The founder of a Fox Valley based group that helps find missing children and adults is suspended without pay, and off the board of directors. Jay Breyer started Youth Educated in Safety 17 years ago. Board members held a special meeting Monday evening to make the move. Board president Terri McCormick says they had to act once members suspected financial and performance problems. “Law enforcement requested that we give them some breathing room, so they can conduct their investigation,” said McCormick. “They have very serious concerns.” A letter from the board treasurer accuses Breyer of writing checks without the board's authorization, and sidestepping requests for financial information. McCormick said the finances were a surprise, and the board also received conflicting stories about the number of cases the group handled: “we have an organization that cannot attest to specific cases that were worked on, and cannot attest to past financial practices.”
Breyer denies taking money from the nonprofit. “I never took any money” he said. “Sure there's some shortcomings. You know, you pay the bills when you could, and when you couldn't, you made things stretch. This has been driven by heart and soul, and whatever's driving this motivation now is absolutely ludicrous.” The decision by the board of directors suspends actions by the group for 30 days. Breyer questioned where people will turn to during that time, if a loved one goes missing.
AUDIO: Terry McCormick, Jay Breyer (1:45 MP3)
