Who could I have been had I not been traumatized by sexual abuse as a child? That question haunts me, as it haunts my mother. We —Andy Castellano and Julie Archibeque—have come together to write Where Monsters Lurk: A Mother and Son’s Story of Justice and Closure.
Too few victims of childhood sexual abuse find justice. We’re trying to change that with this 25,000-word call-to-action memoir that empowers victims, their parents and their loved ones to engage in activism and find healing. We see the book as part self-help, offering support for victims and their families, and part collective-help. We hope this book is a change agent that charts a path for restorative justice and effective, active prevention.
The impact of Where Monsters Lurk is already building as civil lawsuits have been filed in Albuquerque District Court seeking damages for 13 men. That number is expected to grow significantly as more victims come forward.
Approaching the trial date in mid-2025, we are giving exclusive interviews to New Mexico media and preparing testimony for the New Mexico Legislature session that opens in January 2025, where our chief aim is to change the statute of limitations law in New Mexico, which says, “…the statute of limitations for sexual abuse and sexual assault is three years from the date that a person first disclosed the person’s childhood sexual abuse to a licensed medical or mental health care provider in the context of receiving health care from the provider…”. This is unfair to the victim, because it often takes decades to find the strength to disclose and seek justice.
Our story is important to tell at this time because it has the potential to help men across the nation seek help and recover from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. Because it is written by a son and his mother, we see it has the potential to bring great healing to the parents of those victims, as well.
More and more, the spotlight on childhood sexual abuse is bringing about sweeping changes to laws, organizations and the culture, creating a safe space for men to come forward, share their stories, find justice, seek healing and know closure. Recent stories in the news include those who were victims of the child sexual abuse in the Catholic church; on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team; Boy Scouts of America; child actors at Nickelodeon; young artists working for Sean Combs (P. Diddy). Now a scandal is erupting at the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. In 2020, the Hearst Connecticut Media investigation uncovered 351 victims in 35 states who are alleged in criminal or civil court documents to have been sexually abused as children by employees, volunteers, and other members of the clubs.
I’m motivated to come forward, tell my story and start conversations with this book because I will never know if I could have been a better version of myself. I know that other men desperately need the justice and closure I seek. In this book, my mother and I present a multifaceted process that empowers survivors, deters future offenders, promotes healing, and transforms societal attitudes. By recognizing the significance of justice and closure, we take significant steps towards creating a world where sexual abuse is not only condemned but actively prevented.
It would be hard to overstate the impact of the emotional and psychological damage done to the many victims at the Albuquerque Old Town Boys and Girls Club that we know about. It’s staggering, then to consider the impact on the potential of a community. The effect of the trauma rippled through the communities of Albuquerque High School, Valley High School and West Mesa High School, schools those boys attended during that period of time. If more boys could have escaped sexual abuse, they may have been able to make life-changing contributions to their communities that could have altered our existence today for the better. Too many of these men affected are scared and embarrassed to do anything about the abuse against them. I believe if I tell my story, I can help these men join the lawsuits.
New Mexico and other states that have not changed the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse are standing in the way. We need legislation to make it easier for victims to receive justice and closure.
Where Monsters Lurk stands out because it’s for sons and mothers (and fathers), too. For a mother, discovering that her child has experienced sexual abuse is immensely distressing and heartbreaking. When Julie learned Andy had been sexually abused, it plunged her into shock and disbelief. Like Julie, other mothers and fathers who read this book will find a place to process overwhelming feelings of anger, guilt, helplessness and profound sadness.
A mother’s innate instinct to protect her child is often heightened after discovering the abuse. She may experience a mix of anger, fear, and a desire for justice, wanting to shield her child from further harm and ensure the abuser is held accountable. Mothers play a crucial role as advocates for her child’s recovery and healing.
This book guides mothers through how to offer support and encouragement that can be transformative for her child’s healing journey. By believing, validating and advocating for her child’s needs, a mother plays a pivotal role in fostering resilience and instilling in her child a sense of hope and self-worth.
This book is for the embarrassed, ashamed and fearful individuals who were sexually abused but do not have the strength and courage to seek justice and closure. It is for anyone who has been sexually abused as a child, especially as a participant in a youth organization. It is for their mothers and fathers who are supporting their child in this journey.
But it is also for the people who can change this. It is for legislators who are responsible for changing legislation to remove or revise the statute of limitations for these cases.
I was a young adolescent when I was violated. Now 48, I am at a point in my life that I have the strength and courage to come out with my story. I want to be able to take the lead in influencing other victims to come forward to seek justice and closure. It is important that we all get a settlement; I’m not satisfied with only a few receiving a settlement. I want to encourage and support the other men who were abused to find the strength to seek this as well. If they are embarrassed, ashamed, or afraid, I hope this book will help them deal with these feelings and give them the courage to receive the justice they deserve. I hope that they will get their own sense of closure and move from victim to survivor.