In the spring of 2015, the story of Chad Geyen, a 46-year-old male from Ramsey, Minnesota, reached a somber and abrupt conclusion. On the weekend just before his trial was set to begin, Geyen took his own life. His body was discovered in the Elm Creek Park Reserve on Sunday, April 26, 2015. The cause of death was determined to be a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. No suspects were sought in connection with his death, as authorities ruled it a suicide.
At the time of his death, Geyen was a man facing a future of legal battles and potential imprisonment. He was scheduled to appear in court for jury selection on the following Monday, where he would have faced multiple charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Geyen, a former volunteer for youth programs such as the "Big Brother" program and the "Young Eagles" aviation group, was accused of sexually abusing at least five young boys over a span of two decades. The alleged incidents of abuse took place at various locations, including his home and cabin.
The charges against Geyen were first filed in November 2013, and detailed allegations of abuse that reportedly began in the 1990s and continued until 2013. The victims were said to be as young as five years old when the abuse started. One of the accusers publicly shared his story, describing how Geyen had presented himself as a father figure before the abuse began and continued for a decade. The conclusion of the case with Geyen's death left many, including the victims and law enforcement, with a sense of unresolved justice. The Anoka County Attorney's office described the event as a tragedy that left many questions unanswered for the victims.
