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

[Missizzy]

I also found this and think this is linked to the Mormon Alliance site. I believe that it is The Pace Memorandum which actually spurred the initial investigation. It's interesting to me that there's no real "closure". It seems as if the church just waited until the media turned away and the public outcry died down. Concerning my post above, the church which the parents of Ms. Davis were excommunicated from was the Mormon Church.

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pace_memorandum[/ame]

".....apostle Richard G. Scott's sermon in the April 1992 general conference of the church may have been related to the SRA allegations. In his remarks, Scott warned Latter-day Saints:

"Memory, particularly adult memory of childhood experiences, is fallible. Remember, false accusation is also a sin."

 

[Missizzy]

http://www.i4m.com/think/history/mormon_history.htm

This is a chronology of LDS/Mormon history. I found this interesting event and "fallout":


April 4,1992 - Apostle Richard G. Scott tells general conference that LDS women should avoid "morbid probing into details of past acts, long buried and mercifully forgotten," and that "the Lord may prompt a victim to recognize a degree of responsibility for abuse."

Among his concluding remarks: "Remember, false accusation is also a sin," and 'bury the past." Unspoken background to his remarks is that in recent years current stake presidents and temple workers have been accused of child abuse by their now adult children.

Salt Lake Tribune reports that suicide prevention lines are swamped with telephone calls by women in days after Scott's remarks. "


I don't think it's been made public exactly what date that JM went to LDS Bishop Tonga with her concerns about abuse but in checking the timeline jjj prepared for us, it looks like it is the early 90's. The family moved to Bates City and away from the Independence LDS church in 1995. I haven't seen anything about where they attended after their move. It sounds like Bishop Tonga was actually following orders "from the top" when he decided that no further morbid probing into details of past acts was required. He must have recommended that the past acts be mercifully forgotten. JMO

 

[Texas Mist]

http://www.i4m.com/think/history/mormon_history.htm

This is a chronology of LDS/Mormon history. I found this interesting event and "fallout":


April 4,1992 - Apostle Richard G. Scott tells general conference that LDS women should avoid "morbid probing into details of past acts, long buried and mercifully forgotten," and that "the Lord may prompt a victim to recognize a degree of responsibility for abuse."

Among his concluding remarks: "Remember, false accusation is also a sin," and 'bury the past." Unspoken background to his remarks is that in recent years current stake presidents and temple workers have been accused of child abuse by their now adult children.

Salt Lake Tribune reports that suicide prevention lines are swamped with telephone calls by women in days after Scott's remarks. "


I don't think it's been made public exactly what date that JM went to LDS Bishop Tonga with her concerns about abuse but in checking the timeline jjj prepared for us, it looks like it is the early 90's. The family moved to Bates City and away from the Independence LDS church in 1995. I haven't seen anything about where they attended after their move. It sounds like Bishop Tonga was actually following orders "from the top" when he decided that no further morbid probing into details of past acts was required. He must have recommended that the past acts be mercifully forgotten. JMO

"mercifully forgotten" and "the Lord may prompt a victim to recognize a degree of responsibility for abuse" -- :shocked2:

Sounds like they are very serious about sweeping abuse under the rug -- and that's all I'm going to say for now because anything else might come out all wrong.

 

[Missizzy]

http://mormoncurtain.com/topic_richardgscott.html

This is a link about Richard Scott's talk on "How Abuse Victims Are Responsible "To A Degree" For Their Abuse" in April 1992. This talk might be what caused JM to come forward to Bishop Tonga (at approximately the same time) with her concerns about Burrell and the children. I know we've all wished that she had done more ie. go to LE.


"Most often, the victim is innocent because of being disabled by fear or the power or authority of the offender. At some point in time, however, the Lord may prompt a victim to recognize a degree of responsibility for abuse. Your priesthood leader will help assess your responsibility so that, if needed, it can be addressed. Otherwise the seeds of guilt will remain and sprout into bitter fruit. Yet no matter what degree of responsibility, from absolutely none to increasing consent, the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ can provide a complete cure. Forgiveness can be obtained for all involved in abuse. Then comes a restoration of self-respect, self-worth, and a renewal of life."


