Dr. Earl Bradley victims come together at Beebe on Rt. 24

Anger, confusion, shock and unanswered questions poured out Tuesday, Dec. 29, at a public meeting about the alleged crimes of Dr. Earl Bradley.

Dozens of parents of potential victims packed the meeting sponsored by Beebe Medical Center at its Route 24 campus.

The big question on everyone’s mind was what took so long for Bradley to be arrested, especially considering Delaware State Police say they had been investigating Bradley for a year, but they did not have enough evidence to charge him until mid-December.

Officials from the Department of Justice said they couldn’t discuss details of the case, because that could jeopardize what is still an ongoing investigation. Even Bradley’s résumé at Beebe has been sequestered.

Several parents wept just discussing or even thinking about Bradley, the Lewes pediatrician charged with rape and exploitation of young children. Almost everyone who spoke talked about how they trusted Bradley as their doctor, and how that trust was betrayed. One victim said she was ready to make Bradley her child’s godfather.

Wallace Hudson, Beebe’s vice president of corporate affairs, said, “It’s fairly obvious people are angry, betrayed, scared. They should be. It’s a natural reaction they are going through. This is a horrible thing we are going through. No parent, no grandparent should have to endure this. It’s just horrible.”

Hudson said parents needed to take care of themselves in order to help their children.

To facilitate that, Beebe held the meeting, which consisted of a panel of therapists, counselors and family specialists. These child care experts provided pamphlets and contact information for a variety of services for victims to use to help them overcome their grief.

Patricia Tedford, executive director of ContactLifeline, a free, confidential, crisis support service, said parents are the secondary victims in this case.

“What is extremely frustrating for people who are victims is the legal process takes time. What we can address immediately is our emotional justice system,” she said. “It is a horrible thing they are going through.”

Tedford said it is important for people to know they are not alone, and sexual abuse is something people deal with every day.

“We as a community have to support people that are going through this. It affects us all,” she said.

Bradley license suspended

The Delaware Board of Medical Practice has suspended Bradley’s medical license.

Board Vice President Raymond Moore said, “Our mission is to protect the public and today, this emergency action is one of the ways we do that. We have concluded based upon the disturbing information presented in the complaint and emergency motion for suspension that the temporary suspension of Dr. Bradley’s license to practice medicine is necessary until we can fully hear the matter. We are unable to offer any additional comment at this time as this is now a pending disciplinary case.”

Jason Miller, public information officer for the Attorney General’s Office, said there have been no new charges and that law enforcement is not commenting on specific details of the investigation. A preliminary hearing on the Bradley case is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Court of Common Pleas in Georgetown.

Beebe is also holding two more public meetings for the community at its Route 24 campus, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 12 and Tuesday, Jan. 26.