Imprisoned polygamous leader helped plan girls' escape ... - KATU
The leader of a small polygamous group helped orchestrate the escape of eight girls he considered his wives from a group home, prosecutors alleged.
katu.comI don’t have live access to current updates in this moment, but based on widely reported sources from late 2022 through 2024, Sam Bateman—a polygamous leader associated with an Arizona-based FLDS offshoot—was reported to have had at least 20 wives, with multiple reports noting that some of those wives were minors. Later reporting through 2024 and 2026 references continue to mention a large number of wives in the hundreds? No—the consistently cited figure remains around 20 or more wives in these accounts, though exact, up-to-date counts can vary and may be affected by new indictments or court filings.[1][2][3][5][7]
Key points to understand
- What is being counted: The number of wives Bateman had as part of his polygamous relationships, according to FBI affidavits and court documents from the investigations stemming from his arrest in 2022.
- Reported range: Most early reporting places the figure at at least 20 wives, with some accounts emphasizing many were minors, and later reporting sometimes reiterates the 20-plus figure rather than a precise current total.[2][3][7][1]
- Legal context: The focus of the charges included kidnapping, transporting a minor for sexual activity, and related offenses, which intersect with the group’s marital practices.[7][1]
If you’d like, I can:
- Find the most current official court filings or news articles to confirm the latest figure with precise wording.
- Compile a brief timeline of how the reported number has appeared in coverage over time.
- Provide a short summary of the legal outcomes related to Bateman and his group.
Would you like me to pull the latest publicly available court documents or news updates to confirm the present count?