In this powerful episode of Break The Case with Jennifer Coffindaffer, we uncover a story of abuse, betrayal, and eventual accountability that spans decades. Jennifer sits down with John Moore, the former husband of Valerie — a woman whose life was forever changed by childhood sexual abuse, systemic corruption, and the devastating cover-up that followed.

Valerie was a vibrant young woman: a scholar, an athlete, a beauty queen, and a deeply faithful member of her community. But behind the idyllic appearance of a small Utah town, she was being horrifically abused by men she should have been able to trust — including a Utah Highway Patrol officer. For two years, Valerie endured violence, manipulation, and terror, including the cold-blooded killing of her dog as a threat to keep her silent.

When Valerie and John tried to bring her abuser to justice in the 1990s, their pleas were ignored. Internal affairs downplayed her claims, fabricated details, and ultimately buried the investigation. For decades, Valerie was branded as unstable — a smear tactic designed to silence her truth and protect the abuser’s reputation.

It wasn’t until 2020, years after Valerie’s passing, that her son Ryan and John teamed up with investigator Mike Anderson and attorney Richard Lambert to uncover the cover-up. What they found confirmed Valerie’s story and exposed shocking misconduct within the Department of Public Safety. Their persistence led to a historic public apology from the state of Utah in 2020, decades after Valerie was silenced.

This conversation also highlights the book Hometown Betrayal by Emily Benedict, which chronicles Valerie’s story and the fight to uncover the truth, as well as the nonprofit Generation All, created to provide resources, community, and advocacy for survivors of sexual abuse and their families.

This is a story about Valerie’s courage, the ripple effects of trauma, and the relentless pursuit of justice — even when powerful institutions work to keep it buried.

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