Dean Grover West: How Did He Die? Who Killed Him?

The Church of the Lamb of God, founded by Ervil LeBaron after breaking away from his brother Joel’s leadership, became notorious for its extreme violence and ruthless enforcement of loyalty. One of the many victims of this bloody legacy was Dean Grover West, a member of the church who ultimately met a violent end. It stands as yet another example of how deadly the religious sect could be to its own members. Lifetime’s ‘The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy’ or ‘The Thirteenth Wife: Escaping Polygamy,’ which primarily focuses on the life of his thirteenth wife, Rena, presents a dramatized portrayal of Dean, casting the character in a different light but still leading to the same tragic fate.

Dean Grover West’s Death Was Reported by One of Ervil LeBaron’s Wives

Dean Grover Vest was born on February 15, 1939, in Eugene, Oregon. His parents, Rodney Graham Vest and Marion Idella Shipley, were quite young when he was born, but they did everything they could to provide for him. Dean shared a strong bond with his older brother, Lawrence, who was not only his sibling but also his closest confidant. His younger sister, Sylvia, was someone he deeply cared for and looked after. The three siblings were very close and often spent time playing together, going on camping trips, and enjoying all the typical experiences of childhood. The family lived in Springfield, Oregon, for five years, but over time, Dean’s curiosities and inclinations began to pull him elsewhere. By the mid-1950s, he felt drawn to The Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times, which was led by Joel LeBaron.

However, Dean grew particularly close to Joel’s younger brother, Ervil LeBaron, and chose to remain by his side. This allegiance led him, in the late 1960s, to join Ervil when he broke away and founded his own sect, the Church of the Lamb of God. A core tenet of this new church was the doctrine of “blood atonement,” a violent practice that involved punishing (or killing) those whom Ervil declared had strayed from God’s path. One of the first alleged targets under this doctrine was Ervil’s own brother, Joel. Within the Church of the Lamb of God, Dean held a significant position, and according to some reports, he may have allegedly even acted as an enforcer or henchman for the group.

On June 16, 1975, Vonda White, one of Ervil LeBaron’s wives, called the police to report that she had heard three gunshots coming from downstairs in her home. Authorities responded immediately and arrived at the scene to find Dean shot to death. He had sustained two gunshot wounds to his back and one to his head. What made the situation particularly puzzling was that the incident occurred within a compound in National City, California, where numerous members of the sect lived. Given the tight-knit and heavily controlled nature of the community, it was unclear how such a violent act could have been carried out without immediate detection or intervention.

Dean Grover West’s Killer Claimed That They Acted Out of Fear

The first person the police brought in for questioning was Vonda White herself. She claimed she had contacted authorities solely because she heard the gunshots and insisted she had no further knowledge of what had happened. With no immediate evidence linking her to the crime, she was released. However, shortly after her release, she fled the state with her five children, which only deepened the police’s suspicions of her involvement. Her sudden disappearance raised serious concerns, and ultimately, investigators were able to locate the murder weapon along with other key pieces of evidence. These findings confirmed their earlier suspicions that Vonda was the primary suspect in Dean’s murder.

In 1978, authorities were finally able to track Vonda down in Colorado, where she was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Investigators alleged that the weapon used in the crime had been provided by Ervil LeBaron himself and that Dean had been targeted because he was planning to leave the sect. The police believed that Ervil feared Dean might go to the authorities and reveal details about the inner workings of the church, leading him to orchestrate the murder to protect himself and the group. During her trial, Vonda claimed that she had acted out of fear, both for her own life and for the safety of her children. Despite this defense, the court found her guilty, and she was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison.