Amber Alert - Man, 13yo Step-Daughter and Her 2 Week Old Baby Missing

Teen Mother and Infant Son Allegedly

Abducted by Stepfather After Police

Began Investigating Her Sexual Abuse

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BY CHRIS HARRIS

Illinois authorities tell PEOPLE they cannot say with any certainty who fathered the infant delivered two weeks ago by a 13-year-old girl who has been missing since Sunday, when police allege her 39-year-old stepfather kidnapped her. 

But "once we are able to find out the paternity of the child, there will no doubt be charges of criminal sexual abuse filed against that individual," says Greenville, Illinois, Police Chief Lou Lorton.

Police are still searching for Christopher Derleth, who they say vanished along with his stepdaughter, Katherine Derleth, and the girl's infant child, who is also named Christopher.

According to police, Christopher's van was spotted just south of Charleston, West Virginia, late Sunday, and an AMBER Alert was issued. But the three haven't been seen since. 

Investigators have filed charges against Christopher for violating a protective order barring him from having contact with Katherine, and officials indicate they plan to add kidnapping and child abduction charges. 

Police are not discussing what prompted the alleged kidnapping but have said they believe the abduction was planned.

Christopher Derleth

Chief Lorton says his officers began investigating the specific circumstances surrounding Katherine's pregnancy months ago.

As a result of that probe, which focused on her stepfather as well as another man she had been living with, the state removed Katherine and her son from her home and placed them with a foster family, Lorton says.

A protective order was also issued, barring Christopher from contact with the teen, according to authorities.

"The original complaint stemmed from the fact that there was a 13-year-old that was pregnant and there were, at the time, two individuals living with her in the home," Lorton tells PEOPLE. "We obviously don't know who the father of the child is, but that's what launched the investigation."

According to Lorton, detectives were working to determine the child's paternity before Katherine and her son were abducted.

"We are still investigating, and we are fairly certain Katherine and her stepfather are out there," Lorton says.

The state had also looked into a 2015 complaint involving Katherine but had insufficient evidence to continue with a full-scale investigation, authorities said.

Katherine Derleth

Despite repeated calls, PEOPLE has not been able to reach Derleth relatives for comment.

Katherine's mother, Jennifer, told KSDK she is praying for her daugher. She said the teen loves cooking, drawing and music.

Jennifer declined to discuss Christopher's alleged kidnapping, citing legal reasons, according to the station.

"To Katherine, if you're listening to this, know that your sister and your family all love you very much," Jennifer said. "Stay strong, we're praying for you and have faith that you'll be in my arms again."

Let us join her in that prayer.

Police are asking that anyone who sees Katherine, her baby or Christopher immediately call 911.

Sir Cliff Richard has been Cleared of Child Sex Allegations

As Cliff Richard is cleared of sex abuse claims

 - should accused remain anonymous?

BY ALISON PHILLIPS

Cliff Richard has been cleared of child sex allegations

672 days after police raided his home

Sir Cliff Richard has been cleared of child sex allegations

Entertainer Sir Cliff Richard has been told he will not be prosecuted over child sex allegations.

It has been 672 days since police raided the 75-year-old's home and it was broadcast live on the BBC.

Furious Sir Cliff has accused officers of hanging him out like "live bait" and said his reputation had been permanently tarnished by South Yorkshire Police who named him as a suspected paedophile before he had even been interviewed.


So should those accused of sex crimes remain anonymous until they are proven guilty?

YES - Nick Freeman, celebrity lawyer


Lawyer Nick Freeman

The Cliff Richard case perfectly illustrates why there needs to be an urgent review of the law for defendants in sex cases .

Sir Cliff was publicly named and exposed to massive media intrusion, and yet he was never charged.

There has never been a more high profile case to call for an urgent review of the law for defendant anonymity in sex cases .

The damage these allegations can cause to a person’s reputation is immense. The stigma will typically remain for a lifetime.

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I fully support the need for the anonymity of victims in sex cases as it affords them added protection and support throughout the entire judicial process and beyond.

Now the same protection should also be provided to those people accused of sexual offences.

I have been campaigning for a change in the law for many as a direct result of representing falsely accused defendants, whose lives and reputations have been ruined by such allegations.

All such matters of anonymity in sex cases should still rest with the discretion of the Judge, who may decide that naming an accused would be in the safety and interest of the public.


No - Alison Phillips, Mirror columnist

I accept it must be horrific for someone to be accused of a sexual offence like Cliff Richard has been.

But if there was anonymity for people such as him, why wouldn’t there be anonymity for murder ? Or attempted murder?

And fairly soon our whole justice system would become shrouded in secrets and mystery.

It is as vital that justice is seen to be done in this country as that it actually is done.


Cliff Richard and Gloria Hunniford

Without it we could have secret police dragging people out of their homes and putting them under arrest without ever having to tell anyone what they have done.

That may sound extreme and unlikely - but it is where the slippery slope of secrecy leads one way or another.

More importantly we as a country should continue to demonstrate that other great tenet of British justice - innocent until proven guilty.

British Sailor Has Gang-Rape Charges Dismissed in Canada

British sailor accused of gang rape at Halifax base has sexual assault charge dropped

Criag Stoner walked out of Dartmouth court Friday a free man

By Cassie Williams, CBC News 

Craig Stoner walked out of Dartmouth provincial court on Friday with his legal fight behind him. (Blair Rhodes/CBC)

One of the four British sailors accused of gang raping a young woman at a military base in Halifax last year has had his charges dropped.

Craig Stoner walked out of Dartmouth provincial court on Friday with his legal fight behind him. He is no longer facing charges of sexual assault causing bodily harm and sexual assault committed with one or more other persons.

In court, the Crown said after reviewing the evidence, there wasn't a reasonable prospect of conviction against Stoner.

Stoner's lawyer, Luke Craggs, said his client is "pleased that this saga is concluded."

"I think we saw, early on, that this is where things would end for him," he said.

"The reality is, he's been labelled a rapist in the international media and that's a label that he's going to have to work hard to shake off, but now he can put this behind him and get on with the rest of his life."

Simon Radford, Joshua Finbow, and Darren Smalley are each still facing a charge sexual assault causing bodily harm and one count of sexual assault committed with one or more other persons.

When they were arrested last April, the men were in Nova Scotia to participate in a hockey tournament with local Armed Forces personnel. The Crown alleges they participated in a group sexual assault April 10, 2015 in a barracks at CFB Shearwater.

The preliminary inquiry for the other three sailors continues.