Investigation continues into missing Towanda boy

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TOWANDA, Kan. (AP) -- The investigation into what happened to an 11-year-old Towanda boy not seen since 1999 continues and charges are possible sometime this year, Butler County Attorney Jan Satterfield said.

Adam Herrman's adoptive parents say he ran away from their mobile home park in Towanda in 1999. But his absence was not reported until his older sister contacted authorities about her concerns in December 2008.

Investigators said they could find no records or indication that Adam was still alive.

The boy's parents told authorities they did not report the boy's disappearance because they feared they would lose custody of Adam and other children.

His disappearance became public when Butler County investigators began digging in the mobile home park looking for human remains. Searchers found no remains and Butler County Sheriff Craig Murphy has consistently declined to say if any evidence was found.

Satterfield has said that the parents were suspects in the boy's disappearance. She said she expects to decide within a year whether to file charges or submit the case to a grand jury.

"There is no statute of limitations on murder," she said. "And for every year that passes, I think it only strengthens our case, especially given the extent of publicity.

"There's simply no trace of him anywhere. Time's our friend in bodiless cases. Another year's passed -- no Adam Herrman, no sight of Adam Herrman."

Investigators turned the case over to Satterfield last spring. She had hoped to present the case to a grand jury by last December, but said her office has been busy with three homicide cases in which charges have been filed.

Warner Eisenbise, who represents Adam's adoptive mother, Valerie Herrman, said, "My only comment is all that's been said is certainly conjecture and nothing more ... Common sense isn't sufficient to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."

Laura Shaneyfelt, representing Adam's adoptive father, Doug Herrman, agreed.

"I think prosecutors should always be careful in bodiless cases and not jump to conclusions," she said. "Just because someone has disappeared does not mean they have been murdered."

The lawyers say the Herrmans continue to say they have committed no crimes in the case.

Valerie Herrman told authorities that Adam ran away in early May 1999 after she spanked him with a belt. Relatives said that Herrman explained Adam's absence by saying he had been returned to state custody.

Adam's biological father, Irvin Groeninger, said he is frustrated that the case continues to be unsolved. But he said he thinks authorities are doing what they can and charges will eventually be filed.

Asked whether he thinks his son could be alive, he said, "I feel he would have been heard from by now."

Satterfield said she expects to meet this month with child abuse experts to discuss the case. She said she has obtained a number of statements and sheriff's investigators have gathered extensive information.

"Too much has been invested in this case, professionally and personally, to just forget about it. I just think it is chilling when kids can disappear without a trace."

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Information from: The Wichita Eagle, http://www.kansas.com