West Valley Man Indicted for Sexual Abuse of 14 Minors in Tonga

William James Purdy, a 28-year-old man from West Valley City, Utah, has been federally indicted and arrested for sexually abusing at least 14 minor boys while in Tonga. Purdy initially traveled to Tonga in 2017 as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and later returned in 2019 to work as a teacher, during which he allegedly groomed, sexually abused, and exploited boys by providing gifts, money, and other incentives. He was arrested by Tongan authorities in 2022 after an 8-year-old victim reported abuse but was released on bond and continued abusing children. Prior to his 2023 trial in Tonga, Purdy fled the country using an assumed identity and returned to Utah, leading to his arrest in Pittsburgh. U.S. Justice Department officials emphasized their commitment to prosecuting Americans who exploit children abroad, condemning Purdy's actions as a betrayal of trust under the guise of missionary work. Investigations revealed Purdy also secretly recorded victims and lived with some, further deepening the severity of his crimes.