They live an unconventional life as a massive polygamous family.
And Kody Brown recently returned with his four wives to his home state of Utah years after the group fled the state due to strict laws that made the use of polygamy an offense.
In a recent episode of Sister Wives, Kody, Christine, Janelle, Meri and Robyn were back in town for the first time and reflected on the dire situation where they had to flee that night after police began investigating the family.
One big family: Kody Brown recently returned to his home state of Utah with his four wives years after the group fled the state due to strict laws that made the use of polygamy an offense.
Janelle, his second wife, remembered how the family had to practically pick up and leave their lives in Lehi, Utah after they were first in public with their unique family life.
“Within days of it really being announced, Utah police are investigating because multiple marriages are a crime in Utah,” Janelle said. “It is punishable by up to five years per count.”
Kody first married Meri almost 30 years ago, and soon after their union added a spiritual union with Janelle, followed by Christine. Robyn was the fourth woman to join the family in 2010 and the first woman in nearly 16 years.
She admitted that everyone was ‘very scared that they would come and arrest us’, and so they left the state in the dark night. We felt banished. ‘
Happy in love: Kody married Meri for the first time almost 30 years ago, and soon after their union added a spiritual union with Janelle, followed by Christine. Robyn was the fourth woman to join the family in 2010 and the first woman in nearly 16 years; seen in 2010
Wow! Over the years (and 14 seasons of the program) the family has grown with 18 children and two grandchildren with another on the way; seen in 2018
After they moved their family to Las Vegas, they sued the state of Utah and basically said, ‘Look, this law is unfair,’ ‘Janelle recalls. ‘We won, for about a year … we were decriminalized. We are no longer criminals. ‘
Over the years (and 14 seasons of the show) the family has grown with 18 children and two grandchildren with another on the way.
‘The state of Utah is appealing against our lawsuit that we won. They overthrew it and then doubled it with a new law, HB 99, “which ‘made a worse offense for polygamists in Utah,'” Kody said.
“A bill has been introduced in the Utah Senate, SB 102. What it is going to do is review the law that was passed a few years ago,” Janelle said in a confession. “It basically makes it so that people like our family, who lead a law-abiding life but only choose to live together for religious purposes, we are no longer criminals.”
Kody added: ‘What I do in my bedroom with another adult is nobody else’s business. And why then do they think they can legislate it? This is naive. ‘
‘The state of Utah is appealing against our lawsuit that we won. They overthrew it and then doubled it with a new law, HB 99, ‘which’ made a worse offense for polygamists in Utah, ‘Kody said; seen in 2017
After they moved their family to Las Vegas, they sued the state of Utah and basically said, ‘Look, this law is unfair,’ ‘Janelle recalls. ‘We won, for about a year … we were decriminalized. We are no longer criminals. ‘
Robyn remarks: ‘I think the legislators think that decriminalizing the law will make it free for all and that there will be more abuse that will happen. And what they do not realize is that the current legislation is so strict that it makes them so afraid to come out – and like a mother, she has a daughter who is abused and she is so afraid to go to the police go because she’s afraid they’re going to tear her family apart and take her child away. So her daughter is abused all her life, which is insane and horrible. ‘
Before leaving for their trip back to Utah, the group discussed whether they should all ride together because they are rarely in the same place, but eventually decided to use one vehicle.
“I think for me, the biggest fear of going back to Utah, if we are overwhelmed for a traffic violation, are they going to use it as an opportunity to tackle the polygamy charge?” Said Janelle. ‘Because it usually works – they get you for something else and then they add it. I’m always like, “Do not talk, Kody, do not talk.” It’s dumb, but it’s really a fear. ‘
‘If you can think, it’s like going to a place where your family is illegal. It just feels oppressive. It always worries me, ‘said Robyn.
“Polygamy right now in Utah is a crime,” Christine said after coming to Utah and picking up the Dargers family. “We are sitting with fellow criminals. We are just like their criminals. They can come in and arrest us all. ‘
“Kody, because he has one legal wife and three mermaids, can go from prison to nine to 15 years,” Janelle said. ‘Then it’s in your trial not to see your children, and not to commit the crime again, so if you saw your children again, you would be violating the probationary period. It took you to the federal system. It’s just a big mess. ‘
“Kody, because he has one legal wife and three mermaids, can go from prison to nine to 15 years,” Janelle said. ‘Then it’s in your trial not to see your children, and not to commit the crime again, so if you saw your children again, you would be violating the probationary period. It took you to the federal system. It’s just a big mess’ (seen in 2010)