Adam Herrman missing, Valerie and Doug Herrman charged with theft

Right: hopefully where the Herrmans end up.

July 7, 2010

BY TIM POTTER
The Wichita Eagle

via kansas.com

Doug and Valerie Herrman walked out of the Butler County Jail on Wednesday afternoon after they were booked on charges of felony theft...

Left: Fourth-grade photo of Adam Herrman released by the Butler County Sheriff's Department 01/05/2009. Herrman was last seen in 1999 when he was 11 or 12 years old. An investigation is proceeding in the case.

EL DORADO — The adoptive parents of Adam Herrman, who disappeared from his Towanda home at age 11 more than a decade ago, were charged today with felony theft.

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The charges are related to the alleged fraudulent receipt of over $50,000 in government assistance for Adam's care, according to Butler County Attorney Jan Satterfield.

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Doug and Valerie Herrman each posted a $50,000 bond. The couple voluntarily went to the Butler County Jail in response to warrants that were issued against them.

Charges were filed today to avoid questions of whether the five year statute of limitations on the charges has expired. The Herrmans allegedly cashed the last adoption state subsidy check on July 8, 2005, according to Satterfield, six years after Adam's disappearance.

The boy disappeared in 1999, but Butler County authorities didn't learn of Adam's disappearance until late 2008.

"This is not the beginning and end. This is just the beginning for the Herrmans," said Satterfield of the charges. Adam would be 23 if he were still alive.

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Thank you Jan. Sincerely. Don't let them slip through the cracks. What about the Internal Revenue Service? If they cashed those adoption checks and claimed them as dependents, I'd bet they claimed him on their federal taxes as well.

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Read entire article here

More on Joran

Does anyone know why Beth Twitty no longer broadcasts with Greta van Susteran? I about fell off of my chair when I actually saw her talking on Nancy Grace one evening. Holy Moly. Maybe it was an old clip from 2005.


Van der Sloot's Mom: Maybe He Missed a Chance to Become an Actor

The mother of Joran van der Sloot -- who police say is a confessed killer -- says her son is no monster and suggests that he missed his calling as an actor.

In an interview with Dutch news station The Telegraph, obtained by ABC News, Anita van der Sloot talks about her reaction to people saying her son is guilty, saying, "As a mother, you don’t want to hear things like 'He's a serial killer or he’s a monster,' because he is not. I don’t have that image of him, so it's very hard to hear that."

As the ABC report points out, the accusations started not with the death of Stephany Flores in Peru but in Aruba after the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in 2005. While Joran has never been officially charged, he remains the prime suspect in that ongoing investigation...

Over the course of the next few days, more details emerged. "My husband told me Natalie's family and uncle, mother -- with police -- had already come to the door," she says. "There had been a lot of yelling ... He thought these things should be discussed at the police station."

The situation confused her, she says, because "Joran had always been friendly with girls, why would this happen now? Why would he do something to a girl? So I didn't believe that, that he could hurt a girl in some way. As a mother, I was convinced he was incapable of it."...

"Then I thought if you lied because of this, then stop now because it's very hurtful for the parents," she says. "I felt so much for parents of Natalee. I could not imagine how it could be to lose a child, even if it was still thought that she ran away. I wanted to do everything to help."

As Joran's story changed, multiple times, his convincing tales led her to believe he had a talent for theatrics. "Maybe he missed a chance to become an actor," she says. "Maybe that should have been a role in his life ... I can hardly believe that he can fake this."

To the parents of his alleged victims, she says, "If they’d be here right now, I'd cry with them and give them a big, big hug."

The parents of Stephany Flores were quoted by ABC news saying they appreciate Mrs van der Sloot's words of support, but they worry this is all part of a scheme to create some sort of insanity defense.

Joran 's lawyer intends to appeal the rejection . If van der Sloot is convicted , he can be prisoned between fifteen and 35 years .

