MO - Six Mohler family members for child sex crimes, Bates City 2009 #3

[IWannaKnow]

Precious years were lost in Mohler investigation
http://www.kansascity.com/340/story/1589492.html

"Incest and sexual abuse only survive in climates of secrecy and denial.

As vile as the details of the Mohler case appear, there is a wider lesson in the way it was brushed aside for years. Child sexual abuse is tragically more common than anyone wants to believe. Allegations must never be ignored."

 

[Texas Mist]

interesting read on the cost of child sexual abuse to taxpayers & society


http://d2lorganization.blogspot.com/2009/11/tuesday-talking-points-economic-impact.html

 

[PAXIMUS]

I'm having to transcribe this as I can't figure out a way to cut and paste but I think it's some important information. Ever since Pax posted today with the info about Jeffrey Lundgren, I've been researching and pondering some parallels:

"Jeffrey Lundgren was born in Independence, MO. He was a member of the Slover Park Reorganized Church (ETA looks like this is in Independence) until officials transferred him to Kirtland, OH to serve as a guide at the Kirtland Temple. He married Alice Keehler in 1970 and lived for a while in a rented home in Macks Creek, MO (ETA 138 miles from Bates City). The beginnings of his deviation from the RLDS church doctrines began to emerge at this time. After Lundgren moved out, the landlord found an entire bedroom floor and closet littered with "heavy-duty" pornographic magazines."

Continue here.......

http://books.google.com/books?id=DI...0CBgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=alice keehler&f=false

Continue at this link to page 248.

There is NO way that the Mohler family was not aware or somehow affected or involved in this horrid crime. There's just too many similarities and connections!!

Also, read the review by the reviewer, "Vibiana", (and go on and read the other reviews) on the "Prophet of Death" by Pete Earley. Sounds like this woman must have known the Mohlers.

Amazon.com: Prophet of Death: The Mormon Blood-Atonement Killings (9780735100459): Pete Earley: Books

Good sleuthing. Good book, have it and read it.

 

[wfgodot]

Just to drop in a quick defense of RLDS/Community of Christ:

My cousins were born and raised in Independence, and had (then-) RLDS friends. I'd go up in the summer and thus have played with RLDS kids, been in their homes, etc. etc., and, though this is just anecdotal evidence, of course, I was impressed with the friendliness and the good families. I attended both cousins' h.s. graduations, each held at the RLDS Auditorium in Indy, which was available to all city public schools.

Also, all religions have their creeps and weirdos. For example, I'm a Lutheran, and, just to name the two I know of, our religion---very good, very proper, largest Protestant religion in the world---has to its "credit" Dennis (BTK) Rader and John List (who killed his family of five, disappeared, and then was found and arrested 27+ years later).

 

[Linda7NJ]

Did anybody else notice this quote:

"Authorities have found buried remains of those jars and letters in their search of the property."

http://www.richmond-dailynews.com/news.php?id=3879

I've not seen this in print before. I'd read that shards of glass were found but not remains of jars or letters. Careless reporting or new info?

I haven't yet recieved an answer from Sean Comer the reporter yet. So I just e-mailed him again.

 

[Texas Mist]

Just to drop in a quick defense of RLDS/Community of Christ:

My cousins were born and raised in Independence, and had (then-) RLDS friends. I'd go up in the summer and thus have played with RLDS kids, been in their homes, etc. etc., and, though this is just anecdotal evidence, of course, I was impressed with the friendliness and the good families. I attended both cousins' h.s. graduations, each held at the RLDS Auditorium in Indy, which was available to all city public schools.

Also, all religions have their creeps and weirdos. For example, I'm a Lutheran, and, just to name the two I know of, our religion---very good, very proper, largest Protestant religion in the world---has to its "credit" Dennis (BTK) Rader and John List (who killed his family of five, disappeared, and then was found and arrested 27+ years later).

Thanks for your real-life impressions, wfgodot.

IMO, it's not so much any religion in particular, it's the organizations who refuse to out the abusers & turn a blind eye to the vics.

There may very well be other churches who protect their clergy/ministers/elders/members -- I just recall hearing much more about some (LDS + their offshoots & Catholic) than others.

