More Women Allege Harassment by RI Actor & Former College Prof Gleadow - State Police Investigating
GoLocalProv News Team
More Women Allege Harassment by RI Actor & Former College Prof Gleadow - State Police Investigating
GoLocal has confirmed that the Rhode Island State Police are now assisting the investigation being conducted by Newport Police.
Now, the allegations of impropriety by Gleadow date back to the 1980s — and the stories echo Witschen’s account of Gleadow asking her to take part in a “storyboard” shoot that involved bondage, gagging, and explicit language.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAccording to the women, Gleadow reached out to them and asked them to take part in "role-playing' scenes they say were photographed -- or videotaped.
Witschen said she never consented to the material being used for sexual purposes.
RI State Police Assisting Newport Police In Investigation
An Access to Public Records Act request submitted by GoLocalProv on Saturday to the Rhode Island State Police by GoLocal unveiled that RISP is assisting the Newport Police into complaints of sexual abuse.
The State Police’s Chief Legal Counsel Adam Sholes wrote, “In response to your request, the RISP has been requested by the Newport Police Department to assist with a limited portion of an investigation. You may wish to seek a response from the Newport Police Department as to the overall investigation. As it relates to the RISP portion of the investigation, it is still ongoing and not yet completed. As such, please be advised that any responsive record maintained by the RISP is exempt under the APRA.”
From Pawtucket -- To Filming at RIC
“In 1987, I did Music Man at Pawtucket Community Players,” Jennifer Plante Gillis, a graduate of Shea High School in Pawtucket, told GoLocal.
“I was 16 or 17. I’m 49 now,” Gillis said. “I looked up to Gleadow. He was the lead playing Harold Hill. It was probably the second or third show I’d done with [the Players]. I thought he was amazing. The show ended, and I did a few more shows, and I started auditioning elsewhere.”
“I remember [Gleadow] calling me after and saying he had a ‘project’ going on. I thought, wow, what an opportunity,” said Gillis. “I asked my mom if I go could go, and she said yes.”
Gillis said she thinks she was around 18 or 19 at the time.
“So I met him at Rhode Island College, in a parking lot. He took me into one of the buildings. I remember him having to unlock the door. It was dark and I thought god, there’s no one in the building,” said Gillis. “He asked me to bring a leotard — he showed me to a small closet where I could change. I believe he had a camera, I can’t remember if it was a camera or video.”
“He had me stand near a chair. Then he sat me in the chair, and he tied my hands behind the chair, blindfolded me and put a gag in my mouth. He said it was for an ‘extra’ character being held hostage/. I assumed it was something he was doing at RIC,” said Gillis. “I feel embarrassed I didn’t question it more.”
“Then he said, now I’m going to lean you on your side, and he tipped the chair over I was in, in that same exact position,” said Gillis. “That’s all I remember. He said OK thank you. I changed again. I asked when is this going to be done, he said, I’ll let you know. I thought it was weird.”
“Years later, I was out to dinner with my husband and a woman who was friends with [Gleadow] at RIC,” said Gillis. “I told them the story, and the faces on them were like, what? They were shocked, and I was embarrassed at that moment. They were horrified. My friend said sorry, that was no ‘project.’”
Gillis said she managed to avoid Gleadow for “years” following — and it was her husband who saw Witschen’s post.
“My husband saw Kat’s post and he called me immediately,” said Gillis. “I could not believe it. I was shocked to think all these years went by and maybe if I had questioned [Gleadow’s behavior], I could have stopped some of this.”
“I'm hearing that he admitted to all this,” said Gillis. “I want some sort of apology from him, and for him to get help for it. And obviously never work in the field of teaching again.”
“I truly commend all the brave and strong young women that came forward and brought this to light,” said Gillis. “They have allowed me to get answers I have always thought about and I truly appreciate them.”
Former Classmate Recounts Encounter
Katie Hand, a former student at URI with Gleadow, told GoLocal she was propositioned by Gleadow — and that she sent her recollection of the encounter to the Newport Police following Witschen's post.
“We were only ever acquaintances/classmates. That's why I was confused when I got a Facebook message from [Gleadow] in 2013, after a picture had been posted of me and my friend dressed up for a theme party, about a short film role he wanted me to be in at his home in Providence,” said Hand.
“I was never an actor, I studied costume design. During our exchange over Facebook messenger, he described the dynamic 'you would be the superhero and I the henchman' and that I 'would need a costume'...[he said] I see the pic on Facebook of your costumes for (King Richard's Faire). Which I love.'"
“Those costumes aren't even close to superhero-ish, and I didn't have much time to spare to make a new costume, despite him imploring that I need not buy or make a costume,” said Hand. “Silly me didn't understand how little he valued my actual abilities.”
“So, because of that, I was hesitant and eventually just brushed the request off. Which in retrospect was very lucky as it turns out he was using this as a means of abuse," said Hand.
"'I'm free most nights after 7:00. We would film it at my place in Providence,' he said," recounted Hand. "The whole thing was very bizarre to me and the idea of going to his home, especially at night, made me uncomfortable."