More disturbing details of S. Deschutes County child abuse case revealed at woman’s, father’s arraignment

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- Sarah Session 33, and her father, Gary Hardenburg, 65, made their first court appearance Monday afternoon for arraignment on several charges -- including attempted murder against the woman -- as more disturbing details about alleged abuse came to light during discussion of their bail and possible release.

Session, Hardenburg and his wife, Paula Hardenburg, 63, were indicted last week and on Friday were caught at two locations in Coos Bay.

The woman and father appeared separately by video from the Deschutes County Jail, as Circuit Judge Alycia Sykora set their plea hearings for March 17. The three were wanted on nationwide felony warrants, Session's for $1 million, when they were found and arrested last Friday at a Coos Bay hotel and another location, days after their indictment.

Prosecutors revealed more details of the investigation and crimes, including the alleged forced ingestion of extremely high amounts of sodium and the existence of video evidence of the abuse. The child's father spoke tearfully at both of Monday's arraignments about the trauma he and his children have endured, pleading for all three family members to remain in custody.

"All of my children have been robbed of their childhood innocence," said Christopher Session, who now lives in another state. "The emotional, physical, and financial repercussions of the crimes that she has committed will last for years. The children and I are asking that Miss Session remain in custody until she can face a jury of her peers and pay for the atrocities that she subjected my children to."

 After hearing both sides' arguments and the father's requests, Judge Sykora left Session's bail at $1 million and Hardenburg's at $75,000. They could be released if they post 10% of those amounts, but the judge forbid contact with the victim, other children and with other family members, including the Hardenburgs.

Gary Hardenburg's arraignment was first, in back-to-back sessions at the end of Sykora's afternoon court docket.

Deputy District Attorney Stacy Neil said Session had sole caregiver responsibility for the child, with his father "not in the picture" for about 18 months. She had shared custody with their two younger children.

In February of last year, the child was unresponsive when brought to the St. Charles Bend Emergency Department and was flown to OHSU in Portland due to his condition, which she referred to as "near death."

The child's grandparents lived nearby, Neil said, and prosecutors believe Session's parents were aware of his treatment, later trying to cover up evidence.

The prosecutor said they have video evidence the boy was isolated and locked in a room with the bed dismantled and only a mattress to sleep on. "Food was restricted, water was restricted," she said.

Neil said they also have video evidence that the Hardenburgs cleaned up the room the night Session was arrested and were "being dishonest with law enforcement about how (the child) was treated."

"These grandparents were very involved in these children's lives," she said. "They lived a mile from her home and (were) there regularly ... very much aware" of the child's treatment.

She also claimed that when questioned, "the three of them were very aligned in their approach to the story to law enforcement and on what happened, what didn't happen," with "provable lies to investigate."

After the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office released photos and details on the three wanted family members last Thursday, staff at the Best Western Hotel in Coos Bay recognized them and contacted authorities, Neil said.

Hardenburg's attorney, Todd Grover, spoke of "a long history to this case. Ultimately, this case is likely to go to trial," he said, resulting in "a battle of medical experts."

Grover argued that his client is not a flight risk, noting that he's a retired engineer with no criminal history.

He also revealed that Sarah Session was involved in a child custody case involving her two biological children and that the grandfather "has not been able to see his grandkids for the better part of a year."

A recent scheduled hearing in that case was canceled, which Grover said "put the whole family in a bad place," so the grandparents decided to visit their son in California on vacation and were staying at an Airbnb in Coos County when they learned of the indictment. Gary Hardenburg subsequently had a "mental health crisis," Grover said, and was at a Coos County hospital when he was arrested.

"They weren't there for fleeing prosecution," the attorney said. "They were coming back from vacation in California."

Grover said they also had contacted the DA's office to voluntarily surrender, but claimed prosecutors apparently wanted them arrested. He also pointed out that the most serious of three charges against his client, first-degree criminal mischief, has a presumptive probationary sentence.

Grover said they had no problems with the no-contact provisions, except with their spouse, and agreed that if they were allowed to be home with each other, any discussion of the case would be forbidden.

Sykora said, "We're getting two different stories here. I'm not saying either is true or not, but it sounds like there's a lot going on in this case."

The children's father said the abuse of their oldest child was witnessed by the two younger children and he pleaded for extra precautions, saying Hardenburg "due to his wealth and assets" had the ability to evade police contact.

When Session's hearing began, Neil told the judge that the child abuse victim had "no medical issues," behavioral or otherwise. She said the child was found to have "sodium levels that were the highest ever recorded," meaning that it was "something he would have been forced to ingest" - and it "almost caused him to die."

Despite that and "pattern bruising" on the child's body, Neil said he had made a "miraculous recovery."

Christopher Session again tearfully testified by phone, his voice shaking, saying his children have an "immense fear of Miss Session, that she will come take them in the middle of the night, or hurt myself or anyone who tries to stop them."