I'm starting to see, though, that those raised within the church, follow the teachings to the letter. They fear being ex-communicated more than death, it seems. With that sort of indoctrination, I don't think it's strange at all that JM didn't go to LE. However, to her credit, she didn't let it rest. She had photos of the crawl space and she warned Burrell's new wife's former husband about the danger his child was in. I mean, think about the photo; who would ever take a photo of a crawl space and keep it for years? JM had it at the ready when LE asked for it for the Search Warrant. I think that this woman struggled for decades with this horrible family secret. Part of me wants to be angry at her but I just feel so much empathy that she didn't have the voice she needed to speak up. JMO

This page and this whole site has a wealth of information for those who have "exited" the church. What I like about this site is that it seems very respectful and highly moderated.

 

[Wintergreen]

The "degree" thing is just stumping me, too. How can someone be so sanctimonious and say something so completely damaging? I think you are right, Missizzy, that they fear excommunication more than death. And I agree TexasMist about not being able to say much more right now. Maybe we are all better off for measuring our words carefully, but we have to find the words and we have to use them where and when they count the most.

 

[IWannaKnow]

Once again, things are quiet, which causes my mind to wander. I'm curious that it is soooooooo quiet, which led me to think about this...does everyone remember the baby buried under concrete in the basement? We all agreed, "dig, dig, dig!!!" but we never heard anything and it is not even mentioned now, but they did do additional evidence searches subsequent to that revelation. Now, 1 is out on bail, two have attorneys and the others are just twiddling their thumbs apparently. If they dug the floor of the basement up, and there was nothing there, don't you think we would have heard about that??? And if there was no baby under the floor, would you just sit in jail for fun? If they dug the floor up and there was nothing there, do you think they would give up on the whole case? Wouldn't the media get wind of that?

So maybe that is why it is so quiet. They found the baby under the floor so they know this is for real and are not releasing another crumb of information to keep from jeopardizing the trial???

Here is the original info - or one version:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5icSy8xJFicnYGfHRB1LFS2xAXAewD9C1L7OG0

"Meanwhile, one of several women who came forward to police also told investigators that she twice became pregnant and the men buried her first baby in their basement, according to another search warrant.

That warrant released Monday said a radar used to search the rural property where Burrell Mohler Sr. and his sons lived in the 1980s found an anomaly "consistent with the shape of a box" under the basement's concrete floor.

The woman told investigators that she was locked in the basement and raped in 1988.

She said the baby was buried in a box under the basement's only window. The affidavit said the basement floor was dirt at the time, and "following the delivery of the first baby, Burrell E. Mohler Sr. and Burrell E. Mohler Jr. buried the infant in the basement." The floor was later covered in concrete, according the warrant."
*************************************************************************
I'm looking for the article from the cousin talking about the basement was always concrete, so this couldn't have happened.....anyone??
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http://www.examiner.com/x-30427-St-...ed-female-was-held-captive-on-Mohler-property

Unrelated female was held captive on Mohler property

One individual, who is not related to Burrell Mohler, Sr., alleges she was held captive and confined to the crawl space of the cellar. Her allegations have been supported by, at least, one of the daughter's of Mohler, Sr. The unrelated female reported she became pregnant twice during her captivity and the first child she birthed was placed in a box by Mohler, Sr. and Mohler, Jr. and then buried beneath the dirt floor of the basement and next covered over with concrete. Radar scans of the basement in the home show a box measuring approximately 18-20 inches by 24-30 inches beneath the basement floor.
**************************************************************************
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-mohler-sex-crimes-search-warrant-111709,0,5639725.story

"On Nov. 11, investigators were able to locate a shape, consistent with the shape of a box, using ground-penetrating radar.

This woman's account is similar to another victim's memory of seeing a child confined to the cellar of the home in Lafayette County that did not live with the rest of the family and was forced to live in a crawl space."

 

[Missizzy]

I, too, have been wondering why there was so much information in the first week or so and then......nothing. I'm not sure how things work in Missouri and was hopeful that a local would help us out. FWIW, how were details released in the Michael Devlin case just as a comparison?

