Diet Divinely Inspired, Says Fink Manuscript

Salt Lake Tribune, September 24, 1998
By Ray Rivera

Christopher Fink, the man who authorities say is slowly starving his son on a diet of watermelon and lettuce, believes the causes of disease are sin and eating incorrect foods.

``Anything but starchless fresh fruit and vegetables and leafy greens will cause negative thoughts and sluggish activity when continually eaten,'' says a manuscript Fink claims to have written. ``Where does all the mucus and filthy lymph come from in a diseased person? Starch, protein, uric acid and unnatural chemicals.''

Citing the Bible, Fink writes, ``This is consistent with God's command to Adam and Eve, `every fruit and herb-bearing seed I give unto you for meat.' ''

The treatise, titled The Doctrine of Translation, gives insight into why Christopher Fink and his wife, Kyndra, have chosen such an austere diet for their 20-month-old son. Police say the two consider David Fink the Christ child or a prophet. The parents, however, have not adhered to the diet themselves, sometimes snacking on pizza, chicken and other foods outside their stated beliefs.

The child weighed only 16 pounds when admitted to a Salt Lake City hospital Sept. 14, a pound less than an average 6-month-old boy. Nutrition experts say if the diet continues, David Fink could face severe mental and physical underdevelopment. He eventually could suffer a fatal infection that his immune system, depleted from malnutrition, would be unable to fight.

Fink and his wife, both 23, purportedly kidnapped their son from Primary Children's Medical Center during a supervised visit Saturday, hours before state authorities planned to place him in a foster home. The couple have since been spotted in Cheyenne, Wyo., according to the FBI. The agency is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to their arrest.

Family members and acquaintances say Fink is a skilled survivalist who, though born into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, believes he is the true prophet.

Fink's 55-page manuscript also details his fanatical distrust of doctors. For example, he writes that cancer patients who stay away from physicians live four times longer. ``The statistics prove it, but because America is indolent and just plain stupid they will never know what a waste our society has become until it is utterly destroyed.''

Fink grew up in Pennsylvania. Three years ago, he and his wife were married in Pocatello, Idaho. From there, they traveled around -- often living in tents. Occasionally, they stopped and tried to save money to rent an apartment, but as neighbors questioned the welfare of their child, they packed up and moved on.

One of their stops was in Manti to visit the True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of the Last Days -- a polygamous group. Its leader, James Harmston, said Fink contacted the church by e-mail on Oct. 9, 1997.

Fink wrote he is not a polygamist but was curious about the practice. ``I am married to one wife (it has been impossible to find a woman worthy of baptism, let alone celestial marriage, and thus I have only one wife), and she has stood the test of loyalty to God . . . I only wish that most men could have character and charity like hers!''

Fink also said: ``I preach strong doctrines that condemn almost everyone in existence that I have met, so I have virtually no friends or even acquaintances to share my hopes with -- even my ENTIRE family has gone off and willfully sanctioned the shedding of innocent blood . . . ''

People who know him say the last reference is to abortion. Fink has said the LDS Church is apostate for its views. The church opposes elective abortions, except in cases such as rape, incest or when a woman's life or health is endangered.

In another e-mail to Harmston, Fink wrote: ``How can one who has shed innocent blood be accepted into the church and baptized when it is contrary to all scripture?''

Fink visited the Manti church in October 1997, but left a few days later because he learned a woman in the group had had an abortion.

Harmston said the Finks mostly stayed in their room at a church-owned bed and breakfast and watched television during their two-day stay. At one of the member's homes, they ate pizza. Kyndra Fink, now expecting her second child, was nursing David at the time.

Harmston is demanding an apology from the FBI and a Salt Lake television station for reporting that the Finks were ``affiliated'' with his polygamous church.

Meanwhile, the Finks and their baby were spotted in Cheyenne, Wyo., a sighting that has discounted early reports that the couple fled to Price from the hospital.

Detectives consider Fink armed and dangerous and say the baby is at serious risk. The FBI has changed the telephone number the public can call to deliver tips: The new number is 800-796-7225.

Tribune reporter Greg Burton contributed to this story.

Note: See the following statement issued by the TLC about the Finks