Frank Hertel raped his three-year-old daughter, Heather Orr, on many occasions. Heather alleges that her father informed her that he was “teaching her” how to communicate love. That dreadful “lesson” lasted for 15 years, spanning two states. Heather was unfortunately stopped from making claims against her father by the rest of her family, who would proceed to shield the pedophile for another decade.
Hertel was caught and slated to stand trial in Arizona when Heather was 18 years old, after years of torture in both Ohio and Arizona. But, Hertel, Heather’s mother Judy, and Heather’s then-9-year-old brother moved to Germany, where the pair established fictitious names and owned a bar and restaurant for a decade.
Heather battled to live a normal life after being raped by her father for 15 years and then dumped by her family. Although she married and finally had kids of her own, she had a hard time trusting men. She refused to let her daughter’s father wash or change their baby daughter’s diapers. Heather was still determined to identify the man and seek justice a decade after her family escaped to dodge her dad’s trial and years of treatment.
Heather repeatedly sought to find her brother, and she eventually got a break when searching Google for her father’s name. Her search led to an item about her grandpa, who bears the same name, being detained at a London airport and accused of $1.2 million in tax fraud. Heather approached several of the individuals who had commented on the Hertel family piece, and she was ultimately able to discover her family’s whereabouts in Germany.
She sent a few emails, and answers poured in. A few of the respondents knew her father. Heather Orr discovered a connection to the bar and restaurant as well as contact information for the proprietors. Then she received a snapshot of the eatery. Her sibling was in the front.
Heather was elated. It was thrilling, she remarked. She was overjoyed and immediately reported her newfound details to officials. Yet, it would be another three years before her dad was ultimately brought back to the U.S. to face his charges, where Heather would have to confront her rapist in court.
Initially, Hertel addressed the original trial in Arizona, where he was convicted to 20 years for child abuse. Following that, the then-51-year-old rapist appeared in Ohio to respond to more charges. Hertel was sentenced to between 19 and 95 years in prison after pleading guilty to numerous counts of rape and aggravated sexual imposition in Delaware County Common Pleas Court.
Hertel, who will likely spend the rest of his life in jail, bawled as he learned his punishment, telling the judge he felt guilty for what he did. This is not the life he envisioned for his daughter, Hertel explained. desired for her life to be wonderful. Hertel had interrupted Heather’s testimony with he is so sorry Heather and sobs. She wasn’t buying it. She stated the only thing her dad was guilty about was getting caught and sent to prison.
Rather than the beautiful existence that Hertel claims he intended for his daughter, Heather battles every day to be joyful, even though the 31-year-old has finally exacted her vengeance on the parent who deprived her of feeling secure in this world, she alleges. Heather remarked, after boldly confronting him in court, she has lost her whole family. She said she often thinks if she hadn’t discovered him, what would have occurred.
Heather hopes to publish a book on her story to help others who have had similar nightmares as hers as she tries to attempt to put the past behind her and move on with her life. She wants to give women a face and a name, she stated outside the courthouse. She wishes for them to rise out and say this is not acceptable for kids and women who are molested.
