Cody takes a vacation from work, and decides to revisit the House of Horror.As he strolls through the devastation of his former home, he also strolls down memory lane.Though ghosts inhabit this place, Cody attempts to make peace with them all.

Cody takes a vacation from work, and decides to revisit the House of Horror. As he strolls through the devastation of his former home, he also strolls down memory lane. Though ghosts inhabit this place, Cody attempts to make peace with them all.

22. "Return to the House of Horror"

Cody Coots is a fourth-generation serpent handler. By age 6, he handles mock serpents with his sister, Trina, in the church, using leather belts for props. Cody secretly yearns for a normal childhood. 

He likes to ride his bike, play drums, and watch WWE wrestling with his father, Jamie. (Jamie is the world's most famous serpent-handling preacher.) A terrible act of violence befalls 8-year-old Cody, shocking the serpent handling community. A preacher pleads guilty to charges of deviant sexual abuse, but it's too late: Cody's innocence is shattered. Anger boils inside him, so he turns his wrath upon his parents, his church, and even his God.

As he cruises the backstreets of Middlesboro, Ky, looking for nothing but trouble, Cody's sins begin piling up. But the consequences do, too. 

Is Cody beyond salvation? Or, is he as the community describes him: "Marked for life?"

Society & Culture

Music

Music History

Cody Coots is a fourth-generation serpent handler. By age 6, he handles mock serpents with his sister, Trina, in the church, using leather belts for props. Cody secretly yearns for a normal childhood. He likes to ride his bike, play drums, and watch WWE wrestling with his father, Jamie. (Jamie is the world's most famous serpent-handling preacher.) A terrible act of violence befalls 8-year-old Cody, shocking the serpent handling community. A preacher pleads guilty to charges of deviant sexual abuse, but it's too late: Cody's innocence is shattered. Anger boils inside him, so he turns his wrath upon his parents, his church, and even his God. As he cruises the backstreets of Middlesboro, Ky, looking for nothing but trouble, Cody's sins begin piling up. But the consequences do, too. Is Cody beyond salvation? Or, is he as the community describes him: "Marked for life?"

Share 22. "Return to the House of Horror"

Sign up to save your podcasts

22. "Return to the House of Horror"

22. "Return to the House of Horror"