Rena Chynoweth
Encyclopedia
Rena Chynoweth is a former Mormon fundamentalist who shot Rulon C. Allred
dead in 1977. Acquitted of murder in a criminal trial, Chynoweth later admitted to killing Allred.
, based in Colonia LeBaron in northern Mexico
. The Chynoweths moved to Colonia LeBaron to join the rest of the polygamist sect, which was at the time led by Joel LeBaron
. Joel’s leadership was soon challenged by his younger brother, Ervil
, who believed that he was the ‘One Mighty and Strong
’ chosen by God to lead the Latter-day Saints. The Chynoweths followed Ervil when he eventually broke away from Joel’s church. The Chynoweths, especially young Rena, were devout followers of Ervil. Ervil proposed to Rena when she was only 16. In a proxy interview with Doris Hanson in 2009, Rena claimed that Ervil told her she would go to hell
if she did not accept the proposal. As she believed Ervil to be a true prophet she did not doubt this, so she accepted the proposal. She became his thirteenth wife and had two children by him.
to justify the murders of other polygamist leaders whom he believed were enemies of his church, and therefore enemies of God. One of his prime targets was Doctor Rulon Clark Allred, leader of the Apostolic United Brethren
. As one of Ervil’s most devout and “prettiest” followers the nineteen year old Chynoweth, along with Ramona Marston, was chosen to carry out the murder of Allred.
In May 1977 Chynoweth and Marston travelled from Mexico to Murray, Utah
, where Allred’s office was, stopping to buy weapons and disguises en route. They reached Murray on May 10 and entered Allred’s office disguised in wigs and sunglasses. Chynoweth shot him seven times, fatally wounding him, before the pair fled. They hid out in Mexico but were soon apprehended and brought back to Utah
.
Chynoweth was tried for the murder of Allred in March 1979 in a Utah court. After two weeks of testimony, the jury acquitted her of murder. Dorothy Allred Solomon
, daughter of victim Rulon Allred, gives a number of reasons for Chynoweth’s acquittal. These include her convincing lies during the trial, sympathy for her pregnancy and the fact that she could not be identified by witnesses as she was disguised when the shooting took place. Solomon also accuses the "Lambs of God" of intimidating the jury at the trial, and suggests that in patriarchal Utah, "a society harbouring sexual discrimination would try to compensate in a court of law".
was found liable for the wrongful death of Ron Goldman.
Chynoweth later re-married. She claims to have been controlled by Ervil LeBaron through fear. She now works to help children who have suffered from involvement in polygamy. She strongly supported the actions of Texas
during the YFZ Ranch
raid.
Rulon C. Allred
Rulon Clark Allred was a homeopathic physician and chiropractor in Salt Lake City and the leader of what is now the Apostolic United Brethren, a breakaway sect of polygamous Mormon fundamentalists in Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, United States...
dead in 1977. Acquitted of murder in a criminal trial, Chynoweth later admitted to killing Allred.
Early life
When she was three years old, Rena Chynoweth’s parents were converted to the Mormon fundamentalist Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of TimesChurch of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times
The Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times is a Mormon fundamentalist sect headquartered in northern Mexico that was founded in 1955 by Joel LeBaron and members of his family.-Establishment:...
, based in Colonia LeBaron in northern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The Chynoweths moved to Colonia LeBaron to join the rest of the polygamist sect, which was at the time led by Joel LeBaron
Joel LeBaron
Joel Franklin LeBaron was a leader in the Mormon fundamentalist movement in northern Mexico. He was murdered by a member or members of a rival church which was headed by his brother Ervil LeBaron.-Early life:...
. Joel’s leadership was soon challenged by his younger brother, Ervil
Ervil LeBaron
Ervil Morrell LeBaron was the leader of a polygamous Mormon fundamentalist group who ordered the killings of many of his opponents, using the religious doctrine of blood atonement to justify the murders...
, who believed that he was the ‘One Mighty and Strong
One Mighty and Strong
One Mighty and Strong is a person of unknown identity who was the subject of an 1832 prophecy by Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, echoing the words and prophecy of Isaiah 28:2. The One Mighty and Strong was said by Smith to be one who would "set in order the house of...
