Four men associated with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, including one from Butler County, were named in child sexual abuse charges yesterday by the Attorney General.
According to a press release, a grand jury recommended numerous felony charges against 61-year-old Eric Eleam of Butler for alleged rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of children.
According to AG Josh Shapiro, when they went to take Eleam into custody at his home this week, he went into the bathroom and took his own life.
Shapiro says the four men assaulted 19 victims in total.
“Most of these defendants used their faith and church to gain access to their victims, build their trust, and then molested them,” Shapiro said. “Children who have a right to grow up in a safe community but were defiled by members of their own congregations.”
The investigation into this incident began with a resource referral from a local District Attorney’s office in 2019.
