John Woodfield, Retired AP Bureau Chief, Commits Suicide Following Molestation Charges

FOREST HILL, Md. — A retired Associated Press bureau chief has killed himself after being charged with molesting two boys over a five-year period.

John Edward Woodfield Sr., 80, was found dead in his home on Saturday from a single gunshot, according to Lt. Jim Eyler of the Harford County Sheriff's Office. The medical examiner's office ruled the death a suicide.

Woodfield, who retired in 1991 as bureau chief in Baltimore, had been charged the day before with sexual abuse of a minor and other charges.

Woodfield worked for the AP for more than 30 years, the entire time in Maryland. He was the bureau chief in Baltimore for 19 years.

Comments

[rbryanh]

It's a tragic, terrible waste that this poor man resorted to suicide.

The last time I checked, the Catholic church was still actively seeking candidates for the priesthood.

[ignorantwillyharper]

He would have made a good one, but in the end he did the Honorable thing.

[roshni]

Well, I hope the whole story comes out for the sake of the victims and any other possible victims who are out there.
The victims need closure.

[Pem3]

He should have given himself over to the parents of the boys, for a suitable punishment and expiration ceremony.

[smark]

What a SICKO!!!

[roshni]

At least a coward.

[KIVPossum]

I think it was quite courteous of him to save taxpayers the expense of a trial.

[1laingirl]

But, more importantly, by saving the victims from having to "re-live" the abuse by testifying.

[tellmelies]

To all potential child molesters, do as this guy did before you act on your sick impulses and ruin childrens lives.

[ccoppe]

Hmmm . . . . .it's a statistical rarity that the innocent, falsely accused, commit suicide.

[MsLiz]

Got a source? Sounds like guesswork to me.

[plaidsportcoat]

SOunds like common sense to me.

[huffnpuff147]

Guilty or not, this story would have goteen 24/7 Balloon Boy coverage - way too much for the 80 year old heart to handle.

[maxfax]

Not that this has anything to do with this story, the AP is one of the most biased news organizations, after Faux News.

[roshni]

it is.

[roshni]

And it may have something to do with this story because very little information is being given out on this case. I wonder whether they are protecting their own.

[BushSmahers]

Yeah, if the Public Option was at 80% in the polls, AP would write it as "controversial". It should not only take a sex scandal for them to do away with themselves. Liars, your turn.

[cremesupreme]

maybe the "Death Panel" was involved

[CmdrTomalak]

Yep. Nothing says 'Guilty' like bullet in the head.

[glomtt]

Coward!!!

[roshni]

That he was.

[brady61995]

glad he did it. one less polanski the better.

[roshni]

Polanski is an entitled narcissist to the end. he would never harm himself, just other people.

[brady61995]

we will see. he is also a coward and being faced with spending x amount of time in prison might be enough to push him over the edge

[SoCalNick]

Wussy

[goodog]

"Woodfield, who retired in 1991 as bureau chief in Baltimore, had been charged the day before with sexual abuse of a minor and other charges... He was the bureau chief in Baltimore for 19 years."

1972. That means he was appointed to the AP by Nixon... who we can blame for this, the Regan-era cheese trucks, and George Bush.

[PunDyt]

What do you mean appointed by Nixon?

The AP is a not-for-profit cooperative owned by its member newspapers, radio stations and television stations and has nothing to do with the government.

It's not a fun place to work (it one of those places that eats its young), but it's not government operated by any stretch of imagination. Am I missing some hyperbole here?

[roshni]

Actually he was charged with sexually abusing two teenage boys, ages 7 and 10, over a five year period.
If true, pretty horrendous for those boys to be subject to such prolonged abuse.

[roshni]

Sorry, that was two young boys, not teenage boys.

[LilyBlue]

Victims of sexual abuse are at a much higher risk for suicide than the general population. Speaking as a victim myself, my heart goes out to the victims in this case. If the alleged perpetrator did in fact commit the crime, well, he got off way easier than his victims, whose lives will be forever impacted by the abuse. I hope none of them will succumb to the dark lure of suicide often engendered by childhood sexual abuse.

[Sylmason]

Much love to you.................................

[roshni]

Get help and support and remember that the best revenge is to lead a good, productive life.

[cmalbrecht]

While it's true that the accused had not yet been convicted of a crime, I think it's over the top to be outraged that one might wonder how many other victims may be out there.
Pedophiles don't stop at two, nor at eighty. I always remember the words of a California Highway Patrol officer: "I never have a problem handing out a ticket. I know that we only catch a small minority of offenders, and the driver in question has almost certainly gottne away with more than his/her share before I came along."
It is sad however, that it's almost impossible to defend oneself against such accusations.

[Ron Phillips]

Pedophiles aren't all the same, any more than rapists of adults are all the same - a date rapist has a different psychology than someone who targets, say, elderly victims. Some pedophiles never act on their impulses with live victims, confining themselves to fantasy or lesser illegal activities such as downloading child pornography. Lumping them all together may make you feel righteous, as witch hunts will do, but you ignore the studies which contain actual facts.
Among pedophiles who do rape children, there is a minority who are true predators and account for the largest number of victims, often being responsible for dozens or even hundreds. The larger number are opportunists, and may only have as little as one or just a handful of victims. This doesn't excuse them, but it is useful for explaining them, and understanding why some can be put on supervised release from prison at some point, while others should be locked up for life.

[plaidsportcoat]

Excuse me, apologist (and why ARE you an apologist, one might wonder?) but downloading child pornograpy means a real child was really abused, so, yes, they completely act on their impulse of using a child, not caring about the effect on a child, being sexually violent with a child. There are no studies that show child molesters can be "rehabilitated" --- even with chemical castration. If so - show them here.

[brady61995]

sorry ron your post is weak. they dont rape children they just download kiddy porn? all the research that has been done show that a ped can not be cured. their brains are wired to where they are attracted to children only. sorry for them but they all need to go somewhere far away from chidren and never be allowed near them. they have no cure. that is proven.

[roshni]

It's still valid to wonder how many times he may have done this without getting caught.

[roshni]

In this case we know that the charges involve a five year period of continued abuse of two young boys aged 7 and 10. The prolonged period really bothers me and causes me to worry about the victims.

[Pem3]

It really does not matter to me anymore find children attractive in that way and I will find you in cross hairs.

[roshni]

I could not agree more. I do wonder how many other victims may be out there.