NORTH CAROLINA
WRAL
POSTED: 4:04 pm EST February 2, 2005
UPDATED: 6:09 pm EST February 2, 2005
HARNETT COUNTY, N.C. -- The investigation surrounding Lloyd Coats is growing. The investigation may focus on members of his church who may have known about crimes he allegedly committed.
Lloyd Coats appeared in court to answer charges that he allegedly touched children in an inappropriate manner.
Coats is a former postal worker and church van driver charged with molesting 15 children over several years. Erwin police and the Harnett County Sheriff's Office are looking into whether members of Coats' church, Erwin Church of God, knew what he was doing to young girls but never took the information to police.
The Erwin police chief confirms he will consult with the district attorney to see if there is enough evidence to charge members of Coats' church.
"Things keep coming up. There are a lot of questions that are unanswered," Police Chief Tom Chandler said.
"Someone should be held accountable for what happened to us," said Felicia Fisher, Coats' cousin.
Felicia Fisher said Coats touched her inappropriately on the church van in the late 1980s. The 23-year-old said her uncle brought his concerns to the church.
Posted by kshaw at February 2, 2005 06:41 PM