MOUNT VERNON — Licking County Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant May 15 at the home of Knox County Commissioner Drenda Keesee. Commissioner Keesee and her husband, Gary Keesee Sr., live at 6040 Sharp Road. According to the warrant, the search was limited to photographs and/or videotaped images of the property for evidentiary purposes in […]
Drenda Keesee
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4th victim alleges sexual misconduct against former Faith Life Church official
Editor’s Note: An arraignment is scheduled for June 3 at 1:30 p.m. MOUNT VERNON — A fourth victim has come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against former Faith Life Church media officer Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee Jr. Keesee was previously indicted on 27 sexual-abuse counts, including 11 counts of first-degree rape. A Knox County grand […]
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Faith Life Church ‘deeply saddened’ by rape charges, arrest
NEW ALBANY — The megachurch that formerly employed a man recently charged with rape involving a minor is “deeply saddened” by the news that broke earlier Friday. Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee, Jr., 36, was arrested Friday by the Licking County Sheriff’s Office. He is the son of Gary and Drenda Keesee, who lead Faith Life […]
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Gary Thomas Keesee Jr. arrested on two counts of rape
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story may be updated if more details become available. NEWARK — The adult son of the two leaders of Faith Life Church was arrested Friday on two rape charges involving a minor. Gary Thomas Keesee Jr., 36, was arrested by the Licking County Sheriff’s Office. According to a press release from the […]
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Ohio Attorney General’s office probed Faith Life Church finances in 2020
NEW ALBANY — The Ohio Attorney General’s Office recently refused to investigate alleged sex crimes involving a megachurch, but did examine its finances five years ago. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s charitable law section probed Faith Life Church’s finances after a May 2020 complaint filed by a former member and employee of the church. The […]
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Faith Life Church statement claims inaccurate media reports on sex abuse case
MOUNT VERNON — An attorney representing a New Albany megachurch entrenched in an investigation involving sexual abuse issued a statement over the weekend that attempts to set the record straight on “inaccurate reports.” Katie Taber, a partner at Asiatico Law, issued the statement on behalf of her client — Faith Life Church — on Friday […]
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Crisis of faith: Sex abuse allegations surround Keesee-crafted religious empire
MOUNT VERNON — Gary Thomas Keesee, an Ohioan with a shy disposition, and Drenda Shelaine Hocott, a blonde southern belle from Georgia, met in college. They both attended Oral Roberts University, situated on a 385-acre campus just 20 minutes south of downtown Tulsa, Okla. Both shared a burning desire to serve God — whom they […]
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‘Truth will prevail:’ Faith Life Church pastor preaches Sunday amidst sex crimes investigation
NEW ALBANY — The head pastor of a megachurch under investigation for links to alleged sex crimes preached Sunday about applying lessons found in the Bible as a way to weather storms. “All hell is breaking loose out there … but truth will prevail,” said Gary Keesee, pastor of Faith Life Church, during one of […]
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Sex crime allegations involving Faith Life Church focus of joint law enforcement probe
MOUNT VERNON — The Knox and Licking County sheriff’s offices are jointly investigating allegations of sexual misconduct connected with the Faith Life Church in New Albany. The church and its more than 3,000 members are led by co-pastors Gary Keesee, and his wife, Drenda Keesee, who recently took office as Knox County commissioner. The Ohio […]