Content warning: assault, sexual assault, rape, serial rape, and nonconsensual pornography.
As shared in part one of her story, Hannah Vanderhorst is a special education teacher and administrator living in Denver, Colorado. Having moved to the city in 2016, just before going through a breakup, Hannah turned to dating apps to expand her social circle and look for potential love. However, an October 2019 date changed her trajectory forever. It was on this date that she became a victim of a serial sexual predator, although she wouldn’t find that out until over three years after her assault. Hannah would then join a taxing legal battle to receive justice, witness legal change elicited by her and others’ experiences, and work to heal from the trauma. The Broken Cycle Media team is grateful that Hannah was willing to so selflessly share her story to bring awareness to our listeners.
Sources:
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https://www.npr.org/2024/02/14/1231513991/tinder-hinge-match-group-lawsuit
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Cardiologist Stephen Matthews sentenced to 158 years for drugging, sexually assaulting Colorado women he met on dating apps. CBS News.
https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/stephen-matthews-sentenced-158-years-drugging-sexually-assaulting-women-met-dating-apps-cardiologist/
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https://www.9news.com/article/news/crime/stephen-matthews-verdict/73-b3d763d5-5469-4852-a86a-e4c64d740ef7
For a list of related resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit
http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources