Search for Adam Herrman's remains to continue today along Whitewater River

BY TIM POTTER
The Wichita Eagle

Butler County investigators this morning planned to search again along the Whitewater River near Towanda for remains of Adam Herrman.

Adam disappeared in 1999, when he was 11, while living at a Towanda mobile home park. Investigators planned to look again along the Whitewater River, on the west side of town, Butler County Sheriff Craig Murphy has said.

As with a search for Adam earlier this month, investigators will be assisted by anthropology experts and search dogs, Murphy said.
Today's search will be the second of three planned searches along the river, Murphy said.

The search was expected to begin around 8 a.m. and go farther south along the Whitewater, for about 2 miles.

Adam's adoptive mother, Valerie Herrman, has told The Eagle that Adam ran away the first week in May 1999 and never returned. She said Adam ran away after she spanked him with a belt. She said that she and her husband, Doug, didn't report Adam missing because they feared the spanking would prompt authorities to take away Adam and his two younger siblings.

For years, the Herrmans explained Adam's absence to relatives by saying he had been returned to the state's custody because he had behavior problems, the relatives said.

The relatives told The Eagle that Valerie Herrman had abused Adam for years -- an allegation she denies.

And accepted $700 per month from the State to care for him, for a total of $2,100 per month for he and his younger siblings. The State considers the adoption of siblings as a "special needs" adoption, therefor pays for their care and entitles the children to Medicaid, and the parents the income tax exemptions and allowances.