Unfolding in my area
http://www.kwch.com/global/story.asp?s=9634314
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follow link to the news web site for video links of interviews with family
Family members of Adam Herrman are coming forward with allegations about the life of the missing 11 year old. They haven't seen the boy since 1999 and have staying silent about how he was treated for ten years.
Kim Winslow, Adam's aunt, admits she only saw Adam a handful of times, usually on holidays or special occasions. But the way she says his mother, Valerie Herrman, treated him bothered her. Now Winslow is afraid that Herrman may have had something to do with Adam's disappearance. She is trying to hold out hope that he could be alive, somewhere.
"I just don't know what happened to him," said Winslow. "I want know what happened to him. He needs to be found."
Winslow says she doesn't always get along with her sister, who she calls an evil, spiteful person. But Winslow says she hasn't stopped thinking about Adam and the last time she saw him in 1999. She says he was locked in the bathroom of the family's home in Towanda, the same place investigators searched last month.
"All day long no one took water in to him, no one took food in to him, nothing," she said. "Later on, I made a comment about taking a plate to Adam, and she told me in so many words that Adam doesn't deserve to eat."
Other family members have made the same claim. Valerie admits to locking Adam in the bathroom but gave Eyewitness News the same explanation she gave Winslow.
"Valerie said Adam was abusive, and he was going to hurt somebody and that he was a troubled child," said Winslow.
Kim never reported what she saw to authorities.
"I guess I was scared. I can't really answer why I didn't do anything back then. I was scared of Valerie."
Like other family, Winslow was relieved when Valerie told her that Adam had gone back to the state's custody. Now she knows that's not true.
"In my heart, I say no. I don't feel that Adam is alive. And I know that's terrible of me to say, because I really do hope he's alive."
Either way she believes her sister knows what happened to Adam.
"I know she knows. She knows she knows too. She just has to step up and take what's coming to her."
Eyewitness News has gone to the home of Doug and Valerie Herrman four times to try to get their side of the story. They still have not agreed to go on camera. On Wednesday Valerie said her relatives are not telling the truth.
She still insists that Adam ran away, and she didn't report him missing out of fear she would lose her other children.
Eyewitness News also spoke with Butler County Sheriff Craig Murphy. He says that the Herrmans are talking to the media more than they are to investigators. He says he is listening to the claims they are making and comparing their stories to the evidence that's being collected.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
follow link to the news web site for video links of interviews with family
Family members of Adam Herrman are coming forward with allegations about the life of the missing 11 year old. They haven't seen the boy since 1999 and have staying silent about how he was treated for ten years.
Kim Winslow, Adam's aunt, admits she only saw Adam a handful of times, usually on holidays or special occasions. But the way she says his mother, Valerie Herrman, treated him bothered her. Now Winslow is afraid that Herrman may have had something to do with Adam's disappearance. She is trying to hold out hope that he could be alive, somewhere.
"I just don't know what happened to him," said Winslow. "I want know what happened to him. He needs to be found."
Winslow says she doesn't always get along with her sister, who she calls an evil, spiteful person. But Winslow says she hasn't stopped thinking about Adam and the last time she saw him in 1999. She says he was locked in the bathroom of the family's home in Towanda, the same place investigators searched last month.
"All day long no one took water in to him, no one took food in to him, nothing," she said. "Later on, I made a comment about taking a plate to Adam, and she told me in so many words that Adam doesn't deserve to eat."
Other family members have made the same claim. Valerie admits to locking Adam in the bathroom but gave Eyewitness News the same explanation she gave Winslow.
"Valerie said Adam was abusive, and he was going to hurt somebody and that he was a troubled child," said Winslow.
Kim never reported what she saw to authorities.
"I guess I was scared. I can't really answer why I didn't do anything back then. I was scared of Valerie."
Like other family, Winslow was relieved when Valerie told her that Adam had gone back to the state's custody. Now she knows that's not true.
"In my heart, I say no. I don't feel that Adam is alive. And I know that's terrible of me to say, because I really do hope he's alive."
Either way she believes her sister knows what happened to Adam.
"I know she knows. She knows she knows too. She just has to step up and take what's coming to her."
Eyewitness News has gone to the home of Doug and Valerie Herrman four times to try to get their side of the story. They still have not agreed to go on camera. On Wednesday Valerie said her relatives are not telling the truth.
She still insists that Adam ran away, and she didn't report him missing out of fear she would lose her other children.
Eyewitness News also spoke with Butler County Sheriff Craig Murphy. He says that the Herrmans are talking to the media more than they are to investigators. He says he is listening to the claims they are making and comparing their stories to the evidence that's being collected.