The Tragic Tale of the Lafferty Brothers' Dark Revelation
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The Lafferty Brothers and Their Disturbing Mission
In the summer of 1984, a sinister plot unfolded in American Fork, Utah. Brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, convinced they were acting on divine orders, invaded their brother Allen's home. The resulting scene was nothing short of horrific, as they mercilessly took the lives of Brenda, Allen's wife, and their infant niece, Erica.
While the brothers insisted they were simply carrying out God's will, their trial exposed a complex mix of motivations behind their actions. Deeply entrenched in Mormon fundamentalism, the Laffertys adhered to strict interpretations of their faith, which often clashed with the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
However, their religious fervor was not the only driving force behind their heinous acts. As the trial unfolded, a darker motive came to light — a desire for vengeance.
Roots of Extremism in a Troubled Family
The Lafferty brothers' story began in the 1940s within the devout Mormon community of Payson, Utah. Growing up alongside four brothers and two sisters, Ron and Dan were shaped by a disturbing family atmosphere.
Their mother, Claudine, exemplified quiet submission, while their father, Warren, displayed explosive rage, even resorting to violence against both his wife and their family dog. This toxic environment, coupled with their extremist religious beliefs, would lead the Laffertys to a tragic destiny, culminating in a brutal act that shocked their family and community.
Warren Lafferty instilled a deep mistrust of conventional medicine in his children. He once refused to take a daughter to the hospital until her appendix burst and delayed medical treatment for a son who accidentally shot himself with an arrow, citing Sabbath observance.
Within this dysfunctional setting, Dan gravitated towards his older brother Ron. They not only shared volatile tempers but also a growing disillusionment with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dan, particularly, became fixated on the church's abandonment of polygamy, a belief that resonated with Ron. This conflict ultimately led to Ron's wife fleeing with their six children to Florida, effectively ending their marriage.
Adopting a New Identity and Dangerous Beliefs
By the 1980s, Ron and Dan Lafferty, alienated from mainstream church practices, joined a polygamist sect known as the School of Prophets. This new allegiance brought a noticeable change in their appearance — they grew their hair long and considered themselves true leaders of the faith. However, their ambitions extended far beyond mere leadership.
Claiming to receive divine messages, Ron deluded himself into believing that God commanded him to "remove" individuals he viewed as obstacles. This chilling list included Brenda, who had aided his wife's departure, along with two others he perceived as threats.
Ron meticulously documented God's alleged message on a yellow legal pad, presenting it to Dan as justification for their gruesome intentions.
"Thus saith the Lord unto my servants the prophets. It is my will and commandment that ye remove the following individuals in order that my work might go forward. For they have truly become obstacles in my path and I will not allow my work to be stopped. First thy brother's wife Brenda and her baby, then Chloe Low and then Richard Stowe. And it is my will that they be removed in rapid succession."
Dan, grappling with his brother's claims, urged caution: "If this is truly God's will, then ensure it originates from Him. Don't act on mere whims, but don't risk defying a divine command either."
The Chilling Act of Violence
Spurred by their warped interpretation of scripture, particularly from the Book of Mormon, the Lafferty brothers executed their so-called "removal revelation." Their first victims were Brenda Lafferty and her young daughter, Erica.
At just 24, Brenda was a confident, intelligent woman who openly challenged the brothers' extreme beliefs and refused to recognize Ron as a prophet. Her defiance and support for Allen during his estrangement made her a target for their resentment.
In July 1984, the brothers drove to Brenda and Allen's home in American Fork, where they forced their way inside. They assaulted Brenda, strangled her with a vacuum cord, and ultimately cut her throat.
Despite the horror, Brenda fought back, desperately pleading, "Leave my child alone! Please, I beg you!" But her cries faded into an unsettling silence.
Accounts vary, but Charles Carnes claimed that Dan efficiently took the life of little Erica. As they fled the scene, Ron's actions turned even more disturbing. According to Carnes, Ron took a knife and struck it against his knee while murmuring, "I ended her. I ended her. The wretch is gone. Unbelievable… I ended her." He then thanked Dan for his role in the child's murder, expressing a twisted bond between them.
Their murderous intent did not end with Brenda and Erica. However, Chloe Low escaped their wrath due t