CLAY CO.—An alleged home invasion, beating, child abduction and a round of Orders of Protection highlight a recent situation in the city of Flora that is a showcase for the epitome of dysfunction family courts have become throughout the country.
No charges have been filed in the contentious situation involving a Clay City family and their gripe with a Marine, whose own family was either dragged into the middle of it or was there all along, depending on which story seems more valid on whichever day it’s being issued.
However, the taking up of the court’s time on OPs, when it’s rather obvious that a crime or two has been committed in the course of the thing, is only one facet of the entire matter.
What it’s going to take to sort it out, and how it’s impacting the children at the heart of the whole thing, seems to be of utmost importance.
And as of press time, there have been no arrests made, so it doesn’t appear that anyone is any closer to doing any sorting.
Where it started?
How far back the “beginning” might be is certainly up for consideration.
With the amount of players involved, the situation can be confusing and a little mind-bending.
Essentially, the matter might fairly have begun a few years back when the Marine in question, Rylan Flood, was divorced from one Chassidy Sturm Flood, 22, with whom he had a son, Landyn, now age 6. The divorce was finalized in 2010. Flood, 25, then hooked up with one Melody Hagen, 21, and they now have a five-month-old daughter.
Hagen is a former Miss Cisne Reunion 2009 and a graduate of Rend Lake College and Paul Mitchell cosmetology. She came back to the area to take care of her sister, Sarah Burkett, after a tragic motorcycle accident that took the life of Burkett’s husband and left her physically disabled. Hagen had most recently been working at El Fuente Mexican Restaurant in Flora.
On the night of Friday, May 31, the Floods had regularly scheduled visitation with the 6-year-old and were doing their shopping before the weekend. They went to Walmart in Flora and there, got involved in a mild verbal altercation with Chassidy Sturm’s younger sister, Chloe, who is employed there. As a result of the altercation, Rylan Flood traveled with his family to his mother’s house, where a physical altercation allegedly ensued.
The next day, spurred by the incident from the night before, another Sturm, Robert (brother of the two girls) and Brandon Kittle (babydaddy of Chassidy Sturm’s new infant) came to Flood’s trailer in Flora. They were told to leave by police. Within 45 minutes, Rhonda Sturm, mother of the Sturms already mentioned, arrived with Deanna Flood, Rylan’s mother, to take Landyn from the Floods over the incidents preceding.
Divergent tales
It’s the appearance of Rhonda Sturm, 40, at the trailer that diverges wildly depending upon who is doing the telling.
The easiest way to present it is what was told to police by the Floods, and what evidence was presented pictorially:
According to the Floods, Rhonda Sturm and Deanna Flood pulled up at about 1:30 Saturday, June 1. The Floods were getting ready to go play baseball, but with tennis balls as they were at the trailer park and couldn’t use real baseballs or softballs. As such, there was a baseball bat propped upright at a location in the trailer.
As the Floods were getting ready to go outside with the boy, Rhonda Sturm allegedly entered the trailer, demanding the boy.
Hagen, in an attempt to the boy from his grandmother, moved to get between them, and a physical altercation ensued between the two women. As Sturm outweighs Hagen by several dozen pounds, she got the worse end of the deal, as photos show. Hagen said Flood grabbed the baseball bat, since it was more or less in the way, but didn’t swing it; instead, she took it with her when she left with the boy.
Hagen advised that in the process of the beating she alleged Sturm inflicted, she fell against a door or doorway that had a piece of wood sticking out, and struck the back of her neck on that piece of wood. The blow caused a temporary numbness and Hagen stayed down, believing she was injured fairly badly.
Both Floods claim that Sturm took Rylan Flood’s phone from him, preventing him from calling 911, and threw it across the room. Nevertheless they were able to call 911, and a responding ambulance took Hagen out on a stretcher, as she was afraid to move much after the neck injury. Besides the bruises and swelling on her face from an obvious battery at the hands of someone, Hagen’s medical records, made available to Disclosure, show internal bruising on her ribs, and a knee injury.
Boy wasn’t returned
The Floods made a police report that night to the effect of the above-described incidents.
Flora police advised that they would go look into getting the boy back for the rest of his court-ordered visitation weekend.
However, when they went to the mother’s house, they reported, the little boy said he didn’t want to go back as he “didn’t feel safe.” Police reported to the Floods that it was their belief the boy “wasn’t talking like a 6-year-old,” implying that they believed he was being coached.
Despite the full report the Floods gave and the obvious injuries to Hagen, there was no arrest made of Sturm.
The Floods wondered if this didn’t have to do with Kittle, who has some kind of experience in law enforcement but hasn’t worked in that field in Illinois. Nevertheless, the local police have a tendency to defer to those in blue, even if it’s only per a college degree.
OPs filed against Hagen
On June 3, the day Hagen was detailing the alleged attack with police, however, there was considerable activity at the Clay County courthouse in Louisville.
There, the entire Sturm-Flood-Kittle brigade was busy filling out paperwork for Orders of Protection against Rylan Flood and his wife Melody Hagen Flood.
