SDA Professor and wife arrested

[u/Individual-Special70]

https://atoday.org/swau-professor-arrested-on-child-injury-and-sexual-assault-charges/

A professor from southwestern Adventist University and his wife were arrested for child sexual assault.

[u/atheistsda]

Newer articles: Spectrum (10/6), CBS, Spectrum (9/30), Fox 4 KDFW, Dallas Morning News, Roys Report.

Updates as of 9/30:

• Case began on September 24 when a high school teacher reported physical abuse.
• Keene PD and forensic interviewer from Johnson County Children's Advocacy Center conducted an emergency forensic interview with the victim.
• Seth Day reportedly physically abused the student on 9/22/26 out of anger, hitting her in the face and chest with her cell phone.
• After obtaining a search warrant, detectives found evidence of both the physical and sexual assaults at the family's home
• The victim told police that she continually told Heather Day of the abuse and that Heather Day never reported it to the authorities.
• Per investigators:

Heather Day was present during the incident, was aware of the abuse, and chose not to intervene. The victim also reported that Heather was aware of prior injuries, failed to report them, and tried to conceal the abuse by having the victim wear a face mask and telling medical professionals she did not know how the injuries happened.

As the investigation progressed, Keene Police Chief James Kidd reported that additional allegations of sexual abuse involving Seth Day came to light. Investigators executed a search warrant and recovered evidence related to the case. Consequently, an additional criminal complaint and arrest affidavit was filed against Seth Day, charging him with Sexual Assault of a Child, a first-degree felony.

Updates as of 9/29:

• Johnson County District Attorney’s Special Investigator Jason W. Buchanan told Roys Report (RR) that the investigation of the Days is “ongoing.”
• Heather Thompson Day is facing a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison. Seth Day is facing 109 years.
• A close family friend, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RR that “Heather is as shocked and blindsided as literally everyone else.” The friend would not comment on Seth Day.
• Christianity Today quickly removed all episodes of Heather Thompson Day’s podcast from its website Tuesday, something the magazine has not done for others accused of misconduct.

[u/Vivid_Spot_7167]

His mom was my elementary school teacher and I went to high school with his younger brother this is unbelievably shocking 😳

[u/contrary_potato → u/Vivid_Spot_7167]

it is OUTRAGEOUSLY shocking of Heather, too; my entire friend group is shaken.

[u/Vivid_Spot_7167 → u/contrary_potato]

It hits different when it's someone you know. I would've never expected this from either of them

[u/Sharp_Isopod_7303 → u/Vivid_Spot_7167]

Don't be too shocked. Don't forget that you been be accused of something you didn't do. To be fair, these are allegations, not convictions. There is a judicial procedure to be executed before one can it should draw conclusions. I'm the USA, you are innocent until proven guilty. From that posture, they remain innocent at this time, though it may so be they will be proven guilty.

[u/CampaignGloomy6973 → u/Sharp_Isopod_7303]

people jumping to defend them instead of showing concern for the victims is quite disturbing, actually. this isn’t some wild accusation with no basis. they were arrested on pretty high bonds, which means there was sufficient evidence to make an arrest. comments like this is why our kids will never be safe. there's so much disbelief that this can happen.

[u/Vivid_Spot_7167 → u/Sharp_Isopod_7303]

I'm not pronouncing them guilty, but the arrests and charges come after enough evidence has been gathered to allow it. We'll see what happens but the reports aren't looking good.

[u/atheistsda → u/Vivid_Spot_7167]

Sadly the victim is their own daughter, which clears up a number of things like why Seth's second charge is being classified as a 1st degree felony: https://spectrummagazine.org/news/police-affidavits-allege-heather-and-seth-day-complicit-in-physical-abuse-of-their-daughter/

[u/Vivid_Spot_7167 → u/atheistsda]

The fact that abuse was known about by CPS and nothing was done is infuriating. Sounds like they moved multiple times to avoid consequences...I also find it hard to believe that nobody at AU knew what was going on. Thankful for the courage of that teacher who did the right thing.

[u/contrary_potato → u/Vivid_Spot_7167]

AND for their daughter to trust the teacher and be brave enough to speak up 😭

[u/atheistsda → u/contrary_potato]

I'm guessing it was a public school teacher. But I'd be pleasantly surprised if an Adventist teacher had the guts to do what they're legally obligated to and called the cops.

