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Born in Mexico · Nationality American — Mormon fundamentalism / polygamy / homicides / conspiracies / sectarian violence

Ervil LeBaron

Religion, sects and spiritual movements

Documented profile covering 10 controversies, including “1981–1990s: prison writings and target list linked to wave of violence after his death” and “1980–1981: attempts to maintain following from prison and transfer to maximum security”.

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Profile No. 1973 · Updated on 12 October 2026

10Documented controversies
9Sources
1 followed by a conviction ·

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

01

1981–années 1990

1981–1990s: prison writings and target list linked to wave of violence after his death

Conviction — against a third party

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

Writings left by Ervil, commonly known as the 'Book of the New Covenants', were linked by investigators and journalists to lists of traitors or targets. Children and followers continued to commit murders and other crimes after his death, several being subsequently convicted.

State of the evidence
Documented
Role of the person profiled
Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesA Family's Legacy of DeathPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    UPICause of jailed polygamist's death inconclusiveNews agencyHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    BYU StudiesProphet of Blood: The Untold Story of Ervil LeBaron and the Lambs of God — reviewAcademic publicationHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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Case · 2 documented stages

1980–1981: attempts to maintain following from prison and transfer to maximum security

Conviction
02

1980–1981

1980–1981: attempts to maintain following from prison and transfer to maximum security

Conviction

During imprisonment, Ervil allegedly attempted, according to prison officials, to organise a group of followers among inmates or maintain his influence, leading to his transfer to maximum security. He died in prison in August 1981 while serving his sentences.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    UPICause of jailed polygamist's death inconclusiveNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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03

10 May 1977–28 May 1980

May 1977–May 1980: murder of Rulon Allred — Ervil convicted of ordering killing

Conviction

Rulon C. Allred, leader of the Apostolic United Brethren, was shot dead in his office in May 1977. In May 1980, a Utah jury found Ervil LeBaron guilty of criminal homicide for ordering the murder.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    The Washington PostPolygamist Leader Convicted in DeathPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The Washington PostPolygamist Leader Is Sentenced To Life Term in Rival's MurderPressHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    UPICause of jailed polygamist's death inconclusiveNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

04

May 1977–2 June 1980

1977–June 1980: conspiracy to kill brother Verlan at Allred's funeral — conviction and consecutive sentence

Conviction — against a third party

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

The same trial established a plot to kill Verlan LeBaron during Rulon Allred's funeral. Ervil was convicted of conspiracy; the court imposed a sentence of five years to life, consecutive to the life sentence for Allred's assassination.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused
Role of the person profiled
Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    The Washington PostPolygamist Leader Convicted in DeathPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The Washington PostPolygamist Leader Is Sentenced To Life Term in Rival's MurderPressHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    UPICause of jailed polygamist's death inconclusiveNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

05

April 1977

1977: disappearance of pregnant daughter Rebecca LeBaron — murder allegedly ordered by him, body never recovered

No legal proceedings

Former followers and investigators linked Ervil to the disappearance of his daughter Rebecca, then a pregnant teenager who reportedly wanted to leave the faction. Authorities said they believed she had been killed, but her body was never found.

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    UPISelf-proclaimed prophets in polygamous sects blame orders from God for murdersNews agencyHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Los Angeles TimesA Family's Legacy of DeathPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

06

April 1975

April 1975: disappearance and alleged murder of polygamist Robert Simons attributed to followers acting on Ervil's orders

No legal proceedings

Robert Simons, a polygamist leader who had opposed Ervil, disappeared in 1975 and was subsequently considered the victim of a murder carried out by members of the LeBaron faction. Investigative accounts and former followers' testimony attribute the order to Ervil.

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    UPISelf-proclaimed prophets in polygamous sects blame orders from God for murdersNews agencyHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Los Angeles TimesA Family's Legacy of DeathPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

07

16 June 1975

June 1975: defector Dean Vest murdered by Vonda White — order attributed to Ervil, White convicted

Allegations

Dean Vest, a former bodyguard and military leader of the faction, was killed by Vonda White as he was considering leaving the group. White was convicted of the murder. Investigators and former followers quoted by the press stated that she had acted on Ervil's orders.

State of the evidence
Established by a court

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    UPISelf-proclaimed prophets in polygamous sects blame orders from God for murdersNews agencyHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Deseret NewsErvil's followers murder routinely — in 20 years, 18 ex-associates have been slain or reported missingPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

08

26 December 1974

December 1974: armed and incendiary raid on Los Molinos — two dead, thirteen injured, case against Ervil dismissed for lack of evidence

Case dismissed / dropped

Ervil's followers attacked the Los Molinos colony in Mexico with firearms and incendiary devices, killing Morone Mendez and Edmundo Aguilar and injuring thirteen others. The raid particularly targeted Verlan LeBaron's faction. Ervil was prosecuted, but a Mexican judge dismissed the case against him for insufficient evidence.

State of the evidence
Alleged

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Deseret NewsErvil's followers murder routinely — in 20 years, 18 ex-associates have been slain or reported missingPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Los Angeles TimesA Family's Legacy of DeathPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

09

fin des années 1960–1972

Late 1960s–1972: split with Joel LeBaron, creation of rival faction and doctrine of 'blood atonement'

No legal proceedings

After challenging the authority of his brother Joel, Ervil split from the Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times and formed his own faction. Former followers, investigators and historical studies described his use of the doctrine of 'blood atonement' to legitimise the killing of dissenters and rivals.

State of the evidence
Reported by the press
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesA Family's Legacy of DeathPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    BYU StudiesProphet of Blood: The Untold Story of Ervil LeBaron and the Lambs of God — reviewAcademic publicationHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    N+¿Quiénes Son la Familia LeBarón y A Qué Integrantes Mataron en Bavispe? Así Inició su Historia en MéxicoPressMedium reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

10

20 August 1972–années 1970

1972–1970s: murder of brother Joel LeBaron — Mexican conviction subsequently overturned

Acquitted / conviction overturned

Joel LeBaron was shot dead in Ensenada after the split between the brothers. Historical accounts and the press attribute the order to Ervil. He was convicted in Mexico in connection with the case, but the conviction was subsequently overturned; sources differ on the precise procedural details of the reversal.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Course of the proceedings
  1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles Times en EspañolLa masacre de ciudadanos estadounidenses apunta a la comunidad mormona con profundas raíces en MéxicoPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Deseret NewsErvil's followers murder routinely — in 20 years, 18 ex-associates have been slain or reported missingPressHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    UPICause of jailed polygamist's death inconclusiveNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

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