A North Carolina man, who has asked not to be identified, has come forward with his story of abuse from 50 years ago and is now hoping for closure. The abuse occurred during his time at The Children’s Home in the 1960’s when he was just a child. The orphanage was overseen by the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and the husband and wife hired to care for the children instead took the opportunity to abuse them.
“No one checked on these children,” Richard Serbin, Chair of JJS Sexual Abuse Division, said. “(They) essentially went unchecked in their demonic ways violating children, one after another.”
Serbin now represents four adults who claim the same couple abused them at The Children’s Home. He’s filed suit against the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, who failed to protect the children in their care.
This legal action is now possible thanks to North Carolina’s Safe Child Act which was passed in 2019. The law opens a two year window, allowing adults, previously past the statute of limitations, a chance to seek justice in civil court. The window is open only until December 2021.
“After that, child sex abuse survivors will not have the opportunity to seek the justice they deserve,” Serbin said.