She Says

In Episode 4 of "The List," we explore what might happen when the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte releases a list of clergy members credibly accused of sexual misconduct and abuse. The diocese says it plans to release names by the end of 2019. We hear from an advocate with personal experience who's there to listen to other survivors of abuse and from North Carolina's attorney general. And we hear how the crisis has shaped survivors' views on not just the Catholic Church but faith in general. READ MORE

In this episode of "The List," we learn about why survivors of abuse in the Catholic Church and proponents of accountability push for the release of lists of credibly accused clergy. We also hear some theories as to why certain people might push back against the release of such lists. And we hear from a local deacon about why he thinks the church should talk about the crisis openly. There's another why we learn about, too — why some people in power abuse children in the first place. READ MORE

WFAE’s “The List” is a four-part series about the impact of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, the push for dioceses to release lists of credibly accused clergy. The Diocese of Charlotte is one of about 30 dioceses in the United States that, as of Dec. 1, 2019, hasn’t published such a list. In this first episode we’re going to focus on the who and the what . W ho wants this list published? What makes an informative list? Who is the Charlotte Diocese and what is it doing to combat the child abuse scandal? READ MORE

Bishop Peter Jugis of the Charlotte Catholic Diocese announced in May that the diocese is committed to releasing by the end of 2019 a list of clergy who are credibly accused of sexual abuse involving minors. That list and what it represents is the subject of this four-part series.

Linda has been waiting for months to hear from the Mecklenburg District Attorney's office about whether her case will move forward. Then she gets a call. We rejoin Linda on the winding road for an update and a closer look at the burden of proof.

Last Thursday, WFAE held a Public Conversation with She Says podcast host Sarah Delia, law enforcement and others about whether justice is being served in Mecklenburg County. The event was broadcast live from McGlohon Theater in uptown Charlotte on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Panelists included Delia, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Deputy Chief Katrina Graue, Lt. John Somerindyke of the Fayetteville Police Department, and Crystal Emerick, founder and executive director of Brave Step, a nonprofit that supports people impacted by sexual abuse.

Linda goes back to court and comes face to face with the man charged in her assault as she attempts to get a no-contact order. We hear how the podcast has impacted her life and what the future of her case looks like. Stay with us through the very end of the episode to hear a message from two familiar voices.

This episode we share with you what we haven’t told you. Additional evidence in Linda’s case. Why we think this mysterious DNA hit occurred. And we find out how many hospitals in North Carolina have nurses specially trained to complete a sexual assault examination.

In this episode, we hear from Linda’s family about how life has changed for everyone since the assault in 2015. We also tell the story of another Charlotte woman who tried to file a police report but was turned away.

The man charged with assaulting Linda made bail and is out of jail. She’s scared because she’s no longer anonymous after he saw her during a court appearance. She Says talks to another sexual assault survivor in Charlotte who had a very different experience.

Last episode we asked listeners: What questions do you have about Linda’s case and our yearlong investigation? So now She Says host and reporter Sarah Delia and reporter Alex Olgin tackle your questions about police policy, DNA law, and more.

In episode 5, we hear about what happens with the DNA sample police collected of the man Linda identified as her attacker through an internet search. We will also take a look at how another police department handled the destruction of more than 300 sexual assault kits.

In episode 4, we dive into what happened with the mysterious DNA sample that matches the one found in Linda’s sexual assault kit, and why detectives didn’t know about it for months. Linda expresses her concern that her questioning of police will lead to her case being ignored.

In episode 3, Linda goes down to Charlotte Mecklenburg Police headquarters to talk to detectives about her case. It’s a particularly emotional conversation because she learns about the DNA results from her sexual assault kit. They aren’t what she expected. We also hear how the CMPD crime lab handles the testing of sexual assault kits. Find more information on She Says , including a timeline of events, the series trailer and resources for survivors of sexual assault, at wfae.org/shesays .

In episode 2, we go back to the crime scene, which in this case is the body. Host Sarah Delia talks to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, who carefully examine victims and their belongings for biological evidence that might help identify perpetrators. We examine CMPD’s policing philosophy as it pertains to victims. We also hear from Linda, whose sexual assault case we’ve been investigating for the last year, about how she felt during her interactions with medical and police officials after her assault. Find more information on She Says , including a timeline of events, the series trailer and resources for survivors of sexual assault, at wfae.org/shesays .

Thursday, May 31, 2018

WFAE’s She Says is an investigative podcast series that follows the story of a sexual assault survivor in Mecklenburg County, N.C., and the long and difficult process of finding justice. In episode 1, we will introduce you to the woman we're calling Linda. Linda was sexually assaulted by a stranger on June 29, 2015, in Charlotte. We'll walk you through the events of that night and its aftermath. And we'll learn what happens when Linda, who grows increasingly impatient with the pace of the investigation, takes matters into her own hands. Find more information on She Says , including a timeline of events, the series trailer and resources for survivors of sexual assault, at wfae.org/shesays .

For more than a year, award-winning WFAE reporter Sarah Delia has investigated the case of "Linda," a Charlotte-area woman who was sexually assaulted by a stranger in 2015 and is still struggling to find answers. Linda's story is presented as She Says , an 8-part investigative podcast hosted by Sarah that will take listeners from the night of Linda's assault to the aftermath of her quest for justice. She Says will include conversations with Linda, detectives, forensic scientists, other survivors and attorneys in an effort to learn how the justice system works and, more importantly, how it can better serve survivors. In a world full of #MeToo’s, justice might look as swift as one woman speaking up, but for many, resolution is a long and winding road. The first episode launches May 31. Don't miss it. New episodes will come out every week on Thursday. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Google Play Stitcher NPR One RadioPublic TuneIn