2 women sue Salvation Army over alleged sex abuse by suburban Chicago youth pastor
Women accuse former Salvation Army youth pastor of sexual abuse
Three women are speaking out about alleged childhood sexual abuse by a former Salvation Army youth pastor in suburban Chicago, with two suing the organization for allegedly failing to intervene.
COOK COUNTY, Ill. - Three women are speaking publicly for the first time about experiences they say they've kept private for more than two decades — recounting sexual abuse they allegedly suffered at the hands of a trusted authority figure at their church.
Salvation Army sex abuse lawsuits
What we know:
Two women, Kristy Wynveen and Lindsey Gauthier, filed separate lawsuits this week in Cook County against The Salvation Army and affiliated organizations. The lawsuits accuse the organization of failing to act on warnings about Brian Davis, a former youth pastor at the Tri City Corps in St. Charles.
The lawsuits allege Davis groomed and sexually abused girls involved in church youth programs in the 1990s. Wynveen's lawsuit says the abuse began when she was 13 and continued for about two years.
"I'm here today to shift that guilt and shame onto those who could have protected me," Wynveen said.
According to Gauthier's lawsuit, she was 11 when she began attending the church. Her complaint describes a similar pattern of grooming followed by sexual abuse at the church, a community center, and other locations.
"After it happened, I was told to lie," Gauthier said. "I struggled ever since that point. That's why I'm here today. I'm standing up for that little girl and other potential victims."
A third woman, Anna Kozak, also shared her experience on Wednesday. Kozak alleges Davis abused her as a teenager and that her guardian, a Salvation Army social services director, knew about their relationship and failed to intervene.
"It lasted for several years," Kozak said. "Since the abuse stopped, I feel like I have been revictimized, not just by the thoughts of what happened to me, but also by the lack of accountability from The Salvation Army."
The lawsuits allege church leaders received repeated warnings about Davis but allowed him to remain in ministry.
In 2002, Davis was charged in Kane County with two felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one misdemeanor count of criminal sexual abuse in connection with Wynveen's abuse. He pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in June 2003, according to court records.
What they're saying:
"The Salvation Army had repeated warnings about Davis's inappropriate conduct with young girls, but they ignored it and allowed him to remain in a position where he could keep abusing them," said Michael Grieco, a founding partner at Gould Grieco & Hensley.
"This was an institutional failure. The organization had a responsibility to protect these children, and we intend to hold it accountable for failing to do so," Grieco said.
"The message to these girls was clear: stay silent or face the consequences. The adults who were supposed to protect them used their authority to discourage disclosures and protect the institution instead," he added.
The other side:
The Salvation Army provided the following statement to FOX Chicago on Wednesday:
"The safety and well-being of everyone who participates in Salvation Army programs is paramount. Any allegation of sexual misconduct is deeply concerning, regardless of when it occurred and who may have been involved. Such behavior is fundamentally inconsistent with our mission, values, and commitment to those we serve, and it will not be tolerated.
"In early 2025, The Salvation Army learned of four complaints against Brian Davis from the 1990’s involving sexual misconduct with teenage girls. We promptly began working to understand the allegations and to engage respectfully with the claimants and their counsel. These active discussions have taken place for more than a year. All claims have gone through mediation, and one was resolved through that process. We remain open to resolving the remaining claims.
"The Salvation Army takes active measures to implement safety protocols, which are in place at all of our locations. Our Safe From Harm program was established in 2001 to safeguard children and vulnerable individuals through implementation of consistent screening, training, and reporting processes. We will continue to strengthen these protections and accountability measures to ensure they reflect evolving best practices and the highest standards for those in our care.
"We recognize the profound and lasting impact of sexual abuse, and we are grateful for the courage it takes to come forward. We encourage anyone who may have been harmed by Mr. Davis to contact the authorities."
In a follow-up statement, a spokesperson confirmed that Davis is no longer affiliated with the organization:
"Mr. Davis has not been affiliated with The Salvation Army since the year 2000, and he will never again be employed by or serve with The Salvation Army in any capacity."
What's next:
The civil lawsuits filed by Wynveen and Gauthier will move through the court system.
The Source: The information in this story came from a press release issued by Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC, Kosnoff Law, PLLC, and Law Offices of Chad A. Bowers, LTD.