WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Mother of abuse victim talks

MADISON (WKOW) -- "This has been going on for years," said the prosecution.  "There has also been sexual abuse at the hands of Joshua Drabek."

The  cousin of the victim broke down in court as the prosecution described what her 15 year old relative may have gone through in the custody of Chad Chritton and Melinda Drabek.  The victim's cousin and great aunt could be there at the hearing, while the victim's biological mother was still on the road headed to Wisconsin.

We spoke to her exclusively by phone.

"I need to find out about my baby," said Heidi Pease.  "I need to make sure she is okay All we want to do is get up there and make sure she's okay"

Pease says she hasn't slept since learning that her daughter may have been tortured and starved for years.

"I had absolutely no idea," she said.

Pease says she gave up custody of her daughter in 2006 because she thought her father could provide a better home. But since, she says Chritton prevented her from having any contact with her daughter.

"Chad asked me - he said if I want any contact I am to write a letter a week.  That was his condition and I did," Pease said.  "I wrote a letter a week and on my computer archives it says Chad and [victim's name] do not live here no more - quit writing."

Pease says she is bringing proof that she never stopped writing letters and hopes the State will allow her back into her daughter's life.

"All I want is some kind of contact with her - an open line of communication somehow," she said.

According the criminal complaint, Pease has terminated her parental rights.  At the time she gave up her daughter, it says she was married to a sex offender.  The criminal complaint also says that man sexually assaulted her daughter.