How Could You? Hall of Shame-Air Force Maj. Erin James Pickel and Jennifer Kay Pickel UPDATED
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Goldsboro, North Carolina, adoptive parents Air Force Maj. Erin James Pickel, 44, and Jennifer Kay Pickel, 43 “surrendered Friday [June 14, 2013]and were each charged with five counts of felony intentional child abuse and five counts of felonious child neglect. They were released after posting $25,000 secured bonds.
The charges are related to incidents involving two adopted children, a 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, dating to 2008, police said.
The boy was adopted in 2005 and the girl in 2006, said Maj. Al King of the Goldsboro Police Department. The Pickels lived in South Carolina at the time.
The Wayne County Department of Social Services received an anonymous tip early this month about alleged abuse, and the agency called in police to investigate, King said.”
Both teens had cuts and bruises, King said. They also were allegedly locked out of the house and forced to stay in a playhouse in the backyard.
Neighbors said they never saw the Pickels, whose home is fairly isolated, but they said they had seen children bicycling and skateboarding in the neighborhood.
King said the Pickels home-schooled their children.
Both teens and two other children have been removed from the home and placed in protective custody, King said. He didn’t provide the ages of the other two children and said he didn’t know if they were adopted as well.
A fifth child, who is over age 18, still lives in the Pickel home, he said.”
Seymour Johnson officer, wife face child abuse charges
[WRAL 6/17/13 by Julia Sims]
An investigation was launched on May 29, 2013. “The allegations of abuse extend from 2008 to present. The Wayne County Department of Social Services, U.S. Air Force Security Forces Investigations, and the TEDI Bear Children’s AdvocacyCenter in Greenville assisted in the investigation. ”
Charged with Child Abuse and Neglect
[Goldsboro Daily News 6/14/13 by Amy Roux]
Erin Pickel’s name is listed under the Wayne County, North Carolina homeschool listing under “Light of the World” school. See here
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base had a December 14, 2011 post featuring Erin Pickel that has been removed from the internet. The cached version said “Maj. Erin Pickel’s family greets him with a “hose down” after he returned from a sortie in which he reached 3,000 hours of flight in an F-15E Strike Eagle on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Dec. 13, 2011. Pickel is a weapon systems officer and has flown in the Strike Eagles for more than 19 years. Pickel is the 4th Training Squadron chief of training devices from Bartonville, Ill. ”
REFORM Puzzle Pieces
Update: The next court appearance is scheduled for July 1, 2013 according to the Wayne County public court records.
Update 2: “A Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., major and his wife are accused of physically abusing and neglecting their two adopted children, whom police say were locked out of the family’s off-base home and forced to stay in a backyard “playhouse” without electricity and plumbing for days at a time.
The June 14 arrest of Maj. Erin James Pickel, 44, and wife Jennifer Pickel, 43, comes three months after an airman at the base was accused of discarding the body of his infant along a roadside. Senior Airman Matthew Theurer has been charged in the death of his child.
In the abuse and neglect case, the Goldsboro Police Department charged Erin and Jennifer Pickel each with five counts of intentional child abuse and five counts of child neglect, which are felonies, said police Maj. Al King.”
“The Wayne County Department of Social Services received an anonymous tip in early June that two children, a 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, who were adopted about eight years ago, were being abused, King said. DSS contacted police June 5.
King said the children, who were home-schooled, had minor cuts and bruises on their bodies.
Police said they were occasionally locked out of the family’s ranch style home and forced to stay in a small backyard structure with no electricity or running water.
The alleged abuse dates back to about 2008, King said.
DSS removed the boy and girl and two other children from the home, he said.
The Pickels, accompanied by their attorneys, turned themselves in to police after learning of the arrest warrants against them, King said. Both were released from jail after posting $25,000 bonds. Their first court appearance was June 17, he said.
Geoff Hulse, an attorney for Erin Pickel, declined to comment on the case.
Erin Pickel, an instructor weapon system operator, serves as chief of device training for the 4th Training Squadron at Seymour Johnson, Broadway said.
He has been assigned to the base since 2009, according to Air Force records. His previous duty stations include Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and RAF Lakenheath, England.
He deployed to Iraq in 2003 and 2006 and to Afghanistan in 2005 and 2007, according to the records.” [He was NOT in Afghanistan from 2008-2009 as one of our commenters claimed unless the Air Force is lying on their records.]
“Col. Jeannie Leavitt, Seymour Johnson commander, said in a statement the base “fully supports the efforts of the Goldsboro Police Department regarding these allegations” against the Air Force major.
