KANSAS CITY (MO)
Kansas City Star [Kansas City MO]
March 4, 2025
By Laura Bauer
Ali Terwilliger was having coffee with friends when she learned that prosecutors weren’t filing charges against Bobby Hawk, a former pastor accused of grooming young women years ago.
“My heart just dropped,” Terwilliger said. “I feel like I was in shock for a couple of days.”
Terwilliger is one of several women who came forward last year, hoping Hawk — who led EPIC Church KC and also was president of the Blue Springs school board — would be held accountable. But they were told recently that because the statute of limitations had run out, charges could not be filed.
“We were really devastated by this,” said Destiny Bounds, who led a news conference in July where women alleged that Hawk had taken advantage and groomed them dating back to the 1990s, But they also took comfort, Bounds said, that the prosecutor’s office said the reason for no charges is because of the statute of limitations, not what the women told authorities.
“The prosecutor has said straight to my face she believed all of us,” Bounds said. “The prosecutor has reassured me as of last week that if there’s any new information, if there’s any new evidence, if there’s any new victims, they will open the case.”
Jazzlyn Johnson, director of communications with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, told The Star last week that the prosecutor’s office learned of the investigation involving Hawk in June 2024.
The office “carefully reviewed all evidence and allegations,” Johnson said, and determined that the “statute of limitations precluded the filing of any charges that could have been pursued.”
She also said that if any “new evidence or allegations come to light, the office will review it.”
Johnson said on Tuesday that when the statute of limitations “bars our office from pursuing charges, it does not mean we don’t think the crime occurred, it’s about following our state’s laws.”
“Regardless, survivors of misconduct deserve to be heard,” she said, “and I commend every woman who comes forward to share their truth.”
To further explain the decision to not file charges, Johnson elaborated on how the statute of limitations was applied in the case.
“There was a version of the statute of limitations for prosecutions for sexual offenses involving a person under (18) that was in effect in the late 90s when the offenses occurred,” Johnson said in an email. “It required that charges be brought within 10 years of the victim turning 18. The current version of (that law), which became effective August 28, 2018, states that unlawful sexual offenses involving a person (18) years of age or under may be commenced at any time.
“We are, however, legally required to follow the statute of limitations that was in effect at the time the offenses occurred and not the version in effect when the case was presented for charges.”
Public allegations against Hawk first surfaced in a blog post written by Isabelle “Izzy” Davis. Last summer, she detailed Hawk’s “grooming” behavior, which she alleges began after her family started attending EPIC Church in Independence, where Hawk was a founding pastor.
The post in June described Hawk paying “special attention” to Davis, 23, starting when she was around 11 years old. She said during a youth group sleepover at his home roughly 10 years ago, Hawk grasped her hand and placed it underneath his thigh while the two were watching a movie. She said Hawk told her not to tell anyone.
Soon after Davis’ post, Hawk resigned from his position on the Blue Springs school board. Then, the church placed him on immediate leave and posted a statement on its social media and the homepage of its website. On June 21, Hawk resigned from his position at the church.
Hawk, who is believed to have moved out of state, could not be reached for comment.
After Davis posted her story, others with ties to the church posted on social media about Hawk, including allegations that he harassed church staff members.
Hoping change comes
Since last summer, more women have come forward, Bounds said. And a group of several women want to continue the fight for accountability, she said.
Included in that would be talking with lawmakers to improve Missouri’s laws when it comes to cases of grooming and sexual misconduct.
“We’re glad that we’re in this fight right now, because we think we can make a difference here with that as well,” Bounds said. “I don’t even understand the necessity at this point of a statute of limitations against a crime against minors.”
Terwilliger attended multiple churches with Hawk. And she said she had “situations” with him starting at 12 years old and then again when she was in her 20s.
She hopes that she and other women who are standing up now will bring an awareness for others to be able to come forward.
“Because it’s such a hard thing to bring to the church,” she said. “And to speak up when it’s a leader in that situation.
“So I think my heart is just for anyone who has had a situation like mine that they would feel courage to be able to bring something like that to light, because it’s a difficult thing to do.”
The Star’s Robert A. Cronkleton contributed to this report.