On a cold, overcast January morning in Jackson, Mississippi, I witnessed this brave survivor speak, shining the light of truth brightly on the darkness, lies and deceit of child sexual abuse that keeps victims silent. Not on this day. He shattered the silence. I hope and pray his courage to speak will help others find their voice, victims of convicted child sex offender John Langworthy as well as other offenders. Now is not the time to become complacent. Langworthy is not in jail. We hope others abused by him will find the courage to come forward, call police, get help, begin healing and protect others. We hope others who saw or suspected abuse by John will also come forward. You may have information than can help.
John Langworthy (listed here on the MS sex offender registry) throughout his career as a music minister and school choir teacher frequently took kids on trips across the country. If you or someone you know was abused by him at any time on one of these trips, please contact the police. Abuse across state lines would be a federal case exempt from any statute of limitations.
The light of truth and knowledge is our greatest tool to protect kids. Contact me at spacecitysnap@gmail.com if I can by of any assistance.
January 22, 2013 Hinds County Courthouse:
Today has been a
long time in coming – over 30 years ago.
I didn’t ever think I would see this day, and really didn’t want it to
come to this in many ways, but it has. Some
would say that is simply too long ago, we must simply forgive and forget. And
in some ways that is true. We must
forgive. And I want you to know John
that I did a long time ago. Why we are
here is not because of vengeance or retribution, it is not to get even or get
payback. It is simply about bringing the
darkness to the light. And that is not
easy for victims to do. It takes a long
time to process what happened to them and why and how people they trusted would
betray them and harm them and then process all the mess that it makes inside a
child who becomes an adult. It’s a lot
to process. People who speak about the ridiculousness of it taking so long for
this to happen simply weren’t victims. They
can’t understand.
Let’s be honest
though, that today was not of your choosing, but due to the diligence and hard
work of 2 ladies in Texas and a victim from Texas to bring to light what had
occurred and what we believe has still been occurring. Let it be clear that though it was said you
were repentant and had confessed, you only confessed to those 2 victims, me and
one other from TX, who had come forward at that time to let people know what
had happened. You did not confess to the
other 4 victims that came forward in Jackson until today! You confessed
to sexual indiscretions with younger males in a church in MS and a church in
TX, when in fact it was not sexual indiscretions, but you molested and sexually
abused at least 5 children here and 3 were from another church. Even in your public confession and in private
to those holding you accountable to put it in your words, you still didn’t tell
the whole truth. Only to that which you
got caught doing. There are many who
support you who do not know the fact that you still haven’t told the truth until
today. They believe that because it was
a long time ago that we should forgive and forget. Forgive yes, and forget to some extent,
however it never justifies what you did and that you should never be allowed to
around children ever again and thankfully after today that will be very
difficult for you.
There are other
victims in Texas that you still have not admitted to molesting there and I
believe some still here in MS, but I believe that one day it will come. I would encourage you to go ahead and come
completely clean and name all your victims both here in MS and Texas and make a
true confession and be truly repentant.
Let me also say that
what you meant for evil to fulfill your sick, demented desires, God meant for
good. The book of Genesis reminds us through the words of Joseph to his
brothers after they had sold him for a slave into Egypt. I have seen God bring great good from great
harm! God had done many things in my life, and has brought countless victims my
way that I have been able to help, encourage, pray, and help them find their
way and say those magical words, I know how you feel. I have spoken with teenagers, children,
adults, mothers and fathers of children who were molested, and even visited
just a few weeks ago with someone who was still struggling from abuse that
happened to them 60 years earlier! You
and perpetrators like you have left behind carnage on a battlefield that is
indescribable.
What you did was
evil, disgusting, reprehensible, degrading, manipulation at its worse and using
people to get access to that which your depraved and sick mind wanted. Many of said and asked, well what about all
the good? – I have spoken to many people in your past over these last 2 years –
and so many are troubled by what you have done and wondering what about the
good that you did? I am reminded that
God uses all of us in spite of us and as the old saying goes, God can hit with
a crooked stick. The only problem is
that the good you did was only to hide the bad, to have access to fulfill your
evil desires.
I am sorry for
your family and your 2 daughters and what they have had to endure through these
last 2 years. They are innocent just
like I was and the rest of your victims – but God can turn it into good in
their lives too. I will be praying for
them as well.
I am glad that
your Mother didn’t live to see this day and have to endure the pain that my
mother has had to endure for these past 22 years when I was finally able to
tell her what happened. You have caused
more pain and agony in my family than any situation in our live outside of my
Dad passing away this year. I am sad
that my Dad wasn’t alive to see you brought to justice because he would have
liked to have been here, to look you in the face and you know that he knew what
you did. How you took advantage of my
family’s care and concern for you, taking you in as another son in our home
(which you did with many other families too), and you took advantage of that
trust and twisted it to take advantage of helpless innocent children who loved
you and trusted you.
But let me also
say, I am not a victim, but I am a survivor by the grace of God! You do not and have not controlled my life or
even the life of my family. I don’t hate
you, I have forgiven you, in fact my heart is sad for you in many ways. That is why I am a survivor – victims are
those who are still living in darkness, in shame, in fear, in hatred, in agony,
but survivors are those who refuse to hate, are able to forgive, and not only
their perpetrator to control them as a result.
I plan to spend the rest of the days that the Lord gives me on this
earth helping other victims and their families (in particular your other victims)
find help, healing, and hope. That is
what they need and what they deserve.
I pray that your
will find healing for your soul and find a way forward from here. I have prayed for you and will continue to do
so. The only way you will ever find
peace and rest for your soul is when you come completely clean and confess to
all of your victims so that they too can find the help, hope, and healing that
they so desperately need and deserve.
Let me say in
closing thanks to the Clinton Police Department and their 2 detectives, the Jackson
Police Department, and most of all Jamie McBride and Shaunte’ Washington and
those in the DA’s office for their pursuit in this case and helping all of us
get this point. I don’t know how they
do their job and deal with the people that they have to deal with on a daily
basis, but I am grateful for them and their hard work to bring this case to a
close. I am thankful for their
compassion towards us and their determination to see this to the end.
Shining a Legislative Light on Sexual Abuse Cases
The fact is that child molesters,
pedophiles and sexual abusers are rarely ever violent, low-income
individuals -- something many people are led to believe
in movies and on television shows. In fact, research suggests that they are your
neighbor, your co-worker, your friend or even your spouse. These abusers come
from all walks of life, various income levels and are often regarded as
"upstanding" members of their communities. Yet, no one wants to talk about
sexual abuse or talk about sex abusers. However, not talking about it is the
worst thing that we can do for the abused and for their
families.
Clarion Ledger: Victims should see help