I'm Ayesha Rascoe, and this is the Sunday story.
Heads up.
Today's episode contains discussion of suicide, sexual and physical abuse.
Today we have a story that's hard to hear.
It's about crimes perpetrated on children, but it's also a reminder of the power of investigative journalism to bring voice to those who felt silenced.
This past May, a jury in New Hampshire awarded 42 year old David Meehan a record breaking settlement of $38 million.
It was the largest personal injury verdict in state history.
Meehan had sued over abuse he said he'd suffered as a child while confined to New Hampshire's main juvenile detention facility.
It's known as YDC, the Youth Development center.
Meehan was the first alleged victim to come forward.
But since 2020, nearly 1300 other people have also filed suit over alleged abuse at YDC.
Some claim they were brutally beaten.
Others allege they were repeatedly raped.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Jason Moon and his colleagues on the document team spent the last year investigating the youth development center.
They combed through hundreds of cases, worked around legal roadblocks, and spoke with former residents and staff who'd never before told their stories.
After the break, the youth development center.
Stay with us.
Jason, welcome to the Sunday story.
Thank you so much for being with us.
Thank you so much for having me.