Women and Children removed from religious compound in Texas

How widespread is this problem?

Child welfare officials have removed nearly 200 women and children from a secretive West Texas religious retreat built by polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.

A search warrant authorized state troopers to enter the retreat run by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and look for evidence of a marriage between a 16 year old girl and a 50-year-old man.

The search warrant said the girl had a baby eight months ago, when she was 15.

On Friday, Child Protective Services removed 52 girls from the compound. Marleigh Meisner, a spokeswoman for the agency, said another 131 residents were removed overnight. By Saturday afternoon, 137 children and 46 women were being housed and interviewed at local community centers.