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Police investigation on a crime scene. Author; Cottonbro.

10 Disturbing Facts about the Lafferty Utah Murders

On July 24, 1984, Ron Lafferty and his younger brother, Dan Lafferty were charged with two homicides. They were charged with the throat-slashing homicides of their sister-in-law, Brenda Wright Lafferty, and her 15-month-old daughter Erica. Ron, a self-styled prophet, claimed to have received a revelation from God instructing him to 鈥渞emove鈥� several people, including the two victims.

The brothers were once members of 鈥淭he Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints鈥�. However, they were excommunicated from their faith and began their breakaway sect which they called the School of Prophets. Before the Lafferty Utah Murders took place, several chilling stuff had happened leading to this unfortunate incident to Brenda and Erica.

Another targeted individual luckily escaped death as they were not at their home when the two brothers arrived. After the murders, the brothers tried to run but the FBI arrested them and were arraigned. Dan Lafferty was sentenced to two life sentences in prison while Ron鈥檚 case moved around a death sentence and life sentence.

He attempted to commit suicide while in prison which was not successful. However, he died in prison of natural cause at the age of 78 before his execution date. Read on the 10 Disturbing Facts about the Lafferty Utah Murders:

1. Dan was Excommunicated from Church for Trying to Marry an Underage Stepdaughter

Dan Lafferty was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Together with his brother, they were among the top leaders of the church who were leading others astray.

At one point in his life, Dan was excommunicated from the church due to some intolerable reasons. He was trying to take his 14 years old stepdaughter as his second wife who got him excommunicated from the church.

2. Ron was also Excommunicated from the Church due to his Extreme Religious Views

A church in a quiet place. Author; Spielmann.

A year later after the excommunication of Dan Lafferty from the church, Ron follower him out. In 1983, Ron came up with some ideas which were never compatible with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

His increasingly extreme religious views were never accepted by the church. One of the extreme religious views he was bringing to the church was the introduction of polygamy, the same thing that got Dan excommunicated.

3. The Lafferty Formed a Dangerous Sect

After their ex-communication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for some extreme religious views, the Lafferty brothers decided to form their sect. Dan and Ron formed their breakaway polygamous sect in 1984.

This was the beginning of bad ideas that later led to double homicide. They called the sect, the School of the Prophets and started stating that they were receiving messages from God.

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4. Ron Records how 鈥楪od鈥� Ordered Them to Kill Brenda, her Daughter & Two Others

In March 1984, Ron documented what he termed 鈥渢he removal revelation.鈥� He revealed that God had ordered him to kill Brenda Lafferty, her daughter, and two others, Chloe Low and Richard Stowe. His disturbing revelation from God was shared with the School of Prophets.

Ron Lafferty was full of rage after his wife left him and this anger was channeled toward Chloe Low (a former Relief Society president who supported their divorce), and two others. Richard Stowe who presided over their ex-communication and Brenda Lafferty, wife to his brother was his other targets of rage.

5. Dan & Ron Forced their way into Brenda鈥檚 Home & Slit Her Throat

A body bag at a crime scene. Author; Cottonbro.

On 24^th July 1984, the Lafferty brothers went out to commission the removal revelation. They forced their way into the home of Brenda Lafferty who had no idea of what was going on.

After gaining entry into their sister-in-law鈥檚 compound, they strangled her using a vacuum cord. Using a sharp knife, they slit her throat and ended her life.

6. They Nearly Decapitated Brenda鈥檚 15-Months, Daughter

A person’s hands are covered in blood. Author; Neosiam.

After slitting the throat of their sister-in-law, their next victim was her 15-month-old daughter Erica. They also did the same thing to Erica as they slit her throat. However, they nearly decapitated her because of the short neck babies. The Lafferty brothers then fled the scene after accomplishing their removal revelation.

7. Two Victims Survived the Killing Spree Ordeal from the Lafferty Brothers

Ron and Dan were being driven by Charles Carnes and Richard Knapp during their killing spree and had two more targets. Chloe Low was their next intended victim who survived the ordeal.

They visited her home, but they discovered that she was not home at that time. The Lafferty brothers鈥� next plan was to stop at the house of Richard Stowe, but they got lost saving him from their rage. They then fled to Nevada after killing Brenda Lafferty and her daughter.

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8. Ron Attempts to Kill his Brother & Also Attempts Suicide in Prison

On 17^th August 1984, FBI agents apprehend Ron and Dan Lafferty in Reno, Nevada. Two counts of criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated burglary, and two counts of conspiracy to commit homicide were filed against the Laffertys, Carnes, and Knapp.

On 30^th December 1984, Ron attempted to commit suicide but was found unconscious in the Utah County Jail. He suffered brain damage, as per his attorney, which affected his emotional control and memory.

Later on, Ron Lafferty also attempted to kill his brother while in prison. After the turn of these events, the judge granted a motion for the two brothers to be tried differently.

9. Ron鈥檚 Case Revolved Around Death & Life Sentences

Hands in the cuff. Author; Kindel.

After the judge granted a separate trial of the Lafferty brothers, Ron Lafferty found himself in trouble. His brother was sentenced to life in prison while Ron鈥檚 case was difficult to settle.

At first, he was given a death sentence but an appeal to the Supreme Court withheld the decision and offered him a life sentence. In 1996, a jury convicted Ron to die and he choose to be shot by a firing squad.

However, he was not executed. On 12^th August 2019, Ron was sentenced to death again. He chooses to be executed by a firing squad.

10. Ron Dies in Prison before he is Executed

Ron Lafferty became the longest-serving condemned inmate in the United States of America. This was because of how his case spun around death sentencing and life sentencing.

On 11^th November 2019, Ron Lafferty died of natural causes after he had spent 34 years on death row. Dan Lafferty is currently in the Utah State Prison serving his life sentence.

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