Incident Report 10LE12479 Page 4 of 10
SUPPLEMENTAL NARRATIVE:
Name: Larsen B
Date: 11:46:48 10/03/10
11:46:48 10/03/2010 - Larsen B
SYNOPSIS
I was assigned to investigate allegations of Bigamy-
information and filed this report.
I gathered the
INITIAL INFORMATION
In mid August 2010, I was asked to look into issues involving Polygamy/Bisany-
Tt was learned that the Learning Channel (TLC), had produced a series of shows
chronicling a man with 3 wives, and numerous children while courting a 4th
wife. These episodes were scheduled to begin airing September 2¢th with an hour
long premier followed by approximately 6 more 1/2 hour episodes to air each
week. The family was identified as the Brown family which consisted of Kody
Brown, Neri Brown, Janelle Brown and Christine Brow. The show was also said to
be chronicling the courting of Robyn Sullivan. The Browns were found to be
residing at 951 west 1220 north Lehi Utah. And Robyn was found to be residing
north 500 west Lehi Utah.
at 5
INFORMATION ON THE BROWNS
‘A records check indicated that the utilities for the address of 951 west 1220
north were in the names of Kody Brown, Meri Brown, and Janelle Brown.
Additionally, driver license records for Kody Brown, Meri Brown, Janelle Brown,
and Christine Brown showed an address of 951 west 1220 north. It should be
noted that at some point Janelle, Meri, and Christine all legally changed there
names to Brown. A check of property tax information for the residence located
at 951 west 1220 north showed Kody, Meri and Janelle as owners. It also listed
the residence as a single family dwelling. I located a deed of trust showing
Janelle Brown, Kody Brown, and Meri Brown as joint tenants. This deed listed
the address of 951 west 1220 north, and was signed by all three parties. I also
located other financial documents that listed Janelle Brown, Kody Brown, and
Meri Brown as joint tenant: From interviews done by the Browns, as well as
other news media articles I was able to determine the family dynamic as
follows. Kody met Meri through mutual friends and they were married on April
21st 1990. Kody and Meri have one child, Kody met Janelle through Meri
and her friends. ‘They were married in 1993. Kody and Janelie have 6 children,
‘ a 2 Kody met Christine
1 they were married on March 25th, 1994. Kody and Christine
It is
‘marriage date of Kody and Robyn Sullivan. She brings
Applicable sources of
with this report. ‘TLCs web site contained photos
1 photos of Kody and Meri, Kody and Janelle, and
are commonly associated with a marriace
osnen2Incident Report 10LE12479 Page 5 of 10
cHIEpRsN
‘As noted previously in this report, there are 16 children involved in this
Assue. Kody is believed to be the father of 13 of the children. 3 of the
childzen are Robyns from a pervious marriage. The first child born to Meri was
born after Kody had been warried to Meri, Janelle, and Christine. Through out
the interviews and video clips there is nothing that suggests that the 13
children mentioned earlier are not Kodys.
HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS
Kody, Meri, Janelle, and Christine, along with there children live at the
residence located at 951 west 1220 north Lehi, Utah Currently Robyn and her
children reside at 54@ north 500 west in Lehi, Utah. However, there are plans
to build an addition so that Robyn and her children can move into the residence
lat 951 west 1220 north. The layout of the home is reported to show Meri and
her child occupying the middle and right side of the residence, Janelle and her
children occupying the left side of the residence, and Christine and her
children occupying the bottom portion of the residence. Kody is reported to
have a schedule where he rotates staying with each spouse on a daily basis. A
copy of images of the housing arrangements obtained from still shots of video
footage will be included with this report. It should be noted that although
‘residence is somewhat separated, all the areas are attached and accessible
each other. Additionally, a lot of time is spent in the interviews telling
how they live as a family unit, and how integrated the family is.
AoE
tion on the matter, I found a video clip of an
Hawksley, a correspondent of the British
at the Utah
ee, a Polygamous advocacy group, was
for fundamentalist Mormon families. I
inciplevoices.org/archives/156. At this
slative education day. & copy of the
attached to this report. At this
tly after meeting, Havkeley along with
polygamous lifestyle. This
terview includes scenes filmed at a
‘The video starts with Kody
Tt also includes clips of at
have 3 moms and 1 dad.
in living in a pluralIncident Report 10LE12479 Page 6 of 10
marriage when they were older. One child said that she was not interested, one
said she wasn't sure, and one said that right now she was. Also during this
interview, Christine makes a statement that infers that she is aware that their
lifestyle is illegal. She is recorded saying "We don't teach them that we are
living an illegal lifestyle, we don't want to raise the family with the fear
that I was raised with". Kody is recorded making the statement "Some people in
thie lifestyle tend to live like separate families, almost like cousins, but we
have always integrated simply as an entire family". A copy of a news article
related to this video clip, as well as the video clip itself will be included
with this report.
INTERVIEW WITH BROOKE ADAMS
In July of 2009 the Browns were interviewed by Brooke Adams. During the
interview Adams asks about the BBC interview. Kody explains that he and
Christine were at the State Capital and met Hawksley. Hawksley asked if he
could see them with the family. Adams also asked why his two other wives were
not there. Kody listed scheduling conflicts as well as the other wives
cautiousness about public exposures as the reason, The majority of the
interview revolves around questions regarding the issues of plural marriage as
well as its legality. A copy of this interview will be included with this
report for reference.
SISTER WIVES ANNOUNCED
In the early part of August, Sister Wives was announced. 1 obtained a press
release that was dated August 6th, 2010. This press release identifies the
individuals involved, and details the basic premise of the show. The opening
paragraph states TLC brings viewers inside the rarely seen world of plural
families with the premier of Sister Wives, an engrossing seven part series
following Kedy Brown, his three soon to be four wives and their many children.
Premiering on Sunday, September 26, Sister Wives explores the complex daily
life of a Polygamist Family. A copy of this release will be included with this
report.
MEDIA INTERVIEWS
After the announcement of the show, and before its premiere, there were
numerous news articles and some video interviews of the Browns. After the
premier, there were even more. In these interviews, Kody, Meri, Janelle,
Christine, and Robyn speak of issues of polygamy and plural marriage. It seems
clear from these interviews that all of them are quite aware of the legal
implications, and do not try to imply that their lifestyle is legal. In fact,
their stated goal is to bring the issues into the open. They are also quite
clear on the fact that they are living as one family that consists of 1 dad, 4
moms and 16 children. tt should be noted, that although the shows premise is
ene man with three wives who is courting another, that the episodes were filmed
some time ago and they are currently living as one man with 4 wives. After the
show was aired, and it was announced that the Lehi Police department was
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Lindsay Whitehurst
oes Sale Lake Tribune
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