Paislee’s last name “is definitely a name I know,” said Dedolph, who runs the local history department in this Hudson River town 100 miles north of New York City. “I know it’s not just an out-of-town guy who showed up or moved in last year. It’s a real local presence.”
Paislee’s biological mother, Kimberly Cooper, along with Kirk Shultis Jr. and Kirk Shultis Sr. – her biological father and grandfather – were arrested on charges of custodial interference and child endangerment in a case that brought national attention to this quaint and quaint town nestled between the Catskill Mountains and Hudson.
The town historian and genealogist Audrey Klinkenberg also recognized the name Shultis. According to her research this week, this family’s presence dates back to the 1700s in the area. The Shultises were also linked to one of the founding families of nearby Woodstock, she said.
The police discovery of the young girl lurking in a cold, damp space under the stairs of her grandfather’s house became the talk of the town – with locals eager to point out that regardless of their whatever, the suspects are not well known or active. in a close-knit community.
“I really don’t know any of the Shultises,” said Paul Shultis Jr., a former Woodstock planning board member whose family lived two centuries ago in the Ulster County town of about 10 miles from the Saugerties. in Saugerties.
“I don’t even know the people they arrest. Never heard of them. Even though we live next to each other, the towns I grew up in are around I don’t know of any other Monks I have. related in Saugerties.”
‘Fresh’ tip leads police to Paislee
Saugerties Sheriff Joseph Sinagra told CNN that this evidence helped authorities secure a search warrant.
Police visited the home a dozen times, but they did not have the necessary evidence to conduct a full search of the property until Monday, according to Sinagra.
Saugerties is about 160 miles east of Cayuga Heights. On previous occasions when police visited the home after receiving advice on her possible whereabouts, officers were denied access to the basement and bedroom areas. Non-custodial parents will accuse the police of “harassing” and “misleading” them, Sinagra said, and “emphasize that we should go out looking for Paislee,” Sinagra said, adding that Officers were asked to leave the compound.
Monday night, armed with a search warrant, officers searched every room in the house and checked the basement, where the sheriff said they found what appeared to be an apartment.
The homeowner denied knowing the whereabouts of the girl, insisting he had not seen her since she was reported missing in 2019.
In the basement, a detective noticed something odd on the stairs and, upon closer inspection, saw a blanket seeping through the cracks, the sheriff said. Sinagra said that after taking apart a section of the stairs, officers discovered “a set of feet, a small pair of legs.” It was Paislee, hiding with her mother in a secret space, with blankets and pillows.
Carol K. Morgan, the attorney representing Cooper, said: “We should all wait until the truth comes out. “People should be patient before they draw their own conclusions.”
Cooper was charged with second-degree custodial interference and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors, according to police. She is out on bail.
Kirk Shultis Jr. and Kirk Shultis Sr. – who ran a paving business from his home – each was charged with first degree custodial interference, a felony and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. Both were released on their own terms, police said. Lawyers for the men declined to comment.
The three defendants ordered by the court to stay away from the child were returned to her and her sister’s legal guardian.
Shultis’ country house on Fawn Road sits on a large plot of land with sandboxes and miniature metal benches, a jungle gym and swings. Some of the family’s closest neighbors declined to comment.
Family has been around for centuries
In the history room of the Saugerties Public Library, Klinkenberg arranges piles of papers with information from genealogical sites, Census records, and obituaries. She said documents show Kirk Shultis Sr. are descendants of the Shultises who settled in the village of Lake Hill near Woodstock in the early 1700s.
“They are farmers, workers, just workers,” she said.
Dedolph said Paislee’s plight has touched the community with its strong working-class immigrant roots, which was once home to ironworks and paper mills and is now known for its setting vibrant arts scene, restaurant and music festival venue celebrating Woodstock’s silver in 1994. The 1969 Woodstock Art and Music Fair drew more than 400,000 people to a ranch in the suburbs of Bethel – not Woodstock – to celebrate history and culture with legendary bands and performers.
“It certainly shows how complicated families are and the challenges families face during difficult times. It’s obviously very difficult and complicated for everyone. I don’t consider it difficult. it’s the villain and the victim,” Dedolph said.
“It’s like sympathy and understanding that it’s a terrible situation for everyone – for the children and parents,” she said of the locals’ reaction. “That’s where my heart goes – the child’s experience.”
Fred Costello Jr., who oversees the town of Saugerties, said the past week has left some residents unsettled.
“I know some Shultises at Woodstock and I don’t think this will change anyone’s personal opinion,” he said.
“They are really nice people. The situation is self-evident as I think it is and the parties involved will have to respond to any violations they may have committed.”
Marjorie Block, historian of the Saugerties village and president of its historic society, said locals were shocked at what had happened to Paislee in their town but that the Shultises were not well known. as well as no effect.
“I’m really glad that little girl is okay,” said Block, who also oversees tourism for the town and runs the annual truck festival to raise funds to rebuild the playground.
“I can’t even imagine what this poor child must have gone through. He will never forget hiding and fear. It will never leave him.”
Block said the tip to the police that led to them finding Paislee must have come from the community.
“Saugerties is a nice place for families,” she said. “We’re very proud. What makes me feel good is that someone busted the police. Someone in the community saw something and did the right thing.”
CNN’s Mark Morales, Travis Caldwell and Christina Maxouris contributed to this report.
