CASPER, Wyo. – In a disturbing court case unveiling layers of alleged abuse, Steven Randall Marler, an erstwhile award-winning foster parent, now faces multiple counts of sexual abuse of minors, in addition to charges of battery and child endangerment. The trial, currently underway in Natrona County District Court, has gripped local attention due to the gravity of the accusations spanning over a decade, from November 2012 to June 2022.
On Tuesday, the court was presented with troubling evidence from the Marler home located on Casper Mountain, including a video depicting a naked boy with visible marks on his thigh and buttocks, which prosecutors argued showcased the alleged abuse the children endured. The jury, comprising 16 members, was shown photos and videos as evidence with Natrona County Sheriff’s Investigator Lisa Lauderdale detailing the findings during her testimony.
The case against Marler includes two counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, seven counts of second-degree sexual abuse, and 11 counts of third-degree sexual abuse. Additionally, Marler is charged with one count of child endangerment and five counts of battery.
The investigation, detailed by Lauderdale under the examination of Assistant District Attorney Brandon Rosty, involved more than 115 interviews. These included statements from both Marler’s adopted and biological children, neighbors, friends, and biological parents of the adopted children.
The allegations came to light after Marler’s oldest adopted daughter reported her father’s abusive behavior to a caseworker and two sergeants at the Wyoming Cowboy Challenge, a program for youth in Guernsey. Following her account in May 2021, Lauderdale pursued a search warrant for the Marler residence to gather further evidence including clothing, photographs, and a DVR system reportedly holding recordings from various house cameras.
Despite initial hurdles in obtaining usable footage from the DVR, with an initial examination yielding no images, a breakthrough occurred in January when it was discovered that Casper Police Department could recover deleted files. This led to the retrieval of 9,370 videos, 1,526 of which were playable.
Additional unsettling footage shown during the trial included videos of children in vulnerable states, such as sleeping in shared spaces, engaging in extended physical contact with Marler, and one suggestive of further abuse involving Marler’s oldest adopted daughter moving toward the master bedroom.
A separate continuation of abuse allegations was also highlighted by another one of Marler’s adopted daughters during her time at the Casper Juvenile Detention Center, further intensifying the case’s proceedings.
Earlier testimonies saw former foster daughter, Adrianne Wogan, recounting instances of abuse she allegedly faced during her 10 1/2 months at Marler’s residence.
Marler’s historical accolade in 2013, when he and his wife were recognized by the federal Administration for Children and Families with an Adoption Excellence Award, starkly contrasts the harrowing details unfolding in court, painting a grim picture of the reality behind closed doors. The trial progresses with further testimonies and cross-examinations anticipated.
The unfolding of this case continues to develop, and this report was produced automatically using AI technology. The accuracy of people, facts, and circumstances described may be subject to inaccuracies. Should there be any issues or concerns relating to the content, requests for removal, retraction, or correction can be directed to [email protected].