According to KSL, there have been three suspicious deaths in Utah. All three ended up in a burning car.
The first to die, Lorin Fischer, 20, was the son of Dan Fischer, a former member of the FLDS who has dedicated his later years to helping the ‘lost boys’ that were kicked out of the FLDS church in what many believe to make sure that the older men would have sufficient young brides.
The second, Greg Nelson, 37, had two propane tanks inside the car to feed the fire.
The third has not been identified, although the Maysville Ledger has speculated (based on the ownership of the vehicle) that it is Zach Ruble, a 2008 HS grad, which would make him 18 or 19.
According to the Spectrum, investigators from Salt Lake and Washington Counties are cooperating on the cases, looking for similarities.
While suicide has been suggested as a possibility, suicide by fire or immolation is extremely rare in society, accounting for only 1% of all such deaths (see studies here, here, and here).
There are no known connections between the FLDS and the second and third victims (both of whom were apparently members of traditional Christian churchs), and Dan Fischer doubts an FLDS involvement in Lorin’s death.
Since only Lorin was tied to the FLDS sect, it would be difficult to see how blood atonement would be tied to the three deaths. Blood atonement has been preached by the FLDS, primarily by Rulon and Warren Jeffs according to this article in the Eldorado Success. While it appears that the deaths may be connected, there is nothing that would link it to the FLDS.
The case(s) have also drawn attention from Websleuths, which questions the suicide angle.
There is no doubt the FLDS did it, you have blood atonement (the acual murder), then an auto fire (cremation). The two victims who had no ties to the FLDS were murdered to throw off LE and make it appear the FLDS were not involved.
Anon 1:04,There is absolutely doubt that the FLDS did it.First, what was their motive?Second, blood atonement doesn’t cover gentiles so far as I understand it.Third, it would have to be directly ordered by the so-called prophet, who is in jail with his contacts recorded.Fourth, there would have to be some logical purpose – and there are many others that would be more likely targets than Lorin.
Their motive is obvious, to terrorize their opponents. Dan Fisher is one of their most bitter enemies. He and much of his family are ex-flds.The prophet could have delegated his authority or perhaps sent out secret messages ordering the hits.
There is no evidence to support that.
follow the drugs and the money- you’ll get your answer, I’m guessing.
WC,That may be the case on Lorin (since he was a recovering drug abuser), but is there anything to tie the other two to drugs?
No, but they sound drug related. It sounds like someone was trying to stifle evidence, rather than suicide. Other than the fires and the windows down, there isn’t a connection.
They havent released the names. Once they have, bloggers will reveal the link, I reckon.
WC,The way that it occurred is a strong enough connection to get LE looking at it.Anon 2:34,The first two names were released, as noted in the post, and the third is suspected, since he is the owner of the car and has been missing since the day before the last fatality.
If it werent for the fact the 3 veh’s all seemed to be parked in remote areas,I’d think….faulty propane tanks. Or…weird new serial killer? I didn’t see it mentioned in the related articles if LE thought the men were already dead when the fires started [altho,thats my guess]. Or, if the 3 men were acquainted. Sad situation..but, as with most murders…fascinating stuff. –MC–
What I don’t understand is , a witness said they saw a car on fire, but didn’t call it in immediately? Why Not? Suicide, I highly doubt it. Even the most depressed person, or mental person wouldn’t deliberately set themselves on fire. It’s a very rare way of committing suicide.
Blues,Fifth,There’s some pretty harsh penalties in the Mormon faith for taking the life of an innocent. So murdering two people simply to throw others “off track” doesn’t really compute. Granted, they could probably make a case for the two others not being “innocent”, but it seems a bit extreme and not along the lines of what we’ve seen to date from the FLDS.
beckahFLDS arent LDS remember?Besides, there are lots of secrets yet to come out that the LDS church would never be caught doing. The trials havent even starteds yet. Expect to be shocked.