Episode 2: Patty's Story—Believe Children

Welcome to The Lionhearted, a podcast featuring stories by the brave and badass people who spend their lives fighting the one thing absolutely no one wants to talk about - child sexual abuse. And that's why we call them the lionhearted.

Before being tapped for her current role as the Executive Director of the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children, Patty Dailey Lewis was prosecuting crimes against children for decades as the Deputy Attorney General of Delaware's Department of Justice. In this episode she shares one particularly heinous case in which she played a pivotal role. 

The setting is a small town in Delaware in which parents trusted their beloved pediatrician. The entire town was brought to its knees when they what this exalted community member had done to hundreds of children, some as young as three months old.

And it all began with one mom believing her child. As Patty says, “because of her, people's lives were saved.” This is one of those stories you wish weren't true, but it is, and you'll never forget it.

Trigger Warning:

Please note that this episode contains depictions of sexual violence that some people may find disturbing. If any of the content in this podcast has brought anything up for you, please reach out or speak to someone you trust.

Darkness to Light, a leading nonprofit focused on child sexual abuse prevention, also provides links to resources for support. Full disclosure: Andrea Harner is currently Board Chairperson of Darkness to Light.

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Host: Andrea Harner

Guest: Patty Dailey Lewis

Producer: Andrea Harner and Amanda Kelso

Editing: Kevin Tosi

Show resources: 

• Beau Biden Foundation: Link: https://www.beaubidenfoundation.org/
• Family Resources at the Beau Biden Foundation
• The Leadership Council on Child Abuse and Interpersonal Violence “How often do children’s reports of abuse turn out to be false?”
• Safe Shores: Child Sexual Abuse: The Myths and Truths
• Darkness to Light National and State Resources

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Creators & Guests

Host

Andrea Harner

Child Forensic Interviewer

Producer

Amanda Kelso

Helping important stories get out there.

Guest

Patty Dailey Lewis

What is The Lionhearted Podcast?

The Lionhearted is a true crime podcast spotlighting the brave badasses who spend their lives fighting the one thing no one wants to talk about - child sexual abuse. Join your host, forensic interviewer Andrea Harner, as she gets up close and personal with these unforgettable stories.