THE mom of two missing teens is terrified that they’re in danger of a religious cult with a sick death wish.
The mother asserts that her son and daughter are being pursued by a polygamous Mormon church, led by a figure who has professed that children need to die to bring about his supposed prophecy.
Rachelle Fischer, 15, and Allen Fischer, 13, were last seen on June 22 in an eastern Idaho town called Monteview, police said.
Authorities suspect that the teenagers left home to head back to their previous residence in Trenton, Utah, because of their “religious beliefs,” as stated by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Elizabeth Roundy, Rachelle and Allen’s mom, claims her kids were brainwashed by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Roundy left the FLDS church over five years ago.
The mother suspects that Rachelle and Allen were taken by their older sister, who still follows the faith, to complete a prophecy pronounced by the church’s leader, Warren Jeffs.
The FLDS is a controversial offshoot Mormon group that broke away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to practice polygamy.
Jeffs is leading the group from prison as he serves a life sentence for sex crimes connected to the church’s practice of underage and polygamous marriages, including raping a 12-year-old girl.
Although he’s stuck behind bars, Jeffs still regularly communicates prophecies to his followers, who believe that he receives messages from their god.
In August 2022, Jeffs claimed to have a revelation saying children must become “pure” by dying so that they can resurrect and enter the “celestial kingdom,” according to East Idaho News.
Roundy believes her kids, who were both last seen wearing traditional FLDS clothes, are returning to Utah to follow Jeffs’ prophecy.
“They [were] willing to go because they think that it’s their salvation,” Roundy told ABC affiliate KTVX.
The mom is worried that Jeffs’ revelation will lead to a mass suicide in the church and that her children could be in danger.
“It’s just so erratic what they’re being told to do. You never know what they’re going to be told to do,” she told KTVX.
“It’s just ridiculous. Just right out manipulation to see what they can get away with basically.”
This isn’t the first of Roundy’s kids to be affected by the FLDS.
Rachelle and Allen’s older sister, Elintra Dee Fischer, has been missing since January 1, 2023.
Roundy believes Elintra, now 18, took her younger siblings back to the faith.
The FLDS has been accused of hiding missing children after Jeffs made a revelation telling former members to return their children to the church in June 2022.
In 2023, Roundy publicly advocated for her daughter’s return.
“I am positive that FLDS are hiding Elintra,” Roundy told ABC at the time.
Anyone who has seen Elintra, Rachelle, or Allen is urged to immediately call the police.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
