I joined the Boy Scouts as a young boy in West Monroe, Louisiana, around 1981. Like many kids, I trusted the adults who were put in charge of us. My Scoutmaster, Norman Kee, was someone looked up to. He had authority, and I believed he was there to guide and protect me.
After a few months in the program, that trust was broken. Kee began sexually abusing me, and it didn't happen just once-it happened over and over again, for years. He would isolate me from the other scouts during meetings, camping trips, and outings, taking advantage of the authority he had been given. The abuse also extended beyond official scouting activities, but it all stemmed from that relationship and access he gained through the Boy Scouts.
As a child, I didn't understand how to process what was happening. I was scared, confused, and ashamed. I didn't tell anyone at the time. I carried it alone. The abuse eventually stopped when I refused to go on outings with him, but the damage didn't stop-it stayed with me.
The impact has followed me throughout my life. I've struggled with anger, anxiety, depression, and intrusive memories. Certain everyday things-like someone mentioning camping-can bring it all back instantly. I've dealt with substance abuse, difficulty in relationships, and deep trust issues. I've also experienced suicidal thoughts and even attempted to take my own life.
What happened to me didn't occur in a vacuum. The system that put Kee in a position of authority over me failed to protect me. The Boy Scouts had a responsibility to safeguard kids like me, and they didn't.
The following “Recommendation” is from Hon. DONALD G. WILKERSON (Ret.), the Judge, aka “Neutral”, that heard my BSA Bankruptcy Independent Review Option (IRO) Hearing on August 13, 2024…
“Based upon my training, education, and experience. I believe the amount a reasonable jury might award for this particular Abuse Claim, considering the relative shares of fault that may be attributed to any party, person, or entity responsible for this Abuse Claim under applicable law and applying the same standard of proof that would apply under applicable law, and given my review of benchmark settlement and verdicts, is $3,500,000.”
The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy over six years ago on February 18, 2020, and there are 82,209 Claimants. So far, there have been over 60,000 Claims that have been “Determined” with an average of $500,000 to $600,000. Due to the rampant fraud and malpractice, the BSA Bankruptcy Trust is severely underfunded and the most any Claimant has been paid so far is 4.7% (1.5% first payment + 3.2% second payment) of what they have been determined to be owed, and those that have signed their Agreement had to do so acknowledging they will not be 100%… with no indication what percentage will be paid. It’s more and more likely to be less than 10% and take additional small payments over several more years.
I have not signed any agreements and have not received any payment at all from the BSA Bankruptcy Trust. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld the BSA Bankruptcy May 13, 2025, then a Hearing was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court January 2026.
We now have to take this to the U.S. Congress to have them investigate the BSA/SA for not mandatory reporting Child Sexual Abuse and all of the fraud and malpractice leading up to and as part of the BSA bankruptcy.
Children are still not safe, child predators are still sexually abusing children… abusing and being arrested even after the BSA bankruptcy was filed.
Funds are needed to help cover time, research, and resources to hold the BSA/SA accountable. Without accountability, NOTHING will change!
