An unintended consequence of Jerry Sandusky's chilling telephone interview with Bob Costas during NBC's "Rock Center" on Monday evening is that many others connected to the sexual abuse scandal have felt compelled to share their stories.
Along with the mother of the boy identified as "Victim 1" in the grand jury report -- which details 40 counts of abuse against eight boys over 15 years -- another concerned mom has stepped forward. Debra Long, the biological mother of Matt Sandusky, spoke with "Good Morning America" about her son's relationship with the accused sexual predator. Her son was placed under Sandusky's care after he ran afoul of the law as a 10-year-old. Although Sandusky eventually adopted Matt, Long never had her parental rights taken by the court.
She eventually became concerned with Sandusky's behavior and her son's well being. Speaking with ABC, she outlined what she believed to be Sandusky's strategy for wooing his alleged victims.
"It was Jerry Sandusky. You know? Any 10-year-old kid is going to be impressed by Penn State football. And then it was the gifts: money and clothing and whatever," Long said during an exclusive interview with ABC's Jim Avila.
Matt was the youngest adopted child of Sandusky and Long reports the relationship began positively but soured, leaving her son fearful of the former Penn State football coach.
"My son was afraid of Jerry. If Jerry said, 'Don't Talk,' Matt didn't talk," recalls Long. "I would sit back and I would watch when Jerry would show up how excited Matt was and then as time went on I would watch the same kid hide behind the bedroom door and say, 'Mom, tell him I'm not home.'"
Although Matt reportedly attempted suicide while under Sandusky's care and was in enough distress that his probation officer was concerned, ABC reports that he maintains that he was never sexually abused by his adopted father.
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