14-year-old boy dies operating forklift in Colorado City

Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan and Sgt. Mike Hoggard, Colorado City, Ariz., July 6, 2012 | Photo courtesy of Mohave County Sheriff's Office

COLORADO CITY, Ariz. — Monday in Colorado City, Ariz., a 14-year-old boy died while driving a forklift. The boy’s body is currently at the Office of the Medical Examiner in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

The Mohave County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident, Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson said. A team from Arizona Child Protective Services is also investigating the death.

Joni Holm, who heard about the accident from some family members in Colorado City, told St. George News that the boy was working at some type of construction site operating the forklift. He was on the forklift and it started to tip. He jumped out thinking it would save his life but it tipped over on him, Holm said.

St. George News will report further details as they become available.

St. George News columnist Ed Kociela contributed to this report.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

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116 Comments

  • My Evil Twin March 12, 2014 at 11:41 am

    It is really a wonder that there are not more juvenile “workplace” deaths among the Plig community. There are so many kids that are working jobs that are dangerous, like the 10 year old that I saw doing a roofing job a few years ago.
    I hope they prosecute the hell out of whoever this poor kid was working for, and the kids parents. Though he probably was working for his “father.”

    • PligKid March 12, 2014 at 6:27 pm

      It’s no wonder. Most of these kids have the intelligence and training to do the jobs as well or better than most any other place in the country regardless of age. Being trained by someone you know you can learn better and faster.

      • Bub March 12, 2014 at 10:32 pm

        lol

      • plyghipser March 26, 2014 at 11:43 am

        Spoken like a true creeker. I am a former FLDS as well. Started working when I was 10. You are right that I wasn’t forced to. I chose to because there was opportunity and I hated being home. All my father’s wives fighting all the time. Children constantly bickering. I have worked in nearly every trade (which made Saturdays the worst day because everyone thought I should be on their crew). You make the claim that the kids are intelligence. I will disagree. I, like most of the crews I was with, was an excellent drone. Very efficient on how to build a build stuff. It was all rinse and repeat. The ability to remember how to do something you do every day is not intelligence. Don’t get me wrong. We are a talented bunch. Seen some amazing projects go together that we could stand back in awe. We can even make a building disappear overnight. Eat your heart out David Copperfield. Personally at my age now I feel like my childhood was robbed. I look at my children with such jealousy. Will I allow my children to help me in a building project …..absolutely. Great way to learn math among other things. Will I let my children run a piece of equipment …….probably, but ill be there with him. What you express can be accomplished without child labor. There is no problem with having some experiences but there is a problem with having a teenager thrusted into a situation where he would require the maturity to do an adults job. The people out there cant seem to learn their lesson. I thought after that year that 3 steed kids died in the same year we would have learned our lesson. Roy steeds kid got crushed by a rock. James steed go squished by a loader and I cant remember the last kid’s name but I remember he got cut in 3 pieces from rolling a water truck. We just told ourselves it was gods will and moved on, which is a giant F U to those kids. Those who can not remember the past will always be condemned to repeat it.

    • Marion March 12, 2014 at 10:16 pm

      What we need is to take pictures and call the police when we see this happening. Some fines or jail sentences and it might stop.

    • Conneroo March 13, 2014 at 2:51 pm

      That is a sad attitude to have. Yes children are taught young how to be responsible, and when they grow up they have trade skills to take care of their families, unlike most kids I see these days that not only won’t work but live off girls food stamps rather than work at all. sadly accidents do happen, he could have been killed just as quick doing some stunt on a bike or skateboard..The family will miss him dearly.

  • Rhonda March 12, 2014 at 11:43 am

    Don’t we have child labor laws in this country? Someone needs to go to jail for that one.

    • Conneroo March 13, 2014 at 2:53 pm

      Why is jail the answer? There are drug laws but parents still use around their children, That is far more harmful than learning how to work. Prayers for his family.

  • PHJ March 12, 2014 at 11:45 am

    Sounds like something taken directly out of Ed Kociela’s book.

  • Molly March 12, 2014 at 11:50 am

    How horribly sad 🙁

  • JOSH DALTON March 12, 2014 at 11:50 am

    sad…

    • Brian March 12, 2014 at 3:32 pm

      Yes, he was probably a potential TDi buyer in a couple years!

      • Bub March 12, 2014 at 10:34 pm

        TDi ?

