When she was three years old, Rena Chynoweth's parents were converted to the Mormon fundamentalist Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times, based in Colonia LeBaron in northern Mexico.
Joel's leadership was soon challenged by his younger brother, Ervil, who believed that he was the "One Mighty and Strong" chosen by God to lead the Latter-day Saints.
As one of Ervil's most devout and "prettiest" followers the nineteen-year-old Chynoweth, along with Ramona Marston, were chosen to carry out the murder of Allred.
[2] In May 1977 Chynoweth and Marston travelled from Mexico to Murray, Utah, where Allred's office was, stopping to buy weapons and disguises en route.
These include her convincing lies during the trial, sympathy for her pregnancy and the fact that she could not be identified by witnesses as she was disguised when the shooting took place.
[4]: 295–296 Solomon also accuses the "Lambs of God" of intimidating the jury at the trial,[4]: 297 and suggests that in patriarchal Utah, "a society harbouring sexual discrimination would try to compensate in a court of law".
In 1990, knowing that it was highly unlikely that she would be tried again, she published a "breezy, tell all memoir"[5] about her life with Ervil LeBaron, in which she admitted to shooting Rulon Allred.
While being interviewed on Sally, Chynoweth was served with a summons to answer civil charges of causing the unlawful death of Rulon C Allred.