Polygamous Cult Leader Samuel Bateman, Who Has 20 Wives, Including Children, Arrested
New court documents state that Samuel Rappylee Bateman, the leader of a polygamous group, had taken at least 20 wives, most of who were minors. Bateman was a former member of a branch of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) until he broke away and started his own splinter group. He appointed himself as a prophet and punished followers who did not treat him as such. According to a statement by the FBI, Bateman’s male followers supported him financially and gave up their own wives and children to him. The same FBI affidavit affirms that Bateman defended himsel...