When police advised Hagen to go to the courthouse and seek an OP of her own against Sturm in lieu of charges being filed (and in case they never were), Hagen and her husband went…and were served with multiple OPs from the Sturm, Flood and Kittle brigade.
In the OPs, a different story emerged.
Big momma versus Rylan
Rhonda Sturm, seeking an OP on behalf of herself and against both Rylan Flood and his wife Melody, stated in her petition against Rylan Flood specifically that for the past four years, “we” (the ‘we’ wasn’t clarified, as she was only asking for herself) “have been threatned (sic) by Rylan. It has never let up, went to see if I could get landyn because all the fighting and calles that was taking place at wal-mart and at 516 Sycamore. They said I could have him. So I step inside to see if he had Landyn had everything Rylans wife hit me I the side of face/head Rylan had ahold of me Melody had me by my hair I was trying to get out of the house so I manged (sic) to get door opened and got out. Landyn got in my car and we went home. Rylans mom DeAnna Flood was with me. Rylan & Melody are now telling lies. Putting stuff on Facebook sending text that Melody is coming to Clay City wearing ski mask and get even. And threatened to kill DeAnna Flood. Landyn is not save with them. They have to be on drugs. Rylans family has told us that Landyn is not safe with them, and that they are on drugs. We are scared they are going to harm us.”
A lil different story against Hagen
However, in her petition against Melody Hagen Flood, the gripe was a little different:
“I went over to Melody House because we have never had a problem with each other to see if I could pick my grandson up, because on June May 31st Melody and Rylan was at Wal-Mart in Flora Illinois with my grandson Landyn Flood, Screaming at Rylans sist brother’s girlfriend Chole (sic) Pierce and Landyn was crying and up set. So later that night Rylan left their home mad with Landyn ball bat went over to 516 Sycamore in Flora beating on his parents house pissed Rylans Dad open the door and Rylan punched his brother in the face. So on the 6-1-13 Rylan and Meldoy was calling my Daughter Chassidy Sturm that she was going to beat her ass. Was telling her that her new baby was Down Syndrome. All the time Landyn is present listening to all this. So since Melody and I never had a problem I figured she would let me take him home.
“So when I got there Melody was outside she walked up to her house I knocked on the door And asked If I could take Landyn home til they could work out their problems. Melody said yes you can go ahead and take him so I step in the house like I had always done. Asked Landyn if he had everything. Then I seen a f her arm coming at me. I moved she hit me on on the side of face grabbed my hair Rylan came after me I was trying to get out of the house. I had her by her hair we got outside Landyn got In my car. And we left. She is threanting (sic) to come over to Clay City with ski mask and get even.”
Inexplicably, Sturm presented in the petition against Hagen a “criminal history” of Rylan Flood’s, complete with seatbelt violations, disorderly conduct and DUI.
Ex-wife v. current
Chassidy Sturm requested an OP against Hagen asking to have Landyn and her newborn, Hudson Kittle, as protected persons.
She lists separate incidents, but all on June 1, as reasons in her petition:
“I have been recieving (sic) phone calls & text messages from Melody and Rylan Flood prior to this date. Melody has been spoken to by police to leave me alone but chooses not too (sic). On Saturday, June 1, I received a phone call at 1220 from them stating they were on the porch ready to fight. I said to leave me alone, they went about taunting me telling me how I’m a bad mother & I’m never getting Landyn back. He also laughed and admitted to me he failed his drug test at work and doesn’t have ot work anymore so I won’t be recieving (sic) Child Support. Melody got on the phone & said “Bitch your not pregnant anymore and I’m coming to Clay City to stomp your ass into the ground and rip your c-section insi incision open. They proceeded to tell me how my newborn son was ugly and looked have he had down syndrome. I told Melody I didn’t want to fight and she said too bad bitch I’m coming for you when you least expect it.
“Landyn came home & told me he feels unsafe around his dad and Melody because they always yell and my dad takes my ball bat at night and leaves the house.
“I received a phone call from Deanna Flood stating she took her husband’s phone, Randy Flood, to the police station because Melody sent 2 text message 1) She is going to kill Deanna. 2) she was coming to Clay City in ski mask to seek her revenge, when u
“DCFS called last night stating I needed an OP against Melody.”
She requested protection from Hagen at her home and place of employment, Clay County Hospital in Flora.
Chassidy v. the ex
Her petition for protection against her ex, Rylan Flood, varied only slightly:
“Received phone call from Rylan Flood stating I was a worthless person and he was keeping Landyn told me I wasn’t getting child support anymore because he was fired from Hella because he didn’t pass his drug test and proceeded to laugh. Then he told me his wife was going to stomp my ass whenever she seen me out. Told me he was ready to fight my whole family. Rylan began telling me how my newborn son was ugly and looked like he had down syndrome. Rylan told me I will never see Landyn again! This isn’t the first time threats have been made. I fear for my life and for my children. All my doors & windows are locked, we sleep with a light on, and both boys sleep in my room b/c I’m afraid of them. I’m afraid he is going to take Landyn and harm him or run away with him. I’m also afraid of him coming to our house with a gun.
