| Updated: 12/28/2012 8:40 am |
Published: 12/27/2012 10:14 pm
|
A Cherokee County man is on the run from the law.
71-year-old Roxie Wagers faces nine counts of felony child molestation and one count of attempted solicitation of a minor for indecent exposure, the charges stem from the alleged abuse of one child in Tahlequah.
Investigators tell FOX23 charges are pending in connection with two other children. Parents of one of the victims came forward in November after their child told them what happened. Police say the parents recorded Wagers’ confession and a $17,000 offer to keep them silent.
Tahlequah Police Detective Thomas Donnell investigated the case for nearly two months. He said it was a challenging one.
"It kind of tugs at the heart strings," Donnell said.
He told FOX23 last month he received the police report where the victim’s father told him Wagers allegedly forcibly fondled her.
"About a week after we found out he was packed up and haven’t seen him since," the Detective said.
Police have found out there are two more victims. The incidents date back to 2006. They claim he touched them numerous times throughout those years.
FOX23 reached out to the suspect's son. He declined to comment.
"It’s real tough,” said a Tahlequah resident Jerry McDaniel. “You hate to hear it happening in a community. It's hard on everyone."
He’s a father of three and couldn't believe the news.
"It's sad. Somebody is bound to known it was going on,” he said.” If it had been going on that long?”
"I kind of find myself puzzled on these crimes, these sex crimes and how many they're have been and how many I worked," said Donnell.
If found guilty Wagers could face up to 20 years for each lewd molestation charge and no less than 25 years in prison for the attempted solicitation of a minor for indecent exposure.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Roxie Wagers is asked to call the Tahlequah police department at (918) 456-8801.
