Coco Berthmann became internet-famous by sharing her story of surviving sex trafficking as a young child growing up in Germany. She was sheltered and supported by families in Utah, where her faith and fame intertwined. But in 2022, Coco was arrested for raising money for a fake cancer diagnosis, and people began to doubt everything that she had ever said. Is her life story truly one big elaborate lie? Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning showrunner Karen Given investigate in Dear Media’s first true crime podcast.
By the summer of 2019, Coco Berthmann has gone public with her story. She's regularly invited to appear on podcasts and to speak at anti-trafficking events. One organization even flies her to Miami to give the keynote address at a star-studded benefit for survivors. But privately, Coco's story just isn't adding up. She shows all the outward signs of having lived through trauma, but she keeps getting caught in lies that have nothing to do with her larger story of abuse and survival. And those closest to her are struggling to figure out what actually happened during Coco's childhood.
Plus, an unexpected call from Germany changes the course of the investigation.
If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available:
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 855-897-5910
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Resources
Mental Health Hotline: 866-903-3787
Produced by Dear Media.
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