Church members wanted in abuse case turn themselves in

The Kansas City Star/January 27, 2003
By Robert A. Cronkleton

Four members of a Kansas City, Kan., church wanted in a child-abuse investigation stemming from the death of Brian Edgar have surrendered to authorities.

Idella A. Horton, 22; Renita D. Allen-Jackson, 40; Patricia A. Walker, 44; and Barbara Clark, 45, all from Kansas City, Kan., turned themselves in late Friday.

They were released early Saturday after posting $25,000 bond each, a Wyandotte County jail spokesman said. They should make their first appearances today in Wyandotte County District Court.

The four women were charged Jan. 15 along with Christy Edgar, 46, of Overland Park and Julia Edgar-Montgomery, 54, and Chasity Boyd, 19, both from Kansas City, Kan. They are accused of physically abusing three of Christy Edgar's children, ranging in age from 9 to 12, as well as a 12-year-old boy who was a friend of the children.

All were members of God's Creation Outreach Ministry, a church run by Christy Edgar and her husband, Neil Edgar Sr. The Edgars and Boyd are facing first-degree murder charges in Johnson County in connection with the death of 9-year-old Brian.

The seven women are accused of abusing the children, including Brian, over a three-month period ending in January at four houses in Kansas City, Kan., and at the church.

Prosecutors allege that one of the children was hog-tied and placed face-down in a dry bathtub. Another allegedly was bound with his mouth taped shut and locked in a closet.

Prosecutors said Brian once was strapped to a bunk bed in a manner described in the charges as "crucifixion style."

Edgar-Montgomery, who has been in the Wyandotte County jail since Jan. 13, also posted $25,000 bond on Saturday and was released.

The Edgars and Boyd remained in the Johnson County jail. The Edgars' bond is $1 million each, and Boyd's bond is $2 million.