Ogilvie woman faces four charges of alleged child neglect and abuse

By Rachel Kytonen

An Ogilvie woman is facing four charges associated with child neglect, malicious punishment and abuse, stemming from alleged maltreatment beginning in 2003.

Anne Marie Hinrichs, 48, of Ogilvie, was charged in Isanti County District Court in Cambridge on Monday, Oct. 3, with felony neglect of a child that results in substantial physical harm/emotional health; gross misdemeanor malicious punishment of a child; gross misdemeanor criminal abuse by caregiver for a vulnerable adult; and gross misdemeanor criminal neglect.

Judge James Dehn set bail at $40,000 without conditions or $15,000 with conditions. Conditions included: remain law abiding; no leaving the state of Minnesota; sign five waivers of extradition; submit to a urine analysis prior to release; submit to random drug and alcohol testing; no use or possession of drugs or alcohol unless medically prescribed; surrender any firearms to law enforcement; and have no direct or indirect contact with the victims.

Isanti County Attorney Jeff Edblad explained Hinrichs left the jurisdiction during the investigation and was just extradited back from Illinois. However, Hinrichs said she did notify law enforcement she was leaving the area because she had lost her job and home. She most recently had been living in Freeport, Ill.

According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began Feb. 17 when Investigator Lisa Lovering, of the Isanti County Sheriff’s Department, began an investigation of a report of neglect of a vulnerable adult. Lovering was assisted in the investigation by Kelli Klein, of Isanti County Family Services.

Hinrichs adopted the victim, now 18, in 1997. The victim had been diagnosed with several physical and mental infirmities that impair her ability to provide food, clothing, shelter, heath care or supervision without assistance.

The victim has since been removed from Hinrichs’s care.

The complaint states Isanti County Family Services received numerous reports regarding alleged maltreatment beginning in 2003 and continuing to the present.

Such allegations included but were not limited to the victim having to wear a pull-up at school and night (during her teenage years), verbal belittling, cameras with monitors in her room, all bathroom activities were monitored; including showering, by male family members and PCA’s. In 2007 there were calls with concerns about marks on the victim that included an abrasion, bruise and swelling on the left arm and elbow, and other examples were given as well. As a result, a family assessment was opened with Family Services due to excessive and unnecessary restraint.

Another report came in 2009 that Hinrichs had locked the victim in her room from 8 p.m. until the following morning. The victim could not speak to anyone, and it was reported her belongings were locked in her closet and she had to “earn them back.”

In 2010, another report came in that the victim had to be catheterized so she wouldn’t wet the bed. At the end of 2010, another report came into Family Services regarding alleged maltreatment.

The most recent report was filed Feb. 14, and at this point the victim was now considered a “vulnerable adult.” The allegations in the report were the same as reported from 2003 to 2010.

In an interview with Klein, when the victim was asked if she could have three wishes, what would they be, the victim said her own money, not to have an alarm on her door and wishes she could change her life.

According to the complaint, when Hinrichs was interviewed by Klein, she said the services she provided were necessary given her psychological and behavioral issues. She admitted to using cameras and alarms, and having a PCA at all times. However, she denied being neglectful or abusive.

On Feb. 18, 2011, Lovering received a letter from Dr. Alan Mork from Cambridge Medical Center, that was included in the complaint.

He stated in his letter that in his “professional opinion that (initials) has been the victim of many years of severe emotional and psychological abuse. She has also been deprived of many basic needs including adequate nutrition. This has resulted in significant alterations and delays in her physical and developmental growth … She also has significant psychological, emotional and behavioral issues were all due to years of abuse. She is in need of intensive counseling and psychiatric care because of this.”