Hoeffel wants police report of incident that may have led to girl’s murder

Three weeks before 9-year-old Skyler Kauffman was allegedly raped and murder by a neighbor, she reported an encounter with him to police in Souderton. Now Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel wants the police department to release that report, suggesting Kauffman’s murder could have been prevented.

As the Mercury reports, Hoeffel said he believes there may be a discrepancy between the April 18 report and Kauffman’s death, and questions whether her accused killer, James Troutman, could have been apprehended earlier.

Police were called to Kauffman and Troutman’s apartment complex in April after Kauffman and a friend said Troutman tried to lock them in his apartment when they went in to use the bathroom.

The district attorney’s office issued a statement saying the investigation is ongoing and releasing the report could compromise the case.