Alleged McDonald County sex cult leader bound over for trial following preliminary hearing

A 9 a.m. May 13 arraignment is scheduled for former Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church pastor Raymond Lambert, who was bound over for trial Monday following a preliminary hearing before Judge John LePage in McDonald County Circuit Court.

Lambert, 69, is charged with the forcible rape of a 10-year-old, as well as four counts of statutory sodomy.

The prosecution is being conducted by the McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney's office and a special prosecutor from the Missouri Attorney General's office.

More information about the case can be found at the link below.

The Turner Report: Preliminary hearing Monday for alleged Mac County cult leader, accused of forcible rape of 10-year-old girl (rturner229.blogspot.com)

Preliminary hearing Monday for alleged Mac County cult leader, accused of forcible rape of 10-year-old girl

The preliminary hearing for a former McDonald County pastor who was alleged to be the ringleader of a sex cult in 2006 is scheduled to be held 1 p.m. Monday in McDonald County Circuit Court.

Raymond Lambert II, 69, whose address is listed as Washburn in court files, is charged with forcible rape of a 10-year-old in the summer of 2013 and four counts of statutory sodomy. 

The prosecution is being conducted by the McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney's office and a special prosecutor from the Missouri Attorney General's office.

(Photo- Raymond Lambert, front, is shown during a court hearing in 2006.)

The allegations against Lambert include the following:

-Rape- Lambert allegedly forced the 10-year-old girl to have sex with him in a shed in the summer of 2013 after pushing her against the wall and grabbing her hair.

-Statutory sodomy- According to the complaint, between 2002 and 2004, Lambert reached into the pants of an underage boy and performed a sex act.

-Statutory sodomy- Lambert allegedly compelled an underage girl to perform an oral sex act on him while he touched her genitalia between 2002 and 2004

-Statutory sodomy- The complaint says Lambert committed the same crime mentioned in the previous paragraph with the girl on another occasion between 2002 and 2004.

Statutory sodomy- Lambert committed the same crime with a different underage girl in 1995, according to the complaint.

Felony charges against Lambert were filed in 2006, but were dismissed according to the McDonald County prosecuting attorney due to witnesses being reluctant to testify, though an attorney for the witnesses said that was not the case.

A McDonald County grand jury indicted Lambert in February 2008, charging him with four counts of child molestation, three counts of statutory sodomy and one count of child abuse in connection with ritual sex abuse of children.

Janice Durbin, who was McDonald County prosecuting attorney at the time, dismissed charges against Lambert June 10, 2008, again citing reluctance of witnesses.

At the time the charges were filed against him, Lambert was minister of the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church. Lambert and the church were located in what media described as a "compound" in rural McDonald County. Approximately 100 attended the church, which was termed a "cult" at that time and was not connected to any official Baptist organization.

Charges against alleged McDonald County sex cult leader include underage boys and girls, date back to 1995

In a filing Wednesday in McDonald County Circuit Court, Prosecuting Attorney Maleia Cheney asked that felony sex charges against former Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church pastor Raymond Lambert be combined into one case.

The cases against Lambert, 68, all involve sex with underage children with some dating back as far as 1995.

If Judge John LePage grants the motion, the following cases would be combined:

-Rape- Lambert allegedly forced a 10-year-old girl to have sex with him in a shed in the summer of 2013 after pushing her against the wall and grabbing her hair.

-Statutory sodomy- According to the complaint, between 2002 and 2004, Lambert reached into the pants of an underage boy and performed a sex act

-Statutory sodomy- Lambert allegedly compelled an underage girl to perform an oral sex act on him while he touched her genitalia between 2002 and 2004

-Statutory sodomy- The complaint says Lambert committed the same crime mentioned in the previous paragraph with the girl on another occasion between 2002 and 2004.

-Statutory sodomy- Lambert committed the same crime with a different underage girl in 1995, according to the complaint.

More information about the cases against Lambert and about the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church can be found at the link below:

The Turner Report: Attorney General's office to assist in prosecution of alleged McDonald County sex cult leader (rturner229.blogspot.com)

Attorney General's office to assist in prosecution of alleged McDonald County sex cult leader

The Missouri Attorney General's office filed an entry of appearance indicating it will assist in the prosecution of former McDonald County pastor Raymond Lambert who is charged with the rape of a 10-year-old girl in the summer of 2013.

