Former Utah Missionary Indicted Sexual Abuse 14 Boys Tonga Arrested Pennsylvania

William James Purdy, a 28-year-old man from Utah, was federally indicted and arrested in Pittsburgh for sexually abusing 14 minor boys while serving as a missionary and later as a teacher in Tonga. Purdy allegedly groomed the victims by providing gifts such as electronic devices, food, toys, and money in exchange for sexual acts and secretly recorded some victims. After being arrested in Tonga in 2022 following allegations from an eight-year-old victim, Purdy was released and continued abusing children before fleeing Tonga in March 2023 under a false identity to evade prosecution. His case was brought to light through a federal investigation involving Homeland Security Investigations, the Diplomatic Security Service, and Tongan authorities, as part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative targeting child exploitation. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti emphasized that the U.S. is committed to prosecuting child exploitation crimes even when they occur overseas and condemned Purdy's actions and flight from justice. Purdy was indicted on charges of sexual exploitation of children and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual contact.