Dr. Phil

Facing Off with My Polygamous FLDS Father (12x107)

Air date: Feb 20, 2014

Born into the polygamous FLDS sect, Rebecca Musser claims that at 19, her father, Lloyd, forced her to marry 85-year-old Rulon Jeffs -- the head of the church and considered a prophet by his followers. After seven years of marriage, Jeffs -- who was said to have as many as 65 wives -- died in 2002, and that’s when Rebecca says she made her escape. Now 37, Rebecca, who recently authored The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice, sits down with Dr. Phil and recounts the abuse she alleges she endured at the hands of fellow FLDS members and the day she says she found freedom. How did she learn to assimilate into a society, after being closed off from the outside world for so long? And, hear how she helped authorities build a child sexual assault case against Rulon’s son, Warren Jeffs -- who took control of the church when his father died -- and other church leaders, who are now behind bars. Then, Rebecca’s father confronts his daughter for what he says is a “book full of lies” and explains why he’s threatening to sue. Why does he say Rebecca had a “fairytale life”? And, how does he answer to her allegation that he forced her to marry against her will? Plus, Rebecca speaks out about breaking the cycle of abuse and shares her top “red flags” to look out for.