As adults, Isolde and Ella start re-investigating the question of Mr. Hudson’s guilt. For years, they've wondered if they spread unfounded rumors that drove Mr. Hudson to take his own life. 

Isolde digs out a brown manila envelope containing the school district's records on Mr. Hudson, which she requested shortly after college. She tracks down the original school district investigator from 1999, Eddie Hill Sr., and the widow of Garfield's interim-principal at the time, Cheryl Chow. Both reveal things Isolde never knew ... but not about the extent of Hudson's misconduct with students. 

Isolde realizes she must reach out to former members of Post 84. She meets with one former member, hoping they will connect her to others. Instead, they reveal a deeply held story of abuse. 

This episode includes graphic descriptions of sexual abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, text the word HOPE to 64673. Please take care while listening. 

Get in touch with the team by email at focus@kuow.org. Support KUOW and projects like this by donating atkuow.org/donate/focus.

Adults in the Room is part of FOCUS, a dedicated documentary channel from KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR network. It is hosted by Isolde Raftery. Original reporting by Isolde Raftery, Ella Hushagen,Jeannie Yandel, andWill James. Our producers are Will James andAlec Cowan. Our editor is Jeannie Yandel. Music by BC Campbell. Additional music by Alec Cowan. A special thank you to Ella Hushagen, Maria Coryell-Martin, and the King County Prosecutor's Office.

As adults, Isolde and Ella start re-investigating the question of Mr. Hudson&rsquo;s guilt. For years, they've wondered if they spread unfounded rumors that drove Mr. Hudson to take his own life.&nbsp;
Isolde digs out a brown manila envelope containing the school district's records on Mr. Hudson, which she requested shortly after college. She tracks down the original school district investigator from 1999, Eddie Hill Sr., and the widow of Garfield's interim-principal at the time, Cheryl Chow. Both reveal things Isolde never knew ... but not about the extent of Hudson's misconduct with students.&nbsp;
Isolde realizes she must reach out to former members of Post 84. She meets with one former member, hoping they will connect her to others. Instead, they reveal a deeply held story of abuse.&nbsp;
This episode includes graphic descriptions of sexual abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, text the word HOPE to 64673. Please take care while listening.&nbsp;
Get in touch with the team by email at <a href="mailto:focus@kuow.org">focus@kuow.org</a>. Support KUOW and projects like this by donating at<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/focus"> kuow.org/donate/focus</a>.
Adults in the Room is part of FOCUS, a dedicated documentary channel from KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR network. It is hosted by <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/isolde-raftery">Isolde Raftery</a>. Original reporting by Isolde Raftery, Ella Hushagen,<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/jeannie-yandel"> Jeannie Yandel</a>, and<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/will-james"> Will James</a>. Our producers are Will James and<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/alec-cowan"> Alec Cowan.</a> Our editor is Jeannie Yandel. Music by BC Campbell. Additional music by Alec Cowan. A special thank you to Ella Hushagen, Maria Coryell-Martin, and the King County Prosecutor's Office.

The production team behind the Peabody-nominated "Lost Patients" returns with a new investigative series: "Adults in the Room." Episodes will come out Tuesdays at midnight Pacific Time.

Seattle, 1999. At Garfield High School, Mr. Hudson is a legend. With a thundering voice and imposing stature, Mr. Hudson — or “Tom” as select students call him — teaches biology and leads an elite outdoors program. But when teen reporters at the school paper start exploring a rumor that he sexually abused students, all hell breaks loose. Adults close ranks, and schoolmates turn on the young journalists. And then one day, a voice on the school intercom announces that Mr. Hudson is dead. Isolde Raftery is one of the students who first hears about and reports allegations against Mr. Hudson. Today, she is an investigative journalist in Seattle. In "Adults in the Room," Raftery re-reports the story to understand what really happened in 1999. Was a whole school community groomed by a charismatic predator? Or was she part of a whisper campaign that cost the life of a great teacher? 

"Focus" is KUOW’s home for immersive audio documentaries. Each season zooms in on a single story that challenges commonly held narratives about life in the Pacific Northwest and reveals something bigger about American society. 

The production team behind the Peabody-nominated "Lost Patients" returns with a new investigative series: "Adults in the Room." Episodes will come out Tuesdays at midnight Pacific Time.
Seattle, 1999. At Garfield High School, Mr. Hudson is a legend. With a thundering voice and imposing stature, Mr. Hudson &mdash; or &ldquo;Tom&rdquo; as select students call him &mdash; teaches biology and leads an elite outdoors program. But when teen reporters at the school paper start exploring a rumor that he sexually abused students, all hell breaks loose. Adults close ranks, and schoolmates turn on the young journalists. And then one day, a voice on the school intercom announces that Mr. Hudson is dead. Isolde Raftery is one of the students who first hears about and reports allegations against Mr. Hudson. Today, she is an investigative journalist in Seattle. In "Adults in the Room," Raftery re-reports the story to understand what really happened in 1999. Was a whole school community groomed by a charismatic predator? Or was she part of a whisper campaign that cost the life of a great teacher?&nbsp;
"Focus" is KUOW&rsquo;s home for immersive audio documentaries. Each season zooms in on a single story that challenges commonly held narratives about life in the Pacific Northwest and reveals something bigger about American society.&nbsp;

Focus: Adults in the Room

Ella and Isolde, as adults, start investigating the question of Hudson’s guilt. To start their inquiry, Isolde digs out an envelope containing the school district's records on Hudson, which she requested and received shortly after graduating from college.