The Reckoning | Episode 6

When she was just 17, Holly Brown’s dad was dying of cancer. It looked like life couldn’t get more traumatic, until her dad dropped a bombshell….or two bombshells, really: twin brothers that her entire family kept secret. She was the only one who didn’t know they existed. After his death left her with more questions than answers, Holly sets out to uncover how a secret this big could be hidden, and why the sitcoms that raised her were often the only way to make sense of a life stranger than TV. Season 1 is Holly’s own f*cked up family sitcom full of secrets…Season 2 is yours.

After the release of episode 6, we sat down with Stacie Love to discuss what has happened since Not Just a Terrible Story came out. Stacie opens up about the explosive Facebook post in the Centennial alumni group, the messages she's received, and answers some of the questions we've been getting.Reach out to our team at [email protected] more exclusive content head to terriblestory.substack.com. Get free access to archival photos, resources, and bonus stories that didn't make the cut. Plus — get early, ad-free episodes as a paid subscriber.If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence and needs help, please visit rainn.org or call the national hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673.You can anonymously report school employee boundary crossing and grooming and educator sexual misconduct to Safe Oregon. You can call or text 844-472-3367 or email [email protected]. If you’d like to learn more about educator sexual misconduct and get involved, there are many great organizations doing research, education and advocacy work, including: S.E.S.A.M.E. – Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & ExplotationEnough Abuse The National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenAmerican Association Of University WomenStop Sexual Assault in Schools

The path to healing is not a straight line. It’s a jumbled, messy process, filled with baby steps, dark humor and hard won victories. Stacie’s rebuilding her life, reworking her inner monologue and trying to change the system to help others.If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence and needs help, please visit rainn.org or call the national hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673.You can anonymously report school employee boundary crossing and grooming and educator sexual misconduct to Safe Oregon. You can call or text 844-472-3367 or email [email protected] you’d like to learn more about educator sexual misconduct and get involved, there are many great organizations doing research, education and advocacy work, including:S.E.S.A.M.E. – Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & ExplotationEnough AbuseThe National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenAmerican Association Of University WomenStop Sexual Assault in SchoolsImage source: Centennial yearbook (1966) via the Internet Archive.

In episode 5, we finally get answers to the biggest remaining questions in this case—straight from the federal agents who knocked on Stacie's door over 20 years ago. Now we're talking with Jim Cole and Josh Findley about the other cases they've worked and the hard-won lessons from their careers protecting children and victims.Check out Jim Cole's new podcast, Unlikely Allies: https://ourrescue.org/unlikelyalliesLearn more about Josh Findley's work: https://www.onemi-global.com/Reach out to our team at [email protected] more about the cases in this episode:William A Knudsen, a case from 2007: https://www.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/06/excounselor_at_troutdale_eleme.htmlFor more exclusive content head to terriblestory.substack.com. Get free access to archival photos, resources, and bonus stories that didn't make the cut. Plus — get early, ad-free episodes as a paid subscriber.If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence and needs help, please visit rainn.org or call the national hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673.You can anonymously report school employee boundary crossing and grooming and educator sexual misconduct to Safe Oregon. You can call or text 844-472-3367 or email [email protected] you’d like to learn more about educator sexual misconduct and get involved, there are many great organizations doing research, education and advocacy work, including:S.E.S.A.M.E. – Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & ExplotationEnough AbuseThe National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenAmerican Association Of University WomenStop Sexual Assault in Schools

After Brett lost his teaching license, life was never the same. The rumor mill in Gresham was in full force. They needed an escape. But can Stacie truly escape if she doesn’t know what she’s running from?Check out Jim Cole's new podcast, Unlikely Allies: https://ourrescue.org/unlikelyalliesLearn more about Josh Findley's work: https://www.onemi-global.com/Reach out to our team at [email protected] more exclusive content head to terriblestory.substack.com. Get free access to archival photos, resources, and bonus stories that didn't make the cut. Plus — get early, ad-free episodes as a paid subscriber.If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence and needs help, please visit rainn.org or call the national hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673.You can anonymously report school employee boundary crossing and grooming and educator sexual misconduct to Safe Oregon. You can call or text 844-472-3367 or email [email protected] you’d like to learn more about educator sexual misconduct and get involved, there are many great organizations doing research, education and advocacy work, including:S.E.S.A.M.E. – Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & ExplotationEnough AbuseThe National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenAmerican Association Of University WomenStop Sexual Assault in Schools