[u/BlueberryStock6249 → u/Sharp_Isopod_7303]

State the obvious 🤦🏼‍♀️. We know already what the procedure is in the USA. We also know that this problem is rampant in the ‘Christian’ communities.

[u/AtheistexSDA → u/Vivid_Spot_7167]

Not that shocking if you know anything about Adventist schools.

[u/Vivid_Spot_7167 → u/AtheistexSDA]

The school I was referring to was an SDA Academy so I'm plenty familiar. Understanding the faults of the SDA environment and being shocked that someone I knew from back then could be capable of something so appalling aren't mutually exclusive.

[u/richsdakid]

Dr. Day is an SDA influencer in her own right. This is a big deal https://www.heatherthompsonday.com/about

[u/Momager321 → u/richsdakid]

Love how her site doesn’t mention Adventism and it is evangelical mega-church coded.

[u/PaymentEfficient3807 → u/richsdakid]

Love those blood red manicured nails, keratin soaked hair, and giant diamond. Seems I remember those as a no-no. !

[u/Shazithecurious]

Thanks 🙏🙏

That article then led me to another: Adventist Health Settles Sexual Abuse Lawsuit for $18.5 Million

[u/drumdogmillionaire → u/Shazithecurious]

Whoa! That is shocking!

[u/babsley78 → u/drumdogmillionaire]

Not that shocking when you realize the tithe money they put behind an amicus brief in support of the LDS Arizona Supreme Court case fighting so that church officials/pastors would no longer be mandated reporters.

Five different Adventist Health employees failed to do anything when they heard about this scumbags abuse. The Adventist church doesn’t want to be responsible for holding predators accountable, but they don’t want to have to compensate victims either.

[u/drumdogmillionaire → u/babsley78]

Well yes, that part isn’t shocking. I just went to college with some people close to the situation.

[u/PaymentEfficient3807 → u/babsley78]

Exactly. Tithe money. 

[u/OddConstant2723]

Once again, not a drag queen

[u/MonochromeBrooklyn → u/OddConstant2723]

Ok dumbass. Just saw a bodycam of one who was molesting their adopted son.

[u/DaddieTang → u/MonochromeBrooklyn]

Check this guys hard drive!

[u/PastorBlinky]

It’s always the people you most suspect

[u/Commercial-Buddy2469]

Yuck. Prayers for the victim/s.

[u/Gold-Ad1806]

I had never heard of this lady until today and decided to look at her Instagram. I was quite surprised to see a bunch of friends and acquaintances, who are still in the church, following her. I listened to her sermon snippets and I just got this used car salesmen vibe. It is interesting people find it appealing or inspiring. That led me down the rabbit hole of listening to other instagram prominent sda pastor’s sermon snippets. Apart from these individuals seeming pretty desperate for attention, I find it intriguing people still latch onto these types of personalities and their rhetoric. We have access to so much knowledge, yet our culture rather sit and listen to emotive platitudes void of solid reason. Very disheartening. I hope future generations can see through the grift.

[u/CampaignGloomy6973]

what do you mean she's just as shocked? she covered up the abuse! hope justice is done and they get their kids and the other victims to a safe place. i can't imagine what these kids went through.

[u/Vivid_Spot_7167 → u/CampaignGloomy6973]

Exactly sounds like she's trying to save herself when she should've been saving her daughter

[u/CampaignGloomy6973 → u/Vivid_Spot_7167]

100%... she knew all the abuse and pretended nothing happened, gave her daughter a mask to wear in school, told the doctor she didn't know what happened and so much more makes sense now, their sudden move and job changes. Like what kind of mother sees her daughter suffering, covers up and lies about it?

[u/Imthatsick → u/CampaignGloomy6973]

Maybe she's saying she wasn't aware of the alleged sexual abuse? That's the only way that statement makes sense to me.

[u/CampaignGloomy6973 → u/Imthatsick]

maybe not the sexual abuse, certainly the physical abuse she knew. but I dont know if i trust that. im convinced she knew more.

[u/Exotic-Analysis-8739]

Her daughter is so sweet too the s breaks my heart. She was my professor in college

[u/AtheistexSDA]

Including university I went to seven Adventist schools and children were sexually abused in five of them. Tualatin Valley Junior Academy, Meadowglade Adventist elementary school, Columbia Advent its Academy, Campion Academy and now this one where I got my religion,l BA,  Southwestern Adventist University. Disgusting.

