Deceived

"DECEIVED" IS A MEMOIR OF DETECTIVE MIKE KING'S 1991 INVESTIGATION AND THE ULTIMATE TAKE-DOWN OF A DEVIANT POLYGAMOUS CULT CALLED THE ZION SOCIETY. FOR OVER A DECADE, GOSSIP SWIRLED AROUND NORTHERN UTAH THAT A SECRETIVE GROUP OF RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS WERE BUYING UP HOMES TO TAKE OVER A DEVELOPING NEIGHBORHOOD IN AN OGDEN COMMUNITY. THE HOMES WERE KNOWN FAR AND WIDE FOR THEIR IMMACULATELY LANDSCAPED YARDS. RUMORS SPREAD THAT A WELL-KNOWN LANDSCAPER IN THE CITY HAD PROCLAIMED HIMSELF TO BE A PROPHET OF GOD AND WAS BEING COMMANDED TO START HIS OWN SECRET RELIGION THAT PROMOTED POLYGAMY. IT WAS ALSO BELIEVED THESE EXTREMISTS WERE STOCKPILING WEAPONS AS PART OF THEIR DOOMSDAY BELIEFS. IN REALITY, THE LEADER WAS DIRECTING SOME OF THE MOST REPUGNANT CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN EVER SEEN IN THE STATE. THE HIDDEN ATROCITIES OF THE CULT MAY NEVER HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IF NOT FOR THE COURAGE OF ONE OF ITS MEMBERS. THIRTY YEARS LATER, VICTIMS RECONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR TO ADDRESS THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REGARDING CHILD VICTIMS.