Epstein Victims Failed by Many, Says Letter

Letter writer questions where parents were as underage girls were abused.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:20am

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A letter to the editor published on nola.com argues that the victims of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes were failed not just by Epstein himself, but also by the parents who allowed their underage daughters to be placed in such a situation. The letter writer, Dr. Tooley Towns of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, states that the Epstein case has raised many unanswered questions, and that the lack of parental oversight is one that has not been adequately addressed.

Why it matters

The Epstein case has sparked outrage and calls for accountability, but the role of the victims' parents in allowing the abuse to occur has received less attention. This letter raises an important point about parental responsibility in cases of child exploitation.

The details

In the letter, Dr. Tooley Towns argues that the Epstein case involves "obvious child abuse" and that the parents of the 14-year-old girls who were victimized "should have been prosecuted" alongside Epstein. The letter suggests that the focus on Epstein's crimes has overshadowed questions about the parents' actions or inactions that enabled the abuse to take place.

  • The letter was published on nola.com on March 12, 2026.

The players

Dr. Tooley Towns

A resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana who wrote a letter to the editor criticizing the lack of attention on the role of the victims' parents in the Epstein case.

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What they’re saying

“The one question not asked is: Where were the parents of these 14-year-old girls to allow them to be placed in this situation? This is obviously child abuse, and the parents should have been prosecuted.”

— Dr. Tooley Towns (nola.com)

The takeaway

This letter raises an important point about parental responsibility in cases of child exploitation, an aspect that has received less attention compared to the focus on the perpetrator's crimes. It suggests the need for a more holistic examination of how underage victims end up in such situations, including the role of parents and guardians.