The pre-trial conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday before Judge John LePage in McDonald County Circuit Court, but that's no guarantee it will take place. Online court records indicate the hearing has been rescheduled nine times.

(Note: The photo of Raymond Lambert was taken during a 2006 hearing)

Lambert, 68, Washburn, was arrested October 12, 2022 by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which conducted the investigation.

It was not the first time Lambert had been arrested in connection with sex crimes involving a child. In 2006, Lambert was alleged to be the ringleader of a sex cult in the church he pastored, the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church. Church membership was approximately 100 and church members lived in what authorities described as a "compound." He and several members of his family, including his wife, Patricia Lambert and sister-in-law Laura Epling were also charged.

A McDonald County grand jury indicted Lambert in February 2008, charging him with four counts of child molestation, three counts of statutory sodomy and one count of child abuse in connection with ritual sex abuse of children.

Janice Durbin, who was McDonald County prosecuting attorney at the time, dismissed charges against Lambert June 10, 2008, again citing reluctance of witnesses.

After current McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Maleia Anne Cheney filed the most recent charge against Lambert, she also filed charges against Laura Epling and Patricia Lambert.

McDonald County Circuit Court records do not indicate any current case against Patricia Lambert.

An amended complaint against Epling charged her with statutory sodomy, with the crimes allegedly taking place between 2002 and 2004.

From the probable cause statement:

Raymond Lambert instructed (the victim) to perform oral sex on him to which she complied. According to the victim, Laura Epling was present during the assault and acted in concert with Raymond Lambert by providing instruction and at one point placing her hand on (the victim's) head to assist her in the sexual act.

Judge LePage denied a motion to dismiss the case against Epling November 6. Her pre-trial conference is also scheduled for Wednesday, November 29.

No charges have been filed against Raymond Lambert in connection with the crimes described in Laura Epling's probable cause statement

Grant Valley Independent Baptist Church and the Lambert/Epling Family

The Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church was founded by Patricia Lambert's father, the late Cecil Epling and was featured in a multi-part investigation by National Public Radio in December 2006.

At that time, charges had also been filed in Newton County against another church pastor, George Johnson. Assistant Newton County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Dobbs offered the following comment to NPR:

"We have, in McDonald County, Raymond Lambert, who is married to his stepsister," Dobbs says. "We have George Johnston, who is an uncle to Raymond Lambert. It is alleged by some members of that community that the religious leaders may, in fact, be the biological parents of several children who have been born into this group."

The NPR report also featured an interview with a family member who was not involved in any alleged criminal activity, who offered insight into the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church's beliefs.
"In April, I learned that my grandfather thought that his daughters needed taking care of spiritually," {the woman}tells NPR. "And so in order to do that, in order to keep his daughters, he had sex with them. He then went on to father a child for most all of his daughters, or his daughter-in-laws [sic]."

Her grandfather was the late Cecil Epling, a minister originally from Ohio. According to Burkett, Epling wanted his seven sons and four daughters to become a tight-knit community, so he helped buy them the Missouri farm. When Epling died, his stepson, Raymond Lambert, took over the ministry. George Johnston later joined the family's church.

Family members say Cecil Epling passed his sexual beliefs to both pastors, teaching them that they needed to fulfill the sexual needs of their daughters and selected girls in the church.

"What's inside of them is God, and they think that they have all the power, all that it takes to take care of a woman," {the woman} says.
 

Two more charged in connection with alleged McDonald County church sex cult

When felony sex charges were dismissed against Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church minister Raymond Lambert, his wife Patricia Lambert and sister-in-law Laura Epling in 2007, McDonald County's prosecuting attorney at the time Janice Durbin, the lawyer for the family said witnesses against his clients were "no longer willing to testify."

The lawyer for one of the accusers told an Associated Press reporter that was not the case. The witnesses were still willing to testify, but the case was dismissed anyway.

Fifteen years later in October 2022, Raymond Lambert, 67, was charged with raping a 10-year-old girl in 2013.

Today, McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Maleia Cheney charged Laura Epling, 66, with statutory sodomy in the second degree, a felony. Patricia Lambert, 65, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree-sexual contact, a felony.

