PEORIA (IL)
Channel 25 News
February 13, 2019
(Warning: This story contains graphic material and is not suitable for a younger audience.)
Although he now lives in Rockford, Jeff Jones was born into a devout Catholic family in Pekin. Growing up in Central Illinois in the 1950’s and 60’s his mother often volunteered at St. Joseph’s. It was during that time he first met Father Walter Breuning.
“He would bring gifts. He bought my mom and dad an air-conditioning unit, he bought them new carpet. And I’m a little boy right and I’m seeing all the stuff thinking, ‘gosh, this guy is tremendous,’” recalls Jones.
At a young age Jones says he quickly grew attached to the Priest. So, when Father Breuning was transferred from his Parrish in Pekin to St. Anthony’s in Atkinson, Jones says he jumped at the invitation to come stay with the Priest on various breaks from school, including his summer vacation. He recalls working odd jobs around the rectory for money by day, sleeping on a couch in the living room by night.
But then, one day, he says the relationship changed.
“He said to me, ‘You know, why don’t you go in here? The air conditioner is better in my room. Why don’t you come on in there and sleep in there?’ And I said, ‘OK,” Jones begin, with a long pause as he looks down and stares at his clenched hands. “He started rubbing my back and I’m thinking, ‘OK, this is OK, and then he started dipping his hand down in my underwear. He took my underwear off and he began to, you know, massage me down there.”
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