GUILTY MO - Danial & Linda Rinehart for incest, death of newborn, Harrisonville, 2004

[wfgodot]

Rinehart sentenced to life for incest, baby deaths
By Donald Bradley
The Kansas City Star
Posted on Mon, Jun. 07, 2010

Danial Rinehart received life in prison plus 22 years today in Cass County Circuit Court on convictions of incest, felony murder, statutory rape and abandonment of a corpse.

A jury found him guilty April 20 in a trial that included his daughter’s testimony that he carried on an incestuous relationship with her that began when she was 5 years old and produced four babies.
---
Despite the court’s findings, Rinehart’s mother stood by her son. Speaking outside the courthouse today, Delores Rinehart put much of the blame on the victim — her granddaughter — who she said “should have spoken up if he was bothering her” and Rinehart’s wife for “going to work and leaving those girls alone in the camper.”

Her son is not a bad person, Delores Rinehart said outside the courthouse after Monday’s hearing.

“He’s done wrong, but now he’s found the Lord,” she said. “I’m proud of him.”
---
Authorities say his wife, Linda Rinehart, who was the mother of the victim, knew of the abuse, but did little to stop it and even helped deliver the babies in an overhead camper. She is charged with two counts of child endangerment.

Her trial is set for August.

and more, at
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/07/1998265/rinehart-sentencing-today.html

 

[wfgodot]

Linda Rinehart pleads guilty in Cass County incest case

A Cass County mother will be sentenced Tuesday for her role in an incest case that resulted in her husband fathering four babies with one of the couple’s daughters.

Linda Rinehart, 49, of Harrisonville, pleaded guilty to charges of child endangerment and hindering prosecution of a felony.

Last June, husband, Danial Rinehart, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for incest, murder, and abandonment of a corpse. At his trial, a daughter testified that he carried on an incestuous relationship with her that began when she was 5.

Prosecutors accused Linda Rinehart of knowing of the abuse but doing nothing to stop it.

mugshot at link above

 

[tlcya]

ty for these updates wfg, I remember this case vividly. Was too stunned and sickened to even comment so I just lurked on this one. Glad to see Danial got plenty of time to commune with his new savior and that Linda pled guilty, and didn't try going for the old emotional abuse excuse.

 

[wfgodot]

ty for these updates wfg, I remember this case vividly. Was too stunned and sickened to even comment so I just lurked on this one. Glad to see Danial got plenty of time to commune with his new savior and that Linda pled guilty, and didn't try going for the old emotional abuse excuse.

You're welcome, and me too on the "I think I might give this one a miss," re: the graphic in-family cruelty over the many years. But I read the K.C. Star online every day and notice the articles, so I'll post things as they come. Not sure what's left of the case but the sentencing of Linda I suppose. And the years of recovery for the living victims.

 

[Texas Mist]

Linda Rinehart gets seven years in incest case



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/25/2609132/cass-county-mother-gets-seven.html

She got off light

 

[wfgodot]

I suppose the State's thinking here (in what had to have amounted to a plea bargain or a less-formal agreement with the defense) is that it saves the children the duress of again having to testify in court against a parent (yes, it's a stretch even to think of this couple in that way). It also saves the cost to the county of another trial, I guess. Was thinking yesterday when I posted the guilty plea that Linda would get somewhere around 7-10 years. Wish it had been the latter number!

I thought Danial Rinehart's sentence - 22 years - was certainly waaaay too light.

 

[LadyL]

I cannot believe the grandmother and uncle were blaming the victim. She didn't even have the support of extended (adult) family members to get her through this. Those girls have hopefully stopped the cycle permanently now. Brave girls!

 

[Kat]

We talk about sexual abuse of children here a lot given it is a crime.

We talk about the scars that sexual abuse leaves with the survivor. Some suvivor's are able to move on and past the pain and live full and gratifying lifes. Some just can't get to a point of enough peace within their souls that they can live their life to the fullest potential. They are in a way crippled.

I know this---I am one. Just as many here are suvivors.

But I will tell you this and I mean every single word~

The sexual abuse and the physical pain and the spiritual damage that is done during that act upon a child/minor pails in comparison---completely pails when compared to the damage done by the betrayal of your Mother allowing (thereby condoning and in my personal case, facilitating) the act by either non action or dismissal of child's needs.

I've never revealed even that much on open forum much less in private forum. I have made it a point in the past to gently debate with others who have said that the worst thing that could possibly happen to a child is sexual abuse/molestation.

No IMHO there are a lot worse things. Sexual abuse/molestation can be devastating but the betrayal of child by mother in the course of that abuse or molestation. The betrayal of that relationship---that takes years of therapy. Years. Trust me on that one.

All JMHO.

 

[MorenoI]

My heart breaks for these girls. All of them have gone through so much and are the victims! I wish family members would stop blaming the children for acts that grown folks choose to do!