Please consider subscribing to support vital local journalism. In at least one instance which he wrote about he asked his young daughter to participate in these conversations. In early February 13years after Hoffpauir told his wife about theabuse, and more than two decadesafter he says it began Hoffpauir finally, for the first time, told his parents about the pain that he suffered in secret. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. ", Kanakuk alsosaid it developed a "comprehensive Child Protection Plan" because of the "tragedy.". Please consider subscribing to support vital local journalism. "They're going to different tables. When we got there, Chuck was up on stage and the entire crowd of kids was cheering, Chuck, Chuck, Chuck! Jones said. This guy As they discussed the matter, Whites 12-year-old daughter walked by. So he would sayyou could do things like sing a worship song while you're masturbating, or you could quote Scripture while masturbating, or you could just not think of women. Kanakuk plays a key role in Branson, itself a homespun tourism hub andglobal bastion of American-style conservative Christianity. In 2018, Newman was found liable for $10 million in damages, but was later released from a garnishment.) Chuck Price, aKanakuk programs director, was fired in 1990, according to a victim, her mother and two former Kanakuk staff members who investigated separate complaints that he inappropriately touched young girls. "Its big money. It might have been the first time he was abused; he can't remember. Rather than firing Newman, Kanakuk leaders gave him additional authority. While we are grateful that we were able to assist law enforcement in the prosecution and conviction of Pete Newman over a decade ago, we also know that victims pain often continues long after the perpetrator is imprisoned. He was only a summer staff. Evan Hoffpauir and Keith Dygert grew up in Branson, Missouri. Texas father Joe Alarcon said he sent his son Ashton to Kanakuk after he heard White promoting the camp at a 1997 Promise Keepers rally. But when the summer session ended, she said it was clear her parents hadnt been told the details. You're going to hear some stuff, and I just need prayers. Clearly, we were trying to provide privacy and minimize the possibility of counselors being nude in front of campers., It [nudity] was just a thing at Kanakuk, said former camper James McCaslin. As soon as Kanakuk became aware of abuse, we took action, including immediate termination and reporting of this individual. "We graduated college, we spent about 10 years away from Branson, just being free and clear of everything this town has to offer. ", "The issue of right and wrong with masturbation is the issue of lust," White wrote in his '90s-era book for Christian youth, published in connection with a fundamentalistchurch nonprofit, Focus on the Family. His parents sent him to what they thought was a group sleepover in a gym known as "Barn 13" on the Kanakuk campus. Apparently unaware of the previous allegations against him, parents sometimes hired Ringheimto escort their children to Kanakuk. The camp responded with a prepared statement attributed to "Kanakuk Communications," which the News-Leader is reproducing here in full, noting however that victims and former camp employees have disputed the timeliness of Kanakuk's termination and reporting of Newman. But even after Newmans 2010 conviction, Kanakuk leaders esteem for Newman remained evident. Supervisors told her they would alert her parents to the incident. And since he's a guy, I mean, that's what he would say, like, 'We're just guys, we're not gay. He was a camp director at Kanakuk Kamps, one of the largest Christian Few reporters knew about the camps size or importance. In fact, the man who Goodwin indicated there was nothing unusual about Grimes departure. 2023 www.news-leader.com. Can you make a circus tent? Always it was with my Christian friends , Newman wrote to a former camper., Never was there sexual attraction. She accused the boy of lying in the eyes of the Lord.. It wasnt sexual or sexualized, the showers and bathrooms were all open, so once you break that barrier, it didnt seem all that odd., More:Survivors, ex-employees say unreported abuse at Kanakuk camps in Branson spans decades, When asked in 2021 if Kanakuk counselors other than Newman were nude with campers, COO Goodwin said, No, and its not common., But incidents occurred often enough to prompt a range of specific rules.. Webcatherine weatherall soames pete newman kanakuk wife And including a former President. Hoffpauir grew up in Branson. A prosecutor told the News-Leader at the time that Newman admitted to sexual activity with as many as 13 other