LAKE OZARK, Mo. (KMOX) - Between 2016 and 2019, the mayor of a small Missouri town, which is part of one of the most popular summer vacation destinations in the state, has reportedly been investigated three times for involvement in prostitution and online solicitation.
According to a report from Lake Expo, Mayor Gerry Murawski admitted to authorities he had sex with at least one prostitute who was 16-years-old at the time, but he says he thought she was older. The report infers that either Murawski may have been using his political power and money to help the women in exchange for sex, or that maybe the young women took advantage of him because he "was attracted to young women and had helped several of them financially."
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Despite investigations by Columbia police, the FBI and two other law enforcement agencies, no charges were ever brought forward.
According to the newspaper, an FBI report says the women sometimes took advantage of his generosity, but one of the women involved says Murawski bragged about how he had control over the police and seemed to enjoy the feeling of power.
The town covers the northeastern part of the Lake of the Ozarks, including the Bagnell Dam and has a population of less than 2,000 residents. The mayor made national headlines last summer after saying the coverage of local bars not following COVID-19 safety guidelines was helping attract more tourists.
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Read the full report from Lake Expo, here.
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