Summers Were the Worst Says Woman in Missouri Sex Abuse Case, Emanuella Grinberg, CNN, November 20, 2009

"Summers Were the Worst," Says Woman in Missouri Sex Abuse Case

By Emanuella Grinberg
CNN
November 20, 2009

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/20/missouri.family.sex.abuse/

Burrell Mohler Sr., far right, and his four sons were arrested last week based on allegations of sex abuse from relatives.

(CNN) -- Graphic details of bestiality, child rape and sodomy emerged in court documents filed Thursday in the case of a Missouri family accused of horrific crimes against their relatives.

One of the alleged victims was about 7 years old when she and her sisters attempted to run away in 1988, after enduring years of sexual abuse at the hands of her male relatives, a complaint filed in Lafayette County Circuit Court states.

Before she left, she wrote down the alleged sex acts, put them in a jar and buried it, the complaint says.

The girls made it to a neighbor's house before returning home, where, as punishment for running away, they were forced to watch a relative sodomize their brother, according to the complaint.

The incident is just one of many described in the complaint based on interviews with one of the alleged victims, now 28, in support of charges against Burrell Mohler Sr., 77, and his sons Jared Mohler, 48, and Burrell Mohler Jr., 53.

The three men were each charged with use of a child in a sexual performance for allegedly forcing two girls to engage in bestiality in summer 1986.

Burrell Mohler Sr. is also accused of five counts of rape for incidents that allegedly occurred between May 1986 and December 1987 in several locations, including his former home in Bates City, Missouri.

The woman told police that "summers were the worst because the girls spent more time at their [relative's] farm," the complaint states.

During the summer of the alleged bestiality, the woman says she and three of her sisters were "married" to one of their relatives in a mock wedding ceremony conducted by Burrell Mohler Sr.

Two of the girl's sisters also reported the ceremony in interviews with police, the complaint says.

Two other sons of Burrell Mohler Sr., David Mohler and Roland Mohler, are also in custody on various charges related to the abuse allegations.

The men were arrested last week on charges of rape, deviate sexual assault and using a child in sexual performance, according to a Missouri state courts online system.

Fifteen charges were added Monday after another alleged victim came forward, CNN affiliate WDAF reported. Dozens of family members attended a hearing for the suspects Tuesday, saying the allegations against the men have been fabricated, the station said.

Burrell Mohler Sr.'s younger brother, Darrel Mohler, was arrested in Florida on Friday, authorities said. Lafayette County Sheriff Kerrick Alumbaugh said he faces two counts of rape.

Burrell Mohler Sr., David Mohler and Jared Mohler are lay ministers in the Community of Christ, the Independence, Missouri-based organization said in a statement. None of the three served in leadership roles or worked with children, the group said.