Chillicothe prison officer, former therapist accused of sexually assaulting former inmate

A corrections officer employed by the Missouri Department of Corrections and a former mental health therapist have been accused of sexually assaulting a former inmate at the women’s prison in Chillicothe, according to an official release.

A federal lawsuit was filed on Tuesday, claiming that the officer and the former therapist violently and repeatedly attacked their victim during their working hours at the prison.

The corrections officer, Edward Bearden, is still employed. The therapist, John Dunn, is not.

Karen Backues Keil, the victim in the lawsuit, was incarcerated from 2011 until 2017 for stealing and forgery. She was released on Feb. 1, 2017.

While imprisoned, beginning in 2012, Bearden allegedly started sexually attacking her.

Keil told Dunn of the abuse, who then allegedly started sexually assaulted her.

“I was afraid I would not get to see my daughter and husband for a very long time,” Keil said. “I knew if I reported these horrific acts to anyone else, that I would be the one who would be punished. The one person I did report to started assaulting me, as well.”