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Outrages Beyond All Description

The Case of the Lost Mormon Books

Collector cleared, and police officer convicted in case

When I was a college student, nearly fifteen years ago, the State Historical Society of Missouri felt that they were missing a Book of Mormon. Because of my Mormon beliefs, I was suspected of stealing the book. The book was not found in my collection—since I did not steal it—so they claimed that a Book of the Law of the Lord that I bought from a dealer was missing from a small college in Iowa. For the second book, I was charged with possession of stolen property. I was able to prove that I was framed because of my Mormon heritage. The following is a summary of that case:

I have a high standard of ethics and integrity, and did not steal the books.
A police officer was caught and confessed to planting evidence to frame me for the alleged crime.
The police officer was since convicted and sentenced.
The police officer took the 5th Amendment to other questions of tampering and framing in this case.
Nobody ever said that they saw me steal a book—it was a circumstantial case based on speculation instead of evidence.
The false accusers admitted that their intolerance for Mormons led to their suspicions.
Enlightened and credible community leaders, including a Mormon bishop who had business dealings with me, vouched for my character.
I had alibis of signed receipts, credit card statements, cellular phone records, and eyewitnesses to prove that I was out-of-state when the books were allegedly stolen.
Laboratory experts at the FBI and Missouri State Highway Patrol could not match my fingerprints to those found on relevant evidence.
An investigation proved that I never sold the missing Book of Mormon, and a search proved that I did not possess the book.
I had proof of purchase for the Book of the Law of the Lord from a known dealer.
A study proved that the State Historical Society of Missouri lost the Book of Mormon thirty-five years ago.

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