“Child abuse is absolutely unacceptable,” she said.
“Airmen of the 4th Fighter Wing are held to the highest standards and are expected to uphold those standards at all times, on and off duty. Our unwavering commitment and service to this great nation will continue throughout these trying times.””
Air Force major charged with child abuse, neglect
[Air Force Times 6/25/13 by Kristin Davis]
Update 3: The next court appearance is scheduled for September 23, 2013 according to the Wayne County public court records.
Update 4: The next court date for both is December 16, 2013 according to the Wayne County public court records.
Update 5: The next court date for both is August 25,2014 according to the Wayne County public court records
Update 6: The next court date for both is November 17,2014 according to the Wayne County public court records
Update 7: The next court date for both is February 9,2015 according to the Wayne County public court records
This entire episode is based upon an “Anonymous” tip. I know these children because they are friends with my children. I do not know the parents well. However, I will attest that I have never seen these children with cuts or bruises. I have never seen these children unhappy. We saw the kids 2-3 days a week over the past 2 years, and there was never a problem that we saw. Let me restate: an “anonymous” tip. This doesn’t mean there isn’t something here, but I’d like to raise one point: Innocent until proven guilty. Right now, it is my opinion that this is a vindictive “tip” against the parents. I will let the courts decide guilt. I do think it’s a shame that an “anonymous” tip — let’s be honest — from three years ago — can get someone arrested and have felony charges brought against them. And if you look at the facts, you’d notice that the Major was in Afghanistan from 2008-2009 when the charges allege the abuse occurred. So, let’s be fair here.
No, Mark, the police investigated for over 2 weeks. It wasn’t as if an anonymous tip was called in and then they were arrested based solely on that call. How would seeing the kids a few times a week negate the charge of the children locked out of the house (presumably at night)? And it is not an anonymous tip from 3 years ago. Where did you get that from? The media says that the abuse STARTED in 2008, so that is abuse *over* a 5 year period. And of course people are innocent until proven guilty. We will post any update that we find. Since you know them, were these kids adopted from foster care or were they internationally adopted?
You are correct in all of your points. The local media reported inaccurate information, and that is what I was going off of this morning. However, the latest information now states what you’ve stated. Now, in regards to the children’s adoption, I don’t know. I never ask those questions. I simply wish to remain neutral and allow the courts to solve this issue. I also know the Chief of Police fairly well, and I trust in his judgement regarding the arrest. So much was initially reported inaccurately that I was upset at the way it was handled; however, that was a rush to get a story out by the media.
So far, since the information has become more clear to us, the only issue I have from your post is that it seems you have painted a negative portrayal of home-schooling, whether intentional or unintentional.
Homeschooling is an important part of the case because it is a factor in MANY of the abuse cases we cite in our archive and it is very intentional that I highlight that. It is not that homeschooling is bad but rather abusers tend to use homeschooling as a way to keep police and CPS from investigating their abuse and teachers who are mandated reporters obviously are not observing the children either. We have many cases in which children were pulled from schools to be homeschooled after allegations of abuse occurred and then children were subsequently killed or badly injured. Children in foster care are usually not allowed to be homeschooled but when adopted they can be. The placing agency, whether a foster care state-run organization or an international adoption agency, is also an important part of the case. Media tends to shield these groups from any accountability.
In this case, you should dig deeper. This concept of “secluded education” does not fit the Pickels. They were active daily and for hours a day in co-op homeschool activities. If there was something to hide, it would have been found.
Obviously something was found to the tune of multiple felony counts on both parents.
Now, after reading your original reply, let me make these points because they are salient to the conversation. You have placed the Pickel’s in your “Hall of Shame” without any ruling on the matter. In your opinion, they are guilty, and they are NOT at this point. I think you should remove them from your “Hall of Shame” until they have been proven guilty. Right now, all this is is an allegation based upon an anonymous tip. The “investigation” went no further than to allow an officer to file charges. According to state statute, all that is required to file felonious charges is a reasonable witness and a two-hour investigation. Truth could be a partial twist of facts and happenchance, and that is for the courts to decide.