We've seen the Probable Cause documents and the Search Warrants. What else can we expect to see? Will we have to wait for trial for more info. I've methodically checked the forums and comments on local newspapers and there's just no new info at all. I've also read the description of the shape detected approximately 12" under the floor of the basement and have wondered what the outcome of this was. We also have not heard more about possible charges concerning another alleged victim. It's a very curious case, that's for sure.

 

[CHICANA]

I, too, have been wondering why there was so much information in the first week or so and then......nothing. I'm not sure how things work in Missouri and was hopeful that a local would help us out. FWIW, how were details released in the Michael Devlin case just as a comparison?

We've seen the Probable Cause documents and the Search Warrants. What else can we expect to see? Will we have to wait for trial for more info. I've methodically checked the forums and comments on local newspapers and there's just no new info at all. I've also read the description of the shape detected approximately 12" under the floor of the basement and have wondered what the outcome of this was. We also have not heard more about possible charges concerning another alleged victim. It's a very curious case, that's for sure.

Maybe to protect the victims ?

 

[IWannaKnow]

http://www.kctv5.com/news/21970841/detail.html

2 Mohlers Still Need Legal Representation

The judge in the case has asked the men to get attorneys, but Burrell Mohler Jr. and Roland Mohler are still without representation. Tuesday's court appearance should look at why they don't have attorneys and if they have an attorney yet.

 

[IWannaKnow]

http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2009/12/who_will_represent_the_mohlers.php

Who will represent the Mohlers?

A Missouri judge has asked Burrell Mohler Jr. and Roland Mohler to lawyer up, but the men have yet to hire their defense attorneys, KCTV 5 reports.

 

[IWannaKnow]

http://www.kmbc.com/news/21971606/detail.html

2 Accused In Child-Sex Case Appear In Court
Burrell Mohler Jr., Roland Mohler Have Not Hired Attorneys

A judge requested the hearing for Burrell Mohler Jr. and Roland Mohler to determine whether the men hired attorneys. The men have not retained legal counsel. The Mohlers said they do not qualify for state aid and are looking to sell property.

 

[Texas Mist]

http://www.kctv5.com/news/21970841/detail.html

2 Mohlers Still Need Legal Representation

The judge in the case has asked the men to get attorneys, but Burrell Mohler Jr. and Roland Mohler are still without representation. Tuesday's court appearance should look at why they don't have attorneys and if they have an attorney yet.

Roland Mohler also said in court today that he has been treated poorly at the Jackson County Jail.

duhh - it's jail....what is it with these guys & their whining? :boohoo:

sounds to me like he was accomodated so his situation has been taken care of...now -- STHU & quit trying to have a pity party in court.

 

[Missizzy]

I think just about anyone could have told the men that they wouldn't be treated royally in jail as they have been in their homes. Maybe they should have thought of that. If we believe the disclosures, the men wouldn't accept whining from their children in the past either. What's that work....karma.

Does anyone know what a judges' recourse is in Missouri if a person fails to retain an attorney?

 

[Missizzy]

This might shed some light on what is going on. I found a site which has a video imbedded and a full transcript of an interview with Kelly Clark, an Oregon attorney who specializes in cases of child sexual abuses involving churches, institutions, and schools:

http://cityofangels5.blogspot.com/2009/11/same-secrecy-slash-confidentiality.html

The site is copyrighted so I don't want to clip but scroll down to the transcript where Mr. Clark talks about what happens when a person discloses to a Mormon bishop. It's a very interesting site and I can vouch for Mr. Clark. He assisted on our children's case, the Post Conviction Relief Trial part. He's very dynamic and committed to the victim.

 

[ohiogirl]

Sounds like he couldn't have his C-pap machine. Humph.

