Grand Jury Report

There was a Grand Jury held yesterday today in the Cedar Rapids Federal Courthouse.

Evey's father, Andy Christie and uncle, Jeremiah Christie are both scheduled to be available to testify at 1 p.m.

Others who testified were Casey's father, Casey's mother, Noel Miller and perhaps more who we did not know.

According to Jeremiah, this is the NOT same Grand Jury that indicted Casey Fredriksen earlier. The target of this round of questioning has not been identified.

Click here on Free Republic for local stories about the Grand Jury and Hearing in Floyd County concerning the minor children.

Custody Hearing Thursday 10/27

There should be a custody hearing at the Floyd County Courthouse for the two minor children of Noel Miller, Evelyn's mother. Might make the news.

Today's DHS Meeting

Today a meeting was held at the Iowa Department of Human Services in Des Moines at the invitation of Vern Armstrong, Chief of the Bureau of Protective Services of the DHS, two staffers and Andy, Lindsey and Richard Christie. The meeting began at 1 p.m. and lasted about two and a half hours.

Topics covered in detail were the assessment reports from DHS that the Christies have received. There are two other reports that the Christies have not as yet received because they have been sealed by the Floyd County Attorney, Marilyn Dettmer. These two reports are not even available to the Executive branch including the Governor. The content or nature of these reports was not discussed at the meeting.

The “missing” six reports were purged by the system because there was no assessment report required. All parties were allowed to ask questions and to discuss DHS policy and legal requirements of the agency.

A few items will be requiring follow-up action from the DHS. The Christies will be in contact with Mr. Armstrong for that information or if they have any further comments or questions.

The Christies did not have a full working knowledge of the agency. They were informed that all assessments are sent to the County Attorney and Juvenile Court Judge’s offices within the county where the child lives. This acts as a double check on the operations of the DHS.

Suggestions were made by the Christies about how the agency could do an even better job to help protect children receiving their services. Andy offered his help to the agency in endorsing any legislation recommended.

Because of ongoing investigations and the nature of the case, the reports are not as yet public information so no detail from those reports may be released to the press or public at this time.

Andy was invited by Mr. Armstrong to review the total group of reports when they are released by Ms. Dettmer but prior to public release.

It is the family’s hope that by working with the DHS, that important changes can be made to help better safeguard even more of Iowa’s children.

Letters to the Editor - Waterloo Courier

Evelyn's Stories at the Waterloo Courier.
Thanks go out this week to the Waterloo Courier and its sister papers in Iowa for covering Evey's story in such detail. The following are two letters that they received from their readers.

KATHY FRANK MASON CITY --- I just read your coverage on the Evelyn Miller story and I was so impressed. I have read each and every word regarding this case, and your story was the best. That little girl deserved better, and she deserved more protection from every single adult in her life than she got. DHS and the governor all dropped the ball. Had this been my granddaughter I would have been relentless with my complaints. I would have been sitting on their desk demanding something be done. I have had quite a bit of experience with DHS regarding my own grandchildren. Again, I commend you on a piece very well written.

I pray Evelyn has peace now and the routine that any child her age deserves --- and safe sleep, which I doubt she had ever had before.

Keep up the great work!

TERESA TYLER - ALLISON --- As I read the cover story on Evelyn Miller (Oct. 9), I began to think of how America has become a very tolerant place. It was sad to read how neighbors, family members, the community itself, ignored red flags about this little girl's plight. Even though they knew the circumstances of her living situation, no one questioned it.

Why have we become this way? It was true when Hillary Clinton said, "It takes a village to raise a child." Only those who witnessed Evelyn Miller's life can reveal the true happenings in this terrible case. Guilt can only overwhelm those who never spoke up, followed through or voiced opinion about the life of Evelyn Miller. You will hear angry accusations from those who probably feel the most guilty.

How is it we have become tolerant and ignore signs of trouble? That's an answer only a human being can supply of themselves. So I say to all of us, what's your personal human stance on tolerance? What as human beings shall we tolerate?

Rumors

That there will be more DHS news soon.
That the word is that Noel was not charged for the porno because the feds have never prosecuited a woman for this crime. (see below)
That someone close to Evelyn expects someone to be charged in her case soon.
That a custody hearing is coming up later in the month.
I hate rumors - Thanks for following me.

