Matt Sandusky Describes Alleged Abuse in NBC News Exclusive

(NECN/NBC News: Michael Isikoff) – NBC News has obtained an audio recording of a police interview with his adopted son, Matt, as he describes how he was allegedly abused by his father.

We should warn you, the conversation is graphic at times.

Jerry Sandusky's adopted son, Matt, in his own words, describes for the first time how he says he was molested by his father.

Matt Sandusky: “With, like, the showering, with the hugging, with the rubbing, with the just, the talking to me, the way he spoke.”

NBC News has exclusively obtained a 29-minute tape recorded by police detectives the week before Jerry Sandusky's conviction. At the time, they were preparing Sandusky"s son to testify as a surprise prosecution witness at his adoptive father's trial. Matt Sandusky told police he was repeatedly molested and would try to avoid being touched, sometimes hiding in a "fetal position," when his father entered his bedroom.

Matt Sandusky: “If you were pretending you were asleep and you were touched or rubbed in some way, you could just act like you were rolling over in your sleep so you could change positions.”

Matt met Jerry Sandusky through the Second Mile and told police on the tape he was off-and-on molested from ages eight to 15. Like many other Second Mile boys, he began staying overnight at the Sandusky household. Jerry and Dottie Sandusky' later became his foster parents and adopted him at age 18.

Detective: “And when you were staying at his house, then he began to come into your bedroom at night and he would blow raspberries on your stomach and his hand would rub down and rub along or against your genital?”
Matt Sandusky: “Correct.”

Matt Sandusky told police he would try to escape from the Sandusky house, one night fleeing barefoot to hide in his grandfather's basement. He also said he tried to commit suicide.

Matt Sandusky: “I know that I really wanted to die at that point in time.”

Sandusky told police he's been seeing a therapist and memories of his abuse are just now coming back.

Detective: “And you said at the beginning of our interview last night that things happened to you but there was no, that you can recall, there was no penetration or oral sex, is that correct?”
Matt Sandusky: “Yes. As of this time, I don't recall that.”

After years of denying that he had been abused, including to a grand jury, Matt Sandusky told police he was coming forward now so his family would know what really happened.

Matt Sandusky: “So that they can really have closure and see what the truth actually is. And just to right the wrong, honestly, of going to the grand jury and lying.”

Sandusky's offer to testify was a crucial turning point in his father's trial. When Jerry Sandusky learned that his son had turned on him, he was crushed and it kept him off the witness stand, according to his lawyer.

“When Jerry heard that initially, he was very upset. And I can tell you that the next day when we were preparing, ah, that was the most despondent I had seen him,” said Jerry Sandusky’s lawyer Karl Rominger.

Defense lawyers told NBC News that they were prepared to attack Matt Sandusky's credibility.

“Do we believe what Matt Sandusky had to say,” asked Rominger. “Absolutely not.”

On Monday, Rominger was the first to visit Jerry Sandusky in jail and described his client as defiant.

“He's not a beaten man. He is pacing a cell right now, being held in solitary confinement, wanting to get out and get his story out and continue to defend himself,” said Rominger. “I don't think Jerry believes there's anything to feel sorry for. At this point, he maintains his innocence adamantly."

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