In 1984, Brenda Lafferty, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in American Fork, Utah, and her 15-month-old daughter, Erica, were brutally murdered with a 10-inch boning knife. Her husband, Allen Lafferty, found their bodies and reported the crime to the police.
Author Jon Krakauer wrote about the murder in his 2003 nonfiction book, “Under the Banner of Heaven.”
Krakauer begins with an examination of the Lafferty family, who are like “the Kennedys of Utah.” The facade of their perfect Mormon family radically unravels as the narrative progresses.
The shift starts with pushback against tax laws and grows to the point where the Lafferty brothers create their own laws, using Mormon fundamental beliefs to buttress their actions.
They carry out and justify the murder of the mother and daughter as blood atonement — the fundamentalist belief calling for the murder of a sinner.
Hulu adapted Krakauer’s novel into a television series of the same name, which was released April 28. The show’s writer, Dustin Lance Black, grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About three decades ago, he left the faith and came out as gay, a courageous decision to make in a community that is known for homophobia.
Black (who also wrote the Oscar-winning film “Milk”) introduces a fictional character to the story: Jeb Pyre, a devout LDS member and the lead policeman investigating the small-town double murder.
Krakauer uses the deaths of mother and daughter as a portal to an examination of the culture of Mormonism and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In this new filmed version, Pyre (played by Andrew Garfield) pieces through the mystery and uncovers hidden hypocrisies in the religion and community he grew up in. He struggles to keep his faith, and to find justice for Brenda and Erica at the same time.
At the beginning of the series, Pyre is fully devout, calling other members of his church “brother” and “sister” with a gentle tone and praying with his daughters, wife and mother. The opening scene shows him outside on his carefully tended front lawn, playing with his two daughters outside a suburban house glowing in the early evening light.
The Mormon faith is complex, and controls its members even to the foods they eat. Coffee, alcohol and chocolate are considered unhealthy, and are forbidden. To eat at McDonald’s verges on committing a sin.
Pyre’s morality and devotion seem unbreakable — but with a goofy smile he bashfully accepts a French fry from his atheist police partner, Bill Taba (played by Gil Birmingham, star of the popular show “Yellowstone”).
Pyre and Taba begin their investigation of the murder with Allen Lafferty, who shares details of Mormon history and memories of his apparently picture-perfect family. But the dark edges of the family’s life begin to show as Lafferty reveals the deep sexism that forms the foundation of a religion in which equality between sexes is impossible because of the stringent patriarchal system.
Allen reveals that his wife disapproved of some accepted behavior in their community, ranging from sexism to polygamy and incest. She had been encouraged in these beliefs by her father, James Wright, a Mormon bishop with a more modern belief system.
In one scene, Wright pushes a bar of chocolate toward his son-in-law. Lafferty initially rejects it, trained by his religion to be disgusted by it … but then he takes a bite, and agrees it is delicious.
But there are more factors at play with Lafferty’s rigid observance of Mormon rules. And like other characters who struggle with battling extremes in the religion, it’s tremendously trying for him to take a lesson in chocolate as a reason to step back from his brothers’ rambling, traditionalist motives.
“Under the Banner of Heaven” is captivating because of the way it shows how religion can be a dangerous fuel for men seeking power and control.
The murder of Brenda and Erica Lafferty is shown as a form of madness and extremism, in a religion with highly complex and stringent rules. Not all Mormons are murdering fanatics; but Krakauer’s book and this new series on Hulu hint at a culture with a disturbing history.
“Under the Banner of Heaven” is available on Hulu.
WOODBURY — Nonnewaug High School claimed twin titles in the Berkshire League soccer tournament finals.
The school's girls and boys teams were named league champions after finishing the regular season with the best win/loss records. Winning the tournaments earned each team a plaque and added to the program's success in 2025.
Both of Nonnewaug's varsity teams faced off against their counterparts from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in the tournament finals in Woodbury Tuesday, Oct. 28.
The boys game was played first. Housatonic took a quick 2-0 lead with goals from Gustavo Portillo and Jackson McAvoy. Nonnewaug responded in the second half with three consecutive goals: first from Cash Medonis then two from Vincenzo Rose. The Nonnewaug boys won 3-2.
The Nonnewaug girls team celebrates as victors in the Berkshire League tournament final Oct. 28.Photo by Riley Klein
The girls game followed. Nonnewaug and Housatonic traded goals early on and the score was tied 2-2 at halftime. Nonnewaug scored twice more in the second half to win 4-2. Housatonic's goals were scored by Ava Segalla. Rosie Makarewicz scored twice for Nonnewaug and Hailey Goldman and Aubrey Doran scored once.
Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference soccer tournaments begin Oct. 31. Both Housatonic teams qualified for the Class S tournament and both Nonnewaug teams qualified for the Class M tournament.
TORRINGTON — Joan Jardine, 90, of Mill Lane, passed away at home on Oct. 23, 2025. She was the loving wife of David Jardine.
Joan was born Aug. 9, 1935, in Throop, Pennsylvania, daughter of the late Joseph and Vera (Ezepchick) Zigmont.
Joan graduated from Harding High School.
She was a working artist for much of her adult life, starting her career studying plein air impressionist oil painting at the Cape Cod School of Art. Her work evolved to include a more representational style, and eventually a large body of abstract pieces. Her award-winning work has been shown in galleries and juried art shows throughout southern New England.
She is survived by her daughter Leslie and her husband George, brothers Joseph, Victor, and their families, nephews Gregory, Christopher, and their families, daughter-in- law Huong, and the extended Jardine family. She was predeceased by her son Douglas, and brother Michael.
A memorial service will be held at All Saints of America Orthodox Church, 313 Twin Lakes Road, Salisbury, Connecticut on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the All Saints of America Orthodox Church, PO Box 45, Salisbury, CT 06068.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
The ofrenda at Race Brook Lodge.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, the Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield will celebrate the Mexican Day of the Dead: El Día de los Muertos.
Mexican Day of the Dead takes place the first weekend of November and honors los difuntos (the deceased) with ofrendas (offerings) on an altar featuring photos of loved ones who have passed on. Elements of earth, wind, fire and water are represented with food, papel picada (colorful decorative paper), candles and tequila left for the beloved deceased. The departed are believed to travel from the spirit world and briefly join the living for a night of remembrance and revelry.
Music and events programmer Alex Harvey has been producing Día de los Muertos at Race Brook for the past three years, and with the closing of the venue looming, the festival takes on a deep and personal meaning.
“The anchoring gesture of Race Brook, long before I arrived on the scene, has always been to cultivate a space that thins the veil between the worlds. Something otherworldly is hiding in the mountain’s towering shadow: the whispering spring-fed stream, the dense lineage that founder Dave Rothstein brings, the woodsmoke that rises every night of the year from the firepits. This space communes with the spirits,” said Harvey.
“And so we cradle a special ache in our hearts as the leaves turn and the beautiful dance of Race Brook’s project of cultural pollination draws to a close. Fitting, then, to return for one last activation — Día de Los Muertos — a celebration of the end of things. A remembrance of those who’ve made the transition we are all destined for, but also a time when we honor many types of loss. And while we will all mourn those who aren’t there in the flesh, we will also, with humility, come as mourners for the space itself,” Harvey continued.
The event will be a night to remember, to celebrate and to release with ritual, music, and communal remembrance. Participants are invited to bring photos, talismans and offerings for the ofrenda (offering), as well as songs, poems or toasts to share in tribute to loved ones who have passed.
Mexican American musicians Maria Puente Flores, Mateo Cano, Víctor Lizabeth, Oviedo Horta Jr. and Andrea from Pulso de Barro, an ensemble rooted in the Veracruz tradition of son jarocho, will be performing.
Translating to “Pulse of the Clay,” their name reflects a deep connection to the earth and to the living heartbeat of culture itself. Through a synthesis of Mexican, Cuban, Venezuelan and Puerto Rican traditions, Pulso de Barro merges poetry, rhythm and communal song as pathways to coexistence with nature. Their performances feature the jarana and leona (stringed instruments), quijada, cajón, maracas, and marimba (percussion), the tarima (percussive dance platform) and a call-and-response of folk and original versadas.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. in the Barn Space with a Fandango de los Muertos featuring Pulso de Barro, a Race Brook favorite. At 8 p.m., the Open Mic for the Dead invites guests to speak directly into the spirit world — through word, music or memory. The night culminates at 10:30 p.m. with a Fandango for the Dead, a participatory music and dance celebration. Bring your instruments, your voices and your dancing shoes.
Race Brook Lodge is a unique rustic getaway destination for relaxation, hiking, live music, workshops, weddings and more. Sadly, it will be closing for good later in 2026, ending a storied chapter of Berkshire music, art, culture and well-being.
Come experience an evening that honors lost loved ones and the end of a Berkshire institution. The cycle of life endures. Surely, resurrection is in the cards for Race Brook Lodge.
For Tickets and info, visit: rblodge.com
