• Home
    • Document Library
  • About
  • Civil Cases-U.S.
  • Criminal Cases – U.S.
  • Pennsylvania Grand Jury Investigation
    • Pennsylvania Grand Jury Criminal Arrests 2022-2025
    • AG Press Releases
    • Catholic Church Report
    • Pennsylvania Justice System
  • Global Child Abuse Investigations
    • New Zealand
    • Australian Royal Commission
  • The Palmer Leaks Documents

JW Child Abuse

Jehovah's Witness Child Abuse Case Documents and News

×
BREAKING

Document Category: The Palmer Leaks: Stolen Child Abuse Documents

The Palmer Leaks Documents are a group of confidential documents removed by a whistleblower from the Palmer Massachusetts Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2017. These documents, along with additional documents from surrounding congregations, exposed a significant ring of sexual abuse that extended from Maine to Massachusetts and other Northeastern Congregations in the United States. Among those documents were descriptions of extreme rape and multiple sexual assaults performed by JW elders, publishers, and other members of the Church against many minor children as young as 4 years of age. The documents were originally published on the Faith Leaks website, which was later sued out of existence by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The documents led to national news coverage by Gizmodo, Newsweek, and the Atlantic. The owner of this website turned many of the pertinent documents over to law enforcement, which led to the arrest and criminal prosecution of Ernie Fyans, a former Jehovah’s Witness elder who remains in prison as a result of the exposure of these documents.
TitleSummaryLinkhf:doc_categorieshf:doc_tags
November 14th, 1999 Letter from Palmer Congregation to Watchtower New York

November 14th, 1999 Letter

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
January 20th, 2000 Letter from Palmer Congregation to Jehovah’s Witnesses- CCJW

January 20th, 2000 Letter Palmer to CCJW

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
March 27th, 2000 Letter from Jehovah’s Witnesses to Palmer Congregation

March 27th, 2000 Letter from JWs to Palmer

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
October 10th, 2002 Letter From Palmer Congregation to Warehouse Point

October 10th, 2002 Letter From Palmer to Warehouse Point

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
April 2nd, 2003 Letter from Palmer Congregation to XX Congregation RE: Ernie Fyans

April 2nd, 2003 Letter from Palmer Congregation RE: Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
April 22nd, 2003 Letter From Warehouse Pt. Connecticut Congregation to Palmer Congregation

April 22nd, 2003 Letter From Warehouse Pt. CT Cong. to Palmer

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
April 24th, 2003 Letter from Palmer Elder documenting Phone Call RE: Ernie Fyans

April 24th, 2003 Letter from Palmer Elder documenting Phone Call RE: Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
April 27th, 2003 Detailed Journal of Notes by JW Elder in Palmer Massachussets

April 27th, 2003 Detailed Journal of Notes by JW Elder in Palmer MASS

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
April 30th, 2003 Detailed Investigation Notes into Ernie Fyans’ Abuse

April 30th, 2003 Detailed Investigation Notes into Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
May 4th, 2003 – Judicial Hearing of Ernie Fyans

May 4th, 2003 – Judicial Hearing of Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
February 29th, 2004 Letter to Jehovah’s Witness District Overseer RE: Assembly Incident

February 29th, 2004 Letter to Jehovah’s Witness District Overseer

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
August 15th, 2004 Letter from Fort Kent Maine Congregation to Watchtower Society RE: Child Abuse

August 15th, 2004 Letter from Fort Kent Maine Cong. to Watchtower RE: Child Abuse

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
August 15th, 2004 Letter from Warehouse Point CT Congregation to CCJW Headquarters RE: Ernie Fyans

August 15th, 2004 Letter from Warehouse Point CT Congregation to CCJW Headquarters RE: Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
September 20th, 2004 Interview with Child Abuse Victim at Palmer Massachussets Congregation

September 20th, 2004 Interview with Child Abuse Victim at Palmer Mass

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
September 22nd, 2004 Letter from Warehouse Point Congregation to Palmer Congregation RE: Ernie Fyans

September 22nd, 2004 Letter from Warehouse Point to Palmer RE: Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
October 21st, 2004 CCJW Letter to Palmer Massachussets Congregation RE: Ernie Fyans

October 21st, 2004 CCJW Letter to Palmer Massachussets Congregation RE: Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
October 26th, 2004 Written Statement from Victims Documenting Abuse from Ernie Fyans

October 26th, 2004 Statement from Victim RE: Abuse from Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
November 1st, 2004 Summary of Investigation into Ernie Fyans’ Child Abuse Sent to Watchtower Legal and Service Departments

