Polygamist falls to his death while climbing a cliff to shoot a flaming arrow into a heart display for his wife's birthday

  • Dee Yates Jessop, 51, planned to ignite the 51 candles - that were in the shape of a heart - from on top a ridge near Circleville, Utah, on Saturday night 
  • He was believed to have fatally fallen between 50 to 60 feet and died at scene
  • His family had just bought property on which stood ridge in south central Utah
  • The man was a member of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was known for having 'a large family'
  • Members from the FLDS and  private investigator claimed that Dee would tie animals down and kill them in front of children 

By Matthew Wright For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

A Utah polygamist who was trying light 51 candles in the shape of a heart for his wife's 51st birthday fatally fell off the ridge on which he planned to ignite the display.

Dee Yates Jessop, 51, planned to shoot a flaming arrow into the heart display from atop a ridge near Circleville, Utah, on Saturday night.

'They were lighting these fire arrows and kind of making it a surprise,' brother Willie Jessop said to the Salt Lake Tribune on Tuesday, 'but because it was late at night, it appears he lost his footing and slipped.'

Dee Yates Jessop fatally fell from on top a ridge near Circleville, Utah, on Saturday night. He died at the scene after falling between 50 to 60 feet
Dee Yates Jessop fatally fell from on top a ridge near Circleville, Utah, on Saturday night. He died at the scene after falling between 50 to 60 feet

Dee Yates Jessop fatally fell from on top a ridge near Circleville, Utah, on Saturday night. He died at the scene after falling between 50 to 60 feet

The 51-year-old had plan to light 51 candles for his wife's birthday

The 51-year-old had plan to light 51 candles for his wife's birthday

Dee was believed to have fallen between 50 to 60 feet and died at the scene. 

His family had just bought the property that the ridge was on in south central Utah. 

The man was a member of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was known for having 'a large family.'

Dee was the oldest child out of eight on his mother's side.

His family had just bought the property that the ridge was on in south central Utah

His family had just bought the property that the ridge was on in south central Utah

The man was known for his working in building a zoo in Colorado City, Arizona, but some remembered him as not being a friend to animals. 

In 'Prophet's Prey', private eye investigator Sam Brower claimed that Dee killed animals in front of children. 

Former FLDS member Carolyn Jessop reported in her book 'Escape' that same narrative, with both stating Dee hoped to show children how to go about killing the animals when they were tied down. 

The man was a member of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was known for having 'a large family'
The man was a member of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was known for having 'a large family'

The man was a member of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was known for having 'a large family'

Brower also wrote that the man was often the cause for concern among law enforcement as they feared he would seek violence to defend the church and FLDS President Warren Jeffs. 

But for Willie Jessop, Dee was just an man who was in love with the outdoors. 

'He was truly a cross between a Steve Irwin and a Crocodile Dundee,' Willie Jessop stated.

'He was somewhat of an icon in the community and dearly loved and missed by his family.' 

Members from the FLDS and private investigator claimed that Dee would tie animals down and kill them in front of children

Members from the FLDS and private investigator claimed that Dee would tie animals down and kill them in front of children

 

 

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