American Notes UTAH

"There will be death, killing," predicted Vickie Singer, a leader of the polygamous clan holding out in a log cabin against some 150 police and FBI agents in Marion, Utah. When authorities finally broke the 13-day siege last week, her grim prophecy became truth. Lieut. Fred House, 35, a state prison dog handler, was killed by shots from the cabin. The clan's male leader, Addam Swapp, 27, was wounded by officers. After the exchange of gunfire, the remaining 14 family members, including nine children, surrendered without injury.

The shooting erupted as Swapp walked from the fortified cabin to a nearby goat pen, approaching a spot where police and FBI agents were hiding. As planned, Lieut. House set loose an attack dog in an effort to capture him. But the dog hesitated, and when House stepped from cover to encourage the animal, he became an easy target. Singer, whose husband John was killed by police in a similar siege nine years ago, believed that further violence would lead to John's resurrection.

The confrontation gave the family what it wanted, said one disapproving relative: "National media attention, a platform for their religious dogma and bloodshed.'