Tracy stumbles frantically into her daughter’s bathroom at TCU finding her slumped in the shower, wearing a t-shirt, and unresponsive. Minutes later, the authorities arrive, her daughter is pronounced dead, and Tracy’s life is changed forever. After investigation, it is determined that her daughter was raped and strangled by a man with not one, but two, prior sexual assault allegations filed against him. It is this injustice, coupled with grief, that transforms Tracy into “a mom on a mission.” Since the traumatic incident, Tracy Matheson has worked tirelessly to understand and change, the legal investigation processes around sexual assault as well as the general public’s opinion of survivors and their stories. Her inspiring story and work are borne raw in this emotional and inspiring Dear Katie episode.

Hosts: Claire Kaplan and Katie Koestner

Editor: Craig Stanton

Producer: Emily Wang

Jan Langbein, CEO of Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support and Tracy Matheson, founder of Project Beloved, discuss updates from the 88th Legislative Session in the State of Texas where bills were filed to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. In this episode, we explore topics related to state funding, housing needs, ViCAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program), CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), victim rights, and Molly Jane’s Law.

23. Tracy Matheson: We Can Move Beyond ‘Sorry’ So Molly’s Death is Not In Vain Molly Jane Matheson was raped. Then murdered. Molly’s mother, Tracy, found Molly’s body, half-naked, in Molly’s apartment shower. Molly could be alive; her killer was a reported, known rapist. Yet there were failures, in law enforcement, in prosecution; Molly’s killer could have been in jail for rape—long before Molly was killed. “Everyone says they’re sorry…and, of course, they’re sorry…that is the only thing that anyone can say, really, is that they’re sorry. That’s not going to get us anywhere, ya know?...like, we’re just gonna stay sorry. I think we can move beyond sorry, and kind of, openly look at…’mistake’ is such a minor word for what they were…but…those failures, and how they happened, and how they could have been avoided. And how we can learn from them. And how we have to learn from them. And how we can’t keep doing things the way we’ve done them; there’s not room for that anymore.” Those are Tracy Matheson’s words…this episode is Tracy Matheson’s plea to law enforcement, and prosecutors, and all of us, to move past the rape culture we’ve been stuck in. And to become trauma-informed. And my plea is to all of you, too…to Start by Believing. And become trauma-informed. That can be your part to help bring justice to victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault. Because we all know someone whose life has been affected by rape or sexual assault. And sometimes…murder. Join Tracy’s efforts. Check out her Project Beloved website. And do something to help.