Joran van der Sloot denies Judge an interview

Prairie Chicken
June 21, 2010

It appears Joran van der Sloot, Dutch student turned career criminal, today refused to give his confession to Judge Carlos Morales Cordova. The judge arrived at Miguel Castro Castro for the required meeting at 10:00am and left the prison at 11:20, when Joran refused to speak. Note: this was not a suggested get-together--he is required to make a formal statement to the judge.

"My client did not make statement before the judge, because we await the result of habeas corpus. Here we say that it has violated due process because he had no attorney (during police questioning) and they looked at his laptop without a warrant, among other things," said the lawyer to the AFP news agency.

Van der Sloot , 22 , it was stated in the newspaper Dutchman De Telegraaf, police say he only admitted to having killed the girl because Police had promised to extradite him to Holland.

Of the murder of Stephanie Flores says Van der Sloot : "I am framed . How exactly is it all gone, I'll tell you later . My lawyer focuses first on any procedural irregularities that have been made . I did not need to sit here ."

The entire matter was conducted in a confidential manner and the judge filed a report which stated that the defendant refused to answer questions , according to judicial sources.

Van der Sloot will stay in a separate corridor of the jail where four thousand prisoners are incarcerated. According to the Dutchman, rats creep at night through a toilet in his cell. However, the Dutchman has a very comfortable cell per Peruvian concepts. He has his own mattress and eats the same food as the prison director and guards. What's a rat or two?

I think he just stepped on his pee-pee again. He just pissed off the one person who holds Joran's future in his hand.

Joran van der Sloot

The Prairie Chicken
June 21, 2010

Today we wait with bated breath to hear which version of the "truth" Joran van der Sloot decides to tell to Lima Superior Court Judge Juan Buendia. I have no doubt he will have a story, but which one?

He told arresting officials in Chile that two intruders came in his room and killed Stephany when he went to get coffee and breakfast pastry.

That is also the scene he was trying to set up when he left the room for a few minutes, then asked a hotel employee to open his room for him. I believe he wanted the employee to find Stephany beaten and bloody, so he could stand there with the cups and say, no I'm clean, see, no blood, couldn't have been me. But instead, the employee simply unlocked the door and stepped back.

What could van der Sloot have been thinking when the plan didn't work? When he realized that the security camera was only a couple of meters from his door? Since he carried the story to Chile with him, I am guessing he was taking a chance that the cameras were not operating.

Lots of businesses put camera's in place to deter theft, but they aren't hooked up to anything, or they tape over every so often, destroying any images, to save the cost of a few tapes.

I have to tell you I am very impressed with Peru. Last night Dateline showed even more video--of Stephany cashing in before they left the casino, and another of Stephany before she entered the casino. To call Lima "third world" hardly seems appropriate.

And the gentle nature of most Peruvians was exhibited when Nancy Grace asked Stephany's father via telephone if he and the family was calling for the death penalty (not that Nanc would instigate blood letting...) Her father responded, "no, here we have no death penalty," and said it with a genuine show of support and respect for the laws of Peru.

There is much speculation as to why Mama van der Sloot hasn't flown to be by Joran's side. In fact, speaking of the devil, Nancy Grace ridiculed her about how to buy airline tickets: "you pick up the phone, you dial the airline, etc..." The Mrs. has never appeared too sharp, if you know what I mean, but when the Aruban reporter told ole' Nanc that mama was trying to figure out how to get tickets, I'm pretty sure she meant that the van der Sloots are low on funds.

Once Paulus died, she lost his income and now is making it on a teachers pay. According to newscasts, the family had depleted their savings five years ago paying off lawyers (and probably judges and any witnesses as well.)

She gave a statement to a Netherland news source that she wouldn't be going to Peru, but staying on Aruba. Good for her. Why should she run out to a country where she doesn't know the language, or have any friends, or know where to stay, or what the procedures and customs are there. What if she got over there and was taunted like Joran was when they took him to jail? She may have been overindulgent with her son, but she loves him.

It seems like early on in the Natalee Holloway case, mama van der Sloot said Joran had been in counseling in for his temper, so she is not in total denial. While she still believes Joran to be innocent of Holloways disappearance, she said it appears very clear that he is responsible for the death of Flores.

