Valarie Clark Miller's Story | Emily Benedek

Hometown Betrayal

A Tragic Story of Secrecy and Sexual Abuse in Mormon Country

Forward by Elizabeth Smart (photo of Elizabeth)

Foreword by
Elizabeth Smart

The Miller family will donate 100% of profits they receive from the sale of this book to GenerationAll, a nonprofit dedicated to minimizing the generational impact of sexual abuse. Learn more at generationall.org

About the Book

Hometown Betrayal: A Tragic Story of Secrecy and Sexual Abuse in Mormon Country

No one believed it could happen in their town.

Valarie Clark Miller seemed to have it all. Smart, beautiful, and athletic, with a wealthy, successful husband and a growing family, Valarie appeared to be the picture-perfect Mormon wife. But it was all a façade. Inside, she was crumbling from the pressures of long-repressed memories of a childhood plagued with sexual and physical abuse.

In Hometown Betrayal, author Emily Benedek brings you behind the closed doors of the remote Mormon community of Clarkston, Utah. With the help of hundreds of individual stories, she pieces together not only what happened to Valarie, but also the conditions and culture that allowed it. Hometown Betrayal culminates in an account of the Miller family’s fight to hold accountable the men—including the local cop—who abused Valarie and controlled the systems designed to look the other way.

To contact the Miller family directly, please reach out to Sage Hancock at [email protected].

About the Author

Emily Benedek

Emily Benedek grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts, and graduated from Harvard College. She is an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, and tabletmag.com, among others. She is the author of the thriller, Red Sea. Hometown Betrayal is her sixth book. She lives in New York City.

For further reading, or to contact the author, visit www.emilybenedek.com

Order Hometown Betrayal Now!

Available Everywhere Books Are Sold October 15, 2024

Praise

“Hometown Betrayal is a powerful book that exposes child sexual abuse at its worst. Some may think this story is an exception, but the national and global data tell us otherwise. We must break the silence and do more to stop both the horrific acts and cover-ups that negatively impact survivors, their families, and even the generations that follow. Thanks to the Millers for their perseverance and courage to share their tragic story so that we can all be moved into action!”

Susan Madsen, EdD
Founding Director, Utah Women & Leadership Project, Utah State University; Karen Haight Huntsman Endowed Professor of Leadership, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, Utah State University

“Hometown Betrayal recounts the remarkable story of a family’s quest for justice for terrible crimes committed decades earlier. All too often, such stories recount nothing but frustration, dead ends, and legal barriers. But in this case, the family was able to obtain some measure of justice. It is a powerful story of how, at least sometimes, the truth can ultimately be uncovered.”

Paul G. Cassell, JD
Ronald N. Boyce Presidential Professor of Criminal Law and University Distinguished Professor of Law, S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah

“The devastating and long-lasting impacts of child sexual abuse cannot be ignored. Valarie Miller’s story is a stark reminder to acknowledge the systemic failures many survivors encounter and a call to action to prevent such injustices from occurring in the future.”

Betsy Kanarowski, PhD, LCSW
Chief Clinical Officer, Saprea

A Tiny Light in a Dark Epidemic.

This book is essential, as it exposes the often-overlooked consequences of child sexual abuse and violence on child welfare, public health, and human rights. It is a crucial resource for colleges and universities that educate future leaders in social work, child protection, and human rights, offering a narrative that is rarely shared.

The book gives voice to the countless untold stories of victims throughout history. It chronicles the devastating trauma experienced by a remarkable individual—a high-achieving student, athlete, wife, and mother.

Amazon Customer

At The Intersection of Religion, Power, and Social Justice.

Hometown Betrayal is an essential read for anyone interested in the intersections of religion, power, and social justice.

Benedek’s meticulous research and empathetic storytelling challenge us to rethink how secrecy and silence can function as tools of control, and how communities might begin to dismantle these structures in the pursuit of healing and accountability. For those of us from different faith traditions, the book serves as a powerful reminder of the universal challenges that religious communities face when grappling with the tension between protecting their own and pursuing justice. It urges us to reflect on the vital role our own communities must play in uncovering and addressing the stories that have long been suppressed, while noting that the story of this town is not representative of the Church or the faith.

Amazon Customer

An Immensely Important Read.

A difficult but immensely important read. The range of emotions I felt; Rage, sadness, disgust, relief and disbelief were all palpable.
It took courage and tenacity for the Miller family to uncover and expose these heinous crimes.
The psychological effects of childhood sexual and physical abuse take away the potential of its victims to have a normal life and normal relationships.
The silence that shrouds the disbelief of victims, the shame they carry and the protection of the perpetrators Must stop. Sexual abuse is NOT isolated to this community or religion and this book is a call to action so that survivors can get help and child sexual abuse And exploitation does not continue for further generations.

Sandra, Amazon Customer

Bringing to Light a Very Dark History of Abuse.

This book breaks all of the barriers that have been set up to make women fearful of bringing their sexual abuse to light. Highly recommended if you want to feel empowered to make a change. An incredibly tough read, given the hardships that Valarie had to endure at such a young age. Truly heartbreaking, yet inspiring to unmask and bringing to light the aftermath of childhood sexual abuse.

Amazon Customer

A Must Read!

This is a poignant, beautifully written, devastating account of a young girl’s horrendous abuse, the trauma that followed, as well as the subsequent coverup by people in a position of power making the choice to lie and to protect the monsters that perpetrated such terrible crimes while in a position of power. Although it’s a tough read, it’s a must read. The conversation needs to be had and things still need to change. Start believing victims, and stop protecting abusers.

Jennifer, Amazon Customer

Incredible True Story, Must Read!

This book is an incredibly courageous and comprehensive account of horrific events that Valerie endured. The generational impact and the delay in “justice” saddens me deeply. I have so much respect for a family taking a stand and bravely naming names and holding their heads high. You must read this book. You must give voice to the voiceless and shine light in the darkest corners of a culture and town(s) doing their best to shame and silence the vulnerable. Learning from this and believing survivors is something we as society should all lean into.

Miyo, Amazon Customer

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Hometown Betrayal | Emily Benedek

Hometown Betrayal

Hometown Betrayal: A Tragic Story of Secrecy and Sexual Abuse in Mormon Country

Emily Benedek

Order Hometown Betrayal Now!

Praise

In the Media

Media Outlet Name

Media Outlet Name

Media Outlet Name

A Tiny Light in a Dark Epidemic.

At The Intersection of Religion, Power, and Social Justice.

An Immensely Important Read.

Bringing to Light a Very Dark History of Abuse.

A Must Read!

Incredible True Story, Must Read!

Contact

Hometown Betrayal | Emily Benedek

Hometown Betrayal

Hometown Betrayal: A Tragic Story of Secrecy and Sexual Abuse in Mormon Country

Emily Benedek

Download an Exclusive Book Preview

Order Hometown Betrayal Now!

Praise

In the Media

Media Outlet Name

Media Outlet Name

Media Outlet Name

A Tiny Light in a Dark Epidemic.

At The Intersection of Religion, Power, and Social Justice.

An Immensely Important Read.

Bringing to Light a Very Dark History of Abuse.

A Must Read!

Incredible True Story, Must Read!

Contact