Mother claims Cedarburg suspect molested her son years ago



CEDARBURG (WITI) -- There are more concerns about a pre-teen boy accused of sexually assaulting at least one child at a Cedarburg daycare. One parent now says the same boy repeatedly molested her son years ago at a home.

"Disbelief and just terrified that it did happen because it could have been prevented years ago," the mother told FOX6 News.

That mother didn't want to be identified, but says the same 12-year-old boy charged last week with sexually assaulting a child at the Family Tree Learning Center in Cedarburg molested her own son nearly four years ago.

Additionally, this mother claims the woman who recently ran the daycare knew back then the 12-year-old had issues.

That woman, Trista Ziehr has been charged with failing to report the abuse.

"Everyone who was in the circle of people kind of knew something," the mother told FOX6 News.

The mother says the assaults happened as her son frequently stayed at the 12-year-old's home when her son was seven, eight and nine years old. She found out later, and took her son to therapy.

"Basically told me what was happening and started writing stuff down and I started taking him to a therapist because there were very explicit things about what was going on," the mother says.

This mother says she wished something would have been done to help the 12-year-old boy four years ago -- in order to prevent him from possibly victimizing others. However, her son, perhaps one of the first victims, refused to talk more about the alleged incidents and she was told officials could do nothing.

"I really would like to see him get help because the 12-year-old is a very good kid -- a sweet, innocent child, but has issues," the mother said.

Additionally, this mother says she hopes her story will encourage others to be vigilant.

"If your child comes to you and says something don't disregard it. Believe it. I was always taught a child tells the truth. If you want to know the truth, ask a child," the mother said.

The state closed the daycare after these new allegations came forward. Ziehr will be in court on Wednesday, and the 12-year-old boy has a plea hearing on his charges on Friday.

Ziehr has been in the news before. In 2009, her husband, Charles Avey strangled her 14-year-old son, Cody Reetz, with a necktie in a Germantown Walmart parking lot.

Avey is serving life in prison for the murder.

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