At least 8 other potential suspects named in sex exploitation search warrant filings

Tony Humby and Bruce Escott, two men accused of being central figures in a sexual exploitation case in St. John's, were not believed to have acted alone. 

According to police search warrant documents — untested in court and obtained by CBC News — there were at least eight other potential suspects who came up during the course of the investigation, who have not been charged.

Three of the suspects are dead. Two were previously accused of sexual assault, but not charged. One had three prior convictions for sexual assault. Another was on a court order to stay away from an underage boy.

All were named by people who came forward to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and gave statements about Humby and/or Escott. Those two men — longtime neighbours on the same street in the east end of St. John's —  are facing a combined 86 charges related to allegations of abuse dating back as far as 1995 and as recently as 2022.

Humby has pleaded not guilty and is set for trial next March. Escott has reached a plea deal with the Crown and is due back in court next month.

The uncharged suspects flagged in RNC search warrant documents cannot be named, as a judge has ordered a publication ban on their identities.

The 355-page affidavit obtained by CBC Investigates was authored by Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Const. Jennifer Cotter, who provides an account of the force's case against Humby and Escott. 

According to Cotter's affidavit, several alleged victims spoke about parties at Escott and/or Humby's trailers when other men were present alongside teenage boys. Drugs and alcohol were prevalent, they said.

"[Name redacted] said that a lot of the men that would hang around Tony's were creepy," reads a summary of one alleged victim's statement. 

"[He] knows guys outside of Tony and Bruce as well, other predators."

That alleged victim named two men in particular — aside from Humby and Escott — who he suspected of engaging in illegal sex acts while at Humby's house.

"[He] advised they are the type of guys that are sexually exploitative, adding they are scumbags. He stated that he believes both have sexually exploited people, though not necessarily under age."

According to Cotter's affidavit, those two men were from rural parts of the province and were said to travel in for the parties several times each year.

One complainant alleged Humby and one of the men rented rooms at hotels, and invited teenage boys to stay the night. He alleged the man was present during times when Humby abused him, and accused the man of sexually exploiting his friend.