The Prophet

Abstract

In a little-known chapter in Tijerina’s life, he claimed to be a prophet named Iratéo, which he said meant Wrath of God. In 1955, Iratéo convinced a small group of devoted followers to create a religious utopia in the desert outside of Casa Grande, Arizona, and await the end of the world. Pooling their resources and digging underground bunkers for shelter, residents of Valle de Paz (Valley of Peace) were soon beset by rattlesnakes, floods, and hostile neighbors. Community residents also began to lose their faith in Tijerina because of his autocratic, abusive, and often absent leadership. He frequently took long trips to Mexico to study land-grant history. The community collapsed entirely after Tijerina was arrested on theft charges and then jumped bail rather than face trial.