Former Missionary Allegedly Exploited Minors Under Guise of Mission Work
William James Purdy, a 28-year-old former Mormon missionary from West Valley, Utah, was arrested in Pittsburgh on July 24, 2025, for sexually abusing 14 boys in Tonga.
Indicted on July 16, Purdy allegedly groomed and assaulted minors during his 2017 mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and later as a teacher in Nuku’alofa.
Court documents reveal he offered gifts like electronics and money for sexual acts, even recording victims in his bathroom.
Arrested by Tongan police in 2022 after an 8-year-old’s disclosure, Purdy fled to Utah under a false identity before his 2023 trial.
“This is a profound betrayal,” said Homeland Security’s Edward V. Owens.
The Justice Department’s case, backed by Tongan authorities, underscores global efforts to combat child exploitation.
Purdy faces decades in prison if convicted, highlighting the need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable children abroad.
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