And 10 years later... ~Adam Herrman~

~UPDATE~

Butler County Attorney Jan Satterfield says no human remains have been found in the search for Adam Herrman, but there's still a chance for first-degree murder charges, with the underlying crime being child abuse.

"They are the suspects in this case," Butler County Attorney Jan Satterfield said of Doug and Valerie Herrman.

Age progression photoNCMEC Printable Poster

I first read about the search for a child missing 10 years ago, on Legally Kidnapped.

No, LE is not reopening an old case because of new tips. This is the FIRST TIME anyone has NOTICED that this boy had been missing....for TEN YEARS!

Adam was born on June 8, 1987. He was adopted by Doug and Valerie Herrman, out of foster care, when he was 2 and 1/2 years old. Adam and his adoptive parents lived at Pine Ridge mobile home park in Towanda, Kansas.
A few weeks ago, an annonymous person called the Childrens Missing and Exploited Unit to report Adam missing.
Even though the Herrmans have since moved, Butler County Police are investigating the site where the mobile home once stood. The police are considering them as 'persons of interest' in the case.

"He was a problem child. He ran away frequently to the point of exasperation," Eisenbise said. "My clients feel very guilty that the last time he left they didn't make an attempt to locate him. Every other time, the police were called or he wandered back. They assumed he found one of his siblings or went back to his biological parents."
"They want to say they are innocent of any wrongdoing other than not reporting the child missing, which is an offense in Kansas as you know," he said. "The issue of a possible homicide is what I am troubled with, because they did not do it."

Sure, they feel guilty for not reporting an eleven year old child as missing...guilty enough to continue claiming Adam as a dependent for tax purposes! A 'run away-problem child' at the young age of 11 screams of trouble in the home!
As of yet, investigators have not confirmed whether or not Adam had a history of running away.
Adam was being homeschooled at the time of his disappearance.

Sheriff Craig Murphy says they are treating the case as a death investigation. But he says there's no evidence to prove he's dead and Adam may be out there somewhere. Murphy says by investigating it as a death, they cover a lot more information. Murphy says they've done computer data searches on Adam and nothing comes up on him after 1999.

Adam would be 21 years old now.

Several eye witness interviews with family members, including Adams adoptive brother, mention Adam being abused. These family members were told that Adam was returned to foster care, so nobody realized he was missing.

Friday, 09 January 2009
The family of a missing Towanda boy continued to collect money from the state for caring for the boy after he disappeared. The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services could not immediately determine how much money in adoption subsidies Valerie and Doug Herrman received after Adam Herrman disappeared in 1999. He was 11 at the time, but he never was reported missing. Authorities only recently began searching for him after receiving a tip. So far no arrests have been made or charges filed. Welfare officials also disclosed yesterday that Adam once was taken away from the Herrmans after a claim of physical abuse was made. He was returned two days later after authorities were unable to substantiate the allegations.
Parents of Missing Adam Herrman Defrauded State

Adoptive brother speaks out

Video Links
Missing boy's uncle blames sister
New search areas for missing boy

If you have information,
(316) 322-4254 or
(316) 322-4398 ext 8
and ask to speak to an investigator regarding the Adam Herrman case.

Sources & Links
Is Adam Herrman Still Alive?
Sheriff: Search for Adam Herrman Continues

Adam Herrman- homeschooled and gone missing for years, parents continued to receive subsidies
Baby Love Child

Extensive coverage on Adam Herrman
What Happened to Adam?