Associated Press
Oklahoma authorities are investigating whether the executive director of an international Christian ministry killed himself amid allegations he’d molested a 10-year-old girl, police said Monday.
Tom White had been reported missing last Tuesday, the same day police in Bartlesville received a report about the alleged molestation, said Bartlesville Police Capt. Jay Hastings. White was the executive director for The Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit headquartered in in the city 50 miles north of Tulsa that says it provides medical supplies, food and clothing to persecuted Christians worldwide.
Police found the 64-year-old’s body at the organization’s Bartlesville headquarters Wednesday. Employees discovered a letter in White’s vehicle indicating he was “suicidal or possibly fleeing to avoid investigation” and turned it over to police, Hastings said.
“You can take it either way,” Hastings said. “It was kind of a goodbye letter. You don’t know if he was talking about himself.”
Hastings said police are awaiting an autopsy report by the state Medical Examiner’s Office. A message seeking comment was left with the office Monday. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/23/cops-oklahoma-ministry-head-dies-amid-abuse-probe/#ixzz1svkP25gU
Statement from Voice of the Martyrs
Tom White: (1947-2012)
April 20, 2012
The Voice of the Martyrs statement concerning the death of Tom White:
The events of the last week are tragic. On Wednesday we learned that Tom White, VOM’s executive director, had died.
Allegations were made to authorities this week that Tom had inappropriate contact with a young girl. Rather than face those allegations, and all of the resulting fallout for his family and this ministry and himself, Tom appears to have chosen to take his own life.
None of those in leadership at VOM, including our Board of Directors, were aware of these allegations at the time of Tom’s death.
There is no doubt that Tom cared about his wife, his children and his grandchildren. And there’s no doubt that he cared about VOM.
We are deeply saddened by these events. Our hearts are broken.
However, the work that God has called VOM to do is bigger than any one of us. There are persecuted Christians who need our help. The legal process will go forward, and we will continue serving with our persecuted brothers and sisters.
We appreciate the many who are praying for our work, and we encourage you to join us in praying for Tom’s family during this difficult time, as well as the family of the alleged victim.
A letter from VOM’s president will be posted on our web site, www.Persecution.com, next week. (source)