Working 90-plus Hours

Jamie Moore-Bell, now going by Jamie Moore (Barrus) shows her usual rants on Katie Rucinski's regarding Rob and me (she calls me a hooker).


These are the types of people Michael Terpening employed to care for his foster kids. It makes me sick to know that an abuser hired abusers to continue the operations of his mighty empire. 

This is the type of ignorance these victims, and other residents of the facility, had to deal with on a daily basis. Is this what abused kids deserve having to be subjected to? To be taken from an abusive parent and placed with an abusive foster parent who made thousands off them? 

It is sick. Having a friend like Jamie, who needs enemies?

To Mrs. Terpening

I really don't know what to say to Mrs. Terpening. I am sorry for how things worked out in this case, up to this point. From what I have read, enough happened prior to my involvement anyway, and truths and evidence that would come to light. It was not a set-up, and until I worked with her farm hand, I was in full support of Michael. 


I did not have many dealings with Mrs. Terpening. She works and has 8 children. She does not have time to socialize and interact with the volunteers when we have been working. I did not really get a chance to get to know Mrs. Terpening, but she did answer Michael's phone a few times when I tried to call him. She is very polite and quiet. My heart twisted when I watched her hold my puppies and the tenderness she had for them, because I see her pain and cannot imagine being in her shoes.


I believe Mrs. Terpening's lifelong goal was probably to have a large family and to raise animals. I see that interest in her. But now, because of her husband's charges, she has lost everything except her job and her 8 children. 


Ahh, her children. Her children are amazing. When I first started helping out on the farm, I had just started going around them, for the first time since they were babies. They did not have much to say to me. After I was down there quite a few times, they would help us with chores and began to talk more and hang out with the grown ups. 


The children are well-mannered, and despite people's opinions on this case, she has done an amazing job, directly, with them. I played with three of her younger children for a couple hours. This was on day 2, right after the farm hand left. I hung around for awhile, in hopes of talking to Mrs. Terpening. I was playing games with the older kids, too, when they had to go in to see their therapist. 


These kids would do far better do be away from Michael and many of his family members. But, I think if Mrs Terpening could just move on with her life and start over somewhere alone with her children, they will be just fine. Before this is over and done with, she may have no choice but one to keep her children. What choice might that be?


Mrs. Terpening, your only support group is not on your farm. It is NOT in the form of Jamie Moore Bell or her husband Jerry. I know these people are your family, but if they truly cared for you, then why encourage or allow these negative behaviors around your children?


Only you can put a stop to this, and when you are ready to break free, I can promise you that there is a large group of true, honest and good people waiting to hold their hands out to you and your children. The worst thing that can happen to your children now is to be split up and removed from your care. The best thing is that you can do is whatever it takes to keep all of them together with you. If they get split up, all that work you have done is gone. 


You are young and beautiful. Your life is not over. It has only just begun. With your husband in jail, maybe you can start to enjoy your own life. And know that I will be here for you if you decide to take that step.

The Road with Reigh...

I will not take the liberty to discuss certain aspects of Reigh's personal business. Some stories are his to tell. He started writing and developed a blog, but he has been in no rush to talk. He has given me full authority to speak, but I will only speak from my point of view.


One thing about Reigh, he is in no rush to do anything. He is an intelligent young man and thinks many things out carefully before he does anything. A person could learn a thing or two from this guy...


I dragged my heels for a long time on helping Reigh. I was gritting my teethe and expecting the worst. I have seen and heard a lot from Reigh over the few months that I knew him prior to his moving in with me. Just because I stayed in Bellevue for a short time does not mean I did not start seeing some things for what they were, certain things that definitely raised considerable doubt. 


It took a few months, though. I was totally fooled for awhile, that is true. The worst mistake that Michael and Jamie made was pushing me to help Reigh all the time. I can't tell you how many phone calls I have gotten over four months on that kid!! I mean, holy moly, I was on my way to Crossroads Mall with a loved one when he called and said he was wanted to end his own life and did not want to be alone? I swear, this did happen, and he told me he wanted me to be with him when he did it.


Now, I know I wrote a story at HubPages about physician-assisted suicide, but I am DEFINITELY not a physician. I told Reigh, "Oh, hell no, Reigh, I am not Jack Kevorkian. I am not incriminating myself in something like that." 


What do you do when this kid makes contact with you and has lost all hope on life? What do you do when this kid has hit rock bottom like no other, and you know this, but you don't know why? What do you do when he cries in desperation for someone to just give a crap about him? (this was a month or so prior to him coming to stay with me?)


