Four men of the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith — including one from Butler County — are accused of sexually abusing and exploiting a total of 19 minors, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Thursday.

Eric Eleam, 61, of Butler County was charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. When agents from the Office of Attorney General and police from Butler County attempted to take him into custody, he “retreated into his bathroom and killed himself behind closed doors,” Shapiro said in a news release.

Eleam was alleged to have sexually abused a minor and used sexual molestation as a form of discipline.

The charges stem from the 49th Investigating Grand Jury and are charged by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Through the investigation, it was revealed that these men sexually abused and exploited 19 minors with whom they had close contact, in some cases their own children.

The other three men were taken into custody Thursday morning. They were: Jesse Hill, formerly of Berks County; Jose Serrano, of Lancaster County; and Robert Ostrander, formerly of Cambria County.

“These cases are disturbing, the allegations hard to imagine, and all share one common tie. The 19 victims and the four men who are being charged with sexually violating them are all members of Jehovah’s Witnesses. These children deserved to be protected and grow up in peace, not to be preyed upon,” Shapiro said. “My office will not stop until these defendants are held accountable for their crimes against innocent children and until justice is achieved for these courageous survivors.”

Serrano, 69, is alleged to have molested six young girls in 2011. He has been charged with aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of children.

Hill, 52, now a resident of the state of Georgia, is alleged to have used his milling business to attract young boys from his Jehovah’s Witness congregation, with promises of alcohol, marijuana and pornography, to his property for parties in the 1990s. The investigation revealed at least 10 alleged victims of Hill’s abuse. Hill has been charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, and corruption of minors.

Ostrander, 56, now a resident of New York state, is alleged to have sexually abused at least two minors. He has been charged with indecent assault, endangering welfare of children, and corruption of minors.

All of these charges have been filed in the corresponding counties of Lancaster, Berks and Cambria.