The Licking County Sheriff’s Workplace in Ohio is urging anybody with data regarding allegations of sexual abuse in opposition to Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee, son of Gary and Drenda Keesee, founders of Religion Life Church, to contact them. The request comes simply days after they took over the investigation on account of a battle of curiosity involving different authorities.
“Licking County Sheriff’s Workplace encourage anybody who believes they’ve related data regarding this case to contact the Licking County Sheriff’s Workplace, even you probably have had prior contact with different Legislation Enforcement regarding this matter,” the police stated in a press release on Fb Monday.
The sexual abuse allegations in opposition to Tom Keesee embrace one from his sister, Kirsten McKinney, and different former members of Religion Life Church, the place he had served as chief media officer, in response to LinkedIn till he resigned from the place final August.
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The multi-campus megachurch didn’t present remark to The Christian Submit final Thursday, however responded to the allegations in opposition to Tom Keesee by way of an legal professional, Katie Tabor, following public remark from Ohio Lawyer Normal Dave Yost in response to a change.org petition calling for an investigation into the abuse allegations that embrace alleged contact with minors.
A report of sexual abuse involving a juvenile was filed final Christmas Eve with the Knox County Sheriff’s Workplace, in response to WBNS 10. It’s alleged within the report that abuse came about at two places inside the county.
Tabor beforehand acknowledged that there had been “critical allegations regarding previous conduct involving a member of our church leaders’ household” in a press release to The Columbus Dispatch and expressed a willingness to be clear and cooperative with authorities.
“We need to specific our deepest compassion for individuals who have come ahead and for anybody who has skilled hurt,” she stated. “We acknowledge the braveness it takes to talk out. We encourage anybody impacted to hunt applicable assist and to report issues to the right authorities.”
Along with her position as co-senior pastor at Religion Life Church, Drenda Keesee additionally serves as a Knox County Commissioner, a tv host, and a political commentator on the channel “Drenda on Guard.” She additionally co-founded Ahead Monetary Companies.
It was discovered by the Ohio Lawyer Normal’s Bureau of Prison Investigation that each his workplace in addition to the Knox County Sheriff’s Workplace had a battle of curiosity on account of private connections with Drenda Keesee so the case was transferred to the Licking County Sheriff’s Workplace.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Workplace made a request to switch the case on Feb. 7, and the Licking County Sheriff’s Workplace confirmed on Feb. 10 that they’d accepted the case.
The petition calling on Yost to analyze the claims in opposition to Tom Keesee emerged after McKinney publicly alleged that she was additionally sexually abused by her brother, lending assist to the voices of at the very least 11 others making comparable claims.
“Many are conscious of allegations involving a member of the family. I used to be a sufferer, and after I realized of ongoing issues for others’ security together with different’s [sic] tales I already knew, I felt a accountability to step ahead,” McKinney wrote on Fb.
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