A lot of factors played into a change of resolve for Reigh that night. Because of the circumstances and people who were in contact with him that night, Reigh stopped talking about suicide as much. He decided to join us for church the next day. He started settling down some. 


And then war broke out where he was staying. Back on the streets with a box, Reigh starts contacting people, including Jamie Moore Bell and Jerry Bell, desperate for a place to stay. This was approximately March 16, 2012.


At this point, I was still in support of Michael.

The Influence of Jamie Moore Bell

Let me say that during the four or five months I was writing for Terpening's case, I was in attendance of three court hearings. One was his arraignment from when he was arrested for the first degree case. This happened less than two days after the recant video Rodney made went public on YouTube. 


Michael was able to get back out of jail on bond. Large amounts of fighting happened online between the Terpening Followers and another group of people online. I will talk more about these people soon, too. 


Apparently, there is a no-contact order between Terpening and his Aunt Jamie. She was definitely in contact with Michael at times, and other times, she had me or Susie or another contact person get ahold of him. There was direct contact between the two, as well as indirect.  She rode along to court hearings and was in direct physical contact with Rodney, who rode along with us for a couple hearings to "show support for Michael." He would usually sit with me during court. Jamie waited in the car.


Jamie worked hard on Terpening's farm. She was instructed her whole life to "take care of her nephew" who is eleven years younger. She had numerous surgeries on her back, yet she still continued to push herself working with Terpening's animals. I cannot tell you how many times she went down from injury on the farm, but there were a few.


Jamie spoke of her experiences, in great detail, regarding her work at Earth Services, especially in the House Next Door. She elaborated how "boys will be boys" and how many of them had crushes on her and fantasized about her. She told me that she heard boys "yelling out her name from their rooms" when she would walk through the house. 


Back to the massages. Why are the youth giving her shoulder massages? A likely reaction from the youth would likely be a typical male reaction, which would be erection. Jamie laughed about how she got two massages at the same time. (Youth male massages her shoulders while his erection massages her lower back). I thought this was disturbing, but I did not back away from the Terpening clan at this point.


Jamie also claims that many of the youth fantasized about and loved her breasts. Claims were made by Jamie that the yelling of her name was because they would be masturbating and fantasizing about her. 


Also, shortly after the recant video hit YouTube, she was telling me how Rodney had gotten his tongue pierced and contacted her asking if he could try using his tongue ring on her "clit". Rodney was not serious, and I heard him laughing with her about it later. Odd thing to be joking around with youth males about.


This is some serious stuff, and after I was able to read the transcripts that went public last week in the earlier preliminary examination (happened shortly before I had the confrontation with Terpening), which was closed to the public. The public had not been able to see that information, yet.

Copy of the Notarized Letter

The following letter was written by the recanting victim and notarized through Terpening's attorney, Joe Eldred, and happened a few days before I started writing for this case. This letter can be compared to the September 2011 transcripts provided by the prosecution team. What is ironic, is the transcripts were words that had already taken place in court, prior to the recants.


What is very apparent was the pressure the victim was experiencing from Jamie Moore Bell and Judith Faye, an alleged child advocate, to take back the story, in hopes of getting Terpening's charges dropped. The transcripts clearly point out complaints made to the prosecution due to Judith's following Rodney on numerous occasions, even when he was in protective custody.


LETTER OF CONFESSION FROM RODNEY XXXXXXXXXX!
December 22, 2011.

To Whom it May Concern:

