Marked for Life

Foreword

Cody Coots is a fourth-generation "Signs Follower." His childhood was anything but normal. At age 6, he started handling fake serpents with his sister Trina. They used leather belts for props. Such was life in East Kentucky. Cody's congregation of believers proclaimed themselves to be the truest followers of an "Old Time Religion."Cody tries his best to have a normal childhood: He rides his bike, practices drums on pots and pans in the kitchen, and even watches WWE Wrestling with his dad Jamie – one of the most famous serpent-handling preachers of all time.When an unspeakable act of evil leaves Cody devastated at 8 years old, Cody turns his wrath upon his parents, his church, his God, and even himself.

1 – 2. "The House of Horror"

After a fatal rattlesnake bite at his apartment in Middlesboro, Kentucky, Cody and his family move to a new place on South 45th Street. This is a house that changes Cody forever, and not for the better. In this account, he refers to the house as The House of Horror.A special introductory episode, it features chapters 1 & 2.

3. "We Can't Testify"

A trial is scheduled for Cody’s abuser.However, believers across the faith are concerned about Cody testifying. The reason? One day at church, long ago, when Cody was 8, something unbelievable happened. It's something only Cody's church knows. Now, if it comes out at trial, they all know Cody and Trina will be whisked away from their parents.

4. "Coots vs. The Public School System"

The Bible passage "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man" from Deuteronomy means another life change for Cody. This child of the serpent-handling faith continues to suffer from the reverberations of a horrid abuse case... and now, this.A real-life monster, behind bars, means Cody can now tune into his father's shepherding style. Jamie Coots is the beloved preacher from Middlesboro who leads the family church. Cody will pursue a friendship with his father.

5. "Nothing Left To Lose"

Cody Coots' childhood is in shambles, so he pursues a relationship with his father: the world-famous serpent handling preacher Jamie Coots. Jamie starred in what Cody calls, "a national TV program that I won't mention out of legal concerns." Together, they watch WWE every weekend. It's what they have in common. They pull for the great underdog, Chris Benoit, who's a man disrespected by the system. Cody sees himself in the wrester, with a real-life horror story of his own.Cody then receives a call from his sister, Trina, whose car is stuck in a ditch. For some reason, it's outside the House of Horror.