’ chosen by God to lead the Latter-day Saints. The Chynoweths followed Ervil when he eventually broke away from Joel’s church. The Chynoweths, especially young Rena, were devout followers of Ervil. Ervil proposed to Rena when she was only 16. In a proxy interview with Doris Hanson in 2009, Rena claimed that Ervil told her she would go to hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
if she did not accept the proposal. As she believed Ervil to be a true prophet she did not doubt this, so she accepted the proposal. She became his thirteenth wife and had two children by him.
Allred's death and trial
Ervil soon organised his followers into a new church, the Church of the Lamb of God. Its members were known as the ‘Lambs of God’. Ervil used the doctrine of blood atonementBlood atonement
In mormonism, blood atonement is a controversial doctrine that teaches that murder is so heinous that the atonement of Jesus does not apply. Thus, in order to atone for these sins, the perpetrators must have their blood shed upon the ground as a sacrificial offering...
to justify the murders of other polygamist leaders whom he believed were enemies of his church, and therefore enemies of God. One of his prime targets was Doctor Rulon Clark Allred, leader of the Apostolic United Brethren
Apostolic United Brethren
The Apostolic United Brethren is a polygamous Mormon fundamentalist church within the Latter Day Saint movement. The sect is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. As one of Ervil’s most devout and “prettiest” followers the nineteen year old Chynoweth, along with Ramona Marston, was chosen to carry out the murder of Allred.
In May 1977 Chynoweth and Marston travelled from Mexico to Murray, Utah
Murray, Utah
Murray is a city situated on the Wasatch Front in the core of Salt Lake Valley in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, it is the state's fourteenth largest city. According to the 2010 census, Murray has approximately 46,746 residents.Murray is close to Salt Lake City,...
, where Allred’s office was, stopping to buy weapons and disguises en route. They reached Murray on May 10 and entered Allred’s office disguised in wigs and sunglasses. Chynoweth shot him seven times, fatally wounding him, before the pair fled. They hid out in Mexico but were soon apprehended and brought back to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
.
Chynoweth was tried for the murder of Allred in March 1979 in a Utah court. After two weeks of testimony, the jury acquitted her of murder. Dorothy Allred Solomon
Dorothy Allred Solomon
Dorothy Allred was born to Mormon fundamentalist leader Rulon C. Allred and his fourth plural wife. She was the 28th of her father's 48 children. In 1977, her father was murdered by agents of rival polygamist leader Ervil LeBaron....
, daughter of victim Rulon Allred, gives a number of reasons for Chynoweth’s acquittal. These include her convincing lies during the trial, sympathy for her pregnancy and the fact that she could not be identified by witnesses as she was disguised when the shooting took place. Solomon also accuses the "Lambs of God" of intimidating the jury at the trial, and suggests that in patriarchal Utah, "a society harbouring sexual discrimination would try to compensate in a court of law".
Leaving polygamy and civil trial
With her husband imprisoned Chynoweth began to change her mind about polygamy and left the Church of the Lamb of God. In 1990, knowing that she could not be tried for the same crime twice, she published a “breezy, tell all memoir” about her life with Ervil LeBaron in which she admitted to shooting Rulon Allred. While being interviewed on Sally Chynoweth was served with a summons to answer civil charges of causing the unlawful death of Rulon C Allred. The charges were filed by the Allred family who still sought justice for Rulon’s death. The trial took place in February 1992. Chynoweth did not appear at the trial as she claimed that the Lambs of God were still after her for leaving the church. Chynoweth was found liable for the wrongful death of Rulon Allred and ordered to pay $52 million in damages to the Allred family. The Allreds never collected the money. Fred Goldman later cited this case as a precedent for not collecting any money from his son’s death when O. J. SimpsonO. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
was found liable for the wrongful death of Ron Goldman.
Chynoweth later re-married. She claims to have been controlled by Ervil LeBaron through fear. She now works to help children who have suffered from involvement in polygamy. She strongly supported the actions of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
during the YFZ Ranch
YFZ Ranch
The YFZ Ranch, also known as the Yearning for Zion Ranch, is a community which housed as many as 700 people just outside of Eldorado in Schleicher County, Texas, United States. It is owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . It is about southwest of San Angelo and ...
raid.