Christian summer camp Kanakuk Ministries and its insurer are not liable after allegedly concealing knowledge of sexual misconduct at its camp, a judge in Christian County Circuit Court ruled Friday.

The case was brought by Logan Yandell, a survivor of sexual abuse by Kanakuk Ministries’ former camp director Pete Newman. Yandell alleged the camp’s CEO lied to his parents, which influenced them to sign a settlement and non-disclosure agreement for $250,000 that they otherwise would have continued to fight.

Yandell says his family relied on statements made by camp CEO Joe White on a phone call that “nothing has been on (the camp’s) radar with (Newman)” when settling in 2010.

Yandell’s attorney Reed Martens argued in a November proceeding that the camp’s insurer, ACE American Insurance Co., influenced White to cover up his knowledge, saying White was acting as an agent of the insurance company during the phone conversation.

Judge Raymond Gross, who typically serves in Ozark County but was brought in to oversee the case, dismissed Yandell’s claims of fraud, saying he lacked the “right to rely” on a misstatement by White after newspapers reported that Kanakuk “knew of inappropriate behavior since 2003” and a public sentencing referenced the camp’s knowledge.

Yandell said he didn’t realize White had not told the truth until 2021, but Gross ruled that there were occasions he should have learned of the camp’s negligence years prior.

The statute of limitations in Missouri restricts fraud claims to five years after the fraud is discovered. Yandell should have known about the misstatement more than five years before he filed his claim, Gross wrote, making him ineligible to bring the claim.

Gross also rejected ACE Insurance as responsible for White’s statement, writing: “There is no evidence that ACE vested White with any power to speak or act on its behalf.”

The ruling did not mention a letter that the camp drafted to send to families that ACE “strongly recommended not to send.” This occurred after the phone call with the misstatement.

Gross wrote that there was no evidence of ACE pressuring White “prior to or during the phone call.”

The trial scheduled for July is now canceled. Attorneys for Yandell could not be immediately reached for comment.

By Austin Fitzgerald

Jan. 17, 2025

Two students from the Missouri School of Journalism recently placed in the top five in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program’s Television I — Features competition. Junior Nathan Lee secured first place, while senior Hunter Walterman claimed fifth in the prestigious program, now in its 65^th year.  

Both students were recognized for stories aired on KOMU-TV, the journalism school’s professional NBC-affiliate station.

“This strong showing from Nathan and Hunter reflects well on their talent for community reporting and on the power of learning by doing with the Missouri Method,” said David Kurpius, dean of the school of journalism at the University of Missouri. “Accomplishments like this continue to show why our students are in high demand in the industry.”

Lee won first place for two stories exploring how political issues of various scales affected Missouri communities. One covered the potential impact of a Missouri ballot measure on law enforcement pensions, while the other examined the divide between Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas, as a microcosm of the national abortion debate.

Lee’s win comes with a guaranteed place in the Hearst National Championship this summer, along with a $3,000 scholarship and a matching grant for the journalism school.

“Nathan’s abilities to tell these important stories in a way that viewers can easily understand are remarkable,” said Professor Elizabeth Frogge, managing editor at KOMU.

Walterman took fifth place for stories on AI in agriculture, the Budweiser Clydesdales and a community picnic in rural Tebbetts, Missouri, each story showcasing a different slice of mid-Missouri life. The fifth-place finish comes with a $1,000 scholarship and a matching grant for the school.

“Hunter is a skilled storyteller who excels in shooting video, writing and editing,” Frogge added. “His stories are all fun to watch, and he deserves this recognition from Hearst.”

The 14 Hearst competitions will continue until through March, and the program will culminate in the National Championship in June, when the top winners will go head-to-head.

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