I believe that coverup or minimizing of child sexual abuse (or any abuse or 'sins' for that matter) can happen w/i any organization.

It's said that Joyce Myer's org knew about Chris Coleman's infidelities, IIRC.

 

[Missizzy]

Pax--You have the book and have read it? What's your take on it? Any correlations? I ordered it off Ebay last night for something like $1.50 plus shipping. I think there were a few more copies. Newcomer, that might be faster than waiting for me to get it, read it and mail it on to you.

Oh, I so hope that no one NO ONE thinks that I am discounting or being disrespectful of an entire denomination of people. I am fully aware that there are crazies, quacks, and jerks everywhere. I completely accept the fact that there are most likely an overwhelming number of fine, caring, upstanding folks within the Community of Christ church and the RLDS church. I just think that the connection these men had within that "community" needs to be looked at closely. I'm fairly certain that LE is doing that.

Speaking of Lundgren, I found this:

I changed all names to initials but the link follows with the names.

Cult Followers All Former Rlds

"Lundgren's cult consisted of 29 men, women and children, most former RLDS from Independence, Missouri. At least one follower, DK, was recruited from Nauvoo, Illinois (another important Mormon historic site) after Lundgren participated in an RLDS sponsored archeological dig there in 1982, (Nauvoo Grapevine, Jan. 10, 1990 p. 1).

The group's adults, mostly college educated, included a nurse, a bank employee, a civil engineer, a travel agent and an accountant. RB, the civil engineer, was driven to work each day by a man matching Lundgren's description, who also pick up his paycheck each payday. RB, 26, came to work in the back of a pickup although no one occupied the truck's passenger seat, (Kansas City Star, p. 15A).

BD, who lived near the group, said that on warm nights the members could be seen drinking whiskey, gin and beer while using a good deal of foul language. BD also said Lundgren had his own collection of X-rated tapes that he would watch in his own tent.

BO, who was 11 when she lived on the commune in 1988, said that the children who misbehaved were subject to "sessions" with Lundgren in which, "He would hit you, and not with just his hands and stuff. He would use poles, too,""

http://www.watchman.org/lds/bodies.htm

 

[Missizzy]

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20118284,00.html

"Lundgren ruled his commune with dictatorial powers. He monitored phone calls and took group members' paychecks. He put the men through weapons training, ambush drills and target practice. And he told his followers that women could gain salvation through sexual rituals.

According to court documents, he forced women to dance naked while he masturbated. Children who misbehaved were allegedly beaten on the buttocks and legs with poles, according to a 13-year-old who briefly lived with her mother in the cult. Most nights at 9, Lundgren harangued his followers, promising to lead them to God. He warned them that a "blood sacrifice" must occur before they could go to the promised land."

Obviously, Lundgren, was crazy but people honored him, revered him, and listened to him. Several of them committed murder at his command. Do you think it could possibly be due to the fact that many of these followers were raised within a religion which allows for the possibility of prophets?

You and I know how hoodwinked they were...in retrospect. But, maybe at the time, he seemed to truly have knowledge. I realize most of us would raise our eyebrows and walk (no run) when the nightly naked dancing began, but maybe these people were so deluded by that time that they went along.

I don't think we know what part religion played in the Mohler case either. It could just be a coincidence that Mohler and Lundgren shared a religion. The Mohler case could be a straight forward case of multi-generational sex abuse. I don't recall seeing any comment in any of the documents we've read so far about religion. I know we watched the video of the young woman, N, who was baby-sat by the Mohler girls and observed the Barbie doll play. She reported that one girl had been raped in church. Hmmm. Come to think of it, that WAS in a Probable Cause document, I think. One of the girls reported that she was raped while observing a sister "marry". I'll check. Anyone else remember anything else?

I don't know. I don't get it. But I wasn't raised within a church where the pastor was "all-knowing" or openly revered. In my church, people often openly grumbled about the current pastor. He was always open to removal, also. Maybe that's a safer way to go about things. JMO

 

[Texas Mist]

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20118284,00.html

"Lundgren ruled his commune with dictatorial powers. He monitored phone calls and took group members' paychecks. He put the men through weapons training, ambush drills and target practice. And he told his followers that women could gain salvation through sexual rituals.