According to the probable cause statement in the Laura Epling case, Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper Travis Hitchcock came across statements from the earlier cases while investigating the charge against Raymond Lambert.

Between 4-4-2002 and 4-3-2004, at the age 15 to 16 years, Raymond Lambert instructed {the girl} to perform oral sex on him to which she complied. According to {the girl}, Laura Epling was present during the assault and acted in concert with Raymond Lambert by providing instruction and at one point placing her hand on {the girl's} head to assist her in the sexual act.

Hitchcock's probable cause statement in the Patricia Lambert indicates she participated with her husband and the girl on at least one occasion.

Between 4-4-2003 and 4-3-2004, at the age of 16 years, {the girl} stated Patricia Lambert came into Raymond Lambert's bed where {she} and Raymond Lambert were lying naked. {The girl} further stated Patricia Lambert fully disrobed and joined Raymond Lambert and {her} in the bed. {The girl} further stated Patricia Lambert had knowledge of Raymond Lambert's sexual assaults on {her} for three years leading up to the incident when {she} was 16.

At this point, McDonald County Circuit Court online records do not indicate Raymond Lambert has been charged yet in connection with the allegations against his wife and sister-in-law.

Bond for the two women has been set at $2,000, cash only.

During Raymond Lambert's October 2, 2006 preliminary hearing on sex charges, a witness who appears to be the same one making the allegation against Laura Epling testified.

Joplin Globe coverage of the hearing indicates testimony was given by the girl about Lambert having sex with his sister-in-law.

She said that on yet another occasion at Laura Epling's home, Lambert had been engaged sexually with Laura Epling, and that he asked the girl to perform an oral sex act on him. She testified that Laura Epling encouraged her to do as he had asked.

The Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church was founded by Patricia Lambert's father, the late Cecil Epling and was featured in a multi-part investigation by National Public Radio in December 2006.

At that time, charges had also been filed in Newton County against another church pastor, George Johnson. Assistant Newton County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Dobbs offered the following comment to NPR:

"We have, in McDonald County, Raymond Lambert, who is married to his stepsister," Dobbs says. "We have George Johnston, who is an uncle to Raymond Lambert. It is alleged by some members of that community that the religious leaders may, in fact, be the biological parents of several children who have been born into this group."

The NPR report also featured an interview with a family member who was not involved in any alleged criminal activity, who offered insight into the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church's beliefs.

"In April, I learned that my grandfather thought that his daughters needed taking care of spiritually," {the woman}tells NPR. "And so in order to do that, in order to keep his daughters, he had sex with them. He then went on to father a child for most all of his daughters, or his daughter-in-laws [sic]."

Her grandfather was the late Cecil Epling, a minister originally from Ohio. According to Burkett, Epling wanted his seven sons and four daughters to become a tight-knit community, so he helped buy them the Missouri farm. When Epling died, his stepson, Raymond Lambert, took over the ministry. George Johnston later joined the family's church.

Family members say Cecil Epling passed his sexual beliefs to both pastors, teaching them that they needed to fulfill the sexual needs of their daughters and selected girls in the church.

"What's inside of them is God, and they think that they have all the power, all that it takes to take care of a woman," {the woman} says.

Raymond Lambert is free after posting $5,000 bond. His next hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. December 14 in McDonald County Circuit Court.

Former Mac County pastor who was accused of involvement in sex cult in 2006, charged with raping 10-year-old

A former McDonald County pastor who was alleged to be the ringleader of a McDonald County sex cult in 2006, has been charged with the rape of a 10-year-old girl in the summer of 2013.

McDonald County officials say the rape was reported in August.

Raymond Lambert II, 67, Washburn, was arrested Wednesday by the Missouri State Highway Patrol earlier this week. Bond has been set at $5,000 cash only.

(Photo- Raymond Lambert, front, is shown during a court hearing in 2006.)

Felony charges in the earlier case against Lambert were filed in 2006, dismissed according to the McDonald County prosecuting attorney due to witnesses being reluctant to testify, though an attorney for the witnesses said that was not the case.

A McDonald County grand jury indicted Lambert in February 2008, charging him with four counts of child molestation, three counts of statutory sodomy and one count of child abuse in connection with ritual sex abuse of children.