But you know what? This guy is 22 years old. That is SO young. What could have made this p.o.s. a murderer at such a young age and to completely ruin the life laid out before him? He is smart, evidently charming (altho I don't see it) and with a good education he could have done anything.

One more thing about Nancy Grace. Of course, she is following this case closely and Jean Casarez from tru.tv is in Lima reporting live every day. But Nancy must have been told that she is not allowed to speak rudely to Jean. I thought it was odd at first that Jean was escaping the wrath, but towards the last of the week it was obvious. Nancy is almost shooting smoke rings out of her nose, but is still quite polite to Jean. On Friday, she even waited until Jean was no longer on the line, then said to one of her whipping boys "What Jean just said is total BS." tsk.

Police issue questionnaire asking about Kyron Horman's stepmother, vehicle

Oregonlive.com
Helen Jung, The Oregonian
Friday, June 18, 2010
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The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is distributing a flyer showing photos of Kyron Horman's stepmother and the type of pick-up truck she is believed to have driven on the day the 7-year-old disappeared from his school.
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A spokeswoman for the sheriff's office declined to answer questions about the flyer or whether Kyron's stepmother, Terri Moulton Horman, is considered a person-of-interest in the investigation...
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authorities are asking students, teachers, parents and anyone who was at Skyline School...to answer the questions, which can be viewed here.
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Police ask that people return the questionnaire on Sunday, between 9 am and 7 pm to Skyline School.
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I sure was hoping it wouldn't lead to this.

Pondering the disappearance of Kyron Horman

The Prairie Chicken

June 17, 2010

This kids smile goes right to my heart. He is adorable.

But anyway, trying to figure out what happened the day that Kyron disappeared from Skyline Elementary School in Portland Oregon has been confusing at least. It would help if the police could be a little more specific as to what, if any theory they are looking at. Or even speculating.

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I looked through the articles for the first week and came up with a timeline of sorts. Not so much a timeline as a list of what happened as given by others that saw Kyron and his step-mom Terri Horman:

Who’s who, a very incomplete list as of 6 June, 2010:

MCSO= Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office—PPB=Portland Police Bureau

Captain Jason Gates of the Multnomah County sheriff's office spokesperson?

Ben Keefer, principal of Skyline Elementary School, at 11536 N.W. Skyline Blvd, Portland Oregon.

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Kristina Porter, Kyron's teacher

Gina Zimmerman, the president of the school's PTA, also parent.

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Kaine Horman, Kyron's father

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Terri Moulton Ecker Horman, Kyron’s step-mother
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Desiree McCullough Horman, Kyron’s mother

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Carol Moulton, step-mom’s mother and Kyron's grandmother.

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June 4, 2010, Friday

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Portland Public Schools spokesman Matt Shelby said Kyron Horman was at school Friday.

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They arrived sometime after the school opened about 8 a.m., went to his classroom, dropped off his coat and backpack.

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Terri Horman, Kyrons stepmother, took Kyron to a science fair at the school Friday morning, where they walked through a number of classrooms looking at displays.

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Parent Gina Zimmerman, the president of the school's parent teacher association, was at the school for the science fair and saw Kyron pose for the photo Terri Horman took of him in front of his science display on red-eyed tree frogs.

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His stepmother, Terri Horman, left at 8:45.

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Tanner Pumala, Kyron's classmate, said he last saw his friend at about the same time (as when Terri left, at 8:45) when Kyron told him he was headed to look at another student's science project.

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"He walked by the hallway and I'm like, 'Hi, Kyron,' and he's like, 'Hi. I'm going to go see this cool one. It's electric.' I'm like, 'Alright, bye.' And that's the last time I saw him," Tanner said. "He never did make it back to class."

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According to the sheriff’s office, the stepmother saw the boy walking toward his classroom at 8:45 as she left the building but officials with Portland Public Schools said Horman’s teacher never saw him in class which started at 10 a.m. The teacher marked him absent.

