KS/PARENTS CHARGED IN ADOPTION FRAUD

Kansas, UNITED STATES (USA), Thu 08 Jul 2010, 19:28 GMT

THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS - OF A BOY WHO'S BEEN MISSING FOR MORE THAN A DECADE - FACE CHARGES.

DOUG AND VALERIE HERRMAN TURNED THEMSELVES IN ON WARRANTS FOR WELFARE FRAUD, WEDNESDAY, IN BUTLER COUNTY, KANSAS.

THEIR ADOPTIVE SON, ADAM, WAS LAST SEEN IN 19-99 - AT ELEVEN YEARS OLD.

SINCE THEN THE HERRMAN'S REPORTEDLY ACCEPTING WELFARE MONEY FOR ADAM - DESPITE HIS DISAPPEARANCE.

SATTERFIELD says(covered w/video of Herrmans and Riddle): "So this is not the beginning and the end (on cam) this is just the beginning for the Herrmans."

RIDDLE says (covered w/video of Riddle closing car door & paperwork): "The allegation as stated in the complaint by the county attorney (on cam) addresses a technical financial charge. Again, Doug and Valerie Herrman intend to enter pleas of not guilty and through their attorneys seek the dismissal of charges against both Doug and Valerie."

O'CONNOR says: "I can assure you that that is not the case by any stretch of the imagination."

SATTERFIELD says(covered w/video of digging): "It's our belief that this is a homicide case (on cam) and there's some legal technicalities, some things that need to be tied up and completed in this case."

O'CONNOR says: "We're talking about a little boy. (Covered w/photo) And I think everybody can rest assured that the case has not been forgotten."

THE HERRMANS SAY ADAM RAN AWAY IN 19-99, BUT SAY THEY DIDN'T REPORT HIS DISAPPEARANCE FOR FEAR THEY'D LOSE THEIR OTHER CHILDREN TO STATE CUSTODY.

ADAM'S SISTER CONTACTED THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICES AFTER SHE COULDN'T FIND HIM, IN TWO

THOUSAND EIGHT.

ALTHOUGH HIS BODY HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND - POLICE BELIEVE HE WAS KILLED.

THE HERRMAN'S PLAN TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO WELFARE FRAUD.