Rena Chynoweth

Rena Chynoweth is a former Mormon fundamentalist who shot Rulon C. Allred dead in 1977. Acquitted of murder in a criminal trial, Chynoweth later admitted to killing Allred.

Early life

When she was three years old, Rena Chynoweth’s parents were converted to the Mormon fundamentalist Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times, based in Colonia LeBaron in northern Mexico. The Chynoweths moved to Colonia LeBaron to join the rest of the polygamist sect, which was at the time led by Joel LeBaron. Joel’s leadership was soon challenged by his younger brother, Ervil, who believed that he was the ‘One Mighty and Strong’ chosen by God to lead the Latter-day Saints. The Chynoweths followed Ervil when he eventually broke away from Joel’s church. The Chynoweths, especially young Rena, were devout followers of Ervil. Ervil proposed to Rena when she was only 16. In a proxy interview with Doris Hanson in 2009, Rena claimed that Ervil told her she would go to hell if she did not accept the proposal. As she believed Ervil to be a true prophet she did not doubt this, so she accepted the proposal. She became his thirteenth wife and had two children by him.