        • PLIGKID March 13, 2014 at 10:46 pm

          It is VW’s thing for Turbo Diesel injection

  • Pat Law March 12, 2014 at 12:20 pm

    Who in their right mind would let a 14 year old boy drive a forklift? This child should have been in school not working at a construction site. This clearly shows negligence on the parents side, and the owner of the construction site. They all need to be held responsible and severely reprimanded!

    • Nonbeliever March 12, 2014 at 2:13 pm

      The “religious culture” out there puts boys to work in adult fields of work at a very early age.
      The state has turned a blind eye to the myriad abuses and neglectful situations. They do nothing when these kids are on work sites all over Utah. Pretending its a father and son outing ?
      Frankly I am disgusted by the governing officials of Utah. Grow some balls and stop this.

      • Momma E March 13, 2014 at 7:36 am

        Nonbeliever your an idiot it had nothing to do with Utah read the article again Mohave County is Arizona…. Don’t blame Utah its a beautiful place to live, and if you don’t like it get the …* out go see if any other place is better.
        Ed. ellipsis …*

        • Nonbeliever March 13, 2014 at 12:14 pm

          No need to name call. I should have clarified my comment to include ” same reckless behaviors on the Utah side” of the same group. I will admit that trying to type a comment on a miniature phone keyboard can be challenging.
          Name calling is generally seen in children and looks a bit whiney coming from an adult. Of course not understanding the difference between “your” and “you’re” leads me to think you very well could be a minor, in that case I will let it slide.
          Regardless of which side of the state line it’s on there is a massive problem and I would like to see our state take a stand to help and protect these children and innocents. Utah has long sat back and allowed these groups of people hide behind their religious beliefs to conduct “business” as they see fit.
          It’s clearly hazardous on many levels. I have no problem with consenting and informed adults, free from duress or retribution choosing to believe and live certain lifestyles.
          Sorry “Momma E” I am not moving . I am entitled to my opinion as a citizen, tax payer and human being. Just because we have different opions does not mean I should be expected to leave.

        • Bub March 13, 2014 at 5:57 pm

          MOMMA E is one of those dopes always spouting “if you don’t like it leave”. I do like it, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to be critical of idiots and …*.. you should take a chill and lighten up…
          Ed. ellipsis …*

    • Biden 2016 March 12, 2014 at 3:06 pm

      Pat. When I was a kid 12-14 year old kids drove farm equipment, tractors, backhoes, dump trucks, potato trucks, combines, hay balers etc. etc. I started driving a truck when I was 12. In places like Idaho they used to let kids get a drivers license at 14 to help out on the farm. I’m not that old. I’m 46.

      • Nonbeliever March 12, 2014 at 8:50 pm

        I think there is a big difference between learning to help out on a family farm or ranch etc. than what it is happening with the FLDS children.
        From the in depth conversations with former members these children are expected to labor ( like a paid adult laborer) alongside adults. Their roles are clearly defined at an early age and reinforced throughout their lives in different ways. Talk to any of the young men/boys booted out of the group or runaways. Talk to the women and girls were left/escaped. None paint an idyllic picture by any stretch of the imagination that some of us experienced growing up on the outside.
        Age appropriate work is good for our children, learning basic skills and appreciation for what it takes to put food on the table. However children also need time to be children, to play, learn to socialize and time to explore their world and receive an appropriate education.
        All anyone wants is for these children to have happy, healthy lives free from harm and fear.

      • jenn March 12, 2014 at 9:10 pm

        That’s what i was thinking! If more parents taught their kids to “work” we wouldn’t have so many entitled teens and welfare baby mommas! What they should have done if anything is make sure the child had “safety” training.

        • joan March 16, 2014 at 11:10 pm

          No we would have more kids who do atrocious things to animals like they … did in Colorado City last year!!
          Ed. ellipsis.

        • plyghipster March 26, 2014 at 4:13 pm

          Uh…………Have you met very many ex-plygs? I’ve been asked for help by a number of them and they used their kid that they accidentally made as an excuse as why I should help them. Most of the ex-plygs I know are still more concerned about where the next party is or the next piece of a$$ than most anything else in their life.

      • Conneroo March 13, 2014 at 2:59 pm

        Ditto! and we did not have school shooting and all the other crap kids are doing these days. It is sad accidents happen. But that is what free agency is about the right to choose. I think we as americans have given enough of our rights away all in the name of someones got to pay. I know people that are bad people that have done worse to their children and walk free, Leave the family alone.

      • Mary June 26, 2014 at 3:27 pm

        im not saying that this indecent was innocent but i agree with Biden. im only 40 and i got my ID DL at 14, i have blackfeet to this day. Learned to drive in the fields at 10. This might be where work ethic is getting lost when people cry “child labor” for having a kid work with his community.

