Who Is Rachel Jeffs' First Husband, Richard Allred? Their Polygamist Marriage Forced By Warren Jeffs

Rachel Jeffs is the daughter of the notorious polygamist cult leader Warren Jeffs. The recently released movie, Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story, accounts her real-life trauma and her experience in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), where she endured years of abuse and manipulation by her father. She had a harrowing escape from the heavily guarded community and later made a courageous decision to return and rescue her children. Her first marriage also did not take place under normal circumstances, and here's all you need to know about her ex-husband.

Who was Rachel Jeffs' first husband? Why was she forced into the marriage by her father?

Rachel Jeffs' first husband was Richard Steed Allred, a member of the FLDS. He is reportedly the grandson of Rulon Jeffs, a former FLDS prophet. Richard served as a bodyguard for Rachel's father and FLDS leader, Warren Jeffs. In his capacity as a church member, he also reportedly participated in grooming his first wife, Sarah's daughter, for a role as Warren Jeffs' wife. Rachel's father orchestrated Rachel and Richard's 2002 arranged marriage, and at that time, Richard was 25 and already had two wives.

Rachel met him for the first time the day before the wedding. She was forced into the polygamist arrangement by her father and had to become Richard's third wife. Warren Jeffs, the leader of the polygamous sect, used arranged marriages to exercise his power and enforce his will upon his followers, including his own children. Rachel shared on Megyn Kelly TODAY in 2017 that she was 'shaken' by the incident, and her father wanted her to have kids as soon as possible. She recalled him telling her in the morning of her wedding that he wanted her to ask Richard for a baby that same night. Rachel said:

"I was very, very scared. I was shaken. The morning of the wedding, he [Warren Jeffs] said, 'Rachel, come talk to me.' And I went into his office and he said, 'I want you to ask for a baby tonight. I want you to ask your husband for a baby tonight. I want you to get close fast.'"

Rachel Jeffs didn't want to indulge in polygamy

Rachel had a 'hard time' as she was married to someone because of her own free will, but because of her father's forcing. Additionally, she had to promise her father that she would ask her first husband to have children with her. She was unhappy because she was 'given to' an already married man and couldn't get married to someone of her choice. She further shared that she 'wasn't for the polygamy thing' and didn't want her kids to suffer in such an unusual environment. The only thing that kept her going was her five 'lovely kids', whom she had with the 'young and beautiful' Richard.

Rachel Jeffs' found solace in her second husband, Brandon Blackmore

Rachel Jeffs left Richard Allred when she escaped the FLDS in 2014. After that, she found true love in Brandon Blackmore, whom she married in September 2017. They had two sons of their own and lived happily with their combined family, which included Rachel's five children and Brandon's four children from their respective first marriages. Like Rachel, Brandon was also raised in a fundamentalist Mormon community before leaving his sect.

The couple supported each other during their legal battles against their former religious leaders. In 2016, Brandon testified against his own parents, who had arranged for his then-13-year-old sister to be married to Warren Jeffs in 2004. All these chilling incidents from Rachel Jeff's life and family are recounted in the movie Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story, which was released on October 4, 2025. The film is adapted from Rachel's 2018 memoir, Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs.

What are your thoughts on Rachel Jeffs leaving her first husband and moving on in life? Let us know.

Also Read: Mark Sanchez Injury Update, Replaced For Raiders-Colts Game After Indianapolis Stabbing And Arrest

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)