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‘The Thirteenth Wife Escaping Polygamy’: Eric Johnson on Playing ‘Mormon Manson’ in Felicity Huffman Lifetime Movie

The Lifetime two-part film about Rena Chynoweth’s ordeal and escape from a polygamist community aired on May 31 and June 1, portraying her story of survival.
The film portrays Chynoweth's trauma as a child and teen in the 1970s polygamist group Colonia LeBaron, where she became Ervil LeBaron's 13th wife at age 16.
Chynoweth was manipulated into carrying out the assassination of Dr. Rulon Alfred, a competing polygamist leader, in 1977 under Ervil's influence, but she was ultimately found not guilty and later fled the group with close companions.
Ervil LeBaron was arrested, sentenced to life for orchestrating the murder plot, and died by apparent suicide in his prison cell in 1981, while Chynoweth now helps abuse survivors.
Actor Eric Johnson described playing Ervil as intense with a steep learning curve, and the creators aimed to tell the story thoughtfully over four hours to honor survivors and audience understanding.

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