How Could You? Hall of Shame-Terry and James Muller

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 Greentown, Pennsylvania, foster parents Terry Muller, 49, and James Muller,62, have been arrested. They are foster parents “of a 14-year old girl they allegedly abused.”

“The girl was allegedly deprived of her bed to sleep on, and kept from reaching her clothes or food, as means of punishment.

According to the complaint she was also physically assaulted and forced outside in freezing weather without adequate clothing. An alarm was put on her bedroom door that would sound if she tried to leave, and she could not go to the bathroom without an escort, the complaint states.

PA State Police, Blooming Grove, report that the defendants, Terry Muller, age 49 and James Muller, 62, were located Friday, August 5th. A report earlier that day issued by the State Police said they may have fled to the Carolinas.

Bail was set at $100,000 for Terry Muller and $25,000 for James Muller, by District Judge Shannon Muir. They were both lodged in Pike County Correctional Facility in lieu of posting bail.

Complaints were filed with Judge Muir on August 2, 2016. This followed an extensive investigation by the State Police with assistance of the Pike County District Attorney’s Office and Pike County Children and Youth.

The alleged abuse occurred at their residence, … in Greentown. Terry Muller has been charged with Endangering Welfare of Children; Unlawful Restraint and False Imprisonment, all felonies; Simple Assault, a misdemeanor, and a summary count of Harassment. James Muller was charged with a misdemeanor count of Endangering Welfare of Children.

According to the affidavit filed by Cpl. Shawn Smith, on December 21, 2015 at about 1 a.m., the juvenile- identified in the court papers as “CO” -was reported missing from the Muller residence. The Mullers advised that CO was wearing only shorts a short sleeve t-shirt and underwear, and was barefoot; the temperature outside was nearly freezing.

Trooper Keith Brislin and Cpl. Smith searched the premises and conducted a large-scale ground search in daylight.

While looking for the girl, Cpl. Smith observed “deplorable living conditions” in her bedroom. In addition, the Mullers had put a padlock on CO’s closet, preventing access to her clothes. Covering the floor was what resembled a painter’s tarp. There was no furniture in CO’s bedroom to sleep upon.

There also appeared to be a surveillance camera inside the juvenile’s bedroom; Terry Muller later said this was a fake, or “dummy” camera. On the outside of the bedroom door, Cpl. Smith observed what appeared to be an alarm device that would sound in the event CO’s bedroom door was opened. Terry Muller indicated that the alarm was to prohibit CO from leaving her bedroom or to alert them that CO had opened the door.

The trooper further observed another “dummy” camera on the wall in an upstairs bedroom. He observed that the drawers and cabinets in the upstairs bedroom were also locked, prohibiting access to any toiletries or hygiene products. James Muller told police that CO does not possess a key for these locks.

Locks were seen throughout the residence in draws and cabinet, including in the kitchen to prohibit access to food. There was a camera in the kitchen and another in the laundry room of the residence which leads to a breezeway into the garage. Kitchen cabinets had what appeared to be magnetic locks requiring a magnet to open them. Inside the garage, the trooper observed hat appeared to be a full bedroom set, including a single or twin size bed. The room did not feel heated.

CO was located at approximately 11 a.m., around a quarter mile from the house standing near to a tree. She was taken into protective custody as she appeared to be cold in the subfreezing temperatures,. CO related that her foster mother Terry, struck her in the face; CO had an abrasion on her left cheek. The girl was taken to Geisinger Medical Center in Scranton to be evaluated.

In a subsequent interview in the hospital, CO told Trooper Brislin that on Dec. 20 she had accidentally urinated on the floor of her bedroom because she was required to have an escort to the bathroom by either Terry or James Muller. When Terry saw what had happened, she allegedly told CO to clean up the mess and began to call her names such as “stupid, pig, and idiot.”

Terry Muller then allegedly grabbed the girl by the arm and led her outside and told her to stay outside- and not come back in. CO had no coat and was wearing what was described before.

CO was locked out and stayed outside about 20 minutes as “punishment” until James Muller let her back in. CO went to her room to clean it. While doing so, Terry confronted CO, smacked her in the face grabbed her by the hair and t-shirt and threw her to the floor.

According to the affidavit, CO got back up but Terry grabbed her again, punched her in the back of the had and body and pinned CO to the floor. CO began to kick and punch to try and get loose from Terry’s grip. In doing so, Terry put CO on her back causing severe pain to CO. Terry then pulled CO by her arms and hair down the steps to the first floor; she pulled CO and forced her outside, still wearing only the same shorts and t-shirt. That is when CO fled the residence.
At the Child Advocacy Center in Scranton that afternoon (Dec. 21), CO reported that James Muller observed the assaults by Terry and did not attempt to stop the assaults. CO said that since she had urinated on the floor, Terry said CO would have to sleep outside the next two nights.

When CO ran off, she hid in a garage loft of a mother home, where she slept.

CO told investigators that there were several instances when she was deprived of using the bathroom, taking hot showers, eating food, and the removal of her bed from the bedroom. CO related that Terry Muller had previously “beat” her multiple times using a belt on her hands, legs and bare behind.

State Police obtained a search warrant and in searching the residence, served Terry Muller’s I-Phone. A forensic download of the phone revealed two text messages between Terry and two other daughters, saying CO was in “her jail house” and was sleeping with nothing to sleep on.

Pike County Children and Youth reports revealed that on September 25, 2015, CO was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital by both James and Terry Muller. CO revealed at that time that she (CO) wears diapers around her residence and had to earn food and has to ask permission to eat. She appeared afraid of both parents during the interview, State Police related.

Recorded incidents in the complaint date back to May 21, 2015. A report from Pike County Children and Youth indicates on that date, Terry Muller took CO to see a therapist in Honesdale. CO was wearing a plastic bag on her belt, which contained feces.

Pike County Children and Youth reports revealed that on September 25, 2015, CO was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital by both James and Terry Muller. CO revealed at that time that she (CO) wears diapers around her residence and had to earn food and has to ask permission to eat. She appeared afraid of both parents during the interview, State Police related.”

Foster parents charged in abusing 14-year old girl [The News Eagle 8/8/16 by Peter Becker]

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