Police Report Involving Hinsdale Religious Group Secret

HINSDALE, IL – On March 5, 2014, Bill Gothard resigned under pressure as head of the Institute in Basic Life Principles, which was long based in Hinsdale.

Nine days later, a police report was filed involving the fundamentalist Christian institute, 707 W. Ogden Ave. Hinsdale confirmed it was an alleged crime against a person, but declined to provide any more details.

In response to a public records request from Patch, Hinsdale Village Clerk Emily Tompkins said, "I spoke with the Village Attorney and she said releasing the report would be an unwarranted invasion of privacy."

The village said no arrest was made in the case.

In 2014, the institute acknowledged sexual harassment allegations were made against Gothard, a La Grange resident who founded the group in the 1960s.

"(B)ased upon those willing to be interviewed, no criminal activity has been discovered. If it had been, it would have been reported to the proper authorities immediately, as it will be in the future if any such activity is revealed," the institute said in a news release in June 2014. "However, the review showed that Mr. Gothard has acted in an inappropriate manner, and the Board realizes the seriousness of his lack of discretion and failure to follow Christ’s example of being blameless and above reproach."

The conservative Christian institute believes that women must submit to men. Women are required to wear long skirts and adhere to other standards of modest dress.

Among the institute's most prominent followers are the Duggar family of reality show fame. In early June, the Duggars and Gothard were featured in an Amazon documentary titled, "Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets."

Patch briefly interviewed Gothard, now 88, last month outside his home.