  • Rachel March 12, 2014 at 12:24 pm

    This is why certification is required for forklift operators. Condolences to the family.

  • AJ March 12, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    had to chase some colorado city roofer’s boys off our job site roof back in 2004; i didn’t feel bad about it.

    this is why.

    • nearthecreek March 13, 2014 at 8:49 am

      Thanks AJ! We need more contractors like you. In fact, I wish more businesses would ask about what subcontractors will be used before hiring a contractor. Saw lots of FLDS children working in Mesquite several years ago. Broke my heart!

  • Bub March 12, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    Plygs with their child laborers and child sex slaves, and they’re left alone to have their “liberty” and “religious freedom”.

  • Gary March 12, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    They have the girls married at young ages, and the boys working dangerous jobs? That is not right! What the Hell are they thinking?

    • Jim March 12, 2014 at 11:19 pm

      They are thinking they are above the law. They do anything they want and the Utah/Arizona political hacks allow them free reign.

    • Conneroo March 13, 2014 at 3:07 pm

      Gary look around you? don’t you see how many abortions are done a year on young girls? girls from good homes that their parents don’t want anyone to know their daughter got prego? And many children are conceived by a relative? but kept hush hush and there is no plig involved in that. I seems to me that everything is ok as long as religion is not involved. There is nothing wrong with teaching your children to work. there a man has more than one wife his business, in the regular world a man has one wife and several girlfriends, but that is ok. maybe the world needs to work on those situations.

    • Craig March 13, 2014 at 5:14 pm

      What are they thinking? They’re thinking NO ONE on the Utah or the Arizona side of their neck of the woods will enforce any laws. They have been getting away with cr@p for eons, why stop now. Underage marriage, sex abuse, forced marriages, families separated, welfare fraud, tax fraud…the list is endless.

  • vergil March 12, 2014 at 1:19 pm

    I am a proud plyg kid. I begged and pleaded to go to wprk at age 10. I am a better more knowledged person for it. I gained more knowledge and respect for work than most ppl in the work force today. accidents happen. I greive for this family and their loss. these young MEN want to work and learn.

    • Sasha March 12, 2014 at 2:14 pm

      Vergil at 14 he certainly was NOT a man! He was in his second year of being a teen. He should have been in high school doing teen age activities not working a job to help support his so called father’s upteen unwed wives and their children.

      • PligKid March 12, 2014 at 6:22 pm

        At 14 I was gladly working. I spent every dollar I made on whatever I wanted to. I was also in school.

        • Sean March 12, 2014 at 10:00 pm

          PLIGKID – Your experiences are a lot different than what many of the young men who have left the crick have reported. Throughout many many reports the stories of the Ex-Crickers who were forced to work for no pay and denied even a basic education there is a consistency. The most plausible explanation for this discrepancy obviously is that you are making stuff up.

          • PLIGKID March 13, 2014 at 10:44 pm

            Try me against any other story you would like.
            I am not at this time willing to disclose anything that tells anyone who I am. The proof is in who I am. You may never get my proof but I do not care I don’t want the attention.

        • plyghipster March 26, 2014 at 4:24 pm

          “I spent every dollar I made on whatever I wanted to.”

          Everyone was required to donate. If you didn’t you simply just left that burden for everyone else. I’m quite surprised you were not ousted sooner. The rest of us worked for free so the church could have the money it needed to fight its battles. So your welcome from the rest of us filling in for you.

    • Marion March 12, 2014 at 10:12 pm

      Thank you for confirming that putting children at risk is the norm in this community.

    • Momma E March 13, 2014 at 7:45 am

      Im not from this faith but I say Amen to you thoughts… I have raised 4 boys they love to go to work with their dad whenever school was out. For all of those haters out there this is a tragic accident and the family is grieving a loss of a child have some sympathy, and keep your ugly nasty thoughts to yourself..

    • joan March 16, 2014 at 11:12 pm

      They need to learn so they can be self sufficient when they get kicked out of the cult, um, sect and become lost boys!

  • truth March 12, 2014 at 1:32 pm

    Prior to 2007, death certs were pre-signed in Mohave County. Not many autopsies were done on minors (which are generally mandatory in death of minors). Current coroner blew whistle and now certs are no longer pre-signed and given in bulk to authorities, hospitals and funeral homes. Very young looking boys have been seen working heavy equipment on sites as part of contracts signed with county/cities in recent past.

