Shivangi Sinha
Lifetime’s ‘The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy’ tells the story through the eyes of Rena Chynoweth, who became the thirteenth and youngest wife of infamous cult leader Ervil LeBaron. Based on true events, the film traces Rena’s journey, as the thirteenth wife, from the time her family became involved with the church to her eventual escape following Ervil’s arrest. Since then, she has publicly shared her experiences within the sect, widely regarded as a cult, and has made numerous criminal allegations against its members. Her revelations offer a rare and disturbing glimpse into the inner workings of the group and the psychological grip it held over its followers.
Rena Chynoweth Was Chosen by Ervil LeBaron to Commit Murder
Rena Chynoweth was just three years old when her parents, Thelma and Leland, joined the Mormon fundamentalist Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times. They settled down in Colonia LeBaron in northern Mexico. Initially followers of Joel LeBaron, the family eventually aligned with his younger brother Ervil LeBaron after he broke away and formed his own sect, the Church of the Lamb of God. Rena later recalled that under Ervil’s leadership, she began to view him as both a spiritual leader and prophet. In interviews, she alleged that he began expressing inappropriate interest in her when she was just 12 years old and married her when she turned 16, while he was 50 years old at the time. However, she said that she always felt uneasy about the situation and resisted the union when she was told about it.
Rena alleged that in December 1974, she was sent along with her brothers, Mark and Duane Chynoweth, to attack the home of Verlan LeBaron in Los Molinos, Mexico. Authorities traced the plot back to Ervil, who was briefly jailed, though he was released within a year due to lack of evidence. Following his release in 1975, Rena and several other members relocated with him to San Diego, California. On May 10, 1977, she claimed she was assigned another mission to assassinate Rulon C. Allred in Los Molinos. A well-known homeopathic and chiropractic doctor, he was also the leader of the rival Apostolic United Brethren sect. Ervil had declared the killing a form of “blood atonement,” which was his principle of punishing people who defied God.
Rena later gave a detailed account of how the assassination was carried out. She claimed that she shot Allred while Ervil’s stepdaughter, Ramona Marston, stood nearby in shock. As she began to walk away, she remembered they had been instructed to make sure Allred was dead. She returned and shot him three more times—once in the head and twice in the chest. Rena alleged that she had learned the technique during mandatory weapons training provided by the church. Investigators eventually traced the crime to Rena, leading to her arrest in connection with the murder in November 1978. By then, she had given birth to her daughter, Erin.
Rena Chynoweth Was Initially Found Not Guilty of Rulon Allred’s Death
In March 1979, Rena Chynoweth stood trial for her role in the murder of Rulon C. Allred, but she could not be positively identified by witnesses, who cited her loose-fitting clothing as a factor. At the time, she was pregnant with her second child, John Ryan. Media outlets reported allegations of juror intimidation and external pressure during the proceedings. Ultimately, she was found not guilty. Following Ervil LeBaron’s arrest in June 1979, she reportedly began to reevaluate her beliefs around polygamy and the doctrines she had once accepted as truth. Her perspective shifted, and she eventually fled the church along with a few others, but her battle was far from over.
Before his death in August 1981, Ervil wrote several texts, one of which was titled ‘The Book of New Covenants.’ It included a list of 50 individuals he marked for “blood atonement,” and among them was Rena Chynoweth. She later alleged that in the years following his death, she was harassed, threatened, and stalked by his successors, including Arturo and Heber LeBaron. Living under constant fear, she maintained a low profile until 1990, when she bravely published her memoir, ‘The Blood Covenant.’ In the book, she openly admitted to killing Allred, which prompted his family to file a wrongful death civil suit against her.
Rena Chynoweth Has Remarried and Keeps a Low Profile
The civil trial began in February 1992, but Rena Chynoweth did not appear in court and cited ongoing threats to her safety. Despite her absence, she was found liable and ordered to pay $52 million in damages to the family of Rulon C. Allred. However, reports indicate the Allred family never collected the settlement. Around this time, she also gave an interview on the tabloid talk show ‘Sally,’ where she spoke candidly about her past.
Since then, she has remarried, kept a low profile, and reportedly dedicated herself to helping children and young women escape polygamous environments. She publicly supported Texas authorities during the 2008 YFZ Ranch raid. It was a major law enforcement operation against the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), which uncovered widespread abuse and underage marriages. It appears that Rena has worked to turn her life around and use her experience to aid others facing similar trauma.
Read More: Ramona Marston: What Happened to Ervil LeBaron’s Step-Daughter?
