Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Document trail: Paul Scott Koefoot
In 1982, college student Paul S. Koefoot served as acting scoutmaster of an Evanston, Ill., troop at a summer camp. Months later, a Scout’s mother wrote to the council executive, complaining that Koefoot had carried out “improper acts” there with her 11-year-old son.
“My husband and I feel very strongly that the council should take the necessary actions to ensure that Paul will never again be able to take advantage of a young boy in the Scouting setting,” she wrote, adding that they would trust the officials to deal with the matter.
Koefoot was removed from Scouting in June 1983; his file contains no sign of a police report.
In 1997, police in Lincoln, Neb., investigated Koefoot on suspicion of molesting 13-year-old Shaun McPherson and at least 10 other boys in his neighborhood. McPherson wasn’t a Scout. Based on testimony that he and other boys provided, Koefoot was convicted and sentenced to prison in 1998.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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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.
Extended Interviews
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Video interview: Tom Stewart
Former scout Tom Stewart describes years of abuse he suffered as a child, and how he views scouting today as a father.
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Video interview: Patrick Boyle
Boyle wrote “Scout’s Honor,” a 1994 book examining child sexual abuse in the Boy Scouts of America.
Related Stories
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Expert: Exposing abuses will help kids
Patrick Boyle was the first to publish reports of the Boy Scouts of America's confidential "ineligible volunteers" files, in 1994. Boyle says the attention these files are now getting will do good for kids.
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Boy Scouts' president official statement
An official response to our investigation from Boy Scouts of America national president Wayne Perry.
Document Trail
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Document trail: William A. Hoefling
Look at the confidential documents in Hoefling's file. Hoefling was a troop leader near Detroit.
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Document trail: Brian K. Liska
Examine for yourself: the documents in his confidential files. To this day, Liska said he doesn’t know if national Scouting officials approved his application because they were unaware of his past conviction -- or if they knew about it but decided he was fit nonetheless.
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Document trail: Scott A. Herrick
Click to view confidential documents in his file. Herrick is currently serving a 95-year sentence.
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