  • Vera March 12, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    I grew up there. Those kids need something to do, they want to work, to show their worth. It keeps them out of trouble and teaches them responsibility. It also gives them a chance to get out of the home and learn work ethics, learn some about the world around them. Many of you who make comments have NO IDEA what you are talking about. You don’t know what is really going on – only what the media wants you to think!

    • Brenda N-W March 12, 2014 at 9:36 pm

      Vera, You say the kids need to work, and that it keeps them out of trouble and teaches them responsibility. There is a reason we have laws in this country. One reason is so that we should not exploit child labor. Driving a forklift is not something a fourteen year old lad should be doing, and it was very irresponsible of his father to allow him to do so. Arizona law states that children under the age of 16 should not be operating certain machinery, and in some cases, the age is 18. It is also required that a forklift driver has to be certified, in other words, training is involved, and testing is required. At fourteen, he should be in full time school, learning about the world outside the confines of Short Creek. Many of us who make comments KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. I never believe what the media tells me. I have several friends who are from the Crick, Brent and Brandon Jeffs being two of them. I’m sure you are not going to tell me that they are liars?

      • Thinks your an Idiot March 14, 2014 at 2:50 pm

        Who are you to say that that isn’t something a 14 year old lad should be doing? You must pay your sons way for everything. If you didn’t you would agree that it would be ok for them to learn an ethic.

    • Momma E March 13, 2014 at 7:48 am

      Amen… Many of these people make comments about stuff they know nothing about…

    • nearthecreek March 13, 2014 at 8:53 am

      I’m sure there are plenty of things to do there that don’t require operating heavy equipment. Laws are in place to protect children who don’t yet have the life experience to make judgments about safety. Heck, if someone had given me the opportunity as a teenager to drive a tractor or forklift, I would have jumped at the chance!

  • Marion March 12, 2014 at 1:58 pm

    When will this end? These polygamist groups think they can break any law they wish with no repercussions. Children need to be in school, not on construction sites. As it is now, more are likely to die and be injured while the state sits on its hands (at least in Utah). Let’s hope Arizona will take real action this time.

  • Trent March 12, 2014 at 2:13 pm

    Accidents are PREVENTABLE through serious training and discipline.

    Forklift drivers get trained and certified. I was. I suspect this kid got NEITHER. More than likely he did not even have a seat belt on while navigating terrain. OSHA will get to the bottom of all of that.

    While I respect your respect for work , there are jobs 14 year old boys should NOT be doing; this is one, and you are wrong to think it is somehow O.K..

    • Anne March 12, 2014 at 4:29 pm

      The definition af accident is, could not be prevented. So your theory is incoreect in terms of every licensed driver, machine operater, pilot, etc. Many accidents happen every second with experienced, or so called people.

      • Sean March 12, 2014 at 10:17 pm

        An accident, mishap, or, more archaically, misadventure, is an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance, often with lack of intention or necessity. It usually implies a generally negative outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its occurrence.
        Experts in the field of injury prevention avoid use of the term ‘accident’ to describe events that cause injury in an attempt to highlight the predictable and preventable nature of most injuries. Such incidents are viewed from the perspective of epidemiology as predictable and preventable. Preferred words are more descriptive of the event itself, rather than of its unintended nature (e.g., collision, drowning, fall, etc.)
        Accidents of particularly common types (crashing of automobiles, events causing fire, etc.) are investigated to identify how to avoid them in the future. This is sometimes called root cause analysis, but does not generally apply to accidents that cannot be deterministically predicted. A root cause of an uncommon and purely random accident may never be identified, and thus future similar accidents remain “accidental.”

        This ‘accident’ was predictable and preventable. There are child labor laws for a reason. There are workplace safety laws for a reason. There is forklift certification every 3 years for a reason.

  • joni March 12, 2014 at 2:22 pm

    Vergil why is it bad to be just a kid? what about your schooling,playing,working is good, but it shouldn’t be your whole life at 10.

    • vergil March 14, 2014 at 6:45 am

      What do you consider “being a kid” ? I had a great childhood. worked hard,played hard and enjoyed life. learned to support myself. I have never been without work. ppl love my work ethic. Did all the fun KID activities. and still worked like a man every chance I had. today kids sit around inside till they are in their twenties and then they have a tough time keeping a job at mcdonalds. because they think the fantasy life is more important then the real life. so let your kids work encourage them at a young age to be a functioning person. educate them in a hands on field of work. never force them. when they are young is when they yearn to learn. if you wait till they are late teens they have no desire to learn.

