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Trail of Betrayal: Inside the files
A Scripps investigation into the Boy Scouts of America’s so-called “perversion files” from 1970 to 1991 reveals the organization often failed to protect youngsters from adult molesters within its ranks -- and in many cases covered up the allegations by failing to notify police.
Extended Interviews
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Video interview: Shaun McPherson
Shawn McPherson was never a Boy Scout, but was molested in 1989 by former Scoutmaster Paul Koefoot. Until we alerted him, McPherson was unaware that Koefoot had been caught abusing a Scout years earlier and was allowed to leave the program without being reported to police.
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Video interview: Adam Scheuritzel
Adam Scheuritzel was a Boy Scout in the 1980’s. His Scoutmaster was arrested and convicted for molesting several Scouts. Adam was not a victim, but out of concern for the younger Scouts who were, he wrote a letter to the Scouting magazine "Boy’s Life" asking them to publish an article on the subject. The unpublished letter was found in the confidential files.
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Video interview: Tim Kosnoff
Tim Kosnoff is a Seattle attorney who has handled more than 100 child sexual abuse cases against the Boy Scouts of America. He first gained access to the confidential files while working on those cases, and he shared the files with the Scripps National Investigative team.
Related Stories
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Boy Scouts' president official statement
An official response to our investigation from Boy Scouts of America national president Wayne Perry.
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How groups try to prevent sexual abuse
Recent revelations about the Boy Scouts of America’s decades-old “ineligible volunteer files” raise questions about the quality of youth protection today. How do organizations keep their young charges safe?
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Watch for warning signs of sexual abuse
Advice for parents in helping their children avoid abuse by sexual predators.
Full Series
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Part 1 - Inside the Files
Our exclusive look into the Boy Scouts' confidential files – 30,000 documents, 10 journalists, 6 months of research. Our investigation reveals scouts’ pleas for help being ignored while some scout leaders were promised confidentiality.
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Part 2 - Systemic Failures
The Scripps National Investigative Team tracks systemic problems within the Boy Scouts of America, including poor background checks, and suspected molestors moving from troop to troop. More of our exclusive interview with the leader of BSA.
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Part 3 - Scouts Today
After revelations of abuse within the Boy Scouts of America, how has the organization and its policies changed, and are changes working? You’ll hear different sides. Plus, a one-time abused scout has to decide whether scouting is right for his sons.
Document Trail
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Document trail: Michael Elliott Eck
Examine the confidential documents for this former Virginia scout leader, who admitted to inappropriate sexual behavior with scouts.
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Document trail: David P. Wilson
See for yourself: documents from Wilson's confidential file. He was a scoutmaster in Connecticut convicted and sentenced to prison for abusing scouts.
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Document trail: John P. Treder
See the confidential files. Accusations against Treder were kept a secret for more than two decades.
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Document trail: Paul Scott Koefoot
Examine the confidential records: see for yourself. Koefoot was removed from Scouting in 1983.
