Robert Heydorn - Confesses to molesting 6 little girls

When Robert Heydorn arrived at the Surprise Police Department last week, he said he didn't think he'd be leaving without handcuffs, police say.

For the second time, police were investigating the 65-year-old Surprise resident, and, once again, they suspected that he had molested young girls.

Asked in 2008 whether he had molested a 7-year-old, Heydorn denied it, police say.

Last Thursday, after becoming aware of a second investigation involving new allegations, Heydorn came to the police station. Before a detective could ask Heydorn a question, he made a confession, police say.

Heydorn, who had just returned home from a camping trip near the Verde River, said that he wanted to get some help, and "if he didn't get any help, he would continue to hurt young girls," according to a statement of probable cause filed in Maricopa County Superior Court.

He said after he was caught

Then, police say, Heydorn said he had molested at least six girls, including an 8-year-old who also had been camping.

Heydorn was soon booked into Maricopa County Jail on suspicion of six counts of molestation of a child and two counts of sexual abuse. He is being held without bond.

The case against Heydorn was more than a year in the making, said Sgt. Mark Ortega, a Surprise police spokesman.

In April 2008, the parents of a 7-year-old Surprise girl called police to say their daughter had been inappropriately touched by a friend's grandfather.

Detective Phillip Hodgkins was assigned the case and interviewed Heydorn, who denied the girl's account, police say.

The 7-year-old later recanted her story, police say. Despite a lack of physical evidence or a cooperative victim, Hodgkins submitted the case to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in May 2008, recommending that Heydorn be charged with molestation.

The County Attorney's Office directed Hodgkins to get more information from two child witnesses, Ortega said.

Though he was unable to get additional facts from the two, Hodgkins never forgot the case.

Then, early last month, an 11-year-old girl told investigators that Heydorn had touched her in a way that made her uncomfortable, Ortega said.

After interviewing the 11-year-old, Hodgkins went to the place the girl said she had been molested. A 9-year-old approached him outside the home, police say. Heydorn had touched her inappropriately, she told the detective.

Hodgkins asked if there were others.

The girl, police say, led the sex-crimes detective to other victims, ages 9 and 11.

After gathering evidence, Hodgkins tried to contact Heydorn, without success, Ortega said.

Heydorn showed up at the police station on May 14. That day, according to the statement, he admitted to all the allegations, including the 2008 molestation of the 7-year-old girl.

When questioned again about her interactions with Heydorn, the 7-year-old said he had molested her, police say.

Hodgkins and others are continuing to investigate Heydorn's interactions with other children in Surprise.

Investigators say they believe Heydorn may have had contact with other children.

"If anybody has any information or their children are saying they had any contact with this individual, we are urging that they be in contact with our department," Ortega said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Surprise police at 623-222-4000.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte