BRANSON (MO)
KOLR-TV [Springfield MO]
July 10, 2024
By Makayla Strickland
A former counselor at Kanakuk Kamp in Branson is serving multiple life sentences for sexually abusing campers, but he will soon have a chance at parole.
After serving 14 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, Peter Newman will appear for a hearing in front of a parole board in September.
Thomas Carver, Newman’s defense attorney, says he expects the parole board to side with the many victims calling for Newman to stay in prison.
“I’m sure because of the notoriety of this case, that there will be about a billion people show up at the parole hearings telling them not to let him go,” Carver said. Ex-camper sues Branson-based summer camp for allegedly concealing sexual abuse
While some victims of Newman’s abuse will address the parole board, others will not be able to.
“I used to call him a survivor, but he didn’t survive. So now I refer to him as a victim,” Elizabeth Phillips said. “He died by suicide in 2019 because of complex PTSD, because of the trauma he endured at the hands of this monster who is now eligible for parole.”
Phillips’s brother, Trey Carlock, was abused by Newman and took his own life in 2019.
“Child sexual abuse survivors are called survivors for a reason. Not all of them survive. And unfortunately, my brother doesn’t have a voice and that’s why I’m speaking out,” Phillips said. “So this really is life or death. There’s a reason that these convicted felons should remain behind bars for life, and it’s because it is life or death.”
She is leading the charge to collect letters and testimonies to convince the parole board to keep Newman locked up.
“We are raising hell about those to protect society from dangerous criminals like Pete Newman. And we will be showing up at that hearing,” Phillips said. “We will be submitting statements to ensure he remains behind bars. He is not safe and hundreds of victims can testify to that.”
All letters and statements regarding Peter Newman can be directed to the Missouri Department of Correction’s Senior Victim Service Specialist Julie Loveall at the Office of Victim Services in Jefferson City by September 24.