Megachurch Founder Accused of Molesting 4-Year-Old

Girl told police Bob Coy abused her for years
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 15, 2017 1:02 AM CST
Megachurch Founder Accused of Molesting 4-Year-Old
Bob Coy.   (Christow/Wikipedia)

The founder of one of Florida's biggest megachurches was in 2015 accused of molesting a young girl for years, starting when she was just four years old, the Miami New Times reveals for the first time. In August 2015, a woman contacted police to say she had discovered that Fort Lauderdale Calvary Church founder Bob Coy had sexually abused her daughter. The girl, by then a teenager, told police that Coy had started molesting her when she was four, fondling her genitals and forcing her to perform oral sex. She said the abuse continued until her teen years. According to police records seen by the New Times, there was little progress on the case for eight months. Then, the girl walked into Coral Springs Police headquarters, saying she "had an experience with God and has found forgiveness."

The girl, who said she was moving overseas, asked for the files to be destroyed. Police said they couldn't destroy files, but they closed the case the same day. In the New Times' view, the claims "raise new questions about the pastor, his church, and the police who handled the case." Broward State Attorney Mike Satz says he was never told about the investigation. Coy, known as a "superstar preacher" who found religion in the '80s after working at a record company and a Vegas strip club, was never charged. In 2014, he left the church amid allegations of adultery and other "sexual immorality," the Miami Herald reports. Asked about the abuse allegations, church spokesman Michael Miller said: "We learned of this report after it was disclosed and reported to the appropriate authorities. We take every allegation of abuse seriously, and our prayers are with the Coy family as they pursue redemption and healing." (More megachurches stories.)

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