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LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Mo. -
Five family members charged in a child sex abuse case have made their first court appearance in Lafayette County, Mo. The men, a 77-year-old father and his four adult sons, have been charged with several felonies, including sodomy and rape involving children under the age of 12. Read more about their court appearance.
Investigators continue to search farm property in Lafayette County, Mo., where Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., 77, once lived. It is believed graphic sex acts were performed on several of the Mohler children on the property.
The probable cause from Lafayette County prosecutors states that several female relatives and one male relative of the five men were abused. At one point, a female relative said she was forced to have sex with a dog.
The five men, ranging in age from 44 to 77, are being held in the Lafayette County jail.
The accused:
Those charged in the case include: Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., 77, and his sons Burrell Edward Mohler Jr., 53, David A. Mohler, 52, and Jared Leroy Mohler, 48, and Roland Neil Mohler, 47. All five men have been charged with sex crimes that occurred between March 1988 and March 1995, according to the probable cause.
Other victims:
During Wednesday's news conference, Lafayatte County Sheriff Kerrick Alumbaugh said police are asking the public to come forward with any information that may lead to the discovery of more victims in the "horrific" case. Some have already told their stories to police since the men were arrested on Tuesday. Area agencies are trying to contact other victims from a list of people the men may have had inappropriate contact with.
"We believe there are other victims out there and we believe the public can give us more information on these suspects," Alumbaugh said. "Pedophiles just don't stop at one."
Alumbaugh added the nature of the suspects' jobs makes investigators think there are more victims. Three of the men were lay ministers with the Community of Christ Church in Independence, Mo. Their licenses have since been suspended. A lay minister is someone who serves the church but is not ordained.
Those who may have information, or those who may have been victimized by the Mohlers are asked to call the Tips Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS.
The search for bodies:
On Wednesday, police used cadaver dogs at the Lafayette County property in an effort to search for bodies that may or may not be buried there.
"There have been indications that an individual was killed, or individuals were killed," Alumbaugh said. "There has been an indication that there are body or bodies in numerous locations."
Investigators would not elaborate about who they suspect might be buried on the property.
Investigators also brought in excavation equipment and were digging in the southwest corner of the land. There are reports the victims may have buried notes in jars on the property detailing the abuse. Alumbaugh said they were investigating those reports and would have more information once evidence from the property was processed.
The beginning of the investigation:
The investigation started in August when a 26-year-old relative of the men told police she was abused at least eight times and was forced to watch abuse against her brother at least once.
The probable cause stated the female relative was forced to have an abortion at age 11 and was also forced to "marry" several of her relatives. The victim said she and her four sisters were part of several mock marriage ceremonies that would be conducted before the men would have sexual intercourse with them. She said she and her sisters would adorn their hair with flowers and wear special dresses for the ceremonies.
The victim told detectives that the father and his son, plus the other three adult brothers, were all part of an incident where they used a family pet, a German shepherd, to sexually abuse her.
Investigators continue to search farm property in Lafayette County, Mo., where Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., 77, once lived. It is believed graphic sex acts were performed on several of the Mohler children on the property.
The probable cause from Lafayette County prosecutors states that several female relatives and one male relative of the five men were abused. At one point, a female relative said she was forced to have sex with a dog.
The five men, ranging in age from 44 to 77, are being held in the Lafayette County jail.
The accused:
Those charged in the case include: Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., 77, and his sons Burrell Edward Mohler Jr., 53, David A. Mohler, 52, and Jared Leroy Mohler, 48, and Roland Neil Mohler, 47. All five men have been charged with sex crimes that occurred between March 1988 and March 1995, according to the probable cause.
Other victims:
During Wednesday's news conference, Lafayatte County Sheriff Kerrick Alumbaugh said police are asking the public to come forward with any information that may lead to the discovery of more victims in the "horrific" case. Some have already told their stories to police since the men were arrested on Tuesday. Area agencies are trying to contact other victims from a list of people the men may have had inappropriate contact with.
"We believe there are other victims out there and we believe the public can give us more information on these suspects," Alumbaugh said. "Pedophiles just don't stop at one."
Alumbaugh added the nature of the suspects' jobs makes investigators think there are more victims. Three of the men were lay ministers with the Community of Christ Church in Independence, Mo. Their licenses have since been suspended. A lay minister is someone who serves the church but is not ordained.
Those who may have information, or those who may have been victimized by the Mohlers are asked to call the Tips Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS.
The search for bodies:
On Wednesday, police used cadaver dogs at the Lafayette County property in an effort to search for bodies that may or may not be buried there.
"There have been indications that an individual was killed, or individuals were killed," Alumbaugh said. "There has been an indication that there are body or bodies in numerous locations."
Investigators would not elaborate about who they suspect might be buried on the property.
Investigators also brought in excavation equipment and were digging in the southwest corner of the land. There are reports the victims may have buried notes in jars on the property detailing the abuse. Alumbaugh said they were investigating those reports and would have more information once evidence from the property was processed.
The beginning of the investigation:
The investigation started in August when a 26-year-old relative of the men told police she was abused at least eight times and was forced to watch abuse against her brother at least once.
The probable cause stated the female relative was forced to have an abortion at age 11 and was also forced to "marry" several of her relatives. The victim said she and her four sisters were part of several mock marriage ceremonies that would be conducted before the men would have sexual intercourse with them. She said she and her sisters would adorn their hair with flowers and wear special dresses for the ceremonies.
The victim told detectives that the father and his son, plus the other three adult brothers, were all part of an incident where they used a family pet, a German shepherd, to sexually abuse her.
