What amazed me most about this book is the objective presentation by Jack Olsen. He didn’t pile on but gave Dr. Story’s story a full hearing. In fact, Story supporters might have more page time in the book than his accusers. At any rate, the treatment of his heinous crimes were given the “innocent until proven guilty treatment”. One wonders how many victims he actually had in this unsophisticated and largely Mormon community. I shouldn’t point fingers at the Mormons as Dr. Story’s non-Mormon congregation was equally naive. It was the perfect setup for a sociopath. Doctor in a small, rural town filled with girls and women who have no sex education and a great trust in the Christian doc who was the pillar of his church and apparently a good husband and father. And yet…
Olsen is one of the consummate true crime writers and tells this tale of woe as it develops from crime to trial to prison with some discussion of the aftermath for both victims and perp and their supporters. It seems preposterous that so many women could be raped or molested during pelvic exams for so many years without doing something about it. Had I been a juror I’m certain I would have voted “guilty.”
Less satisfying is the lack of explanation for Story’s motivation. He never fesses up; never admits his crimes. In fact, he denies that he is guilty. So we are left with speculating on various theories: a little guy complex, a hatred of women, a hatred of minorities and Mormons. We can be certain he was guilty but can never be certain as to why.
It was a crime that tore a community to pieces.