Civil suit filed in Illinois case

Springfield | The mother of a former resident of the Illinois Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services (BCHFS) has filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of her daughter against the former BCHFS employee who pled guilty to two counts of criminal sexual assault of a minor. The suit also names BCHFS and the Illinois Baptist State Association (IBSA).

Daniel W. Lanning, Jr., was sentenced to 22 years in prison in White County Circuit Court on Nov. 3, 2022. At the time he was employed as a houseparent at the Carmi facility, along with his wife. She was not implicated in the case. BCHFS representatives said at the time they were fully cooperating with investigators.

The civil suit, filed in Sangamon County Circuit Court on May 16, 2023, alleges that Lanning was fired from a previous job based on allegations of sexual misconduct, and that his background was not adequately investigated prior to his employment with BCHFS.

The suit names former BCHFS Executive Director Denny Hydrick, claiming that he knew about alleged touching incidents involving Lanning beginning in November 2021, but did not report them to authorities. Hydrick’s resignation was accepted by the BCHFS board at a meeting on Oct. 16, 2021. Hydrick left the employ of BCHFS in November 2021.

Former BCHFS Executive Director Doug Devore returned as interim director and was active throughout the investigation. Kevin Carrothers, who is also an attorney, became BCHFS Executive Director in January 2023. Carrothers issued this statement after the civil suit was filed:

“BCHFS has been named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit alleging acts of sexual misconduct by a former BCHFS staff member. We remain committed to providing Christ-centered services to the community and ask the Illinois Baptist family to pray for everyone involved.”