Parents accused in rape of neighborhood girls remain in Summit jail

An Akron couple accused of raping numerous girls and videotaping some of the offenses have lost custody of their own children.

Summit County Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio on Monday granted temporary custody of the daughters of Michael Winland and Stephennie Murphy to Summit County Children’s Services.

Winland, 37, and Murphy, 31, did not contest the move, according to their attorneys, Carl Greif and Alexandra Hall.

The girls, ages 10 and 9, will remain in foster care until at least Jan. 25 when a review hearing is scheduled.

This marks the second time CSB has taken temporary custody of the children. In 2001, the girls were removed because of the filthy conditions of their home. They were returned months later.

The couple are now being held in the county jail awaiting trial on a 32-count indictment that could bring each life in prison. Murphy has pleaded not guilty; Winland has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Assistant Prosecutor Chris Mastran on Monday laid out a portion of the state’s case against the couple, calling it one of the ”worst sexual abuse cases this court or the community has seen.”

A nurse, a social worker and the case’s chief investigator, testified to statements from young girls whom Winland and Murphy are alleged to have sexually abused.

Det. Tony Starvaggi told the judge that Murphy admitted to him that she was present when Winland molested three girls, all under the age of 12. Starvaggi said videos of some offenses have been recovered from the family’s computers.

Police became aware of sexual abuse allegations in August when a girl under age 12 complained that Winland molested her inside his family’s Hazel Street apartment. An investigation determined there were other victims and, according to police, mounds of child pornography, some of which was produced by Winland and Murphy.

Starvaggi has previously said that Murphy filmed Winland molesting young girls.

SOURCE:  http://www.ohio.com/news/70257602.html