Well, Eagle Scout. Just Sayin'
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Ali Kareem Al Shammari, 19, of Buxton, was arrested in late February of this year on two counts of gross sexual assault and was booked at the Cumberland County Jail.
Here is a list of former Eagle Scouts from the Boy Scouts of America who later became notorious or infamous criminals. The Eagle Scout rank is the highest achievement in the Scouts BSA program, requiring significant dedication, leadership, and service. However, some individuals who earned this honor later engaged in criminal activities that brought them infamy. Below are notable examples based on available historical records:
Ted Bundy: One of the most infamous serial killers in American history, Bundy was involved with his local Boy Scout troop during his youth in Tacoma, Washington. While it’s not definitively confirmed that he achieved the Eagle Scout rank, some sources suggest he may have, given his early involvement and the trajectory of his youth activities. Bundy confessed to murdering at least 30 women across several states in the 1970s, though the true number may be higher. He was executed in Florida’s electric chair in 1989.
Dennis Rader (BTK Killer): Rader earned his Eagle Scout rank as a young man growing up in Kansas. Decades later, he became known as the "BTK Killer" (Bind, Torture, Kill), a serial killer who murdered 10 people in the Wichita area between 1974 and 1991. Rader, a married man and churchgoer, evaded capture for years until his arrest in 2005. He is currently serving 10 consecutive life sentences.
Arthur Gary Bishop: An Eagle Scout from Utah, Bishop later became a child molester and serial killer. Between 1979 and 1983, he murdered five young boys in Salt Lake City, sexually abusing some of them. Convicted in 1984, he was executed by lethal injection in 1988 at the age of 37.
Mark Hofmann: Hofmann achieved the Eagle Scout rank during his youth in Utah. He later gained notoriety as a master forger and murderer. In the 1980s, he created and sold forged historical documents, including some related to Mormon history, deceiving collectors and scholars. To cover up his schemes, he killed two people with pipe bombs in 1985. Hofmann pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and is serving a life sentence.
Charles Whitman: Known as the "Texas Tower Sniper," Whitman was an Eagle Scout who, at age 12, was one of the youngest to earn the rank at the time. On August 1, 1966, he killed 14 people and injured 31 others in a mass shooting from the University of Texas at Austin’s clock tower. Prior to the rampage, he murdered his wife and mother. An autopsy later revealed a brain tumor, which may have contributed to his actions.
These individuals represent a small but striking subset of Eagle Scouts whose later actions starkly contrasted with the values of leadership, service, and integrity promoted by the Boy Scouts of America. Their crimes range from serial murder to forgery and terrorism, marking them as some of the most notorious figures associated with the program’s history.