  • ME March 12, 2014 at 2:27 pm

    As a NONE Plyg….. it makes me sick how people of MY OWN society are so judgmental.. instead of assuming things like you do.. meet a Plyg kid or a lost boy and im sure your logic of thinking will change… as for the boy I do not know him only of him.. as for his father as “mid evil twin” was speakin of.. his father has not been in CC for many yrs.. HE LIVES AMONST YOU!!!!! but im sure you would never know it.. I do know 3 of the boys older brothers one of which is the father of my child and they are all very good men with very good morals and a outlook on life that is so great that none of you nor me have any right to judge.. I think its funny people think they have the right to judge with all their drug habits and dirty lil secrets but yet speak so poorly of something they know so lil about!!!!!!!

    • Bub March 12, 2014 at 2:56 pm

      I don’t want my tax dollars to support their corrupt lifestyle…Cut off the gov’t life support if they don’t change … put the men in jail for not paying child support to all their concubines.

      • PligKid March 12, 2014 at 6:17 pm

        I was born and raised in Colorado City. My parents raised me and all my sibling without any of your taxes or government support of any kind. Just because a few families do it does not mean that most or even all of them do.

        • Sean March 12, 2014 at 10:04 pm

          Food stamps are funded by taxpayers, so is aid to dependent children.

        • Bub March 12, 2014 at 10:37 pm

          FACT: most plygs get govt assistance. DON’T LIE!

  • Biden 2016 March 12, 2014 at 2:51 pm

    I am not a Plig and I started working at age 12. I’d rather see a kid out working hard than sitting in a dark corner in the basement playing video games. My kids started working early in their teens and have turned out to be hard working and productive citizens. My concern is that work replaces school for a lot of the people from out that way. Very unfortunate accident on the forklift but is it really more dangerous than an ATV or riding a bike or skating with no helmet or some of the other activities that kids do? My prayers for the family. The rest of us could learn a bit from the Pligs and their hard work ethic.

  • Freedom'sAdvocate March 12, 2014 at 3:51 pm

    I came from that community, and I feel pained for the family of this boy.

    I also have to say that work ethic is important, but so is education, safety, and the freedom to live a safe childhood, and make it to being an adult.

    Hard work has to be wisely chosen, age-appropriate, and supervised. Accidents do and will happen, but why put a child in harm’s way? I cannot count the times I saw very young boys driving heavy equipment, trucks, cars, 4-wheelers and anything else that moved. I can still picture them: necks cranked to see over the steering wheel, body stretched to reach the pedals. I could tell stories of things that nearly made my heart stop.

    It’s not safe, it’s not legal, and it’s not fair to rob children of their childhood. There is plenty of hard work to have young people do without putting their lives, and the lives of those around them, in danger.

    • vergil March 14, 2014 at 6:54 am

      Most of us kids chose to do those things. we often did all those things without our parents concent. best childhood by far. pull your self- righteous head out of your …. you are most likely related to this young man. have a heart.
      Ed. Ellipsis.

  • Anne March 12, 2014 at 4:26 pm

    I’m confused at the need for humans to immedietly blame…as if that aids in any way. None of you know the facts. It’s un-ethical that you can’t feel empathy for any loss of life. My heart goes to the mother and family.

    • Sean March 12, 2014 at 10:07 pm

      When someone or a group of someones does something immoral, illegal and just plain wrong that leads to the death of a child, they should be stopped and prevented from doing so again.

      • Thinks your an Idiot March 14, 2014 at 2:52 pm

        Who are you to say that what they do is immoral? And the Federal Court ruled that what they do is legal. So… Your argument is????

    • Bub March 12, 2014 at 10:39 pm

      We can sit around and stew and feel sorry for ourselves, or we can be critical and look for ways to improve the plyg situation, Anne.

  • j March 12, 2014 at 6:04 pm

    I laugh at most of the people on here.. I was born and rises in st.george.. You all can say what you want about the crickers.. But not one of you complained when they built your house, roads, and stores in town… Now you got what you wanted it’s easy to throw the blame.. Next time you swing your golf club thank a cricker.. Truth be known the built half of southern Utah….

    • Sean March 12, 2014 at 9:45 pm

      Most of the southeastern US was built on slave labor, that dosen’t make it right, moral or ethical.

    • Bub March 12, 2014 at 10:40 pm

      Well, we don’t need them now. WE HAVE ILLEGALS!

  • PligKid March 12, 2014 at 6:11 pm

    I was born and raised in Colorado City.

    To all the people with your “this kid shouldn’t be working and operating equipment” one of the things in my life that I am glad for is that I was operating equipment and driving well before I was 10. I have learned a lot from it. I was also a full time student. I am a hard worker and safety has always been priority for everything. Accidents will and still happen.

