By Rich Mauer
The Idaho Statesman
(July 11 or so, 1978?? Date of article uncertain) (all text in brackets indicate unclear text)
CALDWELL- Though Leon and Lucille Baxter have legal custody of the two children of their missing daughter, Marie Ann Watson of Emmett, the consolation is tempered by the fact that the children have not been seen since May.
A private investigator hired by the Baxters, John Cory of the Burr Detective Agency, Boise, said Thursday that the whereabouts of the children- and Michael and Dorothy Rogers, the Emmett couple they are believed to be with- are unknown.
Watson disappeared under mysterious circumstances in November. H.D. Burr, of the same detective agency, said in an affidavit filed in 3rd District Court in Caldwell on April 13 that the Rogerses might have participated in Watson’s disappearance.
The Baxters, a dairy farming couple from Stockton, Kans. sued for custody of their two grandchildren, Jack Hamilton Roach, 8 and Sandi Kay Roach, 6, in district court on April 13.
District Judge Edward [J.] Lodge set a July 10 trial date and forbid the Rogerses from removing the children from his jurisdiction.
Then, on June 15, Gem County Prosecuting Attorney John W. [Ruebelmann] filed a felony charge against Michael Rogers, a burly lumber mill worker, accusing him of having sexual relations with his 14-year-old adopted daughter Nov. 29 “in the den of his home on Cascade Road in Gem County.”
According to an affidavit filed by the Baxters’ Boise lawyer, Wilbur T. Nelson, the Rogerses failed to appear at a hearing May 23 called by state officials under the Idaho Child Protective Act. The Hearing was called to remove the 14-year-old girl from the couple’s custody, Nelson said.
The Rogerses did not show up for a deposition-taking session June 13, Nelson’s affidavit said.
When the couple failed to show up at the July 10 trial, Lodge issued an order directing law enforcement officials in the state to seize the children and turn them over to the Baxters or to the court.
According to sources close to the investigation, the Rogerses had seven children living at their home, including the Baxters’ grandchildren.
They had adopted five of the children, including the 14-year-old named in the sexual assault charge. Two are now known to have run away, according to official and unofficial sources.
The 14-year-old girl is reported to be living in a foster home.
Gem County Sheriff Bill McConnel said Watson and her husband Jimmy, feuded with the Rogerses for years, partly as a result of several previous unsuccessful attempts through the courts by Marie to regain custody of her children.
McConnel said Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials placed the children in the Rogerses’ home 2 ½ years ago. The family has a strong fundamentalist faith, he said.
Though Marie Watson had visitation rights to her children, she found herself slowly being excluded, Burr said. The Rogerses changed the children’s names to Rodney and Joanne and made them call their mother “Aunt Marie,” he said.
In answering the Baxters’ initial petition, the Rogerses, through their lawyer, Richard Rosenberry, Caldwell, said they “have treated the (Watson) children as their own and are, in fact, willing to adopt them.” They said it would be detrimental to remove them from their home.
The couple also denied allegations contained in Burr’s affidavit.
Burr said Dorothy was the last person known to have seen Watson alive before she disappeared Nov. 21, a statement confirmed by officials in Gem County.
The Baxters’ petition charges the Rogerses “actively participated in those acts, transactions or occurrances [sic] resulting in the disappearance of Marie Ann Watson.”
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