November 1st, 2004 Summary of Investigation into Ernie Fyans Child Abuse

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse legal-department service-department the-palmer-leaks
November 2nd, 2004 Memorandum Describing Basis for Forming Judicial Committee RE: Ernie Fyans

November 2nd, 2004 Memorandum Describing Basis for Forming Judicial Committee RE: Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse memorandum the-palmer-leaks
December 10th, 2004 Letter from Palmer Massachussets Congregation to JW Service and Legal Department

December 10th, 2004 Letter from Palmer Massachussets Congregation to JW Service and Legal Department

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
December 13th, 2004 Letter from Fort Kent Congregation to Watchtower Service Department

December 13th, 2004 Letter from Fort Kent to Watchtower Service Department

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
December 16th, 2004 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Westfield Congregation

December 16th, 2004 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Westfield Congregation

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
March 6th, 2005 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Congregation Elders

March 6th, 2005 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Elders

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
March 14th, 2005 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Congregation Elders and Other Ranking JWs

March 14th, 2005 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Elders and Other Ranking JWs

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
April 25th, 2005 Letter from CCJW Service Department to Fort Kent and Palmer Congregations RE: Ernie Fyans

April 25th, 2005 Letter from CCJW Service Dept. to Fort Kent and Palmer RE: Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
May 22nd, 2005 Letter from Circuit Overseer to CCJW Headquarters RE: Ernie Fyans

May 22nd, 2005 Letter from Circuit Overseer to CCJW Headquarters RE: Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
June 29th, 2005 Letter from CCJW to Palmer Congregation RE: Ernie Fyans

June 29th, 2005 Letter from CCJW to Palmer Congregation RE: Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
July 25th, 2005 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Elders – Stamped by Service Department

July 25th, 2005 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Elders

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
August 18th, 2005 Letter from CCJW Service Department to Ernie Fyans

August 18th, 2005 Letter from CCJW to Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
January 3rd, 2007 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Elders

January 3rd, 2007 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Elders

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
January 3rd, 2007 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Elders RE: Natick Assembly Hall Incident

January 3rd, 2007 Letter from Ernie Fyans to Elders RE: Natick

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
January 11th, 2007 Letter from CCJW Service Department to Palmer Congregation RE: Ernie Fyans

January 11th, 2007 Letter from CCJW to Palmer Congregation RE: Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks
August 8th, 2012 JW Service Committee Notes RE: Ernie Fyans

August 8th, 2012 JW Service Committee Notes RE: Ernie Fyans

Preview Document
the-palmer-leaks-documents-child-abusechild-abuse-documents jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse the-palmer-leaks

Post Categories

Recent Posts

  • Jehovah’s Witness Attorney Philip Brumley Appeals Fines For “Reckless Disregard” of the Truth
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses Sue Editor of JW Child Abuse Website for Millions
  • Fessler Trial - Jury Selection
  • Fessler Trial - Opening Statements
  • Fessler Trial - Part 1
  • Fessler Trial - Part 2

Archives

Jehovah’s Witnesses Sue Editor of JW Child Abuse Website for Millions
News Center Maine reports on the January 13th. 2025 lawsuit filed by a child abuse survivor against the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Fort Kent Maine and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. Court documents allege that the victim was sexually abused by at least three members of the Fort Kent Congregation from the late 1980s into the 1990s. One of the abusers, Ernie Fyans, was convicted in Aroostook County Maine in September of 2023 and remains in prison on a 20-year sentence. Fyans was serving as an elder in the church during a portion of the time the crimes were committed.

Recent Comments

  • karl t. on The Palmer Leaks: Stolen Documents Reveal Cover-Up of Child Abuse
  • Christopher K Steuart on 2025 Appellate Court Decision Upholding Sanctions Against Philip Brumley
  • Melody Johnson on Jehovah’s Witnesses Sue Editor of JW Child Abuse Website for Millions
  • Karen on Jehovah’s Witnesses Sue Editor of JW Child Abuse Website for Millions
  • Hector Davar on Jehovah’s Witnesses Post Mandatory Reporting Training Instructions, Existing Policies Unchanged

The trial of Shaun Sheffer is scheduled to commence on January 13th, 2025.


The OAG reported on its website that Sheffer "is alleged to have sexually assaulted a young family member, beginning when the child was just 7-years-old. Due to their close relationship, Sheffer was often left alone with her for long periods of time during which he repeatedly raped and assaulted the young girl. He is charged with Rape, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, and Corruption of Minors."

Case Docket

OAG Report

The trial is scheduled to last approximately one week in Butler County

Copyright © 2022 JW Child Abuse. All rights reserved.