There’s only one publicly available document after TSPC revokes an educator’s teaching license. But what does it really say? How are the orders created? And can there be more to the story than what you find in the two page PDF on the internet? These are some of the many questions we asked TSPC that didn’t make it into the podcast.Reach out to our team at [email protected] more exclusive content head to terriblestory.substack.com. Get free access to archival photos, resources, and bonus stories that didn't make the cut. Plus — get early, ad-free episodes as a paid subscriber.If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence and needs help, please visit rainn.org or call the national hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673.You can anonymously report school employee boundary crossing and grooming and educator sexual misconduct to Safe Oregon. You can call or text 844-472-3367 or email [email protected] you’d like to learn more about educator sexual misconduct and get involved, there are many great organizations doing research, education and advocacy work, including:S.E.S.A.M.E. – Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & ExplotationEnough AbuseThe National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenAmerican Association Of University WomenStop Sexual Assault in Schools

Stacie's story wasn't an anomaly. It happened in the choir program. In the band program. And people allege it happened on the basketball team. We dug into decades of archives, court records, and archival news coverage. Piece by piece, a pattern emerged—spanning forty years, multiple teachers, and countless survivors who were failed by the very people meant to protect them.Ezra Holmlund is now a comedian, follow his work here. Check out the Oregonian article here. To find more of the reporting we reference through out the episode check out the Oregonian News Archives.Reach out to our team at [email protected] more exclusive content head to terriblestory.substack.com. Get free access to archival photos, resources, and bonus stories that didn't make the cut. Plus — get early, ad-free episodes as a paid subscriber.----If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence and needs help, please visit rainn.org or call the national hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673.You can anonymously report school employee boundary crossing and grooming and educator sexual misconduct to Safe Oregon. You can call or text 844-472-3367 or email [email protected] you’d like to learn more about educator sexual misconduct and get involved, there are many great organizations doing research, education and advocacy work, including:S.E.S.A.M.E. – Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & ExplotationEnough AbuseThe National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenAmerican Association Of University WomenStop Sexual Assault in SchoolsCover art photo sourced from the Centennial High School Yearbook (1966) via Internet Archive.

In Episode 3, we spoke with Christy Keating about what grooming is. But we still had a few more questions for her, like: What should parents look out for? How can parents protect their kids? And when should parents start talking to their kids about grooming?Christy shares her eight safety rules that every kid should know and gives us language to talk to our kids about physical, personal and relational boundaries.You can find a ton of resources and check outChristy’s work at https://theheartfulparent.com/Reach out to our team at [email protected] you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence and needs help, please visit rainn.org or call the national hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673.You can anonymously report school employee boundary crossing and grooming and educator sexual misconduct to Safe Oregon. You can call or text 844-472-3367 or email [email protected] you’d like to learn more about educator sexual misconduct and get involved, there are many great organizations doing research, education and advocacy work, including:S.E.S.A.M.E. – Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & ExplotationEnough AbuseThe National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenAmerican Association Of University WomenStop Sexual Assault in Schools

In 2005, a knock at Stacie and Brett’'s door changed everything. It would take Stacie nearly 20 years to uncover the truth. It was hidden in a long forgotten investigation file. Now, Stacie is asking the questions she was never allowed to.Reach out to our team at [email protected] more exclusive content head to terriblestory.substack.com. Get free access to archival photos, resources, and bonus stories that didn't make the cut. Plus — get early, ad-free episodes as a paid subscriber.If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence and needs help, please visit rainn.org or call the national hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673.You can anonymously report school employee boundary crossing and grooming and educator sexual misconduct to Safe Oregon. You can call or text 844-472-3367 or email [email protected] you’d like to learn more about educator sexual misconduct and get involved, there are many great organizations doing research, education and advocacy work, including:S.E.S.A.M.E. – Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & ExplotationEnough AbuseThe National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenAmerican Association Of University WomenStop Sexual Assault in Schools

Stacie and Brett's relationship wasn't a secret—their community watched it unfold. Some saw it as a fairy tale. Others felt a quiet unease. In this episode you hear what happens when a community looks the other way, and how close Stacie came to walking away before it was too late.Reach out to our team at [email protected] more exclusive content head to terriblestory.substack.com. Get free access to archival photos, resources, and bonus stories that didn't make the cut. Plus — get early, ad-free episodes as a paid subscriber.If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence and needs help, please visit rainn.org or call the national hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673.You can anonymously report school employee boundary crossing and grooming and educator sexual misconduct to Safe Oregon. You can call or text 844-472-3367 or email [email protected] you’d like to learn more about educator sexual misconduct and get involved, there are many great organizations doing research, education and advocacy work, including:S.E.S.A.M.E. – Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & ExploitationEnough AbuseThe National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenAmerican Association Of University WomenStop Sexual Assault in Schools