According to the grand jury presentment that outlines the 40 counts of alleged sexual abuse on minors by former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, the first red flag was raised in 1998, when a university police probe ultimately yielded no charges filed against the long-time PSU defensive coordinator. Â But a Patriot-News report indicates that Sandusky’s alleged deviant behavior could be traced back even further, and may have involved one of his six adopted children, Matt Sandusky. Â Read more after the jump.
In the Patriot-News report, it reveals that Matt Sandusky’s adoption file contains letters written by Matt’s biological mother, Debra Long, which depict Long’s concern for Matt living with the Sandusky family.
Matt began living at Sandusky’s State College home in 1995. The Patriot-News report says Long was only able to visit her son a half day per month.
The report also says Matt Sandusky attempted suicide a few months after moving into the Sandusky home and that a probation officer assigned to Matt Sandusky, Terry Trude, later wrote a letter to Centre County Judge David Grine stating that the probation department was concerned for Matt Sandusky’s “safety and his current progress” in the Sandusky family’s care. The letter stated that Debra Long had concerns about Matt’s personal safety and mental stability as well. Trude requested to the judge that Matt’s living situation go under review. Calls to Trude’s home by the Daily News were not returned Friday.
Matt Sandusky wrote a letter to the probation officer dealing with his case the day he attempted suicide, according to the Patriot-News report: “I would like to be placed back with the Sanduskys. I feel that they have supported me even when I have messed up. They are a loving caring group of people. I love both my biological family and the Sandusky family.”
Matt Sandusky was one of five boys adopted by the Sandusky family. Sandusky and his wife, Dottie, also adopted a girl, Kara. In Jerry Sandusky’s memoir – the awkwardly titled “Touched” – Kara Sandusky Werner writes in an appreciation how her father is “an incredible man who has touched the lives of so many.”
She concludes the appreciation by thanking readers on behalf of herself and her five brothers.
The Patriot-News also reported that Matt Sandusky visited Jerry Sandusky last weekend when the elder Sandusky was arrested. A judge’s order prohibits Jerry Sandusky from having unsupervised visits with his grandchildren and does not allow for overnight visits with them, according to the newspaper.
