Mormon grocery store founder sues her polygamist husband because he paid too much attention to her sister wives
A. Utah woman sues her husband polygamous According to one report, the prophet, who allegedly neglected her during their marriage, received 25 percent of their property.
Shirlyn Watson, founder of a grocery store in Utah, filed a lawsuit against David Watson and his sister’s wives alphabet 4 reported. Polygamous local leader David married Shirlyn in 1973 through the Apostolic United Brethren Church and will continue to lead that church, according to the report. The couple had 11 children together.
When asked about Shirlyn’s allegations, David said: Independent: “No comment. It’s all lies.”
Shirlyn grew up The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsShe joined the United Apostolic Brethren before marrying David, ABC 4 reported. The Apostolic United Brethren is a “Mormon fundamentalist group” that believes in polygamy. Salt Lake Tribune.
According to ABC 4, David had at least five wives, but was only legally married to one.
A Utah woman is suing her polygamous husband of 47 years, alleging he neglected her throughout their marriage. According to ABC4 (Getty/iStock) Shirlyn married David in 1973 and he continued to lead the Apostolic United Brethren.
“Polygamy has really worked for me,” Shirlyn told the outlet. “I know it’s really hard for people to accept it. It was presented to me and it felt right.”
In 1989, Shirlyn founded the Shirlyn’s Natural Foods grocery chain. She also worked as a secretary in David’s auto repair business for five years. By 2000, all of Shirlyn’s earnings went to David, the family home or her children, according to the lawsuit obtained by ABC 4.
Shirlyn, David and their three sister spouses later moved to Manti, Utah, in 2016, where they lived in separate homes on the same property, according to ABC 4. Shirlyn claims that she and her sister wives were promised equal interest in the property.
“He promised to put us in a family trust and that we would all be taken care of,” Shirlyn told the press.
However, according to ABC 4, Shirlyn broke up with David in 2019 after he started neglecting her.
“He started losing me years ago,” he said. “If something came up involving his ‘favorite wife,’ he would go and deal with that first.”
Shirlyn claimed that by February 2020, David also began neglecting their late son Robert, who had Down syndrome. At one point, David “left her there with their disabled son” while he spent time with his two other wives, the lawsuit alleges.
Shirlyn also invested $36,000 in their home, according to documents reviewed by ABC 4. But David allegedly demanded that his wives start paying $260 each month to live at the property in 2021. Shirlyn “refused to pay because she had an ownership interest in the property based on her previous investments,” according to her lawsuit.
According to ABC 4, Shirlyn also claimed that David locked her out of his Utah home after she went to California to celebrate Robert’s life after his death in October 2023. After Shirlyn’s children asked for him to be let back in, David agreed, but still claimed he kept his name out of an agreement that entitled his wives to a percentage of the property.
David’s legal team argued that he had “100% ownership” of the property and rejected many of Shirlyn’s claims, including the claim that he promised everyone an interest in the property, ABC 4 reported. Records reviewed by the outlet show Shirlyn is listed as a “resident” at the property, while David and at least one spouse are also listed as owners.
David also reportedly denied any “civil marriage” or legal union between him and Shirlyn.
“Someone needs to take a stand,” Shirlyn told ABC 4. “I’m ready to take that stand. I’m ready to fight it.”
Independent Contacted Shirlyn for comment.