Janice Durbin, who was McDonald County prosecuting attorney at the time, dismissed charges against Lambert June 10, 2008, again citing reluctance of witnesses. 

At the time the charges were filed against him, Lambert was minister of the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church. Lambert and the church were located in what media described as a "compound" in rural McDonald County. Approximately 100 attended the church, which was termed a "cult" at that time and was not connected to any official Baptist organization.

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Review set for Newton County pastor in sex case

The only remaining defendant in a series of sex cases brought against members of churches in Newton and McDonald Counties will have his case reviewed Dec. 22 in Vernon County Circuit Court, according to KY3.

George Otis Johnston is charged with numerous counts of child molestation and statutory sodomy, according to court records. Johnston is the pastor of Grandview Valley Baptist Church North, and is the uncle of Raymond Lambert, pastor of the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church. Lambert, his wife Patty and her brothers Tom and Paul Epling, as well as Tom Epling's wife, Laura, were charged with numerous sex crimes with minors in McDonald County, but all charges were dropped by Prosecuting Attorney Jancie Durban.

Previous Turner Report posts on these cases can be found at this link and this link.

AP updates McDonald County sex cult story

Associated Press offers an update in the cases against members of the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church, including Pastor Raymond Lambert, who had charges dismissed against them by McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Durbin.

The article mentions that only one of those accused in connection with the crimes, which involved sex with underage children, Lambert's uncle George Otis Johnson, still faces charges. What the article fails to mention is that Johnson's charges are in Newton County, where the prosecuting attorney's office appears to have taken the charges far more seriously.

Charges dismissed in McDonald County sex cult case

McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Durbin dismissed all charges today against Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church minister Raymond Lambert.
Lambert, 53, had been charged with four counts of child molestation, three counts of statutory sodomy, and one count of child abuse in connection with alleged ritual sex with children.

A grand jury indicted Lambert in February, after dismissing the charges against him in November 2007. Charges had been dismissed earlier against Lambert's wife, Patty, her brothers (and Lambert's stepbrothers) Paul and Tom Epling, and Tom Epling's wife Laura.

Today's decision marks the second time Ms. Durbin has given reluctance of witnesses as the reason for dropping charges. After the first time, the lawyer for the witnesses indicated that was not the case.

A more thorough report on Lambert was provided by National Public Radio and was cited in the Dec. 16, 2006, Turner Report.

Daily keeps up on coverage of pastor accused in sex case

Though the Neosho Daily has occasional problems keeping up with the ebb and flow of everyday news, it has shown itself to be particularly adept when major stories hit.

In recent months, these have included disaster (ice storm and tornado) coverage, the Micronesian church murders, and the rape and murder of nine-year-old Rowan Ford.

The Daily has kept up with and often surpassed its competition (the Joplin Globe and the broadcast media) in its coverage of the more sensational stories, which are distasteful, but which must be done.

That includes the coverage of the arrest of Randall Danny Russell, the Neosho pastor who is charged with three felonies involving sex with an underage girl.

Managing Editor John Ford handled the coverage in today's edition, with much of the same information as other media, but also additional information reminding readers of the similar scandals involving church leaders Raymond Lambert and George Otis Johnston.

While watching KSN's coverage this morning, I noted that Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland made a point that these people are not representative of the ministry. I would guess this is an angle that the Daily will be exploring in upcoming issues.

Motion to dismiss two counts filed in McDonald County cult case

A motion to dismiss two of the eight counts against Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church pastor Raymond Lambert will be argued during a 10 a.m. May 6 hearing in McDonald County Circuit Court.
The charges against Lambert, 53, were filed in connection with alleged ritual sex with children. Lambert's lawyer, former McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Duane Cooper, has asked that two counts that date back to 1995 be dismissed, a sexual abuse count from May 31, and a statutory sodomy charge from July 31.

Lambert also faces four counts of child molestation and two other counts of statutory sodomy.

Lambert's trial is scheduled to begin Monday, June 30.

Feb. 19 arraignment scheduled in McDonald County sex cult case

The arraignment for Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church pastor Raymond Lambert, who was indicted Feb. 8 on four counts of child molestation, three counts of statutory sodomy and one count of sexual abuse, has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, in McDonald County Circuit Court.

