Phone evidence emerges in Texas abuse case

Texas authorities also are investigating a separate batch of calls made to a crisis center in Washington state.

Authorities have called Swinton a "person of interest" in the Texas case. Two Texas Rangers were with Colorado officials when they searched Swinton's home.

Texas authorities said the search turned up several items suggesting a connection between Swinton and calls regarding the Eldorado retreat and other Texas and Arizona compounds owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a renegade Mormon sect. The items weren't identified.

Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Tela Mange on Wednesday said only that the Texas Rangers' investigation is continuing.

The calls that triggered the raid were made by someone using the name named Sarah Barlow, according to Long.

Flora Jessop, executive director of the Child Protection Project, a Phoenix-based organization that helps girls and women leaving the polygamous culture, said she has recorded nearly 40 hours of conversations with someone who said her name was Laura. "She claimed to be the twin sister of Sarah, who made the initial call in Texas," said Jessop, a former member of the FLDS church.

The caller got most of the details of the sect right, from specifics of the religion and culture, to the of homes in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., where she said she was being held, Jessop said. She added, however, that other things she said made her suspicious, such as calling her parents "Mom" and "Dad" instead of "Mother" and "Father," as FLDS members do.

Texas' child welfare agency says its investigation into the ranch, including interviews with children, has found evidence of abuse. They allege that the sect encourages adolescent girls to marry older men and have children, and that boys are groomed to become future perpetrators. Sect members deny the allegations.

Documents related to Swinton's arrest had been sealed by a judge at the request of Texas authorities. The arrest warrant affidavit was released Wednesday after The Associated Press filed a motion to unseal the records Monday.

More from msnbc.com Ice addict heads for poles, Everest | Trek posts Daily Nightly: Tim McGraw helps neighbors in need Were you paying attention? Take our weekly quiz World Blog: China puts foot down on 'Oba Mao' T-shirts Stimulus tracker: See where millions of dollars went Move over, feds — locals try stimulus, too  On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM CRIME & COURTS

Crime & courts Section Front

Funerals held for some Fort Hood victims Obama: Congress should wait on Fort Hood Former congressman sentenced to 13 years ‘Balloon boy’ parents plead guilty Evangelist gets 175 years for child sex Lawmaker: Hasan linked to Pakistan Suspected serial killer had previous arrest Dugard suspect apologizes for ‘sexual problem’ Police: Man admits to kidnapping N.C. girl Cops: Bloody sock links Yale suspect to victim Crime & courts Section Front   Add Crime & courts headlines to your news reader: