Polygamist sect leader Lyle Jeffs uses olive oil to slip out of GPS tracker
Lyle Jeffs has proved himself to be a slippery suspect.
The FBI has revealed that Jeffs, one of the leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), recently wriggled out of his GPS tracking bracelet using olive oil.
Certainly, the authorities are looking into the security of their GPS monitoring devices.- Utah reporter Ben Winslow
"It's certainly a very unusual way of escape," says reporter Ben Winslow. "It inherently does raise some questions about how he was able to do this. Certainly, the authorities are looking into the security of their GPS monitoring devices."
Winslow is a reporter with the local Fox News affiliate in Utah. He got an exclusive interview with the FBI about Jeffs' escape.
Earlier this year, Jeffs was indicted in connection with a massive food stamp fraud scheme worth $12 million. Last month, he was released on bail and given a GPS tracking device — despite warnings from prosecutors and estranged family members.
There's speculation that Jeffs may be able to elude police for months or even years using the sect's "house of hiding" network. It was used by his half-brother, Warren Jeffs, years ago, when he was on the run from authorities.
"Federal prosecutors have alleged that these homes . . . are used to also shuffle people around. People who may be a witness. People who may be sought by authorities for questioning," explains Winslow.
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Jeffs defence lawyer has filed a motion to dismiss the charges against her fugitive client, arguing that it was the church's religious right to collect food stamps.
"This is going to be a very interesting case," says Winslow. "The next big battle is over this religious freedom argument, which could either make or break the government's case against this church."