An Oregon resident has been charged following allegations that he “relentlessly” tormented the father of a child who perished in the tragic 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
Kevin Purfield, aged 58, is facing ten counts of telephonic harassment along with a felony stalking charge, as detailed in a probable cause affidavit from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities have reported that Purfield targeted and harassed Robbie Parker, an employee at Oregon Health & Science University, according to Law&Crime.
Parker’s child was among the victims in the 2012 school shooting that claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults.
The affidavit characterizes Purfield as “a conspiracy theorist who seeks out and terrorizes families mourning children lost in mass shootings, among other tragedies.”
In a Sunday interview, Purfield claimed he has been continuously harassed by conspiracy theorists who insist that the shooting was a fabricated event orchestrated by gun control advocates.
Oregon Live reports that Parker became an advocate for parents who lost children in mass shootings. Along with speaking publicly, he authored, “A Father’s Fight: Taking on Alex Jones and Reclaiming the Truth about Sandy Hook.”
“I’ve always been on his radar,” Parker said. “The only time he hasn’t been harassing us is when he’s been incarcerated or at the state psychiatric hospital.”
Police said Purfield is one of a numerous people who have been claiming the school shooting was a hoax. Purfield allegedly told Parker he would “get what was coming to him,” after showing up to OHSU unannounced.
Parker said Purfield’s harassment extended to other staff members at the school, who were “getting sucked into this crazy vortex.”
Earlier this month, Parker filed a protective order against Purfield.
Despite being served with the order and permanent exclusion from the school, Purfield continued to harass the victim and other OHSU employees. He allegedly made a call to the school within minutes of being served the order and claimed that Parker’s “daughter was never killed.”
“Defendant has ignored these orders and persisted in contacting [the dad] and other OHSU employees, and has dialed OHSU employees and extensions and left voicemails on at least 10 occasions,” the affidavit read.
Purfield remains behind bars without bail. He is scheduled for a court appearance on December 5.
[Feature Photo via Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office]
