Background
Jessop has been a lifelong member of the church, as his father and grandfathers were former high ranking FLDS officials.
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Merril Jessop
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Career
Jessop was also head of the YFZ Ranch. However, William Jessop remained at official church headquarters in Hildale, Utah. One of Jessop"s former wives, Carolyn Jessop, wrote a memoir in 2007 about their 17-year marriage, which had begun when she was 18 and he was 50.
Betty Jessop vehemently denies her mother"s accusations.
As of February 2010, Merril Jessop had still not paid any of the child support he owed. According to Carolyn"s attorney, Natalie Malonis, he can be jailed for contempt for this failure.
According to his former wife"s memoir, Jessop is the father of more than 50 biological children, all by his first six wives. Jessop is believed to have taken many more wives since Carolyn"s departure.
In a National Geographic article published in February 2010, Jessop both praised and discussed his troubled relationship with Faunita (spelled "Foneta" in the article).
Over 5,000 people were in attendance at Faunita Jessop"s funeral. "My hand is a bit sore today," Merril was quoted as saying at the end of the funeral after greeting all those who came.
