Days after it was reported that a former Boy Scouts of America troop leader in Ohio was under investigation for molesting several young scoutsdecades ago, the suspect revealed himself publicly in a Facebook post and seemingly admitted to the crimes.

Bill McKell posted the open letter, which was later removed, after details about the investigation had been leaked on social media and a local news outlet published a news story about it. In the letter, McKell admitted to being “a child molester” and said in his late teens, 20s and early 30s he “had inappropriate contact with a number of young men.”

A screenshot of McKell’s post was published online by NBC4i, the NBC affiliate in Columbus, Ohio.

Leaked Report Detailed Allegations

McKell’s letter referenced the fact that copies of a 13-page police report had been made public even though he has not been criminally charged in connection to the case.

That report tells the story of a two-year investigation that began in March 2018 and included interviews with more than a dozen possible victims, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Six of them made similar allegations against McKell, including the brother of a police officer who said the troop leader molested him when he was between 10 and 12 years old.

Much of the abuse described by the alleged victims took place in the 1980s and 1990s at Chief Logan Reservation, a Boy Scouts of America camp south of Columbus. Some happened out of state. One alleged victim reported that McKell assaulted him numerous times at scouting events in southern Ohio, western New York, and eastern West Virginia.

According to the Chillicothe Gazette, the police investigation turned up multiple community leaders who said they’d been aware of accusations against McKell for years. “A former pastor of a local church the Boy Scout troop was attached to (said) … they heard ‘nearly constant’ concerns and rumors about the (McKell’s) behavior, but lacked first-hand information to act,” the newspaper reported.

Alleged Victim Speaks Out

Eric Palmer, a McKell accuser who is the brother of a police officer, spoke to several news outlets in the days after the investigation became public. He described one incident to NBC4i that “quickly turned from something playful to something I was really afraid of what was happening.”

It took Palmer many years to deal with his experiences with McKell, he said, and he didn’t know if anyone else had been through what he had until he read about the investigation. Hearing other former Boy Scouts describe things so similar to what he experienced was helpful, Palmer said. “It was validation,” he said, evidence that he wasn’t making the whole thing up.

Statute of Limitations

In his letter, McKell said he would “vigorously” defend himself against false accusations, but would cooperate with any “legitimate charge.”

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost issued his own statement, saying the “allegations – and apparent confession … deserve swift, severe punishment.” Yost encouraged any other victims and anyone else with information about McKell to come forward.

Yet it is unclear whether McKell will face any criminal charges as a result of the investigation or his confession since the incidents described happened more than 20 years ago – well beyond the state’s statute of limitations for prosecuting such crimes.

Boy Scouts of America Responds

Boy Scouts of America issued a statement about the McKell situation, the Columbus ABC News affiliate reported. It said McKell was added to the organization’s “Volunteer Screening Database” nearly 25 years ago “following allegations of inappropriate behavior.” Inclusion in the database prevented McKell from participating in any Boy Scout activities.

In February, Boy Scouts of America announced it was filing bankruptcy while dealing with 275 sexual abuse lawsuits in state and federal courts across the country.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.