    To the people that think laws should be passed to control people in any way (working or education) the world does not need you. Please keep your controlling thoughts to your self. If you have/do reproduce your kids do not need work or education control either.

    Control creates weak, lazy, and horrible people. It is wrong. If you don’t like something someone else does, to bad it’s none of your business.

    Not a single person I know was forced in any way or form to work under the age of 18.

    There is so much most you people do not know about the people from Colorado City almost all I have read (stories in the paper, so on) have been modified and falsified to be more “appealing” To the reader. Some people from Colorado City have gone over their stories of themselfs growing up that they over dramatized things to be stuff like “my father would always best the crap out of me” yes my parents beat my rear many times. I know I deserved it. I was like any other kid, break the rules, sneak out of the house, break things that I should not have even been messing with it. From all that I have learned many life lessons.

    Educate yourself please. No I don’t mean go study to be a doctor. Just understand real facts before making horrible comments.

    • jenn March 12, 2014 at 9:13 pm

      Well said! I’m not from that community but they have done hard working men and women for sure!

    • Sean March 12, 2014 at 9:42 pm

      PLIGKID you sound very indoctrinated. Laws are created to protect people from abuses of power. You may deny that the FLDS abuses the power it has over it’s people but the facts tell a different story. Pulling children out of school to be used for free labor is wrong. Raping children is wrong.

      • PLIGKID March 13, 2014 at 10:15 pm

        Yes laws are created to protect. That is not what they are used for.
        The FLDS does abuse the power it has. The “facts” are mostly unproven in the way that is; Said as a fact: “Most residents in Colorado City are on government assistance.” Maybe one out of five families I know in Colorado City have some kind of Gov. assistance.

    • Bub March 12, 2014 at 10:43 pm

      You keep spouting all this BS and nonsense. Your a hardcore Plyg sympathizer. Mind telling us why? How many “wives” do you have???

      • Bub March 12, 2014 at 10:47 pm

        *You’re … it’s late…

      • PLIGKID March 13, 2014 at 10:23 pm

        I will gladly accept being wrong if you have some hard proof that I am wrong.
        I am sick of all the lies that are published in the media by people like Ed Kociela that takes one story of something that happened in Colorado City and say because it happened we all do it.
        And then there are the people that grew up in Colorado City (some I knew very well growing up) that blow their own child stories clear out of proportion with drama what seems to be for attention.
        I am happily unmarried but not single.

        • g March 14, 2014 at 8:09 am

          Just because you heard a rumor about a child rape in the flds community,does not mean that it happens every day look at our society not the flds.. we have hundreds if not thousand of disgusting men and women that rape children. why are they not being hounded for what they have done. and 99.9% of the stuff you said is not true. They are taught how to work at a young age so they wont end up like the pampered lazy youth you see today glued to there video games, relying on there mothers and fathers the rest of there lives.they are home schooled by a well educated mothers.they are taught how to treat women with respect unlike the men you see today. contrary to your beliefs most of the flds men and women are good people who work every day sun up to sun down doing labor intensive jobs. and get no respect from anyone so when your feeling the need to judge them spend a day in their lifes it is not as easy as it seems.. regards to the family my prayers will be with you..

          • Bub March 14, 2014 at 10:32 am

            Are you plygs stupid or just naive? Your “prophet” is a convicted pedo…

    • wrkinit March 12, 2014 at 10:55 pm

      I agree with what you said but I have also noticed from living in one of the outlying communities of Colorado City that people will judge people by there actions and there religions or whatever…, everyone one does including the people living in Colorado City.

      • PLIGKID March 13, 2014 at 10:24 pm

        Yes, it is sad that people can not individualize one from another. We are not all the same.

        • Mean momma March 14, 2014 at 11:04 am

          Hard to tell you’re “not all the same” when you all wear the same clothes (including identical colors), same hairstyle, and same inbred looks on your faces.

          • PLIGKID March 14, 2014 at 4:35 pm

            Are you the kind of person that says all Asians are the same. It was fun for us as boys to all wear the same colors and style of shirt and jeans as our dad. The girls loved to wear after Our mom. You could come face to face with me at any time and you would have no idea I am from Colorado City by how I look.

    • Not A Plig Not A Pedophile March 12, 2014 at 11:07 pm

      Horrible comments? You know what’s horrible? Child rape. Yes it happens there all the time. Don’t deny. Maybe it happened to you.