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What happened after that is unclear.

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But these are additional reports from various sources that I find interesting:

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Carol Moulton said the kids were supposed to report to their classes and be divided into small groups of a few students each. Each group was supposed to tour the science fair with a chaperone. Afterward, when they returned to their classes for roll call, Kyron wasn't there, she said. He apparently was not in any group and no one noticed.

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In another report Zimmerman said everyone went into their classroom for the science fair and broke into parent-led groups of four or five. She wasn’t sure what group Kyron was in, but she said the last time she saw him was at 8:45, when the groups began going from class to class.

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Again, according to the sheriff’s office, the stepmother saw the boy walking toward his classroom at 8:45 as she left the building but officials with Portland Public Schools said Horman’s teacher never saw him in class which started at 10 a.m. The teacher marked him absent.

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Kyron's backpack and jacket were found in his classroom. The children pointed out to the teacher that Kyron was missing and she never called his parents.

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Kristina Porter, Kyron's teacher has said that Terri Horman had previously told her that Kyron had an upcoming appointment but Porter didn't remember the date. She said she assumed he was at that appointment, having seen him with his step-mom that morning.
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When Kyron didn’t get off the bus in the afternoon, his parents called police.

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Gates said Saturday that police received a 9-1-1 call at 3:45 Friday afternoon.

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Portland Public Schools spokesman Matt Shelby said two teachers saw Kyron with his stepmother and thought the two left school together.

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Nora Schreiber, a Skyline parent and volunteer, said the school has three main entrances and one secure exit. Two of the doorways are near the main office and are monitored, while a third on the north side of the school is not. Kyron's classroom is adjacent to that door, which opens onto a rear parking lot.

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I've heard it is now a criminal investigation. That can't be good.

Melissa Huckaby sentenced to life without parole

Right: Melissa Huckaby 14-06-2010

Tracy Press
By Jaclyn Hirsch
June 14, 2010

STOCKTON — Melissa Huckaby was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole this morning for the murder and kidnapping of 8-year-old Tracy girl Sandra Cantu last year.



Huckaby avoided the death penalty after she unexpectedly pled guilty to the murder and kidnapping last month.





She wrote a personal apology note to Sandra's mother, which the judge said would be handed over after the sentencing...


Left: beautiful Sandra


The rape charges and other allegations that Huckaby poisoned another girl months before Sandra’s death were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Huckaby also denied that she sexually assaulted Sandra during her sentencing hearing.--wth?



Read entire article: Tracy Press - Huckaby sentenced speaks about murder for much more info.


Details emerge after Huckaby sentenced

Following today’s sentencing of Melissa Huckaby to life in prison without parole for the murder of Sandra Cantu, the prosecutor in the case released a timeline and details about Sandra’s kidnapping and death....

According to prosecutors, by the time Sandra’s mother, Maria Chavez, called police to report Sandra missing at 7:53 p.m. March 27, 2009, the 8-year-old girl had already been killed and her body disposed of by Huckaby...

The report says Sandra’s body, which was found inside a black Eddie Bauer suitcase, was pulled 10 days later from the same irrigation pond where a man and his wife had reported seeing Huckaby...

On March 28, police received a handwritten note that read: “Cantu locked in stolin suitcase thrown in water onn Bacchetti Rd. & Whitehall Rd witness” (sic). ...

When Clover Road Baptist Church was searched on April 6, 2009, police found a rolling pin with blood on it that contained Sandra’s DNA, according to Testa's report...

Alprazolam (Xanax), a form of the muscle relaxant anti-anxiety drug benzodiazepine, was found in Sandra’s body. Bottles of alprazolam were also found in Huckaby’s purse and home.

Read more: Tracy Press - Breaking News Details emerge in Sandra Cantu s death

Also read:
Melissa Huckaby and the Unthinkable Sex Object Huffington Post
Sandra Cantu news: Melissa Huckaby sentenced to life, asks slain ...
Melissa Huckaby Gets Life for Killing 7-Year-Old - CBS News