LEBARON, Ervil

ERVIL LEBARON established himself as a violent religious extremist within the polygamist Mormon fundamentalist community through his interpretation of the blood atonement doctrine, which he claimed justified killing apostates and rivals. Born into the prominent LeBaron family of polygamist leaders in Mexico, Ervil initially collaborated with his brothers Joel and Verlan in founding the Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times before breaking away to establish his own group.

In 1972, LeBaron founded the Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God, declaring himself "The One Mighty and Strong" prophesied in Mormon scripture to purify the church through violence. He taught that God commanded him to eliminate rivals, defectors, and enemies through "blood atonement" - the belief that certain sins require physical death for salvation. This doctrine provided religious justification for a campaign of murder that would span nearly a decade.

LeBaron's first major killing occurred in 1972 when he ordered the murder of his brother Joel, leader of a rival polygamist sect. The assassination, carried out by LeBaron's followers, eliminated Joel's competing claim to prophetic authority and demonstrated Ervil's willingness to kill family members who opposed him. Subsequent murders targeted former followers who attempted to leave his group, rival polygamist leaders, and perceived enemies within the broader fundamentalist community.

The murder spree continued throughout the 1970s, with LeBaron operating from Mexico while directing his followers to carry out killings in both Mexico and the United States. His victims included Rulon Allred, leader of the Apostolic United Brethren, killed in 1977 by female assassins acting on LeBaron's orders. The systematic nature of these murders earned him the nickname "Mormon Manson" in reference to Charles Manson's cult killings.

LeBaron was finally captured and convicted for Rulon Allred's murder, dying in Utah State Prison in 1981 while serving a life sentence. However, his influence persisted through written instructions directing followers to continue killing enemies, resulting in additional murders into the 1980s as his disciples carried out posthumous death orders.