INDEPENDENCE, Mo – Today members of the national support group Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will hold a sidewalk news conference applauding the arrest of
three metro lay ministers and two other family members on child sex charges, and are urging other victims of their alleged abuse to come forward.
The entire event, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., will be streamed live on NBCActionNews.com, with follow-up coverage on NBC Action News this evening.
Two clergy sex abuse victims will take part in the demonstration outside the Community of Christ headquarters and church at 1001 W. Walnut Street in Independence. They will hold signs and childhood photos as they praise authorities for their handling of the case, involving 77-year-old Burrell Mohler, Sr., his four sons, and now a
sixth man who was arrested on related charges Thursday.
Mohler Sr., his sons and 55-year-old Larry Kidd, the man arrested Thursday, are charged in Lafayette County and face allegations of spanning from incest to rape to beastiality to staged weddings with family members. The victims of the Mohlers' alleged crimes -- which occured between 1988 and 1995 -- ranged from ages 5 to 12, and the victim in the rape Kidd is accused of was under the age of 14, according to authorities.
At least six victims have come forward to authorities and described the abuse they suffered. Authorities say there is a “strong possibility” of more victims.
Read Charging Documents for Mohler Sr., and his Sons
Today, members of SNAP will urge anyone with information or suspicions about the Mohler family to step forward.
They’re also asking that anyone who may have been abused by the men, or other clergy members, to speak out to law enforcement, or other trusted authorities. The members of SNAP urge church officials to also step forward and offer help to anyone who may have been harmed—especially in the church.
