BANGOR — Witnesses told state police that a Bangor-area activist, the Rev. Robert Carlson, groomed multiple children to be his sexual abuse victims over the past four decades.

State Police Lt. Christopher Coleman tells the Bangor Daily News that many abuse victims were interviewed during an investigation of Carlson.

Carlson jumped to his death off a bridge on Nov. 13 after learning of the investigation.

The state police report, unveiled Wednesday, says several people questioned Carlson’s behavior toward young boys over the years but few took action. Coleman says exactly how many children fell victim to Carlson is not known, and it is likely that other child sex abuse victims chose not to come forward.

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