6 more claim they were tortured by neighbor as children

MIAMI TWP, Ohio - It looks like a pleasant if not ordinary street in Miami Township.

But allegations of what went on in the basement of a house in the 5700 block of Linden Drive are anything but.

Earlier this month, 43-year-old Michael Tringelof was indicted for kidnapping a 9-year-old boy, and confining him in Tringelof's mother's home.

Now, six other alleged victims, ages six to 12 at the time, are coming forward, and give a horrifying account of what went on over a 20 year period in the basement.

"He would tie them up," said Clermont County Prosecutor Don White, "using zip ties... duct tape...Saran Wrap... (and) dog collars."

The victims tell authorities they were blindfolded, and then Tringelof had his way with them. Everything from tickling them with a feather duster, to poking them with nails and even shocking them with electricity from a motorcycle battery.

While it appears Tringelof may have been getting some sexual gratification, "It doesn't appear that he was sexually abusing the children," White said.

"This is clearly a very dangerous person," said Child Focus Chief Clinical Officer Laura Stith.

She works with victimized children every day.

"Depression and anxiety are very common," she said of children who have been abused. "Withdrawal is very common."

Stith says abusers can become highly skilled at luring their young prey.

"These people become very good at creating false safety, and false love and places where the kids feel they want to be," she said.

Tringelof's alleged victims say he promised them gifts such as taking them boating if they would allow themselves to be tied up. Stith says the victims might feel guilty they allowed themselves to be lured in, or even returning for more.

"Somehow those guilt feelings are really the most difficult to treat. They feel like they somehow contributed," she said.

Stith emphasizes to any victims of such abuse; the best thing to do is speak up.

"The most successful treatment that we have for trauma involves just a simple telling of the story, telling of the trauma," she said.

It's often also the best way to stop the abuser from hurting other children.

White says he believes there are more victims who haven't come forward in the case. He expects more charges to be filed against Tringelof before its over.