My name is Rodney Neil Reames II. I am a former resident at EARTH ServicelHouse Next Door. In May of 2011 Brian XXXXXXX and I fabricated a story, to be removed from EARTH Services/House Next Door. In our discussion we planned to make up a story regarding false/inappropriate actions against Michael Terpening. He was chosen
because he was the highest power at EARTH Services. The secluded discussions were a process of 2 to 3 days between the Brian and I. We determined to lie about Michael Terpening and say the he had committed sexual acts against us. These accusations are false.
In July of 2011 I went to see Joe Eldred, Michael Terpening's Attorney. I made a statement at that time, under oath and notarized. When the Barry County Prosecution received notice of this letter they disregarded it. They continued with their plans to have me witness against Michael Terpening regardless of my statements. There were threats against me, telling me that I would be charged with perjury if I continued with my recantment. As a 19 year old it was very frightening to be told this.
In September I was called to take the stand against Michael Terpening, they continued with their threat of perjury charges. If I refused to take the stand altogether I would be charged with contempt of court. I felt as though I was being stuck between a rock and a hard place. I wanted to tell the truth, that Michael Terpening had never touched me in an inappropriate manner. With the threat of Prosecution, I told a lie under oath on stand. I
also told, under oath that I would tell a lie on the stand, in regards to Michael Terpening. I had already informed the Prosecution that I had lied in May, I wanted to rectify the lies that I had previously said about Michael, but was unable to on stand.
I had planned on telling the truth to the News 8, Ken Kolker. I had a meeting with Jessica Payne, Prosecutor who called me after spending a few days with Judith Faye. I had told Judith that I had a sick friend and had to return home. When I went in to meet with Jessica they told me I was being witness tampered by Judith Faye and put me up in the bed and breakfast until the day of court. They had held my phone so I couldn't make
phone calls or contact anyone. They provided me with anything I asked for as well as items, such as cigarettes that I didn't ask for. I was also allowed to smoke in the court building. The Bed and Breakfast was not paid for by me.
In the few days prior to going on stand, I was visited several times by the policeman of Hastings as well as visited by David Bannister/ Prosecutor at the Bed and Breakfast, who also brought me a pack of cigarettes. They were worried about my well being, to see if I was safe and contacted by anyone else. They also encouraged me not to call my voice mail. I have never felt threatened, intimidated, coerced or manipulated by Judith Faye or
Jamie Moore-Bell or Laura Underwood as the Prosecution wants to believe. During the time in which I made accusations (May 2011) against Michael Terpening I was not on my medication which includes Depakote, Seroquil, Lisinopril, Nexium, Minocycline two of these are Psychotropic medications, if not taken will cause mood
swings, impulse reactions, lack of impulse control also affect mood causing either manic or depression. Lack of Seroquil will cause lack of sleep which could set off my bi-polar, also cause unstable moods. When medications are not taken I become very susceptible to the suggestions of others as well as being influenced by others. I was diagnosed by a Physician Dr. Tataini, as being Bi-polar, histrionic personality disorder, gender identity
disorder as well as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
I do not believe that Michael Terpening had any inappropriate relationships with Brian XXXXXXX. If any inappropriate behavior did occur, I believe, that Brian XXXXXXX would become extremely violent. Brian has a complete disregard for authority and would become violent to anyone, especially Michael because Michael was' Authority'. Brian was a 'homophobe' meaning that if someone forced themselves on him in a homosexual
manner he would 'flip a nut'. Brian had stated that he had made these type of accusations against previous family, to be removed from their care. It didn't take a whole lot of convincing from Brian since I was
off my meds. Also, Mary Jordan (caseworker) was supposed allow visitation from my ex-boyfriend, Jeff XXXXXXX she was taking her time in allowing it to happen. I believed at the time that Michael Terpening was the one preventing me from seeing him, I took out the butt end of my anger and beliefs, which were directed at Michael.
Every accusation that was made by me, Rodney Neil Reames II is completely false, nothing untoward has ever occurred between Michael and I. I have been forced by the Prosecution to lie on stand with the threat of charges being brought against me, I cannot lie about these accusations any longer. I am asking that someone believe my words as they are true, I do not want to get into any trouble for telling the truth. I feel very badly about how far these accusations have gone and the trouble they have caused to Michael Terpening and his family.

Sincerely,

Rodney N. XXXXXXX

Brought into the Fold by Jamie Moore Bell

Jamie Moore Bell

Jamie Moore-Bell is the first person I met in the course of this case. As I lived around the corner from Terpening's farm, I decided to take his wife a devotional book. I wrote my phone number inside, in case she needed any help such as babysitting or volunteering on the farm. I was not greeted by Mrs. Terpening, but by Jamie. She took the book and thanked me, and after a brief conversation, I went home.

It was not long before I received a phone call from Jamie, wanting to talk about the case. She invited me to go to Marshall with her friend, Susie. One of the original victims, had recanted his story on WWMT as well as signed a notarized statement regarding the recant with Terpening's lawyer. According to Jamie and Susie, no one was taking the recant seriously, so they wanted to step it up by recording a self-make video of the victim to post to YouTube. So, I joined them for the ride.


We picked up the victim and went to Bigby Coffee, but the background music was too loud to adequately record a video, so we parked in a parking lot and taped the video from the backseat of Susie's car.


Jamie had a list of questions prepared for the victim that she had him provide answers for, in his own words. She went over the list of questions with the victim so certain answers she wanted were provided in the video. This was the first time I met the victim but would not be the last.


Little did I know that later transcripts would reveal that Jamie had been pushing the victim to recant by providing him with money for food, cigarettes, and also by showing him the much needed motherly attention that he craved in his life.