Investigators Look for Bodies in Sex Ring Case

Update Friday, Nov. 13, 2009

Advocacy Group Urges Victims to Come Forward - Members of an abuse awareness group are urging potential victims of an unfolding child sex crime ring to come forward.

Update Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

Sixth Man Arrested in Mohler Investigation - Hours after a 77-year-old Lafayette County man and his four sons made their first court appearance on charges of multiple sex crimes against children, a sixth man was arrested in connection to the allegations.

Reported Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

LEXINGTON, Mo. – Investigators say they are searching for at least one body in the case of five men who were arrested for sex crimes against children.

At a news conference in Lexington, Mo., on Wednesday, Lafayette County Sheriff Kerrick Alumbaugh said Rural Major Case Squad investigators are searching the Bates City property once owned by members of the Mohler family. Father, 4 Sons Charged with Child Sex Crimes

Alumbaugh says they have reason to believe at least one body was hidden there. 

Investigators are also searching for a glass jar or jars that could contain written notes from the victims. Law enforcement says the suspects told the children to write out their experiences, bury them in glass jars to bury the memory of the horrific crimes. 

Roland Mohler is one of five men accused of sex crimes against children between the 1988 and 1995.  Mohler, 47, his three brothers and their father were all arrested Tuesday. 

Their bonds range from $35,000 and $50,000 cash.

The accused and their respective charges are:

Burrell Edward Mohler Sr. - 77, Independence, Mo. -- Read Charging Documents
Class A felony of forcible rape with a child less than 12 years old by the use of forcible compulsion - one count
Class B felony rape - two counts
Class C felony of use of a child in a sexual performance - two counts

Burrell Edward Mohler Jr. - 53, Independence, Mo. -- Read Charging Documents
Class C felony of deviate sexual assault with a child less than 14 years old - one count
Class C felony use of a child in a sexual performance - two counts

David A. Mohler - 52, Lamoni, Iowa -- Read Charging Documents
Class A felony of forcible rape with a child less than 12 years old by use of forcible compulsion

Jared Leroy Mohler - 48, Columbia, Mo. -- Read Charging Documents
Class A felony of forcible rape with a child less than 12 years old by use of forcible compulsion - one count
Class B felony of forcible sodomy knowingly had deviate sexual intercourse with a child less than 12 years old by use forcible compulsion - one count

Roland Neil Mohler - 47, Bates City, Mo. -- Read Charging Documents
Class C felony of use of a child in a sexual performance - two counts

The investigation involves several jurisdictions and reaches as far away as Lamoni, Iowa where David Mohler lived. One of the victims in the probable cause statement says she was forced to marry her uncle, David, at least 3 times.

One of the victims tipped off investigators in August 2009. 

Since that time several victims, all related to the accused men, have come forward. 

The victims are now in their twenties and thirties, but all were juveniles at the time of the alleged crimes. 

“Given all the victims were juveniles, we cannot reveal too much information that could jeopardize our case,” said Alumbaugh.

The Cybercrimes Task Force joined the investigation when some evidence of child pornography was found on computers belonging to the accused.  They are looking into possible internet trafficking of that material.

Alumbaugh says the investigation is still in the early stages and more sex charges involving children are expected.  A sixth suspect is also expected to be charged

Anyone with information about other potential victims, or of missing person cases that happened during the time of these alleged crimes, should call the LaFayette County Sheriff’s Office at (660) 259-3622 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477. 

The suspects will appear in court Thursday.