Dozens of boys aged 11 to 17-years-old were repeatedly molested and physically abused by staff, directors and other residents at the group home for troubled foster children, which operated from 1979 to 1994.  They were also serially abused by community members when they were sent to do odd jobs by KVH staff.

The State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services first learned of widespread abuses at Kiwanis Vocational Home soon after it opened.  But officials failed to act.  Although operated by a private entity, the home was sanctioned and endorsed by the Kiwanis organization.  Kiwanis required board members of the group home to be Kiwanis members, and Kiwanis members hired Chuck McCarthy, the now deceased Executive Director and ringleader of the abuses.

The details emerging over the decades of operation and beyond are despicable.  One staff member was even arrested for rape and attempted murder, but staff and administration ignored warning from boys about David Pyles’ abuses, and no one from the state investigated.

McCarthy fired at least one staff member for wanting to report an incident of rape at the group home.

Despite all of the reports and warnings, Kiwanis International reauthorized the use of its name at KVH nearly a decade after it opened.  Sexual and physical abuses continued unabated, along with reports of misappropriating funds, altering official records, hiring of unqualified staff, and criminal incidents going unreported to authorities.  Yet the state continued to ignore all of the abuses and wrongdoing, and kept placing troubled boys at the home despite knowing they’d likely be subjected to unfathomable abuses.

Over 80 boys have now come forward and filed lawsuits.  Attorney Darrell Cochran and his team have reached nearly $120m in settlements on their behalf.  Most recently, Washington State and Kiwanis International agreed to pay over $30m in settlements on behalf of several boys abused at KVH.  A number of other suits are pending.

Cochran encourages other survivors of abuse at KVH to reach out and learn how they can be helped by taking legal action against those responsible for their years of trauma and decades of suffering that resulted.  “It’s never too late, and getting help can be a critical part of your healing journey and provide resources to live a much healthier and fuller life going forward,” Cochran said.