DOC Investigates Warren Jeffs Cult

NASHVILLE: The Documentary Channel (DOC) is to present two exclusive U.S. premieres that explore issues of polygamy, abuse and under-age marriage practiced by the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS) cult, led by Warren Jeffs.

On November 20 at 8 p.m., Damned to Heaven debuts. The program provides intimate interviews with former FLDS members to paint a portrait of a society where men believed that participating in plural marriage was a requirement to get accepted into heaven. The documentary short Banished: The Lost Boys of Polygamy follows at 9:45 p.m. The doc explores the personal lives of young males, ages 13 to 21, who have been barred from FLDS by the religious sect’s adult men in order to reduce competition for wives. DOC is making both films available beginning November 20 online in their entirety on the network’s Sling.com channel.

“Two years ago to the day, on November 20, 2007, Warren Jeffs was sent to prison,” said Kate Pearson, The Documentary Channel’s senior VP of programming. “Damned to Heaven documents in great detail the harrowing lives of those whom he affected. So many tragedies were inflicted on young lives and families. It’s a fascinating story that needs to be taken out of the dark and exposed to a mass audience.”