would discuss techniques and everyday events. Carolyn was a very pleasant person. However, I’ve been ‘reading’ a very different side of Carolyn—one with hatred, lies and calloused abuse of those she once loved.

“On page 217 of Carolyn’s book ‘Escape’, she relates a sensationalized lie about an FLDS police officer. In a recent deposition, the police officer has been identified as my son. Much to my shock, I was the supposed stepmother who spread the lie.

“Normally, to such outrageous lies, one would extend prayers to the accuser and know that truth will prevail. However I will not stand by and watch those I love go through the unjust ridicule without letting the truth be known. There are several things I must refute:

“#1. I have never been called a stepmother by my children. I have loved each one as my own and they have returned the love.

#2. I have never read or heard or spread any story of my son or any such bull.

“#3. Any such event, had it actually happened, I would have reported to the authorities without hesitation, no matter who did it.

“#4. Not only that, but my son’s wife—who is the supposed victim—and yes, indeed she is! But not from any spousal abuse! Only from the ridicule of Carolyn’s unfounded terrible lies!

“I most emphatically deny that I was the source of any such story or that any such event ever happened! It is absolutely appalling that such a ‘novel’ could be allowed to be circulated as though it were the truth, since there are many innocent people being harmed and ‘abused’ in every way from the lies in this book.

“Oh, Carolyn, what next? Is it the money? The fame? The revenge? What? What would possess someone to send out such hatred and out-and-out lies?

“If you truly needed to ‘escape’, why didn’t you? If your life was so bad, why would you insist on dragging those who still love you through the imagination of your past? Set yourself free. Come clean. Tell the truth!

“With sincere wishes for you to resolve your inner problems,

Joyce Jessop”

“Dear Carolyn,

“I am writing to inform you that your new book Escape contains an error and even a serious lie. I feel it to be your responsibility, as the Author, to immediately correct this situation by way of announcement to ALL of your readers.

“In particular, I refer you to page 217, specifically, the third and fourth paragraph; wherein, you repeat a story that was told by a woman at a gathering for coffee at your sister Linda’s.

“When I read this story, I was sickened with a horrible feeling. ‘How awful!’ I thought, ‘Who would even think to do such a thing?’

“It was only a short time later, however, when I learned that, under deposition, you had given my Husband’s name as the FLDS officer in the story.

“Now Carolyn, I know my Husband has been lied about before, but this really takes the cake!

“I feel you have made a serious ‘boo-boo’ on this one, because it is simply not possible for you to prove that this fable bears any semblance to the truth.

“I have only been to the Steeds’ ranch one time in my life. This was in the summer of ’95 when I attended a family camping trip with numerous family members. I was not pregnant. I never saw a bull at the ranch. My Husband has never tied me (or anyone I know of) to a bull. I have never been dragged by a bull. In short, the entire report was purely fiction.

“Carolyn, I know you failed to check your sources on this one, because you never asked me if this really happened. In fact, until I read your book, I had not previously been aware that such a story had even been fabricated in regards to my Husband and myself. This leads me to wonder as to any plausibility in the remaining words you plastered on 413 pages. Setting all that aside, You didn’t even ask me if I wanted to be in your book!

“Tell me this, Carolyn, do you contrive pleasure in circulating lies about people who have done you no harm? Anything to sell your story, huh? Have you any scruples left?

“Your readers will eventually point out any flaws in your compilation, so address this matter posthaste.

“honestly, Your cousin,

Roxanne Jessop”

(See also the following articles on Carolyn Jessop:

“You Can’t ‘Escape’ the Truth.”

“The Unreliability of Apostate Narratives,”

“Carolyn Jessop: Not So Credible after All,”

“What Are You Saying, Carolyn?”)

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