Alleged sexual abuse victim of prominent Winter Park man speaks out

WINTER PARK, Fla. — A woman who said she was sexually assaulted by a well-known Winter Park man spoke to WFTV Wednesday.

Katherine Sanderlin said when she was just 5 years old her innocence was stolen by Fleetwood Peeples Sr., the same man whose name is on one of Winter Park’s most popular parks.

Sanderlin said she came forward because she thinks many more victims are out there.

She said before the alleged incident, she adored Peeples like he was her grandfather.

“I’m saddened when I see those pictures because, you know, what that child faced, what I faced, was unfathomable,” she said.

Sanderlin is one of a handful of women who have recently come forward claiming the prominent Rollins College swimming instructor, who also taught thousands of children, sexually abused her long before his death.

She said via Skype from New York that she buried the memories, and didn’t tell anyone for years.

Sanderlin has spent years in intensive therapy, and decided to open up to WFTV following the arrest of Peeples’ son on charges of child pornography and molestation.

She wants other victims to know they are not alone.

“That it could actually bring relief, a sense of empowerment, a sense of strength, or just a sense of peace,” she said.

Earlier this week, Winter Park leaders began the process of stripping Peeples’ name from the dog park named after him.

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