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Last updated on Wednesday, March 14, 2018
(JASPER) - Dubois County Circuit Court Judge Nathan Verkamp denied a request for a jury to be drawn from Martin County for the upcoming trial of the Huntingburg dentist and his wife accused of criminal confinement and neglect.
Police arrested 57-year-old Alan Friz and his wife, 38-year-old Aimee, in October after police found a cage, labeled with their child's name, during a search of the couple's home at 5275 West County Road 700 South. The wooden cage contained a mattress and pan for the child to use to go to the restroom when she was kept there overnight.
During the investigation, the teen told police her father had also sexually assaulted her.
Friz is charged with four Level 5 felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor; 11 Level 5 felony counts of neglect of a dependent; and 11 Level 6 felony counts of criminal confinement. His wife is charged with the 11 Level 5 felony counts of neglect of a dependant and 11 felony counts of criminal confinement.
According to court documents, the prosecuting attorney's office and the two defendants had agreed to the request to pull the jury from Martin County. However, during a hearing on Friday, the court denied the request.
A hearing regarding the change of venue motions has been scheduled for April 17. The Friz's trial is scheduled to start August 27 with final pretrial July 16.
The alleged crime
According to the probably cause affidavit, Aimee Friz referenced the child was mentally disabled, basing on an online search the couple made. The affidavit also states the couple said they were "trying to find a placement for the child."
Police were contacted about a child described as "mentally retarded" that was out of control at the Friz home. When officers arrived, they made contact with the couple and were directed to the garage where the teenage girl in question was located.
During a discussion with the girl, she told police that her grandfather had become angry with her while she was bouncing a ball in the house. He took the ball and wouldn't give it back because the other children in the home were completing their studies at the time and the girl was being disruptive. The two were involved in a scuffle and both ended up on the floor. After that, police were called to the home.
While deputies interviewed Aimee Friz, she told them the girl had made threats about killing her and her unborn child. When officers offered to take the girl to the hospital for evaluation, Aimee Friz told them they were attempting to find the girl help on their own.
Deputies contacted Division of Family and Children regarding the incident and a forensic interview with the girl was conducted the same day. During the interview, the girl told investigators she was forced to sleep in a cage at night and other times. She described the cage and told investigators where they would find it.
After being granted a search warrant, deputies contacted the Indiana State Police to assist with the search of the home. During the search, officers located a wooden cage in a closet of a bedroom in the home. It was described as being about 4-by-8 in size and had a mattress in it. It was labeled with a teen girl's name above the entrance. It did not have running water or electricity running to it and a pan was left for the girl to use as a bathroom while she was in it. During those times, the cage was locked with a padlock and chain.
After locating the cage, deputies arrested Alan Friz in custody and asked about the cage. According to court documents, Friz admitted the teen was kept in the cage overnight but it was to protect his wife and other children since the girl had allegedly made threats to harm them.
When the division of family and child services arrived to remove the children, they found that Amiee Friz had left the home with the children while police were gathering information. Dubois County Dispatch was directed to ping her cell phone to attempt to locate her. An officer contacted her and directed her to return home with the children but she hung up on the officer.
She was finally located in St. Louis and ordered to bring the children back to Indiana.
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