TORONTO -- The investigation into camp counsellor and local high school teacher David Dewees continues, even after he took his own life, police said yesterday.
"There's children out there that might need some sort of counselling," Toronto Police Det. Bill McGarry said. "We really don't know what we're facing until we reach those kids."
Dewees was arrested Thursday on charges of luring and invitation to sexual touching after allegations surfaced involving e-mails sent to two teenaged boys he had met while volunteering as a counsellor at Ontario Pioneer Camp near Huntsville.
The 32-year-old Jarvis Collegiate Institute teacher was released on $25,000 bail before jumping in front of a train at High Park subway station Saturday.
Hours after Dewees was arrested at his west-end home, McGarry appealed to other potential victims to come forward. Dewees' picture was released, as well as several e-mail addresses he used.
Since Dewees' death, several of his students and colleagues have expressed anger over the media coverage his charges received -- coverage that was, compared to similar sex crimes investigations, standard.
"To think that all this media hype drove an innocent man to an early grave before he had a chance to prove his innocence!" wrote a man who identified himself as a former camp colleague.
More than 100 students gathered at High Park subway station yesterday to hold a vigil for their teacher.
With bouquets of flowers and signs that blamed the news coverage for his death, many students cursed at members of the media who approached them.
Dewees' suicide and the comments that followed are troubling for Karyn Kennedy, executive director of BOOST Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention, which provides services to victims of abuse.
"It's very difficult to come forward when sexual abuse or sexual exploitation has happened. It takes a lot of courage. And for a victim to come forward and then have something like this happen, which is a tragedy for everybody, is going to discourage potentially others from coming forward," Kennedy said yesterday.
McGarry wouldn't comment on whether other children have come forward since his appeal, but said, "We're still getting tips. We're actively following up on leads."
"No doubt, maybe he was a great teacher, but that's not what we're dealing with," McGarry added.
"We're dealing with some very serious crimes against children."
TAMARA.CHERRY@SUNMEDIA.CA