According to court documents, he forced women to dance naked while he masturbated. Children who misbehaved were allegedly beaten on the buttocks and legs with poles, according to a 13-year-old who briefly lived with her mother in the cult. Most nights at 9, Lundgren harangued his followers, promising to lead them to God. He warned them that a "blood sacrifice" must occur before they could go to the promised land."

Obviously, Lundgren, was crazy but people honored him, revered him, and listened to him. Several of them committed murder at his command. Do you think it could possibly be due to the fact that many of these followers were raised within a religion which allows for the possibility of prophets?

You and I know how hoodwinked they were...in retrospect. But, maybe at the time, he seemed to truly have knowledge. I realize most of us would raise our eyebrows and walk (no run) when the nightly naked dancing began, but maybe these people were so deluded by that time that they went along.

I don't think we know what part religion played in the Mohler case either. It could just be a coincidence that Mohler and Lundgren shared a religion. The Mohler case could be a straight forward case of multi-generational sex abuse. I don't recall seeing any comment in any of the documents we've read so far about religion. I know we watched the video of the young woman, N, who was baby-sat by the Mohler girls and observed the Barbie doll play. She reported that one girl had been raped in church. Hmmm. Come to think of it, that WAS in a Probable Cause document, I think. One of the girls reported that she was raped while observing a sister "marry". I'll check. Anyone else remember anything else?

I don't know. I don't get it. But I wasn't raised within a church where the pastor was "all-knowing" or openly revered. In my church, people often openly grumbled about the current pastor. He was always open to removal, also. Maybe that's a safer way to go about things. JMO

MissIzzy, infor below from an article online re: girl raped in the church

Eleven more counts involved a third sister, now 28. She told police of her grandfather remarrying her sister and an uncle in the little Bates City church — while her father, Ed Mohler, allegedly raped her in a pew.

http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1585282-p3.html

And I know what you mean about pastors open to removal...when I was a kid I heard stories about them being run out of town (for financial crimes and/or adultery). ETA: or a slip of the tongue from the pulpit during a sermon which was offensive

 

[Missizzy]

One thing that hit me on this case is weird. I understand that it is a sexual case. But it goes so far beyond that, that there is so much more evidence of power and control issues. I know sex abuse cases are about power and control, but this one seems to take it to extremes, almost beyond the sexual issues. It is like they may have started with sex abuse and then went.... "well what else can we make them do?" The beastialty with the sex abuse got me starting to think about that. I am wondering if there might be some bondage and physical abuse that isn't being talked about yet?

I noticed this post by Mysteriew a few pages back and thought we needed to look at it again in light of the info we've seen on Jeff Lundgren.

 

[Missizzy]

Texas Mist--Thanks, I thought I remembered it. I was just going over the last few pages and came upon Mysteriew's post. Boy, did that wave red flags!!

This post made me go back over a lot of the Probable Cause docs. I find it really helpful to read back every couple of days. Sometimes really important posts get hidden or forgotten about and suddenly, given new info, they become VERY pertinent.

I don't think we've heard about much physical abuse have we? That's a ridiculous statement as I read it back but what I mean is physical vs sexual.

 

[Missizzy]

Post #410 on:

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/fox4kc/TUO7SBQD1V6PMIKB2/p21

"You provided me the link, and I found someone...not saying this is him, but you said there was absolutely no men reported missing in the state of MO, well here is nobody! And look at the date, the article says around April 1988 that they did this...notice the date this man was reported missing. RAYMOND L. BOONE MISSING SINCE 3/31/1988...interesting."

Post #411

"That's interesting. Raymond L. Boone has been added to the list in the last week. That shows law enforcement is looking for any possibles. Louisiana,Mo. is 200 miles from the shopping center in Independence. That would've been a 400 mi. round trip for the Mohlers. Their description is of a local man."

Has anyone here come across this name, Raymond L. Boone, before? I wonder why (and if) LE did indeed add his name to the list last week.