You say it is impossible for me or my wife to tell abuse from seeing the children a few times a week. There are many other people who see these children much more than we do, and we’re all shocked at the allegations of abuse. And that is exactly what we’d testify to if called to the stand because it’s truth from our perspective. No, we weren’t there at night or every day, but other people were. These children have many friends. Those friends were with them many, many hours of every week. Someone would have seen something sometime. And, so far, none of us can find anyone who did. I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but if it did, it was an almost perfect crime. And that is rare. Those children were always the happiest kids I’ve seen. They showed much affection and love to their parents around us. Their facebook pages are filled with photos of fun times. While you’ve judged them by putting them on a “hall of shame” already, those of us who knew them and were with them know that it’s WAY too early to make that assumption because we’re the ones who’ve been with these kids on a daily basis. If it’s true, then the ruse was perfectly perpetrated. That, alone, is an almost impossible task.
What I can see is the possibility that someone had a bone to pick with the Pickels. A kid falls off a skateboard, gets scratched up, mom locks her keys in the house and they have to spend an hour out of the elements in the playhouse until the dad comes home — anything that happens in life with active kids and an active family can be turned against people if the truth is bent enough. That is exactly what I see going on here. And unless something comes out in court to tell me otherwise, I will stand up against people who wish to stamp “guilty” on the foreheads of people by putting them in a “hall of shame” before all the facts are brought out in court.
Our archive of ongoing cases is called the How Could You? Hall of Shame.Too bad if you don’t like it. While some cases are completed, most are not. Cases can take YEARS to be complete and we do not wait around to report them. In fact, many of our cases include contact information of the local law enforcement so other victims can be identified and that has been helpful in several cases.
I think it is funny that in one comment you claim to know the police chief and a few minutes later you are claiming that the investigation might have only taken a few hours. Do you KNOW how many hours the investigation took? I would bet that you don’t. If a reasonable witness is part of the need for the charge as you claim,just WHO might that be? Have you contemplated that the CHILDREN may have disclosed information to the police? And really, are you accusing them of lying? Are you saying that the bruises found on the children are fictitious?Perhaps you need to go to the police chief and tell him about this.
No, I did not say “it is impossible for me or my wife to tell abuse from seeing the children a few times a week” so let’s nip that strawman in the bud. I said that the charges of neglect associated with locking the children out of the house could have easily been not noticed if you see them a few times a week. This is a common punishment that we have seen in other archived cases. The locking out usually occurs at night.Children have been left outside in the elements, locked in steam trunks, rolling tool boxes, calf huts, dog cages and yes playhouses and confined to attics, basements, rooms with buckets for toilets and more.
You should go to the police if you have evidence to the contrary of these charges. To say that this was a “perfect crime” is a bit much, though.”They showed much affection and love to their parents around us. ” That doesn’t surprise me and is indicative of nothing. Children who have been abused are told to act and lie or else there will be consequences.
Your hypothesis of “mom locks her keys in the house and they have to spend an hour out of the elements in the playhouse until the dad comes home ” makes no sense. Either you are saying that the cops are stupid or are in on a conspiracy to “get” this family.
You are getting rather emotional, and that is not a good thing in a debate. Your emotions are clouding the words I’ve given you. Go back, re-read what I’ve said, and then speak. Yes, I know the chief. I see him for about four hours a week and talk to him because our children take martial arts together. Please…call him and ask and tell him what I wrote. I’m sure he will have no issue with what I said.
Now, had you read my statement correctly, you will note that the “two-hour” investigation is directly related to state law and Social Services’ investigations. It has nothing to do with police involvement. I respect Jeff (Chief of Police) enough not to corner him and ask him questions I know he can’t answer right now.
I also spent ten years as a newspaper writer who covered police and crime, and I know the process, and I have lots of experience with how truth is bent. Oh, and that comment about someone being locked out of their house — happened to someone I covered in a newspaper. Neglect report was filed. Cops pull up while mom is in freezing rain attempting to open a window while kids holed up in a shed outside. Neighbor thought kids were being punished. Truth.
I’ll leave you this final word. I hope you’re right for your sake. We have freedom of speech, not freedom of consequences. When the Pickels are found innocent, many of us will advise them to seek a lawsuit against your organization. You are the only site that has had the audacity to proclaim the guilty by putting them in a hall of shame; therefore, you pop right up when their names are Googled. You will lose the suit because of the damages you’re doing to their reputations, especially his. He is a decorated pilot who have fought for his country in war. I hope you have enough funds to withstand the onslaught of lawsuits from this case. Don’t worry about posting this. I’ve already taken screen shots of our conversation with date and time stamps, and I’ll hand them over to their attorney.
Oh Mark, you are too funny and have lost every point of your stupid “debate”. Of course I post threats to me, honey. You are the one that is *extremely* emotional here.I have posted nothing but what is in the public domain and in my comments compared the types of accusations to other similar cases. That is all. You are the one coming on to my private blog and making up ludicrous hypothetical situations and threatening me.
