OSWEGATCHIE, N.Y. — The father of two Amish girls abducted last week says he feels sorry for the man and woman authorities say kidnapped and sexually abused them before letting them go.
The parents of the 7- and 12-year-old sisters spoke to the Johnson Newspapers at their home in Oswegatchie on Sunday, two days after Stephen Howells Jr. and Nicole Vaisey were charged with kidnapping with the intent to physically or sexually abuse the girls. St. Lawrence County District Attorney Mary Rain has said additional charges are likely as early as this week.
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“It’s sad,” the 44-year-old father said. “They must have ruined their whole life.”
The Associated Press is not naming the family members because it generally does not identify people who may have been victims of sexual abuse.
The sisters were abducted Wednesday from a farm stand in front of the family’s home near the Canadian border. They were set free about 24 hours later and turned up safe at the door of a house 15 miles away.
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