(Please no media follow-ups at this time)

"Here is a link to a story where a female college student was sentenced to federal prison for trading child porn for music on the internet. So there is no truth to the gossip that the feds have never prosecuted a female for possession of child pornography :-)"

Thanks Trisha - Grandpa

DHS Has Blood on Its Hands

In an interview with KCCI TV in Des Moines, yesterday, Linda and Richard spoke about the Governor's allegations about their family and DHS complaints which had been made.

Evelyn's Kindergarten Class

Class Photo
Evelyn is wearing pink and is sitting ^ in the front row. Click on photo to enlarge it. I hope that they all have a good year in first grade. (She is the one missing a tooth.)

You have to see this

My response to the Governor's criticism of our family.
Radio Iowa or Free Republic for public comments. I am poster "richierichIII" We feel guilty for not having abducted our own granddaughter in order to save her life. Hindsight is 20/20 - Governor.
[this is the link to the original comments by the Governor on
Radio Iowa]

Information Overload

Evelyn Miller on Free Republic

The time has come when I just can't keep up with the rapidly developing events concerning Evey's case. I will try to post news article links on Free Republic as they develop.

Rather than trying to post further links here I will be posting things of a family nature for our friends who have been trying to follow me and commentary that I don't wish to have discussed on Free Republic. Please feel free to put any comment that you wish on the Free Republic site or e-mail me.

Sunday and today reports about Evey's home life were published in the Waterloo Courier and Globe Gazette. They make interesting reading and go into some of the DHS issues that we as a family are concerned about.

DHS Issue at Globe Gazette

Andy Christie, Evelyn's father, has not as yet been able to see any of the reports yet after making a formal request over two weeks ago.

Now the Governor has said he isn’t in a position to say whether that DHS report was complete or accurate. “The reports that were submitted in the Evelyn Miller situation suggested concerns expressed by family members, people who had an ax to grind, people whose credibility was a bit suspect. They were looked into,” Vilsack said.

My take is that the Governor feels that with the information known, the agency did what it was supposed to.

We'll let you know our opinion after we have seen and digested the reports. I don't want to speak ill if any person or agency unless it is deserved, neither do I wish to endorse their activities unless I have all of the facts before me.

There are definitely improvements to the DHS system that would make it more effective and I will elaborate on that area at a later time. For now everything should be focused on the investigation and bringing those responsible for Evelyn's death to justice.

Click on either of the hyperlinks below for today’s coverage of Evey in the Waterloo Courier. Even though the information is already known by many of us there are some details that you may not already know. There are other links on the Courier site.
About Evey's Life at Home
Photo Gallery
Thank you for following me and thanks for the supportive e-mails and prayers.
Click FreeRepublic to read comments to this article or to post your own or you can e-mail me.

Evey - Our Own Angel

This quote from Evey's Legacy site touched us deeply this morning. Thank you Cassey for allowing us to share it.

"I know it has been a while, but Evelyn is on my mind a lot and I just wanted to offer my condolences to the family. I also want to use this to share a story about Evelyn. I used to work with her Kindergarten class, and she was the sweetest little girl I have ever met. Her smile could melt your heart. I remember one day, she and I were reading a story with a few other kids. The book was about this Caterpillar and his journey to become a butterfly. One of the kids asked me: "Why does he want to be a butterfly?" I said: "Because butterflies are beautiful." It was then that Evelyn chimed in and said: "Then why doesn't he want to be an angel? Angels are prettier and they fly higher!"

Thank you for making me smile, Evelyn. I know that you are a beautiful angel. Keep on flying!"
Cassey Shindelar (Charles City, IA )

About Casey Fredericksen - How I Feel

A reader sent me this e-mail:

Please explain to all of us why you defend Casey and Noel. I understand being Christian but even Jesus would say that Casey and Noel's behavior is way off base.

Casey is still a human being and as such he deserves the full legal respect due individuals under the law. He may indeed guilty of this despicable charge but that is up to the courts to determine. I do not believe that he had any connection to Evelyn's death.

Noel, even though she has not been charged with anything yet, deserves the same respect. I believe that she was criminally involved in some way with Evey's death. I do not know that she was - I believe that she was. She deserves, if they are due her, charges to be advanced, indictments to be issued and a trial to commence.

Our courts are due the privilege of judging people in this life and our Lord in the next.

When we individually judge others we are often dissapointed with error. I don't want any error committed in these matters. That is why I'm relying on the results of proper court proceedures to determine the outcomes. Should the court err then there is always the hereafter to correct the matter.

WHO-TV video interview with Grandfather.