After Sex Abuse Investigation, Worcester Soup Kitchen Leader Resigns

WORCESTER, MA — St. John Food Program chief William Riley resigned Wednesday ahead of the release of a more than 70-page investigation into allegations that he sexually abused women who patronized the food pantry.

Diocese of Worcester officials placed Riley on leave in March after an anonymous woman alleged that Riley abused her. Nicole Bell, founder of the group Living in Freedom Together, a Worcester organization that helps people leave the sex trade, made similar allegations against Riley.

But a section of the report released Thursday about whether Riley "engaged in inappropriate conduct with female patrons of the food program" was completely redacted.

The women also accused St. John's Rev. John Madden of ignoring previous complaints made about Riley. The report released Thursday, compiled by attorney Robert Hennigan Jr., cleared Madden of wrongdoing.

In the midst of Hennigan's investigation, an unidentified person and members of LIFT said that they had been told Madden paid for a woman to stay at a sober house in exchange for her favorable testimony during the Riley investigation. The report found Madden did make those payments, but there was "no evidence to suggest" Madden had benefited. LIFT withdrew its involvement in the investigation in June over that issue.

Here's the redacted report released Thursday by the Diocese of Worcester:

RELATED: Worcester Officials Speak Out About St. John's Abuse Allegations