A person claiming to be the daughter of James Bennett and Crystal Henricks, the Willow River couple convicted in 1999 of drugging and sexually assaulting children and making child pornography, has apologized for the crimes of her parents.
Posting as Bennett, she posted comments last week beneath a March 2, 2012 Citizen story about Bennett being denied parole.
Even though she was only two years old at the time of the offences, the responsibility of what her parents have done weighs on her heavily. She wrote:
"Hello... This may not ever be seen by anyone I am talking to, I do need to say something. I am the result of James and crystal (their daughter). I don't feel comfortable using my name, I'm sorry. I just want people to know that even tho I was only 2 and had no real part in this, I am so deeply sorry and discussed. What they did was unforgettable and traumatizing.
"To every single person who was effected by this I can only wish, hope and pray that one day you can move on from this and rise from it.
"It may be wrong and selfish of me to ask any of you for anything, but I need everyone to not forgive or except this but rise above and learn from it. There are way to many people out here now a days who will let things get the best of them, you can't let this define you.
"We all wish it never happened to anyone but it did, we/you can't change that but this is your life and you are the only on who can control it.
"I know this may hurt a lot if people knowing I am their daughter, I'm sorry that I am. What I have learned to realize is that I can't run from this or avoid it.
"People look at me and will forever see my mother, there is no denying it.
"The only thing I can do is own up to it and prove that I am not her. I have a responsibility to my self to and to everyone involved, to be strong and fearless.
"So once again, I am forever, deeply sorry. I do have faith that one day we can all move past this. I wish from the bottom of my heart and sole that everyone involved will live a happy and magical life thank u for reading what I have to say. I wish I cud fix/change all of this. I am so sorry"
Bennett declined to reveal her full identity or answer questions when contacted by email by a Citizen reporter.
She responded to a comment made after her initial message with this:
"I just wish I would change everything that they did and take it away. I know it's not my fault but I feel responseable in a way. I'm sorry to bring up the past for many. I wish I could change everything
"My only intent when posting this was to let all of the victims know that my parents may not be sorry or sickens by this, I however am and would do anything I could to take all the badness in there life away, and nothing was there fault.
"I never met my dad, I have met my mother.
"I just wish that one day they can see what they have done and go out of there way to apologize to everyone involved.
"To the parents of the victims, I'm so sorry they did they to your children. I'm shur your thoughts and emotions have not been as expressed as everyone else's. I would just like to invite you to expeprss them to me if you would like. I'm shur u all have a lot to say."
In January 2016, James Bennett, now 57, was denied full and day parole.
He remains in jail indefinitely after being declared a dangerous offender in 2000. He was transferred to a minimum security institution in 2013.
Henricks, now 39, was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
The term was later reduced to seven years on appeal and by 2004 she was living under supervision in an undisclosed community, after reaching statutory release.
Their victims were a three-year-old boy, a pair of 10-year-old girls and a 15-year-old girl.