      • PLIGKID March 13, 2014 at 10:30 pm

        I will not denying it has happened here. Most your proof is on Warren Jeffs he is a pedophile I know that as a fact. Proof dates back to the 80’s. As for Colorado City being full of Pedophiles you are wrong there are many decent people here. I have never been a victim of abuse.

    • plyghipster March 26, 2014 at 4:17 pm

      Everyone has a right to their opinion same as you sir. If you don’t like it, simply don’t read the comments. Or do ……but count at me chuckling at your expense when you act upset about it. Feel free to chuckle at mine or get upset. Just remember I’m not going to care and you will either get the opportunity to chuckle or be upset, choice is yours.

  • KG March 12, 2014 at 8:51 pm

    Yes, these kids are learning to have a good work ethic. Maybe all of you who are so worried about these people should look in your own back yards. I bet these people don’t have gangs, kids that blow people away with guns, and spoiled brats who sue their parents for not giving them enough money. The people from this community that I have had contact with are very kind, respectful people who love their children just like all of us. Maybe you should all be feeling deep sorrow and sadness for this boy’s family and friends.

    • Bub March 12, 2014 at 10:46 pm

      Maybe you shouldn’t tell us how to think?! Plygs live a perverse, corrupt, and immoral lifestyle, and this death was 100% preventable…

      • Jeff B March 13, 2014 at 2:22 pm

        So Agree wiith this comment Bub! They are corrupt and totally living a Weird Life! The town sure gives me the creepy feeling anytime I go into the town!

      • g March 14, 2014 at 8:14 am

        so is Mormonism Buddhism every religion has its corruptions but when someone does something wrong in those religions why aren’t they persecuted like the flds…

        • Bub March 14, 2014 at 10:34 am

          Proof that you can’t argue any sense with plygs.

          • PLIGKID March 14, 2014 at 4:38 pm

            Do you know any pligs personally?
            If not maybe you should try some day you may realize that your argument is invalid.

    • Simone March 13, 2014 at 1:56 pm

      Yea we all know how much those plygs “love” their children.

  • ExPligKid March 12, 2014 at 10:50 pm

    It wasn’t on a construction site like they’re saying. The media should get the facts from people that actually know instead of getting it from people who just want their name in the news. It’s not all rainbows and sunshine growing up there by any means, but I will say, I probably had a better childhood than most people that grew up in the real world. I’m not condoning it either. Schooling is very important. But why kick a family while they’re down, grieving? You need to keep in mind the parents were raised the same. They’re just raising their kids the best they know how. It’s sad, but true.

  • KatlynS March 13, 2014 at 4:33 am

    I happen to know alot of Colorado City folks And I didn’t grow up anywhere near them…
    Things like this happen… Plig or non Plig. Supervised not supervised. Trained not trained. Age appropriate not age appropriate. You see these things happen with people who have been doing it all their lives, everywhere, not just in Colorado City! I, personally, do not care where this child is from cause that is not what is important. The situation is still a hard, tragic one. My love goes to the family. Id hope you’d ask for love too if it were your family in pain of losing a child/family member.
    – As far as the child should have been at school, who is to say this sort of event wouldn’t and didn’t happen after he attended school? This may be a hard thing for people to understand nowadays, but when I was growing up, kids worked.(Cleaning rooms, sweeping floors, feeding animals, Fixing yards, helping parents!) Its not child labor.

  • Sam March 13, 2014 at 7:42 am

    My husband was raised to work at an early age like this but he was surpervised. He worked on physically demanding jobs since he was a child and he has a work ethic like I’ve never seen. While, it was a tragic accident, I hope he was at least being supervised by an adult.

    Go ahead and judge the parents, but don’t be mad when they judge you because your kids get fat in front of a TV.

  • Momma E March 13, 2014 at 8:06 am

    May we all have some sympathy for this family at this time of tragic loss. I cannot believe all the venom coming from you people who know nothing about this young man. I am NOT from the crick but I know people from there and they are some of the nicest people I know. I have raised 4 boys they have all drove backhoes, cars, 4-wheelers and tractors at young ages 10 to be exact there is nothing wrong with that. I have even had people ask me if that was my little boy driving the backhoe, i say im sure it was. School is out this week and maybe just maybe he went to work for FUN or Something to do.

  • Jeff B March 13, 2014 at 9:21 am

    Sad! I had to repo a truck there and while I was locked into one of the compounds, the dad to 6 of these kids told one that was at least 12 to jump on the backhoe and move my truck. While he was trying to pick my truck up the police were called and the debtor had taken a axe to his rear tire thinking I would leave his truck. Long story short he was arrested! I don’t have any respect for the poligs! Such a sad tragedy!

