Vanessa Richardson

When she greeted him in the morning, he kissed her just a bit too eagerly. But Luray never complained. One night during the family's nightly prayer session, Luray was kneeling between Mitchell and her mother. While Wanda was lost in prayer, Mitchell nudged his stepdaughter. When she turned to see what he wanted, he pulled something from his pocket, a stash of explicit photos.

When she greeted him in the morning, he kissed her just a bit too eagerly. But Luray never complained. One night during the family's nightly prayer session, Luray was kneeling between Mitchell and her mother. While Wanda was lost in prayer, Mitchell nudged his stepdaughter. When she turned to see what he wanted, he pulled something from his pocket, a stash of explicit photos.

Slowly, he shuffled through them for Luray. Luray turned from Mitchell to finish her prayers, excused herself, and ran to her bedroom. She never told her mom about how uncomfortable Mitchell made her. Soon she'd realize that it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Her mom was too far gone. One day soon after Luray's 14th birthday, she came home from school and the apartment smelled divine.

Slowly, he shuffled through them for Luray. Luray turned from Mitchell to finish her prayers, excused herself, and ran to her bedroom. She never told her mom about how uncomfortable Mitchell made her. Soon she'd realize that it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Her mom was too far gone. One day soon after Luray's 14th birthday, she came home from school and the apartment smelled divine.

Her mother was in the best mood. When Luray asked what's for dinner, Wanda smiled. Mitchell answered, chicken. Then Wanda told her daughter to wash up. Supper would be ready soon. Luray was starving. At the table, she dug in. It had been so long since she'd had a home-cooked meal, she didn't come up for air. Lu-Rei cleaned her plate. Grateful, she thanked her mom and stepdad for the tasty dinner.

Her mother was in the best mood. When Luray asked what's for dinner, Wanda smiled. Mitchell answered, chicken. Then Wanda told her daughter to wash up. Supper would be ready soon. Luray was starving. At the table, she dug in. It had been so long since she'd had a home-cooked meal, she didn't come up for air. Lu-Rei cleaned her plate. Grateful, she thanked her mom and stepdad for the tasty dinner.

Wanda giggled. Mitchell laughed, too. But when Lu-Rei asked what was so funny, Wanda said nothing. Mitchell said they'd had fun cooking for their baby. The next morning, Lu-Rei got ready for school. Before breakfast, she went to the porch to feed her rabbit, Peaches, but the cage was empty. She ran into the kitchen to find Wanda at the stove. "'What happened to Peaches?' she cried.

Wanda giggled. Mitchell laughed, too. But when Lu-Rei asked what was so funny, Wanda said nothing. Mitchell said they'd had fun cooking for their baby. The next morning, Lu-Rei got ready for school. Before breakfast, she went to the porch to feed her rabbit, Peaches, but the cage was empty. She ran into the kitchen to find Wanda at the stove. "'What happened to Peaches?' she cried.

Robotically, Wanda replied, "'You ate her for dinner.'" Luray was disgusted, mortified. Days later, she ran away, back to her father's house. Apoplectic, Wanda didn't understand why her little girl left. But Mitchell assured her Luray was overreacting. Everything would be okay. She'd come back home for sure. And if she didn't, he'd go out and find Wanda a brand new daughter to love.

Robotically, Wanda replied, "'You ate her for dinner.'" Luray was disgusted, mortified. Days later, she ran away, back to her father's house. Apoplectic, Wanda didn't understand why her little girl left. But Mitchell assured her Luray was overreacting. Everything would be okay. She'd come back home for sure. And if she didn't, he'd go out and find Wanda a brand new daughter to love.

In 1990, 45-year-old Wanda Barzee tried to reconnect with her youngest children, inviting them to live with her again. But the kids noticed right away that her new husband, Brian David Mitchell, had a troubling effect on Wanda. It all came to a head when Wanda fed her youngest child, 14-year-old Lou Ray, her pet rabbit for dinner. She ran away and never came back.

In 1990, 45-year-old Wanda Barzee tried to reconnect with her youngest children, inviting them to live with her again. But the kids noticed right away that her new husband, Brian David Mitchell, had a troubling effect on Wanda. It all came to a head when Wanda fed her youngest child, 14-year-old Lou Ray, her pet rabbit for dinner. She ran away and never came back.

Wanda decided if she couldn't have Lou Ray, she wanted nothing to do with the other two kids living with her, so she asked her sons to get out too. She told all of her kids they were dead to her. Having severed her family ties, Wanda and Mitchell's lives completely unraveled. By 1995, temp work dried up. Bills went unpaid. Wanda neglected to pay the rent on their tiny apartment in Salt Lake City.

Wanda decided if she couldn't have Lou Ray, she wanted nothing to do with the other two kids living with her, so she asked her sons to get out too. She told all of her kids they were dead to her. Having severed her family ties, Wanda and Mitchell's lives completely unraveled. By 1995, temp work dried up. Bills went unpaid. Wanda neglected to pay the rent on their tiny apartment in Salt Lake City.

They got kicked out, scrambled to find a new home, then got kicked out again. Eviction became a pattern. They barely scraped by. Mitchell coped by throwing himself deep into his faith, which started to look less and less like Mormonism. He turned his back on materialism, too. Little by little, they inched away from the Mormon church, even though it had originally brought them together.

They got kicked out, scrambled to find a new home, then got kicked out again. Eviction became a pattern. They barely scraped by. Mitchell coped by throwing himself deep into his faith, which started to look less and less like Mormonism. He turned his back on materialism, too. Little by little, they inched away from the Mormon church, even though it had originally brought them together.

The couple could no longer endorse the church's greediness. They insisted they were the only true disciples in a world of hypocritical sinners. Mitchell even accused the church of ignoring the destitute. The more he slammed the church, the more he realized his purpose. He'd been called by God to be a prophet to help the homeless find their faith.

The couple could no longer endorse the church's greediness. They insisted they were the only true disciples in a world of hypocritical sinners. Mitchell even accused the church of ignoring the destitute. The more he slammed the church, the more he realized his purpose. He'd been called by God to be a prophet to help the homeless find their faith.

Mitchell told Wanda he had access to the spirit world. They held hours-long seances together. He could hear the voices of forgotten prophets. She hung on his every word. When Wanda asked what messages the prophets had for Mitchell, he said they wanted him to sell their worldly possessions.

Mitchell told Wanda he had access to the spirit world. They held hours-long seances together. He could hear the voices of forgotten prophets. She hung on his every word. When Wanda asked what messages the prophets had for Mitchell, he said they wanted him to sell their worldly possessions.