Jeffs: Weak, frail
It was a shock to see Warren S. Jeffs in court Tuesday.
It has been a little over three months since his last appearance and he has grown remarkably thinner and is very feeble.
When he entered the courtroom just before 9 a.m., he seemed to be so weak he had trouble getting into his seat. By 9:30 a.m., with the hearing under way, he had already begun to have trouble keeping his eyes open.
He appeared to doze off and then jerk awake, over and over. During most of the daylong proceedings, Jeffs did not appear to be tracking the discussion.
Is he sick? Is he refusing to eat and now starving to death? No one will say.
He was rushed to the hospital back in January for a health problem that has not been disclosed. Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith insisted last week that Jeffs is fine, that he is eating and there are no problems.
That sure didn't appear to be the case in court Tuesday.
During his last appearance in court, Jeffs took several opportunities to turn, gaze and smile at the 16 or so FLDS faithful in court. During one break, he and his followers engaged in what can only be described as visual hugs.
There were no such exchanges this time. He looked briefly at the FLDS members as he entered in the morning and again after the lunch break.
For the record, Jeffs wasn't the only one nodding off Tuesday. Rod Decker of KUTV dozed off once, too, during the afternoon, snoring loud enough to draw a startled stare from freelance journalist John Dougherty.
It has been a little over three months since his last appearance and he has grown remarkably thinner and is very feeble.
When he entered the courtroom just before 9 a.m., he seemed to be so weak he had trouble getting into his seat. By 9:30 a.m., with the hearing under way, he had already begun to have trouble keeping his eyes open.
He appeared to doze off and then jerk awake, over and over. During most of the daylong proceedings, Jeffs did not appear to be tracking the discussion.
Is he sick? Is he refusing to eat and now starving to death? No one will say.
He was rushed to the hospital back in January for a health problem that has not been disclosed. Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith insisted last week that Jeffs is fine, that he is eating and there are no problems.
That sure didn't appear to be the case in court Tuesday.
During his last appearance in court, Jeffs took several opportunities to turn, gaze and smile at the 16 or so FLDS faithful in court. During one break, he and his followers engaged in what can only be described as visual hugs.
There were no such exchanges this time. He looked briefly at the FLDS members as he entered in the morning and again after the lunch break.
For the record, Jeffs wasn't the only one nodding off Tuesday. Rod Decker of KUTV dozed off once, too, during the afternoon, snoring loud enough to draw a startled stare from freelance journalist John Dougherty.
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