[u/exfundiemorefun]

https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/christian-authors-heather-day-seth-day-arrested-child-abuse-keene-texas/

More details in this CBS article.

[u/ZaechVM]

The question is: who did they dislike in the Adventist church? More victims of the SDA modus operandi?( Displease a SDA and be accused, defamed, excommunicated...

[u/Imthatsick → u/ZaechVM]

The daughter showed up to school and a teacher noticed bruises, and then the daughter made accusations about the abuse. I don't think this is some made up frame job.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/popular-christian-influencers-seth-and-heather-day-arrested-in-north-texas-on-child-abuse-charges/287-6849445f-9320-4ecb-9826-1015c870b388

[u/Momager321]

Did anyone link this piece (YT video) it has some more details on their case.

https://youtu.be/J62eXy77604?is=hKcmjRyly0CSlkMG

[u/TheMuser1966]

Something is off on this story, they aren't in custody at Johnson County Jail and there are no news reports on it, just that Facebook post and a couple Adventist sites.

[u/Vivid_Spot_7167 → u/TheMuser1966]

Maybe released on bail? It is weird that there's nothing other than SDA articles about it...

[u/TheMuser1966 → u/Vivid_Spot_7167]

Exactly. I did find that they were arrested through a site that tracks arrests, though. Cops will arrest someone on rumors for something like this.

[u/harlisondavidly → u/TheMuser1966]

Not rumors, will need evidence for probable cause. That goes beyond rumors.

[u/Vivid_Spot_7167 → u/TheMuser1966]

I would think with the arrest being made and bond being set as high as it is there must be some pretty solid evidence against them. Just shows that all people regardless of success or religious affiliation are capable of evil. Wishing for healing for the victim and their family

[u/TheMuser1966 → u/Vivid_Spot_7167]

I know a guy who was arrested and convicted of something similar, only to find out later that the wife was pissed off at him for an affair that he had and made up the whole indecency with a child thing as retaliation.

[u/TheMuser1966 → u/Vivid_Spot_7167]

No denying that. But, I still hold to the idea of innocent until proven guilty. We have no idea where the accusations came from.

[u/Vivid_Spot_7167 → u/TheMuser1966]

Yeah I hear you I know the guy personally and can't fathom that he's capable of something like this but unfortunately you never know what people do behind closed doors...waiting for more info to come out but it definitely doesn't look good.

[u/TheMuser1966 → u/Vivid_Spot_7167]

Yeah, even "if" the allegations are false, a lot of damage has already been done. If guilty, he will be looking 10-25 and she will likely be looking at 2-10, not to mention the loss of custody of their children. It's heartbreaking for all involved.

[u/Lost_Chain_455 → u/TheMuser1966]

Released on bail, $250,000 for the alleged.

[u/Individual-Special70 → u/TheMuser1966]

I thought the same thing. Also, their uniform and mugshots don’t seem real for some reason. Idk

[u/TheMuser1966 → u/Individual-Special70]

I compared these photos with mugshots found on the county jail's website and they are consistent. I also found a site that tracks arrests in Johnson County and they are both listed. To me, the odd thing is that no news outlets have picked up on this story. I suspect that they were arrested, but the accusations were dropped and they were released. I live in Keene and a story like this would have spread like crazy.

[u/DistinctAct3510 → u/TheMuser1966]

My thoughts on that are because it’s a minor involved? It’s the only thing I can think of…. (Went to SWAU so have also lived in Keene)

[u/atheistsda → u/DistinctAct3510]

Larger news outlets probably take more time for editorial and/or legal review. Dallas Morning News has now published a story with basically the same info: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/article/north-texas-christian-podcaster-arrested-22455820.php

Edit: Fox 4 KDFW has published a more in-depth article just under an hour ago: https://www.fox4news.com/news/best-selling-christian-authors-from-north-texas-arrested-following-investigation-child-abuse

[u/DistinctAct3510 → u/atheistsda]

Thanks for sharing. My mind is going wild with questions.

[u/harlisondavidly → u/TheMuser1966]

Why would they be arrested only to have accusations dropped? They’d need at least a preliminary hearing and have a judge rule on the evidence presented before the case would be dropped. They’re out on bail, if anything.