You said “The local media reported inaccurate information, and that is what I was going off of this morning” Well I didn’t report that so go an accuse and threaten whatever organization talked about that.
You said ” In your opinion, they are guilty, and they are NOT at this point. ” No I did not. Re-read my post and re-read my comment that I post any update I find, so yes that means if they are found not guilty, that will be posted. And extremely rarely is someone in a court of law declared “innocent” It is Not guilty, but you should know that since you are a big know it all reporter. LOL.
And be sure to screenshot the post and in my first response ” And of course people are innocent until proven guilty. ” Oops you probably won’t do that because that would be contrary to your open threat .
Rally, editorial privilege to just not publish Mark’s comments. It detracts from what this website does which is to compile articles about child welfare cases and discuss them.
Mark, editorial comments are permitted whether you agree with the author or not. You stated your opinion, offered no solid evidence and are not in a position of authority in law enforcement or child protective services. It also seems you have some personal connection to the story and your own agenda.
Oh Dear, I do like to allow people to have their say, share their opinion and alternate possibilities and I have a lot of patience. We do have new readers that flood the site when some How Could You cases come to light. People who threaten me should know that I pass on all intimidating comments to my attorney and of course I have IP addresses to trace comments back.
It is a good time to recap why this column exists. We treat every pending case and reports of alleged misdeeds the same. That includes cases when adoptive parents, foster parents, adoptees, child welfare workers, foster family members are alleged to have committed crimes. We also have cases of therapists, judges and even cops who are also foster parents or lead child welfare cases that have appeared in our archive. We also publish child deaths in out-of-original-home placements.
We only name the victim if that has become public. In this case, I know the name of one of the victims, but it hasn’t been made public, so I don’t share that on the blog. We are looking for justice not vengeance. The media has wantonly published this couple’s home address, but I have not. I try to edit those things out of the articles that I post.
We have hundreds of cases in a few years. Most are from US foster care. Most of those are sex abuse. There needs to be reforms in screening of potential foster and adoptive parents and also in training of social workers. Postadoption monitoring and support must occur. There are just too many sad cases that we report each week.
We have had a few cases in which the prosecutor declares nolle prosequi-will not prosecute-it is not the same as an acquittal and the prosecutor can reintroduce the charge at any time. One acquittal that we reported was in the child death case of Isaac Dykstra. Isaac’s name is in the title of that case. We had a recent case against former rock band member Tim Bachman of Bachman-Turner Overdrive who was accused of sexual abuse. His name was originally on the title of the post but when acquitted, the title changed to the accuser’s name. You see, even in our 2 acquittal cases, there is still an issue at the heart of the case that requires a reform-was the family in need of postplacement services that could have the case to begin with? Was there corruption on the part of CPS or the prosecutor? Should a different charge been applied ?(as in Isaac Dykstra’s case, the prosecutor was going for 2nd degree murder which was hard to prove. Medical neglect would have been easier to prove but he chose not to pursue that.)
Our cases could end in no charges (child death cases like Max Shatto) ,conviction, acquittal, nolle prosequi and in some cases, the alleged perpetrator committed suicide. Whatever the outcome, we report it.
I sincerely hope that Mark’s friends are the exception to the outcomes of almost all cases we have reported. I won’t hold my breath on him coming back to apologize if it doesn’t go the way he would like. I would like people to have sympathy for the children in these cases and hope that justice is served. It is mind-boggling when the comments only show concern about the alleged perps. We are by no means the only site that compiles these kinds of cases. I can think of 6 other sites off the top of my head that also compile these cases.
No your guilty until proven innocent with cps my daughters babies father made a allegation of abuse on a summer 1 month stay rt before my daughter petitioned courts to up child support he somehow gets child support stopped before he gets him once he gets him crys abuse now there invest her & husband cant find anything father with child says he cant control him he tried to hurt step sister so he puts him in a institution in RI never had a ounce of prob with the boy when he was with us but going on 4 months cps still trying to make somthing stick so they dont look like Asses its all about the child support but there GOD
what was the outcome of this?
A search of Wayne County records shows they they both have a court hearing on 11/17/14. That could be a status hearing or pre-trial.
Waiting for your update on this from 11/17/14. Were they convicted? Were they sentenced any jail time?
The next court date for both is February 9,2015 according to the Wayne County public court records.
Thanks
Do you have an update?