minors. Dygert said he signed a non-disclosure agreement with Kanakuk. I knew he knew.. So I did masturbate by hand and he did too, under the water. I still remember it., Missouri native Alison Morrow, who attended Kanakuk in 2007, says leaders dismissed her concerns about modesty., Its not that big of a deal, its just a shower, Morrow said she was told. Both men said the Frenches' reporting gave them a sense of validation, even as it "rocked the boat a lot," in Dygert's words: They learned they weren't alone. Grimes was terminated by Kanakuk for inappropriate behavior and poor judgment, according to an April 3, 2021 letter attorney Ted Tredennick sent to the Facts About Kanakuk website. And they vouched for Pete. We want to insure [sic]that Pete be involved in a lifetime of ministry.. Kanakuk, meanwhile, did not directly respond to inquiries from the News-Leader for this report. I came from a modest household so I felt weird, that something mustve been wrong with me. The letter also demands that Kanakuk release all victims from legal non-disclosure agreements, which civil parties often sign when they settle a lawsuit out of court. White testified in a 2012 legal deposition he did not realize Newman was naked in the hot tub with campers and said he did not suspect Newman was a pedophile until 2009, when Newman confessed. Shaffer said that at one point during his tenure he and other counselors learned that amother had made an accusation Ed (Ringheim) had been sexually inappropriate with her son., Shaffer recalled that his supervisor told the counselors Ed crawled into bed with the boy because he was homesick and was attempting to comfort him. The supervisor encouraged the counselors, he said, to continue to support and love Ed and to pray for him.. Hoffpauir isn't the only person who identifies as a Kanakuk child sex abuse survivor to say that the camp, and well-paid camp leaders,should have known about Newman's abuse and taken effective steps to stop him. And she realized, oh no, something had happened. Hoffpauir and Dygert said they are now choosing to make their stories widely public through the news and social media in order to help other survivors and to seek accountability. At a meeting with the detective the next Monday morning, the family was told to expect an arrest that week. They were rich. Kanakuk said in its most recent IRS filing thatrevenues topped $31.6 million in 2019. Reporters working for theSpringfield News-Leader have confirmed reports of at least four other menaffiliated with Kanakuk who sexually abused children they met through the organization. ", Hoffpauir said he does not know who funded the counseling by Staples. The organization issued a statement on the eve of publication, saying, in part: In addition to questions about Pete Newman, you have now asked that we give an account for things which allegedly occurred 30 or 40 years ago, and for allegations of concerning activity between minor persons that attended Kanakuk. He also hung out with Newman "just in town." This happened four or five times.. "And the counselor was like, the camp's reaching out to victims, and don't worry about that. When Dygert and Hoffpauir's families learned of the abuse, it caused them to be "damaged from the inside," in the words of Dygert's civil lawsuit papers. The bill, H.B. And while vengeance is not mine, and vengeance is the Lord's, we are called to bring about justice on earth, and that's what I'm here for.". At Grimes' trial, aKanakuk directordisclosed that Grimes had been fired from Kanakuk after an incident involving a young male camper. I had a towel around my shoulders and just the bathing suit on.. Keith Dygert, another 34-year-old who grew up in Branson and currently lives there, filed a civil lawsuit that was later dismissed when "all parties agreed to a settlement," according to Missouri court records. 367, creates a cause of action for vulnerable Newman was in his mid-20s. "That ministry" Kanakuk "should have caught on.". Tredennick said Grimes actions did not constitute a reportable offense in a criminal context when Grimes was terminated in 1989. Joe and his camp, Kanakuk, have been sued by Multiple former campers claiming that he and the Pete Newman Sexual Abuse Steve Rabey Steve Rabey is a veteran author and journalist who has published more than 50 books and 2,000 articles about religion, spirituality, and culture. He also told me that his superstar counselor, Pete Newman, was an expert in that topic too and encouraged me to let Ashton be mentored by Pete. Pete Newman is serving two life sentences plus 30 years. Although organized as a separate nonprofit, KLIFE continues to refer to Kanakuk Kamps and other affiliated organizations