PARIS TOWNSHIP, MI — An attorney tasked with checking up on a Huron County residence where police found a "mentally challenged" teen locked in a cage said he never saw signs of abuse at the home in the four years he monitored it.
"Unfortunately, not every action regarding a child or a vulnerable adult is discovered in a home visit and, had I discovered anything during my visits, I would have taken the appropriate action," attorney Gerald Prill said.
The Huron Intermediate School District filed a complaint in May 2010, alleging educational neglect of minor children at the home. Prill was designated as a monitor in an agreement that states the case would be dismissed without prejudice if terms were met.
"It was believed that educational services could be provided to the children, while the parents didn't feel it would be helpful based on their condition," Prill said about the case.
Prill is running for 52nd Circuit Court Judge, serving Huron County, in the Nov. 4 general election. He is running against Huron County Prosecutor Timothy Rutkowski.
On Oct. 20, police responded to investigate a civil dispute at the home, 3700 Minden Road, where they discovered a "mentally challenged" male teen in a caged bed with the door chained shut, the Huron County Sheriff's Department said.
Karen S. Tolin, 65, and Timothy E. Tolin, 66, occupants of the home where their adopted 19-year-old son was found in the cage, were arrested Monday on charges of unlawful imprisonment and third-degree vulnerable adult abuse and arraigned in Huron County District Court on Tuesday.
No reports, no signs of abuse noted
Prill was instructed to visit the home three times announced and once not announced from August 2010 to August 2011, and then make two visits every year thereafter, one announced and one unannounced.
"At the conclusion of each home visit, the third party monitor will prepare a written report of the home visit and will include copies of any relevant records with services as part of the report," the agreement states.
It does not state how many years the visits were to continue.
Copies of the reports were to be provided to the Huron Intermediate School District, Ubly Community Schools, the Huron County Prosecutor's Office, the Huron County Department of Human Services and to the Tolins.
The reports were not submitted, Prill confirmed.
"Reports were not generated by me regarding the children because there was nothing to report as these children were receiving some form of educational service," Prill said in an email to The Saginaw News.
"Further, had I observed something contrary to the welfare of the children during my visits, I would do my duty and report the matter. I would do the same if I discovered vulnerable adult abuse."
Prill said he is "deeply saddened" to hear of the recent reports involving the teen and his family. He declined further comment about the allegations made against the parents because of pending criminal charges.
When asked if he ever saw a cage at the home, Prill responded, "In all of my unannounced visits to the home, I never saw, nor suspected anything to indicate any abuse or neglect. It goes without saying that if I observed or suspected any alleged abuse or neglect, a report would have been made immediately."
As a guardian ad litem for children, Prill said it is not appropriate for him to disclose information about meetings or discussions at the home other than to the court.
— Brad Devereaux is a public safety reporter for MLive/The Saginaw News. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+