ST. CHARLES (IL)
WLS - ABC 7 [Chicago IL]
November 11, 2026
By Michelle Gallardo
Three women who say they were sexually abused as children by a former Salvation Army youth pastor are accusing the organization of failing to protect them and covering up what was happening at its Tri-City Corps in St. Charles.
The women, now in their 30s, spoke publicly about abuse they said began after they started attending the church in the late 1990s.
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“For decades, I held guilt and shame,” Kristy Wynveen said.
Wynveen was 13 when she said then-youth pastor Brian Davis began grooming and sexually abusing her. The abuse stopped years later after her father contacted police. Davis was fired, convicted and sentenced to two months in prison.
Wynveen later learned there were other victims, including Lindsey Gauthier, who was 11 at the time.
“At the time I thought everything was my fault. And after it happened I was told to lie,” Gauthier said.
Anna Kozak accused a relative who held a leadership position with the Salvation Army of enabling the abuse.
“My aunt, Senaida, was the social services director for the Salvation Army. She was aware of the abuse and facilitated the abuse,” Kozak said.
Two of the women filed lawsuits this week alleging the Salvation Army ignored warnings about Davis and concealed the abuse. Their attorneys said the cases are intended to hold the organization accountable rather than further punish Davis.
“We sued the National Corp because all this starts with the top,” said Mike Grieco, a partner at Gould, Grieco & Hensley.
“Members of the Salvation Army even warned young women to stay away from Brian Davis. They covered it up and that’s why it took decades to obtain justice,” said Charlie Terry, another partner at the firm.
A Salvation Army spokesperson said the organization learned of the complaints against Davis in early 2025 and has participated in mediation with the women’s attorneys.
“We recognize the profound and lasting impact of sexual abuse, and we are grateful for the courage it takes to come forward. We encourage anyone who may have been harmed by Mr. Davis to contact the authorities,” the organization said in a statement.
The Salvation Army said at least one other case involving Davis has been settled and that it is open to resolving the newly filed cases.