 

[Missizzy]

Does anyone else remember back to the first few days when this story broke, there was a comment about a disabled daughter? Well, that's been bothering me and I just checked and found two links that still actually work:

http://www.examiner.net/news/law/x2087392840/Five-from-same-family-charged-in-sex-crimes

"Neighbors told KMBC-TV Channel 9 they were surprised by the charges against Burrell Edward Mohler Sr. They called him a good man who looked after a disabled daughter."

and

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal...ild-rape-charges_100273108.html#ixzz0ZnHcJLcT

“I can tell you this is a complete surprise to me,” a neighbor of 77 year old Mohler told BNO News on Tuesday evening. The neighbor, who lived in the street for more than twenty years, described Mohler as a “good man” although he did not know him personally. Mohler was often out in his yard and the neighbor had brief conversations with him at times. He said he never saw any of his sons who were also charged in the case, and did not recall any suspicious activity at the home. He continued on to say he once saw a girl inside the home, but was not sure who she was. Mohler, according to the neighbor, was believed to be living with a wife and his disabled daughter, even though he had never seen them."


Is this disabled daughter, the 27 year old said to be living in the house with Burrell Sr. and his wife? Could this be the "mystery girl" who was the other alleged victims asked about?

 

[CHICANA]

http://www.kmbc.com/news/21971606/detail.html

2 Accused In Child-Sex Case Appear In Court
Burrell Mohler Jr., Roland Mohler Have Not Hired Attorneys

A judge requested the hearing for Burrell Mohler Jr. and Roland Mohler to determine whether the men hired attorneys. The men have not retained legal counsel. The Mohlers said they do not qualify for state aid and are looking to sell property.

I don't think Sr's wife is gonna sell their house to get him out.

 

[Missizzy]

Surely someone knows the answer to the issue of representation. These men were seemingly middle class and had some assets. Whether or not those assets were liquid enough to hire an attorney doesn't seem apparent. I'm surprised that the properties could not be used as collateral, though. This exact same situation must present itself thousands of times each day across America.

I'm really wondering if their wives and other family members are simply unwilling to assist with the paperwork. And if that is true (as is highly plausible), why wouldn't they then qualify for free counsel? I'm getting a little concerned that the Mohlers' civil rights will be violated in some way due to the length of time they've just been sitting. I want nothing to taint this trial. Nothing!!

The alleged victims have waited too long and come too far for this to fall apart on a technicality. JMO

 

[Missizzy]

"A cousin to the Mohlers said that 101 family members met on Thanksgiving and all stand behind the men."

http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-mohlers-burrel-rohland-in-court-121509,0,2996420.story


Forgive me but I can't help but notice that the family members only seem to feel comfortable standing behind the men. They obviously want to keep their eyes on them. And not one family member has stepped up to help the brothers who are still unrepresented? This doesn't make sense.

 

[Texas Mist]

Does anyone else remember back to the first few days when this story broke, there was a comment about a disabled daughter? Well, that's been bothering me and I just checked and found two links that still actually work:

http://www.examiner.net/news/law/x2087392840/Five-from-same-family-charged-in-sex-crimes

"Neighbors told KMBC-TV Channel 9 they were surprised by the charges against Burrell Edward Mohler Sr. They called him a good man who looked after a disabled daughter."

and

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal...ild-rape-charges_100273108.html#ixzz0ZnHcJLcT

“I can tell you this is a complete surprise to me,” a neighbor of 77 year old Mohler told BNO News on Tuesday evening. The neighbor, who lived in the street for more than twenty years, described Mohler as a “good man” although he did not know him personally. Mohler was often out in his yard and the neighbor had brief conversations with him at times. He said he never saw any of his sons who were also charged in the case, and did not recall any suspicious activity at the home. He continued on to say he once saw a girl inside the home, but was not sure who she was. Mohler, according to the neighbor, was believed to be living with a wife and his disabled daughter, even though he had never seen them."


Is this disabled daughter, the 27 year old said to be living in the house with Burrell Sr. and his wife? Could this be the "mystery girl" who was the other alleged victims asked about?

Another neighbor told NBC Action News, Mohler, Sr. cared for a disabled daughter. However, everyone we talked with said young children were never seen around his house.

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/l...-Child-Sex-Crimes/J2HnoKadY0KqSu6zgFaFdw.cspx

This makes me think that there's neighbor who saw the 'disabled' girl inside the house -- maybe that neighbor was better 'friends' with Mohler Sr (or his wife) than the other neighbors.

I wonder if the 'disabled girl' is Mohler's step-daughter?

Altho didn't we hear something about them 'taking her in' -- or am I misremembering?