Man, 82, who abused 100+ kids dies in prison

Louis VanWie dead

The convicted child predator died in Coxsackie Coreectional Facility serving the last few years of his 11-to-30 year sentence. VanWie admitted to over 100 sexual assaults.

Gary Greenberg said he was only seven when Louis VanWie inappropriately touched him.

Last Friday, he got a call from another victim who said VanWie died in prison.

“I was happy,” Greenberg said.

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision confirmed VanWie died on Jan. 14 at the age of 82. NewsChannel 13 is working to find out what caused his death, but we know it was not sudden.

VanWie was convicted in 1997 and sentenced to 11-to-30 years. He was most recently serving his time at Coxsackie Correctional Facility. He plead guilty to sodomy and sexual abuse in Rensselaer County Court.

“He’s the worst of the worst. They talk about monsters…but he’s a real-life monster. He did a lot of damage to a lot of children,” Greenberg said.

VanWie admitted to molesting more than 100 children over 40 years.

Some of the crimes were beyond the statute of limitations. Including Greenberg’s experience.

Greenberg said VanWie first approached him in 1967 at the now-closed Cohoes Memorial Hospital while visiting his father.

VanWie worked at the hospital and told Greenberg he would ‘show him around the facility.’ But really, Greenberg said VanWie took him to the roof of the hospital, sexually abused him, and then threatened him.

“He wanted to go further. I wouldn’t. I kept fighting and kicking him. Then he took me and hung me over the top of the roof… he said, ‘if you don’t comply, I’ll drop you.'”

VanWie also threatened Greenberg’s family.

Greenberg is glad VanWie can never hurt another person again.

“It is a relief. It’s a celebration not just for me but for all victims of his. I believe he abused over 300 children and kids in 40 years in Watervliet, Troy, Cohoes.”

Greenberg’s trauma was a driver to advocate for the passage of the Child Victims Act. Now, he has a message for other victims: “Never give up.”