SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP)- Authorities say more than 400 children have been taken from a polygamist compound and placed in state custody as they continue to investigate whether one of them had been an underage bride.
Authorities have uncovered the equivalent of a small town on the 1,700-acre property in rural West Texas they raided last week. They say 133 women left the compound voluntarily and that an unknown number of men remained there and are not free to leave.
Child Protective Services spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner says she believes the operation is the biggest of its kind in Texas.
A girl’s report to authorities last week that she was abused led to the raid.