 

[Missizzy]

Does anyone remember the approximate age of the man purported to have been murdered by the Mohler children? I found that Raymond L. Boone went missing out of Louisiana, Missouri (almost 200 miles from Bates City) on 3-31-88. Mr. Boone is reported to be a white male born in 1918. That would have made him 70 at the time of his disappearance. I can't find anything else about him. Still searching.

 

[wfgodot]

Does anyone remember the approximate age of the man purported to have been murdered by the Mohler children? I found that Raymond L. Boone went missing out of Louisiana, Missouri (almost 200 miles from Bates City) on 3-31-88. Mr. Boone is reported to be a white male born in 1918. That would have made him 70 at the time of his disappearance. I can't find anything else about him. Still searching.

Can't find the age. The vivid detail I remember was that he was 6'2" and weighed 300 pounds. http://www.kctv5.com/news/21636854/detail.html

I've been through all the Missouri missing cases on the Charley Project, and no Raymond L. Boone, or anyone else from that time period who would fit the description, at least on the alphabetical list of names; I'm checking through the chronological list for 1988 right now, but, so far, nothing.

 

[Texas Mist]

Texas Mist--Thanks, I thought I remembered it. I was just going over the last few pages and came upon Mysteriew's post. Boy, did that wave red flags!!

This post made me go back over a lot of the Probable Cause docs. I find it really helpful to read back every couple of days. Sometimes really important posts get hidden or forgotten about and suddenly, given new info, they become VERY pertinent.

I don't think we've heard about much physical abuse have we? That's a ridiculous statement as I read it back but what I mean is physical vs sexual.

As far as physical abuse, one parent's idea of "whooping" would be considered abuse by DCF if for instance, the kids were whipped w/ belts or even switches - especially if it left welts...not every parent back in the day used a light tap of a belt on a fully clothed child....imagine what kind of whipping BMjr might give if he'd sodomize one of his kids to punish them for trying to run away.

And back in the day, many kids didn't realize they were being beaten -- it happened to so many it was simply accepted....at least that's the way I remember it as well as others I've talked to....and it wasn't until I was in therapy that I could connect the fear of "whippings" to keeping the secrets.

Example:

The saddest thing I own is a belt buckle. It’s from the belt that my mother whipped me with when I was little. In our house it was called The Belt, as in “Do you want The Belt?” My sister and I were terrified of it. I found it in a drawer in her room two years ago while I was looking for a pen. I don’t know why she kept it; she must have had it for thirty years at least. I hope she kept it because she is sorry for hitting us. I don’t know why I keep it. I hope I keep it to remind me not hit my future kids. I hope I can forgive her someday because I really want to let go of the sadness this buckle gives me.

http://www.turbulence.org/Works/saddest/index.php?id=168

Of course the kids being beaten is speculation on my part, but it fits with old school beliefs of being strict & the whole 'spare the rod, spoil the child'...I can't help but believe that if a parent would do what BMjr is accused of, it's not a stretch to believe there was also physical abuse.

And oh yeah, remember when 'Nicole' talked about the Barbie play & the child had the Ken doll slapping the Barbie doll?

Barbie didn't want to do what Ken doll wanted, so Ken doll stuck his hand out and was slapping her."

Definitely not a stretch for me.

 

[Missizzy]

I knew something wasn't right. The poster on Topix listed the date wrong. Mr. Boone went missing on 3/31/1998. Wild goose chase, I think.

 

[wfgodot]

I knew something wasn't right. The poster on Topix listed the date wrong. Mr. Boone went missing on 3/31/1998. Wild goose chase, I think.

Yes, just found that on the Missouri Highway Patrol site.
http://www.mshp.dps.mo.gov/CJ51/SearchAction?page=1&county=&personType=A

So far, nothing else---trawling the Doe Network now for possibles.

 

[Linda7NJ]

As far as physical abuse, one parent's idea of "whooping" would be considered abuse by DCF if for instance, the kids were whipped w/ belts or even switches - especially if it left welts...not every parent back in the day used a light tap of a belt on a fully clothed child....imagine what kind of whipping BMjr might give if he'd sodomize one of his kids to punish them for trying to run away.

