Social workers testify in Northbridge rape case

By Lindsay Corcoran/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Aug 03, 2013 @ 12:00 AM

WORCESTER —

Social workers testified on Friday regarding multiple investigations into the Mayottes, the married couple accused of raping their two adopted children.

Joseph Mayotte, 50, and his wife Linda Mayotte, 49, both of 67 Laura Lane, Whitinsville, were on trial in Worcester Superior Court this week on 26 charges each, including multiple counts of statutory rape of a child, rape of a child aggravated by age, indecent assault on a child and incest, among others. Whitinsville is a section of Northbridge.

The couple adopted two children from Kazakhstan in 2004. Earlier this week, both the alleged victims testified, with the girl saying Joseph Mayotte sexually assaulted her for five years beginning when she was 8 and the boy saying Linda Mayotte sexually assaulted him for two years beginning when he was 13.

Social workers from the state Department of Children and Families (DCF) were called to investigate the Mayottes both in 2007 and 2009. In 2007, they investigated after the girl allegedly told her friends that she was sexually abused. In 2009, her brother told police he had been sexually abused by his adoptive mother.

Robin Marin, one of the social workers acting as an investigator for DCF in this case, testified about the time when she first went to the home around 1 a.m. on June 16, 2007, after the alleged female victim, then 10 years old, first told friends she’d been sexually abused by her adoptive father.

Marin testified that Linda Mayotte said “ 'there’s no way that’s true, he’s a decent, upstanding man,’ ” when DCF workers arrived at the home.

The alleged victim was in bed with Joseph Mayotte when DCF workers arrived at the home, according to Marin. Linda and Joseph Mayotte told the investigators that she would get scared at night.

“She was shocked, pacing, nervous,” Marin said of Linda Mayotte. She then said that Linda Mayotte could be heard crying, “distraught,” and vomiting while the DCF workers attempted to interview the alleged victim.

Marin said the girl didn’t say she was abused at the time and that she seemed “shaken, scared.”

“Linda Mayotte could be heard saying ‘you know I don’t believe this, you have to leave because they’re making me, I believe you,’ ” while the interview was taking place, Marin testified.

Under cross-examination from Joseph Mayotte’s attorney, Christopher LoConto, Marin said she thought Joseph Mayotte was cooperative.

Joseph Mayotte left the home voluntarily, according to Marin, and DCF required Linda Mayotte to take out a restraining order.

“In fact, he said ‘for God sakes, she’s only 10 years old,’ ” said LoConto and Marin agreed.

Marin also said, after being asked by defense attorney LoConto, that the alleged victim denied telling her friends she was abused after those friends had reported the alleged abuse.

Linda Mayotte told investigators the neighbors were falsely accusing her husband because they were angry their friend couldn’t stay out and play.

Marin said she was at the home again in 2009, this time because of allegations the alleged male victim made against Linda Mayotte, and that Linda denied the allegations, but couldn't explain why the boy would have made up such a story. Mayotte previously told police her adopted son only made the accusation to avoid getting in trouble for stealing her jewelry.

Other DCF social workers and a social worker for the adoption agency also testified later on Friday. Joseph and Linda Mayotte are both expected to take the stand next week after the trial resumes on Monday.

Contact Lindsay Corcoran at 508-634-7582 or lcorcoran@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @LacorcMDN.