Man Found Guilty Of Child Abuse After 2-Year Investigation By Norman PD

A man was found guilty of child abuse after a two-year investigation by Norman police.

It started in October of 2018, when Noman police first got wind of serious child abuse complaints. Detective Glenda Vassar jumped on the case, but quickly realized there was a large obstacle in her way.

"The report came to me and I didn’t know it at the time but within five days my suspect had fled to Hong Kong," said Vassar.

Vassar quickly began working with other agencies, including the FBI trying to keep track of Jose Manarang Jr.  She began talking with him over the phone and in January of 2019, helped convince him to return home.

"And immediately just stayed up all night tracking his progress across the United States and right back up to Oklahoma to his house," said Vassar.

That’s where he was arrested and charged on 10 counts, including first-degree rape, child abuse, and pornography.

"He had so many victims and the things that he did if you look at the details, it was, it was horrible," Vassar said.

Vassar said Manarang abused four children here, but she believes there may have been others prior who are outside her jurisdiction. The abuse ranged from minor to near death.

"That’s the type of abuse that would continue," Vassar said. "Someone who’s sexually abusing children or physically abusing is going to continue."

On May 24, a Cleveland County judge found Manarang guilty on all counts and sentenced him to life on six of those.