Utah polygamist Tom Green, who was convicted of polygamy and child rape, died on February 28, 2021, at the age of 72. His family posted an obituary that noted he is survived by three wives, 34 children, 54 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. The Salt Lake Tribune confirmed that he died of COVID-19 pneumonia.
According to the New York Times, Green, whose trial garnered widespread media attention, served six years in prison after his 2001 and 2002 convictions. His case first resulted in a bigamy conviction before a judge convicted him of raping a 13-year-old girl, also his first wife. He walked out of prison on parole in 2007. Before standing trial in 2001, he frequently appeared on television to argue that having multiple wives was a constitutional right. He also aggressively promoted his lifestyle.
Polygamist Tom Green’s case explained
Tom Green brazenly appeared on television shows and flaunted his life as a polygamist with five wives and 30 children. His case returned with the first conviction in May 2001 on four counts of bigamy and one count of nonsupport of his offspring. The following June, 4th District Judge Donald Eyre found him guilty of child rape. The count stemmed from his relationship with Linda Kunz, a 13-year-old girl. She later became his “spiritual wife” and had a child with him in 1986. At the time of his trial, Kunz was his legal wife, per CBS News.
During the time of Green’s second conviction, he was already serving a five-year term for the bigamy and criminal nonsupport charges. For the rape conviction, he received a prison sentence of five years to life in prison. Both sentences were to run concurrently, per Salt Lake Tribune.
CBS’ report stated that after the verdict, Kunz said, “We don’t feel like this was a crime.” The prosecution, however, used her 1973 birth certificate and the 1986 birth certificate of their first child, Melvin, as evidence to secure a conviction. Prosecutor David Leavitt stated, “I have tremendous empathy for Tom Green, for his children, for his family. But the consequences of criminal conduct — whether it’s child rape, bigamy or drugs is that there are always secondary victims.”
According to AP News, before his convictions, Green had appeared on national television shows, including Jerry Springer and Dateline NBC. Back then, he and his wives resided in a trailer compound in the Utah desert near the Nevada border. The former convict stayed out of the spotlight while living in Salt Lake City after his 2007 release until his death in February 2021.
The polygamist’s obituary further said, “His extensive family relished his love, gratitude, faith, joy, wisdom, and dedication to God and his religion. Tom lived a rich and full life with his large family.”
A 1999 documentary, One Man, Six Wives, and 29 Children, narrates the story of polygamist Tom Green and his family.