  • DoubleTap March 13, 2014 at 9:28 am

    Plyg or not….NO parent should have to bury their kid. Enough said.

  • makkie March 13, 2014 at 1:13 pm

    Yeah we should have more child labor laws right after we start enforcing the laws currently on the books.What good does it do to make laws when the president can just pick and choose which ones to enforce?

  • Kevin March 13, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    Story is tragic, the reporting is just as bad!

  • Simone March 13, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    My heart goes out to the family of kid who died. That being said, the shiz that goes on down there is absolutely disgusting. I hope the state of Utah and Arizona will stop listening to Heir Monson , get some guts and go down there and throw every last one if those pedophiles in jail for a very long time. I doubt it will happen though. After all this is Utah and Arizona we’re talking about.

  • debbie March 13, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    everytime, something terrible happens.. everyone wants to attack and speculate. it is spring break.. for all we know this could be an outsider visiting a relative.. hate is not going to solve the problems that go on everywhere.. incase you didn’t notice, kids are getting killed in schools everywhere.. this is a horrible horrible horrible tragedy for someone/s and i hope they can gain Gods comfort and peace quickly-no matter what religion they are or what community they belong too. (on another note, if you don’t like the platforms children are used for in this community, write a letter to the editor, you need to be heard, just try to remember, this is an aweful thing to happen and finger pointing with no facts is not nice)..

  • anotherpligkid March 13, 2014 at 11:26 pm

    I live in this community, and let me tell you what this accident could have been completely avoided! There is nothing wrong with young kids being taught by their parents to work hard. But there are a million other less dangerous jobs this kid could have been doing. But like someone else posted there is no law enforcement in this town, NONE!!! Everyone acts like they are above the law. And as much as my heart hurts for his family, I sincerely hope that this is a lesson learned. Young kids do not belong on a construction site running heavy equipment! Period!

    • PLIGKID March 14, 2014 at 4:42 pm

      Wait! what? I’m slightly curious cause I see Mohave county police officers here most every day.

  • g March 14, 2014 at 8:32 am

    people disgust me how can you sit their and judge another mans religion. say its immoral,injustice,cruel,and disgusting. i say take a look at your religion and tell me its perfect. every religion has its flaws… do you judge the other ones because you think yours is better. yours is true. what makes you think your god and the way you pray to him the way you devote your life to him makes you any different than anyone else way. everyone is striving to do there best so they can go to heaven or whatever is their when we die. so what if MORMONS think that doing good works getting married and having kids will get them to heaven… so what if polygamists think that taking more than one wife will get them to heaven … if that’s what make you happy more power to you.

    “stop judging no religion and no person is perfect”

    • Bub March 14, 2014 at 10:37 am

      Plygs: pedophiles, inbred deformed babies, welfare cheats, multiple wives(sex slaves), lost boys… the list goes on and on…

  • brigham March 14, 2014 at 6:02 pm

    lets reword this report. 14 year old boy dies when tractor looses its steering when he is going to feed cows. now how do you see this situation? just because your dad did not take you to work with him when you were young,every once in awhile,doesn’t mean you have to disrespect,the children who have the privilege.

  • G March 14, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    People from all over Utah all over the united states have Inbred’s, deformed babies, use welfare in wrong ways , cheat on their wife’s,children who aren’t wanted are dropped off at an orphanage or sent out ,what make you think you are any better, your just an uneducated redneck who thinks he knows what he is talking about.

  • Bub March 14, 2014 at 7:07 pm

    Plygs gonna plyg. Idiots gonna …

  • Annie March 16, 2014 at 7:00 pm

    This is so tragic! I want to believe that this young man was just helping out on his family’s farm after attending high sxhool classes. We haven’t heard the whole story so we cannot say. If this boy was in fact working on the farm a few hours after school, that’s one thing, but if he was working there on a full time basis , that’s child abuse! I’m interested to hear more about the incident!

  • Simone March 28, 2014 at 11:52 pm

    .

  • Pravda March 31, 2014 at 6:53 pm

    If you want to see something g really scary & sad, walk thru the Hildale/Colorado City cemetery & look at all the marker stones for children — roughly 50% of the people buried there died in their teens or younger.

  • Street April 8, 2014 at 2:46 am

    Pravda, that is only because the ratio of children, compare to adults, is extremely high, they loving children moreso than anywhere. There are, like, ten children to every adult. So your alarmist mongering is just foolish and puts the lie where it belongs.

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