- CHILLAX

TEEN MISSIONARY CONFESSES TO RAPING CHILDREN AT KENYAN ORPHANAGE

Generally, missionary work is viewed as a noble, selfless and admirable. However, one teen missionary may be spending the better portion of his life behind bars as he’s accused of harming the very people that he was supposed to be helping.

According to KTLA 5, 19-year-old Matthew Durham has been accused of molesting several children while volunteering at a Kenyan children’s home. Durham confessed to raping girls, forcing boys to perform oral sex on him and making other children watch. Sadly, the ages of the victims range from 4 years old to 9 years old.

“This is a young man in our community that made choices to exploit children in an orphanage,” said United States Attorney Sanford Coats. “It’s a true tragedy all the way around.”

Durham did mission work with an organization called Upendo that provides assistance to neglected Kenyan children by providing them with food, clothing, a place to stay and religion. A complaint against the teen, who volunteered overseas several times last year, says that he requested to board in dorms with the children during his stay.“Durham requested to stay at the children’s home in an ‘overflow bunk’ rather than at an offsite facility.”

During his last visit, several of the children alleged that he “often touched them in a sexual manner or told them to touch themselves while he watched.” Once confronted, Durham reportedly confessed to the crimes.

“A caretaker at the orphanage noticed something wasn’t right and confronted Mr. Durham. He admitted to some of the acts,” said attorney Coats.

An affidavit regarding the case also revealed that at least one of the children Durham is alleged to have molested has the HIV virus.

Although the alleged crimes were committed in Africa, prosecutors say that Durham can be tried for them in his home state of Oklahoma. He is currently being held without bond.