11-Year-Old Utah Girl Allegedly Raped By 68-Year-Old Man In Kent (WA)

komo 4 News ^ | July 18, 2002 | Keith Eldridge

[grimalkin]

KENT - A mother in Salt Lake City says it was supposed to have been a fun trip for her daughter to the Northwest with a group of other adults and kids.

But instead, the daughter ended up in a local motel and allegedly raped by a man she thought was a family friend.

The suspect is 68 years old. The daughter is just 11.

The mother tells us her family has been duped by what they thought was a kindly old man. She thought the trip to the Northwest was going to be with a whole group of people to check out horses for the 4-H.

Police say it was trip with no other purpose than sex, and the girl was afraid to call for help.

Right now, the little girl is back home with her family in Utah.

Meanwhile, Edward Koplin is in custody in Seattle, charged with luring the girl to Washington and raping her.

He was arrested at a Kent motel after his sister turned him into authorities, fearing that Koplin was abusing the child.

"You just can't trust anybody," said the girl's mother.

She says Koplin befriended the family, and showered them with $15,000 in gifts -- including horses.

She allowed her daughter to go with Koplin on a trip from Salt Lake City, through Boise, and then to Kent.

Police say he sexually assaulted her all along the way, until his arrest June 6.

The U.S. attorney's office in Seattle says the little girl has been irreparably harmed.

"It's extremely disturbing," said Jeff Sullivan, assistant U.S. Attorney. "You have a young girl whose life clearly has been affected forever as a result of this. This guy should get the stiffest punishment possible."

Koplin is also charged in Utah with production of child pornography. He's expected in court next Thursday.

[Utah Girl]

What a tragedy for the little girl.

What were the parents of this little girl thinking? Allowing her to go by herself with that man?

[Just another Joe]

Flay him, roll him in salt, let him suffer to the highest degree, and throw him to the alligators.

With that said, wouldn't you be suspicious if someone, " befriended the family, and showered them with $15,000 in gifts -- including horses."?
Heck I'd be suspicious if my GRANDFATHER did this. Might not be suspicious about anything sexual, but I'd still be suspicious.

[Utah Girl]

Anymore, I have a suspicious mind. Its a sad evil world out there.

[grimalkin]

I really don't know... we have some seriously sick folks out there.

[mystery-ak]

*What were the parents thinking*...unbelievable, letting your 11 year old girl travel with a 68 year old man, and someone they hardly knew at that.

[Litany]

"She says Koplin befriended the family, and showered them with $15,000 in gifts -- including horses."


The parents were thinking about $$$$. They are either really stupid or just plain greedy.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Sounds like his sister knows something about his history. I wonder if he has a prior legal record for child molestation, or just a private record that his family knows about and never bothered to share before now.

[Valpal1]

She says Koplin befriended the family, and showered them with $15,000 in gifts -- including horses.

Perhaps they let $$$ blind them. The creep will probably claim he had an "understanding" with the parents.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I think you're probably right re the $$$$$. I've also thought this about many of the parents of Catholic priests' victims, who accepted huge payoffs for keeping quiet. Sure they'll say they thought higher-ups were addressing the problem and would make sure the same priest didn't molest again. But I think really, honestly, deep down, they chose to think this because they wanted the money, not because the facts in front of them reasonably led to this conclusion.

[Utah Girl]

I'm not a parent, but I wouldn't ever allow any man to take a daughter of mine (of any age up to, well, 18) alone to another state for any reason. It is too bad the girl has to pay for her parents stupidity/naviete/blindness by the money.

[Persuasion]

"It's extremely disturbing," said Jeff Sullivan, assistant U.S. Attorney. "You have a young girl whose life clearly has been affected forever as a result of this. This guy should get the stiffest punishment possible."

Indeed.

[Litany]

However there is a difference in the 2 situations as I see it...if a Catholic priest had befriended your family and was generous (not to the tune of 15K though!),you probably wouldn't have thought of any devious intent. But if a single man did that I would be VERY SUSPICIOUS !!

[admiralsn]

Your comment was intended to be funny, but was not. This is not a laughing matter, for anyone involved. Try to show a little decency and sympathy.

[bruoz]

68 years old? And he can still rape someone?

Assault with a dead weapon.

[mombonn]

See #15 - it's truly unkind to joke about this.

[JimSEA]

Kids need "safe" adults around beyond the immediate family for role models, teachers, friends and guides into the world. However, the more you read of things like this the more you wonder where it is all going. It seems as though you must assume the worst and go from there.

[Palladin]

This mother has sh** for brains.

[fourdeuce82d]

I wouldn't ever allow any man to take a daughter of mine (of any age up to, well, 18) alone to another state for any reason.

Sad times. Forty years ago, who would think a 68 year old man would have any sexual interest in a #$%@ CHILD? A baby?

I'm 40- pretty much until they're 25 or so, they're all little kids to me- NOT potential bedmates.

Someone predating upon an 11 year old is beyond me, it's like raping a puppy or a kitten.

Take him out behind the barn and put a bullet in his brain.