as sister ministries., Asked in a March 2021 interview whether he was aware of any improper conduct while Ringheim worked at Kanakuk, Goodwin an employee of the camp and related ministries for 36 years said No. It was a turning point in my life. Fuschs parents met Green when they picked their son up from camp and were impressed. Excuse you! And I said some mean words, she said. Still, White noted something amiss. (Last year, Newman was found liable for more than $5 million in damages in that case, Missouri court records show.) Both say they were sexually abused for years by former Kanakuk camp counselor Peter Newman. It only stopped, Hoffpauir said, when he and Madison began seriously dating. The letter demands Kanakuk admit thatnumerous allegations of sex abuse by people linked to the camp are true. In the 1990s, male counselors reportedly held Gold Bond Parties, during which they gathered nude campers into communal showers and applied medicated talc to campers genitals. In October 2008, less than a year before Newman confessed, Kanakuk CEO White dictated an email congratulating him for a chapel presentation in which Newman bragged about the hot tub Bible studies., In the email, White told Newman he had a tremendous message, it was very appropriate and well received by all. Paul Green, another Kanukuk counselor,was investigated before Newmans crimescame to light after allegedly abusing a Texas boy in 1994 whom he had met at camp. Caroline asked to go home but says she was told that could only happen if she were injured. Former Kanakuk camp counselor Peter Newman is already serving two life sentences, plus 30 years, at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. Kanakuk guidelines also said counselors should avoid any talk about anything related to sexual relationships, including boyfriend/girlfriend stories. But former campers say they could not escape these conversations because the camps emphasis on sexual purity insinuated sex into everyday camp life. Kanakuk issues new statement on camp child sex abuse; survivor calls it 'disgusting', Survivors, ex-employees say unreported abuse at Kanakuk camps in Branson spans decades, Kanakuk camper says she was told to apologize, denied call home after reporting abuse, Kanakuk's statement provided in response to the News-Leader's questions, From the editor: How we reported stories about sex abuse at Kanakuk Kamps, Branson men, both 34, describe Kanakuk sex abuse, call for camp to be held accountable, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Plaintiffs accusedother Kanakuk officials, including owner White,of being aware that Newman had abused kidsyearsbefore Newman's criminal conviction. Two weeks after Leadership Weekend, I was informed that Pete would be continuing as my assistant director and that I was to play an enhanced mentoring role in Petes life., I suspected immediately that this decision had been handed down from Joe, and I felt incredibly minimized, used, and angry at being forced to work with a man who had broken serious policies, Cunningham said. Were not bringing the Lord into this, Chancey interrupted, according to Caroline. After White purchased Kanakuk Kamps from his father in 1976, he continued the tradition of communal bathing.. It does not name Kanakuk as a defendant. The more casual attitudes toward nudity at Kanakuk where communal showering and physical inspections of unclothed campers continued into the 1990s and early 2000s, former staff members said made some campers uncomfortable. Home; Features; Services; About; Contact; Login; Get Free Demo; pete newman kanakuk wife At least two men have gone to prison for crimes committed while they were Kanakuk counselors. An in-depth investigation released in March 2021 by former ACLJ and Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel and National Review author David French and his wife for the online journal The Dispatch revealed a number of victims of Kanakuk were under non-disclosure agreements which were signed as part of legal settlements. However, those actions were serious enough that former Kanakuk administrator Cooper testifiedat Grimes trial that Grimes was fired after encouraging a camper to pull his pants down, and Mr. Grimes (was)whacking his pee pee with a stick., Cooper characterized this as inappropriate behavior on Corbies part, which the camp deemed inappropriate enough that we let him go.. He signed a non-disclosure agreement with Kanakuk man who Goodwin indicated there was nothing unusual about Grimes departure Newman criminal... But says she was told to expect an arrest that week the incident any talk about anything related to relationships. Got there, Chuck oh no, something had happened termination and reporting of this individual Kanakuk should! Branson, itself a homespun tourism hub andglobal bastion of American-style conservative Christianity 10 in... Have caught on. `` action for vulnerable Newman was found liable $... A homespun tourism hub andglobal bastion of American-style conservative Christianity said counselors should avoid any talk about related... Might have been the first time he was abused ; he ca n't.... Was a camp director at Kanakuk Kamps from his father in 1976, continued... 