Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story

Introducing Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story

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.New episodes drop on Thursdays.If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available:Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 855-897-5910National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) ResourcesMental Health Hotline: 866-903-3787Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Something's Not Right

Coco Berthmann’s star is rising. She's young and pretty. And her eagerness to talk about the abuse she endured makes her a rarity in the anti-child sex trafficking space. For a while, it seems like Coco is everywhere, sharing her story of survival at international conferences, on podcasts and to her tens of thousands of social media followers. But in January of 2022, Coco shares some distressing news: She’s been diagnosed with a rare cancer. Her odds of survival are not good.Just weeks later, Coco is arrested and charged with communications fraud. And people start asking – was anything Coco said actually true?If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available:Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 855-897-5910National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) ResourcesMental Health Hotline: 866-903-3787A word from our sponsor:Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to RocketMoney.com/believable.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stuck In The Desert With Satan

It's February 2017, years before Coco Berthmann goes public with her story. She's a 23-year-old German au pair, living in Las Vegas. And she travels to Utah for college classes that are a requirement of her visa. There, she meets an instructor we’re calling Emily. The two quickly develop a Facebook friendship. Coco opens up about the abuse she endured back home in Germany. And Emily shares her faith, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Coco tells Emily how Celine Dion’s music helped her survive 15 years of unimaginable abuse. And soon, the story takes a surprising turn. Coco is invited to perform with Celine on stage and join her European tour. Only…was she?If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available:Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 855-897-5910National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) ResourcesMental Health Hotline: 866-903-3787Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Unforced Errors

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 988National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 855-897-5910National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) ResourcesMental Health Hotline: 866-903-3787Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Almost Everything She Says… Is True

To try to get to the truth of Coco Berthmann’s past, the investigation turns to Germany. Coco’s mother provides evidence to contradict many of Coco’s most horrific stories. But it’s clear that people were concerned about Coco’s welfare from the age of 12, when she first started showing signs of abuse. And even her mother believes that something must have happened to her. The investigation zeroes in on her mother’s former boyfriend, a man named Gregor. If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available:Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 855-897-5910National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) ResourcesMental Health Hotline: 866-903-3787A word from our sponsors:Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to RocketMoney.com/believable.With Factor, you can rest assured you're making a sustainable choice. Head to FACTORMEALS.com/believable50 and use code believable50 to get 50% off.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.