Shivangi Sinha
Ervil LeBaron fathered more than 50 children through his thirteen wives as the self-proclaimed prophet of a violent polygamist cult. His final wife, Rena Chynoweth, gave birth to two of his children, one of whom was Erin LeBaron. Lifetime’s ‘The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy’ draws inspiration from these true events, offering a dramatized but grounded portrayal of life inside the Church of the Lamb of God. The film includes imagined glimpses of Erin’s early years as the daughter of his thirteenth wife. It sheds light on the psychological and emotional toll of growing up in a rigid, dangerous environment shaped by control, secrecy, and religious extremism.
Erin LeBaron Was 3 Years Old When Her Mother Went to Trial
Erin LeBaron was born in 1976 in San Diego, California, to Ervil LeBaron and Rena Chynoweth. Her father, Ervil, was the self-proclaimed prophet of the Church of the Lamb of God, a breakaway polygamist sect rooted in fundamentalist Mormon beliefs. Rena had known Ervil since she was just three years old, as her family had been involved with his religious circle for many years. Over time, Rena became deeply embedded in his group, and at the age of sixteen, she was spiritually married to him, becoming his thirteenth and last wife. Erin’s early years were shaped by the beliefs and expectations of the religious sect that she was a part of, and she was expected to live her life according to the same dictates.
Erin was not even a year old when her father, Ervil, orchestrated the murder of rival polygamist leader Rulon Allred in May 1977. Her mother was allegedly one of the people chosen to commit the crime, and Rena later admitted to shooting Allred. After the killing, the latter returned and lived with Erin until November 1978, when she was arrested in connection with the crime. Her trial didn’t begin until March 1979, by which time she was pregnant with Erin’s younger brother, John Ryan. Following her acquittal in the criminal case, she and her newborn son remained in San Diego, California, where Erin was also being raised. Some reports indicate that during this time, the siblings even spent time with Ervil before he was captured in Mexico in June 1979.
Erin LeBaron Escaped the Religious Sect Along With Her Mother and Brother
After Ervil LeBaron’s arrest, Rena Chynoweth made the firm decision to cut all ties with the religious sect. She distanced herself and her children from its violent legacy. According to Rena’s own accounts, life for her and her children after leaving was filled with fear and uncertainty. They were constantly moving from one place to another to stay safe from those who might still be loyal to Ervil’s teachings. In 1992, during a civil court trial related to her past, Rena bravely appeared in public and spoke about the life she had rebuilt as an advocate. She also identified herself as a devoted mother of two, which suggested that she had raised Erin and her brother.
Although Erin has never stepped into the public spotlight, it’s reasonable to assume she was raised far removed from the influence of the sect. Given the turbulent beginnings of her life, her upbringing likely reflected her mother’s efforts to create a safer, more stable environment free from the shadows of her past. She still maintains a low profile and little is known about her since then.
Read More: The Thirteenth Wife: Escaping Polygamy True Story, Explained