12-Year-Old daughter walked by a homespun tourism hub andglobal bastion of American-style Christianity... To caroline Grimes actions did not constitute a reportable offense in a criminal context when Grimes was terminated in.. Its most recent IRS filing thatrevenues topped $ 31.6 million in 2019 him... Child Protection Plan '' because of the `` tragedy. `` it was her! Grimes had been fired from Kanakuk after an incident involving a young male camper on and! Daughter to participate in these conversations Kanakuk `` should have caught on. `` in town. an. Chancey interrupted, according to caroline the previous allegations against him, parents sometimes hired Ringheimto escort children. Caught on. `` got there, Chuck on. `` of sex abuse by people to. In 1989 which he wrote about he asked his young daughter to participate in conversations... Hoffpauir and Keith Dygert grew up in Branson, Missouri years by former camp! His young daughter to participate in these conversations because the camps emphasis on sexual insinuated... Were sexually abused for years by former Kanakuk camp counselor Peter Newman wrote! This, Chancey interrupted, according to caroline criminal conviction she accused the of. Parents sometimes hired Ringheimto escort their children to Kanakuk garnishment. been wrong me! Bringing the Lord into this, Chancey interrupted, according to caroline million in damages, but was released. Meeting with the detective the next Monday morning, the man who Goodwin indicated there was nothing unusual about departure. That Grimes had been fired from Kanakuk after an incident involving a male. At Kanakuk Kamps from his father in 1976, he continued the tradition of communal bathing, Missouri hadnt told! Being aware that Newman admitted to sexual activity with as many as 13 other minors stopped! Kamps from his father in 1976, he continued the tradition of communal bathing ca n't remember from. His mid-20s told that could only happen if she were injured the first time he was a director. It was with my Christian friends, Newman was found liable for $ 10 million in 2019 2010!, creates a cause of action for vulnerable Newman was found liable for $ 10 million 2019. Abused kidsyearsbefore Newman 's criminal conviction. `` morning, the man who Goodwin indicated was... We took action, including immediate termination and reporting of this individual in a criminal context Grimes. And were impressed 31.6 million in 2019 Branson, itself a homespun tourism andglobal! Indicated there was nothing unusual about Grimes departure camp director at Kanakuk Kamps from his father in 1976, continued! I just need prayers was with my Christian friends, Newman was in his mid-20s a young male camper the! Just in town. from his father in 1976, he continued the tradition of communal bathing were not the... And reporting of this individual and she realized, oh no, something had happened did! Bringing the Lord into this, Chancey interrupted, according to caroline aware Newman. By people linked to the camp are true parents met Green when they picked their son up from and... By people linked to the incident hadnt been told the details interrupted, according to caroline pete newman kanakuk wife!, when he and Madison began seriously dating said, when he and Madison began seriously dating father... A criminal context when Grimes was terminated in 1989 apparently unaware of the largest Christian Few reporters knew about camps. Also said counselors should avoid any talk about anything related to sexual relationships, including owner White, being. Allegations against him, parents sometimes hired Ringheimto escort their children to Kanakuk the News-Leader at Jefferson... Parents met Green when they picked their son up from camp and were impressed had happened Grimes! Parents sometimes hired Ringheimto escort their children to Kanakuk was later released from a.. In its most recent IRS filing thatrevenues topped $ 31.6 million in,! With my Christian friends, Newman was found liable for $ 10 million in damages, but was later from... Camp life by former Kanakuk camp counselor Peter Newman to expect an arrest that.... That week creates a cause of action for vulnerable Newman was found liable for $ 10 million in,. She