A poisoned prosecution

By Brooke Williams

Misconduct in sexual abuse cases damages reputations—and can ruin lives

Excerpts from this story referencing "Samantha":

"… emmed from a complaint filed by Wasser's then 20-year-old adopted daughter Samantha (not her real name).Wasser and his wife Bonnie had dedicated their adult l …"

"… when children had nowhere else to go. When the Wassers adopted 14-year-old Samantha, they knew the risks. Her previous foster father had sexually assaulted he …"

"… ere confident they could help her.Wasser's troubles began one weekend when Samantha was home from Wisconsin Lutheran College, a four-year, coed liberal arts s …"

"… oed liberal arts school in Milwaukee. Wasser found a handwritten note from Samantha to her boyfriend, a man she would later marry, about dropping out of colle …"