Background
Adventures with Purpose (AWP) was founded by Oregon-based Jared Leisek in 2018. [a] [3] They began as an environmental cleanup agency, removing cars that were polluting waterways. [4] [5] Doug Bishop, a diver and manager of a towing company, also joined the group. [6] After twice finding cars with missing people in them, they determined a need to look for people who have gone missing in or with their vehicles. [7] The channel receives tip-offs and requests from the public through their social media accounts. [3] They do not pursue rewards from family or charge the families or police involved, but will not reject rewards if given. [8] Instead, AWP funds its searches through video views, subscribers, donations, and merchandise sales. [5] In 2020, AWP threatened to sue for a $100,000 reward pledged by five anonymous donors for the discovery of Ethan Kazmerzak, who had disappeared in 2013. [9] The Kazmerzak family donated an undisclosed amount. [5]
On May 12, 2022, founder Jared Leisek registered a new company, Underwater Investigations LLC, which now holds the rights to Adventures with Purpose. [10] On December 13, 2024, Underwater Investigations LLC filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against former employee Joshua Cantu. Joshua alleges that the lawsuit stems from his posting behind-the-scenes videos of Adventures with Purpose before the formation of Underwater Investigations LLC. The case was filed the same day Joshua's family welcomed a baby around Christmas. Messages shared by Joshua reportedly show Jared joking about the lawsuit's timing, suggesting it was intended to cause maximum disruption. Joshua asserts that the lawsuit is a personal attack by Jared, meant to intimidate other former employees who left the company following allegations that Jared raped a 9-year-old family relative. He also claims the lawsuit lacks merit. The case remains pending. [11] [12]
In October 2022, the team had six members. [7] The following month, Leisek was accused of raping a 9-year-old female relative at age 16–17 in Utah in 1992. Several team members, including Bishop, diver Nick Rinn, [13] and lead videographer Joshua Cantu [14] subsequently left the team. [15] [16] On January 5, 2023, Leisek was charged in Sanpete County, Utah. [17] [18] On September 5, 2024, The prosecution declared that they intended to use previous cases against Jared, prior criminal activity, as well as any illegal conduct related to children involved in the case as well as outside of the case. This could include a lengthy criminal record including charges for pointing a gun at a man in a parking lot. Jared's lawyers objected to the use of previous criminal records. On September 18, 2024, Jared accepted a plea deal, which triggered a motion to seal. The motion was filed for the case. The motion was approved and the record was sealed on September 19, 2024. [19]
On January 7, 2023, Adventures with Purpose announced they are on a 3-month tour with a new team of divers and filmmakers. [20]
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