KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Decade Old Case Poses Challenges for Detectives

Decade Old Case Poses Challenges for Detectives

By Denise Hnytka (BUTLER COUNTY, Kan.)

The searches are hidden behind walls and what's found, investigators won't say. But after ten years, and no sign of 11 year old Adam Herrman, what can detectives even hope to find?

"Events surrounding that child's disappearance were seen by someone," said WSU Criminologist Dr. Brian Withrow. "But they weren't put into a context until someone adds another piece to the story."

A piece to a puzzle no one knew existed, until now. Wichita State Criminologist Dr. Brian Withrow says as much as investigators are searching, they're also hoping the attention created by the search reaches the right witness. He says the chances of finding physical evidence are slim.

"Particularly if it's a bodily fluid or something like that tends to deteriorate," said Dr. Withrow. "It's still sometimes usable, but can be questionable to get into court."

To build a solid case, detectives are visiting anywhere Adam may have been.

"When they go to court in this case, if they do, they're going to be asked, did they search there? And they need to say, yes we did," said Dr. Withrow. 

That means current and former Herrman family homes, even the banks of the Whitewater River near Towanda.

The Butler County Sheriff is hoping the case gets national attention so it reaches someone who knows where Adam is or what happened to him.