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| Custody battle in Texas sect case | Custody battle in Texas sect case |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Custody hearings have begun in a case involving parents of 463 children taken from a polygamist sect in western Texas following allegations of sexual abuse. | Custody hearings have begun in a case involving parents of 463 children taken from a polygamist sect in western Texas following allegations of sexual abuse. |
| The hearings will allow parents seeking to regain custody to make their case. | The hearings will allow parents seeking to regain custody to make their case. |
| In April, officials raided a compound of the sect saying young girls were being forced into marriage and sex. The children were placed into foster care. | |
| The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has denied abuse and says it is being persecuted. | The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has denied abuse and says it is being persecuted. |
| So far, 168 mothers and 69 fathers of the children have been identified - reflecting the polygamist practices of the sect - the Associated Press news agency reports. | So far, 168 mothers and 69 fathers of the children have been identified - reflecting the polygamist practices of the sect - the Associated Press news agency reports. |
| More than 100 children have still not been matched with mothers | More than 100 children have still not been matched with mothers |
| The hearings, in the town of San Angelo, are expected to take several weeks. | The hearings, in the town of San Angelo, are expected to take several weeks. |
| Differing details | Differing details |
| AP says the case, which began with a raid on 3 April, has been marked by confusion. | AP says the case, which began with a raid on 3 April, has been marked by confusion. |
| Officials from the Texas children's agency have said some women and children have given different names and lied about ages. | Officials from the Texas children's agency have said some women and children have given different names and lied about ages. |
| The children were taken from the sect's Yearning For Zion ranch | The children were taken from the sect's Yearning For Zion ranch |
| As many as two dozen of the girls held in custody - including some mothers - may be adults, AP reports. | As many as two dozen of the girls held in custody - including some mothers - may be adults, AP reports. |
| Initially the authorities said that more than half of the underage girls removed from the ranch are either mothers or are pregnant. | Initially the authorities said that more than half of the underage girls removed from the ranch are either mothers or are pregnant. |
| The legal age of sexual consent in Texas is 17 and polygamy is illegal in the US. | The legal age of sexual consent in Texas is 17 and polygamy is illegal in the US. |
| The children were removed from the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado after someone called a domestic abuse hotline claiming to be a pregnant 16-year-old abused by a much older husband. | The children were removed from the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado after someone called a domestic abuse hotline claiming to be a pregnant 16-year-old abused by a much older husband. |
| The girl has never been found and authorities are investigating whether the calls were a hoax. | The girl has never been found and authorities are investigating whether the calls were a hoax. |
| Earlier this month, investigators said they had found signs of physical injuries among the children, but added it was unclear whether these were due to abuse. | Earlier this month, investigators said they had found signs of physical injuries among the children, but added it was unclear whether these were due to abuse. |
| Members live in large extended families, making it hard to determine exact parenthood, and the state is using DNA tests in its investigation. | Members live in large extended families, making it hard to determine exact parenthood, and the state is using DNA tests in its investigation. |
| The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is an offshoot of the Mormon Church, from the mainstream Mormons more than a century ago. | The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is an offshoot of the Mormon Church, from the mainstream Mormons more than a century ago. |
| FLDS members are taught that a man must marry at least three wives in order to ascend to heaven. | FLDS members are taught that a man must marry at least three wives in order to ascend to heaven. |
| The church denies forcing young girls into polygamy. | The church denies forcing young girls into polygamy. |