Grand jury indictments issued on McDonald County sex cult case

A McDonald County grand jury handed down indictments Friday against Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church pastor Raymond Lambert Tuesday.
The charges are the same ones filed against Lambert Dec. 3 in McDonald County Circuit Court, but this will enable the process to bypass a preliminary hearing and go directly to the trial court, according to the article in today's Joplin Globe:

Prosecutor Janice Durbin said the grand jury on Friday handed down four counts of second-degree child molestation, three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy and one count of sexual abuse against Raymond Lambert, 52, pastor of Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church. Lambert is accused of sexually abusing two teenage girls several times between February 1995 and April 2004, according to court documents.

Preliminary hearing delayed in McDonald County sex cult case

The preliminary hearing for Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church pastor Raymond Lambert, who is charged with four counts of child molestation, two counts of statutory sodomy,and one count of sexual abuse in connection with ritual sexual abuse of children, originally scheduled for Monday, has been reset for 9:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25 in McDonald County Circuit Court.

The charges against Lambert, 52, Washburn, were refiled Dec. 3 by McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Durbin.

Dec. 17 arraignment set in McDonald County sex cult case

A 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, arraignment has been scheduled in McDonald County Circuit Court for Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church pastor Raymond Lambert, who faces four counts of child molestation, two counts of statutory sodomy, and one count of sexual abuse in connection with ritual sex with children.
The charges against Lambert, 52, Washburn, were refiled Monday by McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Durbin.

Charges refiled against pastor in McDonald County sex cult case

Prosecuting Attorney Janice Durbin refiled sex charges against Grand Valley Independent
Baptist Church pastor Raymond Lambert today in McDonald County Circuit Court.
Lambert, 52, Washburn, was charged with four counts of child molestation, two counts of statutory sodomy and one count of sexual abuse. The charges are in connection with the ritual abuse of children.
Charges have not been refiled against Lambert's wife (and stepsister) Patricia Lambert, or their sister-in-law Laura Epling. The charges against the three were dropped last month, one week before the Lamberts' trial was scheduled to begin. The Lamberts' lawyer, Robert Evenson, said charges were dismissed because the state's witnesses refused to cooperate, but the attorney for the witnesses told various news sources that was not the case.

(Pictured: Raymond Lambert, left, talks with a supporter. Photo provided by Tara Brown)

Ms. Durbin told Associated Press Nov. 30 that she would likely refile charges against the church leaders. That word came after the administration of her office came under heavy criticism from State Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, whose district includes that portion of McDonald County, and county law enforcement officials.

AP: Prosecutor may refile charges in McDonald County sex cult case

Associated Press reporter Marcus Kabel has been all over the sex charges involving members of the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church in McDonald County and he has the beat on the latest development in the case.
Apparently, McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Durbin, who dropped charges against church pastor Raymond Lambert, Lambert's wife, Patty, and their sister-in-law, Laura Epling, is saying she may refile those charges in 2008:

David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, welcomed the decision to refile the case after earlier calling the decision to drop it inexplicable.

"The road to justice for child sex abuse victims is often rocky but usually, when victims can hang in there, some closure and healing and prevention happens at the end," Clohessy said.

Wendy Murphy, a victims' rights attorney, author and former prosecutor who teaches at the New England School of Law, said that dropping a case so close to trial when witnesses are still cooperating is "extraordinary."

The dropped charges had fueled some criticism from local law enforcement and concern by a state representative about how the prosecutor's office has been run since Durbin was elected to her first term a year ago.

Durbin said Thursday that she had to drop the charges because of a scheduling problem and that she always had planned to refile the case.

"It wasn't the facts of the case. It wasn't the witnesses. It was a technicality, a scheduling issue," she said in an interview at her Pineville office.

Durbin said she is "very actively" working on refiling the case.

It is amazing that it took Ms. Durbin this long to begin talking more specifically about the reasons why she dropped the charges, which involve ritual sex with children. Judging from Kabel's article, the law enforcement community in McDonald County has not been thrilled with her job performance:

Durbin's explanation comes amid criticism from local law enforcement and questions from Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, whose 131st District includes much of McDonald County.

Detective Jeff Sutherland wrote to the state's highest disciplinary body for attorneys this week to complain about Durbin's handling of two cases, including a plea bargain for a man charged with repeatedly molesting his 12-year-old stepdaughter.

The Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel, under its confidentiality rules, cannot confirm receipt of a complaint or whether it is investigating.

Ruestman said she had received a copy of Sutherland's letter. The detective's complaint and the dropped church case raise concerns about how a new prosecutor is running the office, she said.

Durbin said she had not heard from Ruestman or the disciplinary office. She declined to comment on the plea deal with Jeremiah Flanary, 33, who faces sentencing in January after pleading guilty to two counts of statutory sodomy.

The deal would give him five years probation and a 120-day sex offender program in prison. The maximum term for each count is seven years in prison.

One of the best jobs in delving into the background of this case was done by National Public Radio. Its report was noted in the Dec. 15, 2006, Turner Report.

Charges may be refiled in McDonald County sex cult case

McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Durbin finally broke her silence concerning the dismissal of all felony sex charges against members of the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church.
Joplin Globe ace reporter Jeff Lehr elicited the following information from Ms. Durbin:

-The case was dismissed due to "technical" reasons, according to Ms. Durbin, and not because of lack of cooperation from complaining witnesses.
-Charges may be refiled.
-Ms. Durbin fired the assistant prosecuting attorney who had been handling the case and plans to add a new assistant prosecutor- the attorney who represented Laura Epling, one of the defendants:

Durbin said she recently committed to hiring Sherrie Hansen to replace her part-time assistant prosecutor, Ray Gordon, when he leaves as planned at the end of the year. She said she intends to keep the full-time assistant prosecutor position vacant through the end of the year.

Durbin also acknowledged that the hiring of Hansen could have affected her office’s handling of the church sex-abuse case because Hansen at one time represented Laura Epling. But, she said, as long as Hansen herself does not handle the case, her office might not need to be disqualified.

She said the sex-abuse case remains under review.

It appears Ms. Durbin has rightfully been receiving a considerable amount of heat for her decision to drop the charges and the extraordinary amount of time it has taken her to talk about that decision. This interview does not appear likely to end that criticism.

Initially, church pastor Raymond Lambert, his wife Patty, and sister-in-law Laura Epling had been charged with felonies in connection with ritual sex with children. Charges had been dropped earlier against Patty Lambert's brothers (and Raymond Lambert's stepbrothers) Tom Epling and Paul Epling.

McDonald County prosecutor maintains veil of secrecy on dropping of charges in child sex cult case

AP, working overtime in this area lately, has jumped on another story in addition to the ongoing Rowan Ford case.
AP unsuccessfully tried to get McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Durbin to come clean on why she dropped felony sex charges against Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church pastor Raymond Lambert, his wife Patricia, and sister-in-law Laura Epling earlier this month. Ms. Durbin has refused to tell her bosses, the taxpayers of McDonald County anything:

And McDonald County prosecutor Janice Durbin isn't responding to allegations by an alleged victim's lawyer that she violated victim rights under Missouri law.

Durbin has repeatedly declined to answer questions about why she ended the case. A defense lawyer said last week that it was because the two women who alleged they had been abused as children had stopped cooperating.

But the victim's attorney Erin Willis said that's not true, and that the women wanted to testify at trial. Willis said former members of Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church she represents are "shocked and appalled" that the case was dropped a week before trial.

Prosecuting attorney needs to tell reason for dropping charges in McDonald County sex cult cases

Nearly a week has passed and McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Durbin has still not come clean with county residents or the media about why she dropped sex charges against Raymond Lambert, pastor of the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church, his wife Patty Lambert, and sister-in-law Laura Epling.

The only reasons have come from the Lamberts and Eplings' (Mrs. Lambert is an Epling and was Raymond Lambert's stepsister before their marriage. Laura Epling is married to Patty Lambert's brother and Raymond Lambert's stepbrother, Tom Epling.) lawyer, Bob Evenson, who said the witnesses against his clients were no longer willing to testify.

That is not the case, the lawyer for one of the accusers told Associated Press. Though nothing has been heard from the McDonald County prosecutor, Newton County Assistant Prosecutor Bill Dobbs told the Joplin Globe he was continuing with a similar case of ritual sex involving children with Lambert's uncle, George Otis Johnston as the defendant.

If there is a good reason for dropping the cases, the person who dropped the case needs to be the one to reveal it and the media should keep on asking her the question until she does.