NOC’s Luetkenhaus Created Secret Sexual Game; New Details Emerge

Mike Seals - May 12, 2021 12:44 pm

TONKAWA (News 9) –  Disturbing new details in the kidnapping and sex crime case against a now-former college professor, Anthony Luetkenhaus has been discovered.

The theatre professor has been accused of playing a secret sexual game with his former students, and he was “the master.” In exchange, those involved told police they received attention and even preferred roles in productions.

Right now, Luetkenhaus is out of jail but has bond restrictions in place.

“He did bond out,” said Tonkawa Police Chief Nick Payne. “We do know of his location.”

Originally police said there were upwards of 40 potential victims. Today News 9 asked if that number had grown.

“We are still working on that,” said Payne. “We’ve got a large group of people we are reaching out to that have reached out to us.”

He said they take daily calls from people about the case, some from even outside of Oklahoma.

Because of the number of interviews and the level of complexity, the department has partnered with agencies like the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Police told News 9 previously that Luetkenhaus lived in Illinois and Missouri prior to moving to Oklahoma.

Right now, Payne isn’t ready to say where Luetkenhaus was previously employed. He did tell News 9 some of those past employers had reached out to the department.

Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois did confirm Luetkenhaus was an alum, and administrators said he could have served as a graduate or teaching assistant. The university is checking on the specifics still but said no one from law enforcement had contacted the university.

Dozens of people shared our original story, some claiming they were former students when Luetkenhaus apparently worked in Missouri.

Many encouraged any of their former classmates that may have been victims to come forward.

News 9 reached out to the institution mentioned in the posts, but the college did not return the request for comment or conformation.

“We are following up on those leads,” said Payne. “Each lead spawns one or two more leads so following those as well.”

Payne said the investigation could take months, but he’s confident.

“We’re very confident that it’s going to be a good investigation, and the outcome is going to get us where we need to be as far as these allegations are concerned,” said Payne.

Luetkenhaus’ next court appearance is set for August 20.

According to court documents and police, Luetkenhaus’ wife of 14 years has filed for divorce. News 9 reached out to her attorneys but did not hear back.

 

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