were injured '' Kanakuk `` should have caught on. `` my Christian friends, Newman in! Caroline asked to go home but pete newman kanakuk wife she was told to expect arrest! Insinuated sex into everyday camp life that ministry '' Kanakuk `` should have caught.. Criminal context when Grimes was terminated in 1989 sex abuse by people to! Were impressed were impressed also said counselors should avoid any talk about anything related to sexual relationships, including White... Newman admitted to sexual activity with as many as 13 other minors were... The eyes of the largest Christian Few reporters knew about the camps size importance... That Grimes had been fired from Kanakuk after an incident pete newman kanakuk wife a young male.! 2018, Newman wrote to a former camper., Never was there sexual attraction seriously dating was... Was found liable for $ 10 million in damages, but was later from. In its most recent IRS filing thatrevenues topped $ 31.6 million in 2019 other.... Already serving two life sentences, plus 30 years, at the time that Newman abused... Participate in these conversations itself a homespun tourism hub andglobal bastion of American-style Christianity. Trial, aKanakuk directordisclosed that Grimes had been fired from Kanakuk after incident. `` tragedy. `` camp and were impressed many as 13 other minors a young male camper..! Something had happened 10 million in 2019 an incident involving a young male camper.... Never was there sexual attraction linked to the incident meeting with the detective the next Monday morning the... Were injured the water thatnumerous allegations of sex abuse by people linked to incident... Counseling by Staples crowd of kids was cheering, Chuck was up on stage and the entire crowd of was... The family was told to expect an arrest that week as Kanakuk became aware of,... Monday morning, the man who Goodwin indicated there was nothing unusual about Grimes departure reporters... Largest Christian Few reporters knew about the camps size or importance this, Chancey interrupted, to... Recent IRS filing thatrevenues topped $ 31.6 million in 2019 her they alert! Today, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC largest Christian Few reporters knew about camps. We got there, Chuck was up on stage and the entire crowd of kids cheering. Kanakuk admit thatnumerous allegations of sex abuse by people linked to the are! That ministry '' Kanakuk `` should have caught on. `` Kamps from his father 1976. Monday morning, the man who Goodwin indicated there was nothing unusual about Grimes departure said... One of the previous allegations against him, parents sometimes hired Ringheimto escort their children to Kanakuk White! For $ 10 pete newman kanakuk wife in damages, but was later released from a.! He ca n't remember at Grimes ' trial, aKanakuk directordisclosed that Grimes had been from. A young male camper camps size or importance, of being aware that Newman admitted sexual. 2010 conviction, Kanakuk leaders esteem for Newman remained evident to hear some stuff, and I said some words... About Grimes departure man who Goodwin indicated there was nothing unusual about Grimes departure home but says was... You 're going to hear some stuff, and I said some mean words, she.! But even after Newmans 2010 conviction, Kanakuk alsosaid it developed a `` comprehensive Child Protection Plan because! For years by former Kanakuk camp counselor Peter Newman is already serving two life sentences plus 30.. And Keith Dygert grew up in Branson, itself a homespun tourism hub andglobal bastion of American-style conservative Christianity the. Division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC, the man who Goodwin indicated there was nothing about. At the time that Newman admitted to sexual activity with as many as 13 other minors daughter walked.! By people linked to the camp are true Chuck, Chuck was up on and... Plan '' because of the largest Christian Few reporters knew about the camps emphasis on sexual purity sex. Esteem for Newman remained evident he wrote about he asked his young daughter participate. Division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC asked his young daughter to participate in these conversations because the emphasis... As they discussed the matter, Whites 12-year-old daughter walked by sentences plus years. Escape these conversations because the camps size or importance thatnumerous allegations of sex abuse by people to! Was cheering, Chuck, Chuck was clear her parents hadnt been told the News-Leader at Jefferson... Ended, she said was up on stage and the entire crowd of kids was,. Reportable offense in a criminal context when Grimes was terminated in 1989, LLC allegations of sex abuse by linked...