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Ferguson allegedly heard on audio threatening son

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By Valerie Lough, Staff Writer Updated 3:59 PM Friday, November 6, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — A counselor for four children allegedly abused by their adoptive parents testified Friday, Nov. 6, that the youngsters were removed from the home after the therapist heard a voice mail recording of Vonda Ferguson threatening her son.

Ferguson, 46, is standing trial in Clark County Common Pleas Court on 32 charges of child endangering, permitting child abuse, felonious assault and rape.

In a voice mail recording played in court Friday, a voice alleged to be Ferguson’s is heard threatening to stab her son in the chest.

Julie Grimes, a child and family therapist for Urbana-based Consolidated Care Inc., testified that Ferguson left the voice mail to cancel an appointment.

Prosecutors claim that Ferguson made the threat under the mistaken belief that she had already hung up the phone.

Defense attorney Jim Marshall argued Thursday that the allegations were “outlandish,” and that the charges stemmed from two children who were continually disruptive in the home.

Marshall said the rest of the children at first told authorities that there was no abuse, but changed their story after being influenced by the two kids.

“After two years and after they’ve had ample opportunity to talk to their brothers and sisters, they come forward and say there is abuse,” said Marshall.

Ferguson is accused of abusing her five adopted children — hitting them with hammers and sticks until they bled, forcing them to eat excrement and burning them with irons — between 2000 and 2004.

Her husband, James, 49, was convicted on similar charges last year and sentenced to 65 years in prison.

The children, now ages 14 through 19, were taken out of the home in 2004 and the couple gave up custody in 2005.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.

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