Arizona Republic has released more information from the report former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson filed with the police department in Scottsdale, Arizona in which the musician alleges unlawful distribution of sexually explicit images of himself by unknown offenders.
In the report, Ellefson admitted to sexting with a 19 year old Dutch woman who had recorded video of their virtual sexual encounters without his knowledge or consent. Ellefson said he first met the young fan when he was signing autographs at a 2019 concert in Holland. A friendship developed and the two continued chatting online. The next time he saw her in person was in February 2020, when they met for coffee and soda in a hotel lobby. The bassist also claimed that there has never been any physical sexual contact between the two.
According to Ellefson, his interactions with the woman didn’t turn sexual until “July or August” of 2020, when they they engaged in “a consensual virtual sexual encounter” over Facebook Messenger. The woman was 19 years old at the time of their first virtual sexual meeting. He stated they “had about four to five masturbating encounters,” the report said. The last online sexual session was around February 2021.
Ellefson lives in Scottsdale, Arizona and first became aware of the video on May 9. He told police that MEGADETH’s management was made aware of allegations of “pedophelia” and the management informed the bassist that the accuser had harassed other members of MEGADETH in the past and advised him to “sit tight” as it would likely “blow over.” Two hours later, the video of Ellefson masturbating emerged online and quickly went viral. The woman later admitted to the bassist to having made two or three videos and sharing them with some friends.
Ellefson told police he was notified on May 14 by MEGADETH that the band would be parting ways with him. Three days later he was fired.
On May 24, Dave Mustaine announced Ellefson’s departure from the band, saying, “We do not take this decision lightly. While we do not know every detail of what occurred, with an already strained relationship, what has already been revealed now is enough to make working together impossible moving forward,” Mustaine wrote. Two days later, Ellefson released a follow-up statement in which he vowed to file a “defamation lawsuit” against the person who “illegally posted a very private video” of the bassist and made “false allegations” against him. He also said he was working with the police in Scottsdale “in their investigation into charges regarding revenge pornography to be filed against the person who posted the video. This person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Ellefson wrote. He went on to say that he was “taking this time to be with my family” and wished his “bandmates” the best with their upcoming tour.
MEGADETH has yet to announce a replacement bassist.