ACTOR Stephen Collins was photographed for the first time in five years near his Iowa home after the once-beloved 7th Heaven star was disgraced by admitting sexual abuse involving minors.
Stephen, 76, played Reverend Eric Camden on the hit WB series 7th Heaven from 1996 to 2007.
14
14
14
The New York Police Department and Los Angeles Police Department launched separate investigations into Stephen in 2012, while the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department investigated a third incident of sexual abuse in 2014.
Although Stephen admitted to sexually abusing three underage girls from 1973 to 1994, he was never charged with the crimes.
The US Sun has now obtained exclusive photos of the disgraced star, who fled Los Angeles to live a reclusive life in rural Fairfield, Iowa.
In the rare photos, Stephen was seen pumping gas near his $557,500 home on Monday, April 28.
Read more about Stephen Collins
He was photographed cleaning the windows of his modest Toyota SUV before driving to a nearby supermarket.
Stephen parked near the entrance and carried two empty six-packs to keep inside and change.
After depositing the bottles, Stephen withdrew money from the supermarket’s ATM, but had difficulties with the machine and spent around 10 minutes withdrawing notes.
Stephen tried to remain incognito as he ran errands wearing a baseball cap and glasses.
He did not interact with other people as he kept his head down and seemed anxious throughout the ride.
The former actor wore a blue baseball-style shirt with jeans and sneakers for the casual afternoon.
In contrast to his clean appearance while in the spotlight, Stephen had white facial hair.
He is still married to his third wife, Jenny Nagel, and has been seen wearing her gold wedding band.
PRIVATE LIFE
The US Sun confirmed through property records that Stephen purchased his Fairfield, Iowa home in August 2017 and added his wife of 36 years to the deed in December 2021.
The modest 2,447-square-foot home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The ranch-style home has an office, meditation room, screen porch, two-car garage, access to walking trails, and quieter amenities.
Stephen, who was born in Des Moines, Iowa, has not been photographed since November 2019, when Daily Mail obtained photos of him and his wife having breakfast with friends.
Stephen did not immediately respond to The US Sun’s request for comment.
14
14
14
14
THIRD MARRIAGE
The Daily Mail reported that Stephen and his German wife tied the knot in July 2019.
The channel claimed she was a superfan of the show and posted about the series and her character 10 years before the wedding.
The couple participates in transcendental meditation sessions at Maharishi Vedic City, for close members only.
Stephen was previously married to Marjorie Weinman from 1970 to 1978 and Faye Grant, with whom he shares a 35-year-old daughter, from 1985 to 2015.
14
14
14
ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE
According to The Hollywood ReporterStephen admitted to his second wife, Faye, that he had been sexually inappropriate with three underage girls aged 11 to 13 from 1973 to 1994.
The couple separated in February 2012 and he filed for divorce in May of that year.
TMZ released leaked audio in 2014 of Stephen confessing to sexual abuse committed during one of the couple’s counseling sessions.
The audio was leaked in 2012 to the NYPD and LAPD, who began investigations, as the LASD began an investigation in 2014.
In October 2014, TMZ reported that Stephen would not be charged in all three investigations.
The media outlet reported that the three cases are decades old and are time-barred.
I did something terribly wrong.
Stephen Collins
STEPHEN SPEAKS
In a December 2014 statement to People magazine, Stephen confessed to the incidents and stated, “I didn’t have the impulse to act that way.”
He said: “Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong and I deeply regret it. I have been working to atone for it ever since. I decided to address these issues publicly because two months ago, several news organizations published a recording made by my then-wife, Faye Grant, during a confidential marriage therapy session in January 2012.
“This session was recorded without my knowledge or the therapist’s consent.
“In the recording, I described events that occurred 20, 32 and 40 years ago. The publication of the recording resulted in assumptions and insinuations about what I did that go far beyond what actually occurred. As difficult as it is, I want people to know the truth. “
He continued by apologizing to his three victims: “I had the opportunity to do it to one of the women, 15 years later.
“But after I learned in the course of my treatment that being direct about these matters could actually make things worse for them by opening up old wounds, I did not approach the other two women, one of whom is now in her 50s and the another in her 30s.”
‘I AM A DEFECTIVE PERSON’
Then, in an interview with Katie Couric that same month, he admitted about the 1973 incident: “I knew something unthinkably wrong had happened and I couldn’t take it back.”
He credited therapy and religion for not committing another sexual assault since 1994.
Stephen said: “I am an imperfect person. And in church, it’s actually one of the things I love about church… it’s really one of the main things about the Christian faith.
“Christ said in many ways, ‘bring me that… which is broken in you, bring it,’ and most people are broken in some way.”
Stephen was fired from his acting job and reruns of 7th Heaven were temporarily suspended.
14
14
14
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