And back in the day, many kids didn't realize they were being beaten -- it happened to so many it was simply accepted....at least that's the way I remember it as well as others I've talked to....and it wasn't until I was in therapy that I could connect the fear of "whippings" to keeping the secrets.

Example:

The saddest thing I own is a belt buckle. It’s from the belt that my mother whipped me with when I was little. In our house it was called The Belt, as in “Do you want The Belt?” My sister and I were terrified of it. I found it in a drawer in her room two years ago while I was looking for a pen. I don’t know why she kept it; she must have had it for thirty years at least. I hope she kept it because she is sorry for hitting us. I don’t know why I keep it. I hope I keep it to remind me not hit my future kids. I hope I can forgive her someday because I really want to let go of the sadness this buckle gives me.

http://www.turbulence.org/Works/saddest/index.php?id=168

Of course the kids being beaten is speculation on my part, but it fits with old school beliefs of being strict & the whole 'spare the rod, spoil the child'...I can't help but believe that if a parent would do what BMjr is accused of, it's not a stretch to believe there was also physical abuse.

And oh yeah, remember when 'Nicole' talked about the Barbie play & the child had the Ken doll slapping the Barbie doll?

Barbie didn't want to do what Ken doll wanted, so Ken doll stuck his hand out and was slapping her."

Definitely not a stretch for me.

My Aunt had...THE STRAP...OMG As a small child I was terrified to even visit them with my parents! I musta been 6 years old when my Aunt took it down off the hook, in her kitchen, where it was always predominately displayed and explained to me what it was for. I learned in my later life it was a cat-of-9-tails.....good grief!

 

[Missizzy]

"A man of strange appetites, Jeff Lundgren enjoyed having excrement rubbed all over his body by his loving wife."

Before you get upset at me and groan that I've ruined your afternoon snack, let me explain. I'm still researching Jeff Lundgren and came upon the statement above. I was going to discount it and spare you from having to read it too when I remembered something I had seen on this site:

http://ritualabuse.us/ritualabuse/articles/denying-ritual-abuse-of-children-catherine-gould/

http://ritualabuse.us/ (A very useful link, BTW)

"Because these children have often had urine and feces smeared on their bodies and put in their mouths, they may smear themselves or others with urine or feces, or develop phobias of the bathroom."

and this:

http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/slvn-rab.htm

(this site includes a lot of info from the 80s and 90s but is often used by therapists of children in the system--foster care and adoption--who have been known to have suffered ritual abuse or who are displaying odd behaviors as outlined on this site)

"Ritually abused children have been forced to engage in humiliating and degrading activities such as handling, smearing, and ingesting urine, feces, blood, and human flesh. They have been photographed pornographically and, sometimes, been made to view these pictures. They have been forced to participate in the abuse, torture, and killing of animals, and the murder of children and adults."

and this:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Encopresis-and-Enuresis-in-Stress-Disordered-Children

This is a general article about encopresis (feces smearing and inappropriate defecation). A lot of people don't realize how prevalent this problem is with abused children. It is often a response to unresolved grief and/or abuse. It can continue into the teen and adult years and carries a great deal of shame with it. I've read that many people detail this personal experience through therapy and are extremely relieved to learn that it is a common human reaction to abuse. I wonder if Lundgren was sexually abused as a child (you've read the book, Pax, was he?) and thus, continued this practice into adulthood. At some point it could have become a paraphilia for him.

I fully realize how gross this subject is. However, I think we're all just starting to realize how much degradation and humiliation exists in this level of abuse. One of our children's most humiliating experience was being anally raped and then laughed at as he soiled himself. What humans will do to other humans to cause pain and to gain power.

I promise to try to step away from this chapter.

 

[Missizzy]

http://www.kansascity.com/679/story/1591849.html

"A second police search of the Independence property of Burrell Mohler Sr., charged with an array of sexual offenses against some of his grandchildren, turned up child incest pamphlets.

Also seized were more adult movies, including a pornographic DVD about having sex with “Grandma & Grandpa,” according to new documents released today."