“I was told by our son Landyn that he feels scared around his dad because he always yells. Landyn also told me his dad took his ball bat & left the house Friday night.
“I was called from DCFS advising I come to the courthouse on Monday and file OPs for myself and my two boys. Also advised to ask if it would be ok to leave town for a few days.
“My younger brother, Robert Sturm III is wanting to go stay with family in Air Arizona because he fears for his life and thinks Rylan is going to kill us in our sleep.
“Verbal abuse from Rylan has never stopped its been on-going for years. Rylan never stops with the harassing phone calls. He constantly calls to tell me how worthless I am and bring me down emotionally and mentally. I feel like there will never be an end. He has told me numerous of times if he can’t have Landyn no one will have him. Rylan is very inconsistent with his visition (sic) with Landyn. He thinks he can pick and choose when to be a father. We meet at McDonalds to exchange Landyn because of how violent he gets.
“Ryland and his wife have admitted to coming to my work place, Clay Co Hospital where I work as an RN in the ER so they spit on my car. They have threatened to key my car and bust out my windows.”
Who is ‘Rendell’?
Rendell A.L. Keele is listed as a “sibling” of Rylan Flood’s. Rendell’s petition against Flood reads:
“At around 9:45 p.m. on June 2nd I received a call from an unknown number and proceeded to answer. The call was initially dropped so I called back in worry that could’ve been an important call given all that has taken place with my brother and his wife. The call went straight to voicemail. The number then called back. It was Ryland Flood on the phone. He asked me if I knew what tomorrow would bring. I said no. He told me I should watch out and tell our mother to leave town. I asked him why he called me and is trying to involve me in all of the mess that is taking place. He stated that we’re all at fault and we’re going down. His wife was in the background calling me a bitch and a c^nt. They there was no direct threat but a lot of harassment. He is very scary and almost always follow through with a plan. I fear my mental and physical well being as well as my childrens since they are always in my care. I cannot live with constant paranoia and harassment from him.”
She (or he; it’s unclear, although this person has the best handwriting) listed three children with three different last names—Cook, Keeling and Keele, all under the age of 11—as protected persons.
Her petition against Melody Hagen Flood was slightly different but reiterated much the same material.
Against her DIL
Deanna Flood was next, and against Melody Hagen, alleged:
“In the past several months Melody has threated (sic) me on phone, text, person. On Sat. my husband Randy called & said he was called by Rylan he was going over there to come there. We were told we had to leave, so we did. Later I was talking to Rhonda & we were riding around she was very upset because Rylan had been calling (Chassidy) her all day saying bad things about her new baby & her. Rhonda and Melody have talked to her before and they got along so she seen Melody outside & stopped Melody took off to go inside & Rhonda did too, then they came out and had a hold of each other, Rylan was trying to get them apart. Landyn was on top of stairs upset, so I got out of care & went to talk to him. Melody finally said just take Landyn, so Rhonda did.
“6/2/13 Melody called my husbands phone and texts around 6:00 a.m. and my husband was sleeping so I went to check his phone and there was text that said she was going to Clay City to get revenge on Sturms wearing a ski mask. The next text said something happened to her tire & I probally (sic) did it and she was going to kill his wife you better protect everyone. I went I took Randy’s phone to Flora police & they took copys of text & statement I am afraid of her of what she might do because of everything she has said and the text that she was going to kill me.”
Against her son
Against her own son, Deanna Flood wrote:
Rylan came to our house and hit his brother Rendell because Rendell’s girlfriend was supposed to said something about Rylan’s wife. He has said he will beat Rendell again if he says anything about his wife. He has made several threats text, facebook, to Rendell.
“The past several months Rylan has made several phone calls, person telling us we better stop talking about his wife are or he is going to stop it.
“I was at my daughter Randel’s house and Rylan Called me saying I was the one on drugs & a (c^nt) my daughter took the phone and hung up. I then went home and my son Rendell said I better get in the house because Rylan was coming over he was looking for me, I said what for he said he thought to beat me up. I do believe Rylan is capable of this because he is not stable, I believe he is on drugs, he has had trouble in the past. He lost his job at Hella because he failed drug test. He called my husband Randy and said I better leave town (today) because it’s going to be ugly.”
Truth somewhere in there…maybe
The initially offended parties—the brother of Rylan Flood, whatever his name is (the Rendell/Rendel thing is confusing), and the other Sturm girl, Chloe—apparently didn’t file OPs.
This might be telling, as their input might show that there might have been something genuinely offensive that one or the both of them did that got the Floods riled up to begin with.
However, it’s impossible to tell at this point.
The truth is likely within the OPs somewhere, but the accounts vary so wildly, and there are so many holes within them, that there’s little wonder the police, who seemed to really be doing their job with the situation by all accounts (Disclosure has spoken to numerous individuals involved in the case), were unable to come up with an arrest…although it sounds like at least a couple could be made.
But the bottom line is that Orders of Protection are probably the most abused remedy the courts offer these days, and this case is glaring evidence that this is the case.
Either a thing is a crime, or it is not. If it is a crime, it needs charged. If it isn’t, the resources of law enforcement and the court’s time doesn’t need to be taken up with it.