A Utah woman is suing her polygamist husband for 25 percent of their estate after he allegedly neglected her during their marriage, according to a report.
Shirlyn Watson, the founder of a Utah grocery store, is suing David Watson and her sister-wives, local outlet ABC 4 reported. David, a well-known local polygamist leader, married Shirlyn in 1973. through the Apostolic United Brethren Church, which he is said to continue to lead. The couple had 11 children together.
When asked about Shirlyn’s allegations, David said The Independent.: “No comment. All lies.”
Shirlyn was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but joined the Apostolic United Brethren before marrying David, ABC 4 reported. The Apostolic United Brethren is a “fundamentalist Mormon group that believes in polygamy,” according to Salt Lake Tribune.
David had at least five wives, although he was only legally married to one, according to ABC 4.
A Utah woman is suing her 47-year-old polygamist husband, claiming he neglected her during their marriage. Shirlyn married David in 1973, and he went on to lead the Apostolic United Brethren, according to ABC4 (Getty/iStock).
“Polygamy has really worked for me,” Shirlyn said. “I know it’s really hard for people to accept. It was presented to me and it felt right.”
In 1989, Shirlyn founded Shirlyn’s Natural Foods, a chain of grocery stores. She also worked as a secretary at David’s auto repair business for five years. According to the lawsuit obtained by ABC 4, in 2000 all of Shirlyn’s earnings went to David, the family home or their children.
Shirlyn, David and three sister wives in 2016. moved to Manti, Utah, where they lived in separate homes on the same property, according to ABC 4. Shirlyn claims she and her sisters were promised an equal interest in the property.
“He promised that he would give us the family’s trust and that we would all be taken care of,” Shirlyn said.
However, Shirlyn left David in 2019 when he started ignoring her, ABC 4 reported.
“He started losing me years ago,” she said. “If someone came up with a ‘favorite wife,’ he would go and take care of her first.”
Shirlyn said that in 2020 in February David also began to neglect their late son Robert, who had Down syndrome. At one point, David “abandoned her with their disabled son” while spending time with two other wives, the lawsuit alleges.
According to documents reviewed by ABC 4, Shirlyn also invested $36,000 in their home. However, in 2021 David allegedly demanded that his wives start paying $260 a month to live in the property. Shirlyn “refused to pay because she had title to the property based on previous investments,” her lawsuit alleges.
Shirlyn also claimed David locked her out of her Utah home when she went to California to celebrate Robert’s life after his death in 2023. in October, according to ABC 4. After her children asked her to pay her back, David agreed, but still did not name the agreement that entitled the wives to a certain percentage of the property, Shirlyn said.
David’s legal team argued that he “100% owns” the property and denied many of Shirlyn’s allegations, including a claim that he promised anyone an interest in the property, ABC 4 reported. Records reviewed by the outlet show that Shirlyn is listed as the “occupant” of the property, while David and at least one other wife are listed as owners.
David also reportedly denies any “solemn marriage” or legal union between him and Shirlyn.
“Someone has to take a stand,” Shirlyn told ABC 4. “I’m ready to take a stand. I’m ready to fight him.”
The Independent. reached out to Shirlyn for comment.