The Lafferty Murders: Where Are Ron And Dan Lafferty Now? (2025 Update)

The names Ron and Dan Lafferty remain synonymous with one of the most chilling acts of religious extremism in modern American history, a story that gained renewed global attention with the release of the Under the Banner of Heaven miniseries. The question of "where are Ron and Dan Lafferty now" has a definitive, yet complex, answer as of December 10, 2025, with one brother deceased and the other serving a life sentence, all while the family's trauma resurfaces through a major new publication. The true, current status of the Lafferty brothers is not just a matter of prison records, but a continuing saga of faith, violence, and the enduring impact on the survivors.

The infamous 1984 murders of their sister-in-law, Brenda Wright Lafferty, and her 15-month-old daughter, Erica Lafferty, in American Fork, Utah, were the culmination of the brothers' descent into fundamentalist Mormon extremism and Ron's self-proclaimed "Removal Revelation." Today, the narrative is shifting from the killers to the victims and their descendants, marking a new chapter in the Lafferty story that is both fresh and intensely personal.

The Complete Lafferty Brothers: Biography and Criminal Profile

The Lafferty brothers were part of a large family raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Their radicalization was a gradual process that led them to reject mainstream LDS teachings in favor of a fundamentalist interpretation, culminating in the formation of a small, extremist group known as the School of the Prophets. This is the timeline and profile of the two men who shocked the state of Utah.

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• Ronald Watson Lafferty (Ron Lafferty)
• Role in Crime: Principal instigator of the murders, claiming to have received a "Removal Revelation" from God ordering the deaths of Brenda, Erica, and two others. Ron was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder.
• Date of Birth: December 9, 1944
• Date of Death: November 11, 2019
• Age at Death: 78
• Sentence: Death by firing squad (overturned and reinstated multiple times).
• Current Status: Ron Lafferty died of natural causes while on Death Row at the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah, after serving 34 years in prison.
• Daniel "Dan" Lafferty (Dan Lafferty)
• Role in Crime: Ron's accomplice in the murders. Dan claimed to have slit Brenda’s throat, while Ron bludgeoned Erica. Dan was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder.
• Sentence: Life in prison plus 20 years for other charges (aggravated burglary and conspiracy).
• Parole Status: Sentenced to life without parole, though in Utah, a life sentence can sometimes be subject to parole review. However, Dan Lafferty has consistently maintained his belief that his actions were justified by God, making any potential release highly unlikely.
• Current Status: Serving his life sentence at the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah.

Ron Lafferty: The Final Years on Death Row

For decades, Ron Lafferty was one of the longest-serving inmates on Utah's Death Row. His case was a continuous battleground for legal and religious debate, often centering on his claim of divine justification and his mental competency.

Despite numerous appeals and a complex legal history that saw his death sentence overturned and then reinstated, Ron Lafferty ultimately avoided execution. He died of natural causes at the Utah State Prison in November 2019 at the age of 78.

His death closed a significant chapter in the case, preventing what would have been a highly publicized execution by firing squad, a method he had chosen. His final years were spent in the maximum-security facility, where he continued to espouse his extremist beliefs, claiming his conviction was the result of a conspiracy involving the state and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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His brother, Dan Lafferty, once famously shared a cell with convicted bomber and forger Mark Hofmann at the Utah State Prison, highlighting the complex web of notorious figures incarcerated in the facility.

Dan Lafferty Now: Life in Prison and a Daughter's Memoir

Unlike his older brother Ron, Dan Lafferty was spared the death penalty and is currently serving a life sentence at the Utah State Prison in Draper. His life behind bars is defined by his unwavering adherence to the fundamentalist beliefs that led to the murders. Dan has never expressed remorse for the killings of Brenda and Erica Lafferty, asserting that his actions were divinely inspired.

The most significant and current update regarding Dan Lafferty and his legacy comes not from the prison system, but from his own family. His oldest daughter, Rebecca Lafferty, has written a powerful and highly anticipated memoir that is set to redefine the public perception of the case.

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The book, titled The Lafferty Girl: Surviving Trauma, Abuse, and My Father's Crimes, is scheduled for publication in late September 2025. This memoir offers a "riveting, raw and unfiltered" look at the trauma of growing up in the shadow of the murders and the extremist ideology of the School of the Prophets.

Rebecca Lafferty’s decision to publish her story in 2025 injects a crucial, fresh perspective into the narrative, moving the focus from the sensational details of the crime to the long-term, devastating consequences for the survivors. The book will undoubtedly address her father's current state of mind and the contact she has maintained with him, often involving phone calls from the Utah State Prison.

The Enduring Topical Authority of the Lafferty Case

The story of the Lafferty brothers and the murders of Brenda and Erica remains a touchstone for discussions on religious fundamentalism, mental illness, and the American justice system. The case's continuing relevance is fueled by several key entities and events:

• The Jon Krakauer Book: The 2003 non-fiction book, Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, brought the case to a national audience, meticulously detailing the brothers' radicalization and the history of fundamentalist groups branching off the LDS Church.
• The Hulu Miniseries: The 2022 adaptation of Krakauer's book, starring Andrew Garfield, introduced the story to a new generation, sparking renewed interest in the real-life fates of Ron and Dan Lafferty.
• The "Removal Revelation": The document written by Ron Lafferty in March 1984, claiming a divine mandate to "remove" Brenda and Erica, remains the chilling centerpiece of the crime's motivation. This revelation was the final step in the brothers' break from mainstream society and their embrace of the School of the Prophets.
• Allan Lafferty and the Victims: The brother of the killers and husband of Brenda, Allan Lafferty, has become a key figure in the narrative of survival and recovery, representing the innocent victims of the brothers' violent faith.

In conclusion, the "now" for Ron and Dan Lafferty is a study in finality and consequence. Ron's death in 2019 closed his legal case, while Dan continues his life sentence, a figure frozen in his extremist beliefs. The true, evolving story of the Lafferty legacy, however, is now being written by the next generation, with Rebecca Lafferty's 2025 memoir offering a critical, survivor-focused perspective on the family’s painful history.