Hell on Earth in Utah: The Secret of a “Family Cult” and FORBIDDEN SIN in the Name of God- part 1

In Philmore, Utah, Jedia Crow was known as a man of God, a devoted father who took in three orphaned foster children. But the records tell a different story, one of systematic corruption, of sick marriages, and of children born from a terrible secret.

How could someone hide hell in the midst of a devout community? Hello, friends. Our story begins in 1847. That fall brought one of the earliest cold snaps to Philò. A tiny settlement of just 300 souls, lost in the majestic mountains of Utah territory. This was a time when thousands of Moorish pioneers were crossing the American plains in search of the promised land.

A place where they could practice their faith freely without persecution. Phill Mo was such a place, a place where faith was the air they breathed and community was their only safety net. In a small place like this, everyone knew each other, strangers were rare and their presence always aroused curiosity. It was in this setting that Jedia Crow appeared.

He drove a covered wagon pulled by two tired horses. At 38, Jedidia carried himself with a serious demeanor. Almost as if he were a man of iron faith at the time. His neatly trimmed black mulberry hair, dotted with a few silver strands, framed his face, exuding confidence and authority.

He always wore dark, crisp clothes and spoke in the slow, measured cadence of someone accustomed to preaching. In the eyes of the locals, he was exactly what one would expect to see when leading a group of believers looking for a new home.

But what caught people’s attention most was not Jedidia but the three young women who accompanied him. They seemed to be of different ages but all shared a similar, almost sickly shyness. Abigel, the eldest, looked about 19, with brown hair that was always tied tightly in a bun.

Eliza, about 15, had delicate features but her eyes rarely dared to look directly at others. And Leah, the youngest, was only 12, a frail, skinny child who always hid behind her sisters. Jedidia Crow explained their story to Pastor Gideon Blight, the leader of the local church. His story was tragic to say the least.

He introduced Abigel, Elisa, and Lea as orphans from the Mormon community in Navu, Illinois. According to the story, the young girls’ parents had died in the brutal religious persecution that had forced the Latter-day Saints to flee their homeland. Jedidia himself, he said, had also lost his beloved wife to a sudden fever.

And now he, a widower, was taking on the sacred responsibility of bringing these three orphans to a safe place to start a new congregation. The story deeply touched the people of Philore. You know, they too had suffered loss to get here.

They saw in Jedidia a picture of resilience and faith. Pastor B, a kind but perhaps naive man, immediately offered Jedidia the use of the church for additional Sunday gatherings. Several families volunteered to donate their surplus and provide temporary housing. For the first few weeks, Jedidia and the three girls stayed at the home of Martha Zennings, a farming family with an extra room.

And it was here that the first cracks in Jedidia’s perfect facade began to show. Although no one noticed at the time, Martha, a woman of great insight and experience, immediately noticed the strange behavior of the three young girls. They ate in absolute silence. They never asked for anything, even when they were clearly hungry or cold. And most frightening of all, they seemed to constantly wait for permission before doing anything.
(4:23) Even for something as simple as getting more water, Abigel, Elisa, and Lea rarely spoke to each other. And when they did, it was always in whispers that Matha could barely hear. She tried many times to talk to them, especially Abigel, who at her age should have been the most outgoing, but the young girl only responded with curt answers, always looking down and avoiding any questions about her past life.
(4:55) But what really unsettled Matha was the way all three girls reacted to Jedidia’s presence. As soon as he entered the room, all three would immediately stop whatever they were doing. They didn’t just fall silent, they froze and bowed their heads in unison. That shouldn’t be the normal respect children show to adults. It was a submissive posture, an absolute submission that bordered on fear.
(5:20) Jedidia showed her fear

He exercised total control over them. He decided when they could eat, when they could leave the house. And Martha was amazed to learn even when they were allowed to use the toilet when she secretly asked. Jedidia explained that it was necessary to maintain purity and religious discipline.
(5:41) He frequently quoted biblical passages about obedience and submission of women. And the community believed in the Sunday sermons he began to preach at the local church. Jedidia demonstrated an impressive knowledge of the Bible. His eloquence was captivating.
(6:02) His explanations, though extremely strict, seemed to have deep spiritual depth. He spoke of the importance of the patriarchal family, of the woman’s role as a servant of God through the man, and of the need to isolate herself from the corrupted outside world to protect the purity of her soul.
(6:21) The men of the community were impressed by his erudition, the women admired his devotion to the orphans. No one questioned Jedidia’s strict methods. You must understand that this was a time when male authority and religion were rarely challenged, especially when it was practiced under the guise of piety.
(6:46) That evening, as the family was having dinner, Matha confided to her husband, Josia, the strange feeling she had for the three girls. She said there was something in their eyes. Josia, a kind of deep resignation, it was not natural for such young people. But Josia, like other men, just brushed it off, thinking that his wife was overly concerned about others and reminded her that each family had its own way of raising their daughters, the only suspicion in the community was quelled.
(7:18) And no one knew that they had just welcomed a monster into their midst, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and it had found the perfect place to build its lair. Well, after only a month of staying, Jedidia announced to the community that he had found a suitable piece of land to establish his new life.
(7:38) It was actually an abandoned wooden house about three miles from the settlement, that is, nearly five kilometers. This location could not be more perfect for his real purpose. It was in an isolated valley, surrounded by dry, rocky hills. The house had belonged to a fur trapper who had died last winter and was now being sold for next to nothing.
(8:06) Jedidia explained to everyone that the place was secluded enough for him and the girls to live a contemplative, prayerful life, but close enough for him to continue his ministry to the wandering community. The main house was small but sturdy. Built of thick logs with a stone fireplace, it had a stable that was still in good condition, and a well that provided fresh water year-round.
(8:31) The people of Phil Moore, in their genuine kindness, organized a labor day to help Jedidia and the three girls settle in. And during the move, the girls once again impressed. They worked tirelessly. Abigel, Elisa, and Lia carried heavy boxes, arranged furniture, and never complained or asked for a break.
(8:55) Their efficiency and silence both impressed and puzzled the volunteers. They told themselves that this was surely a sign of good education and strict religious discipline. Martha Jennings was one of the last to leave the house that day. Before leaving, she tried again to speak to Abigao privately.
(9:17) She offered to visit often and help whenever they needed it. Abigel’s response was polite but extremely distant. And Matha noticed that the young girl kept glancing at Jedidia as if seeking approval for every word she said. That look sent a chill down Matha’s spine.
(9:39) As soon as the door closed, as the last of the Phi Mo disappeared behind the hill, the curtain fell completely. What the community thought was a spiritual retreat instantly turned into a carefully disguised prison. In the following weeks, Jedidia continued to show up regularly in Filmore on Sundays to preach and buy supplies, but the girls largely disappeared.
(10:03) When questioned, he explained that they were busy with housework and the intensive religious studies he had planned to prepare them for a more dedicated life. The community accepted this explanation. You see, formal education for women was considered unnecessary, even dangerous, at the time, because it might introduce them to ideas that were not appropriate for their role in society.
(10:29) Jedidia masterfully exploited these cultural prejudices to justify the increasing isolation of his victims. And inside that remote cabin, a regime