Latest news with #Hecker
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Have we found the solution to reversing aging in magic mushrooms? Scientists believe they're closer than ever
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads From psychedelics to prolonged Life Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What did the study say? Not just a longer life, a better one Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Beyond mental health What's Next? Researchers at Emory University have found that psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms , can significantly extend lifespan and improve biological health in mice. The study, published this week in 'Nature Partner Journals: Aging ', raises the tantalizing question: could psychedelic therapy offer more than just mental health benefits and actually delay aging in humans?The study's results are as striking as they are unexpected. Mice administered psilocybin lived nearly 30 percent longer than their untreated peers, and they aged more gracefully, too. Treated mice displayed fuller, healthier coats, fewer white hairs, and more physical parallel lab tests, human skin and lung cells exposed to psilocin demonstrated a 50 percent increase in lifespan. These results, researchers say, suggest that psilocybin may act on cellular aging mechanisms at a foundational level."Psilocybin doesn't just alter consciousness; it appears to alter cellular fate," said Dr. Louise Hecker, senior author of the study and former associate professor at Emory University. 'Even when administered late in life, psilocybin still extended survival and improved physical function, which is clinically meaningful for aging populations.'Dr. Hecker, now at Baylor College of Medicine, led the team that tracked the impact of monthly psilocybin treatments on 19-month-old mice, roughly equivalent to 60- to 65-year-old humans. Mice received an initial low dose of 5 milligrams of psilocybin, followed by 15 mg monthly for ten study revealed that psilocybin doesn't simply slow aging; it appears to address the biological hallmarks of aging itself. Treated mice showed reduced oxidative stress, a key driver of age-related diseases, as well as preserved telomere length and improved DNA are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. As we age, they naturally shorten, increasing vulnerability to cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, and heart disease. Psilocin appears to protect these cellular structures, suggesting its potential as a broad-spectrum anti-aging agent.'These mechanisms are fundamental to aging and disease,' Dr. Hecker noted. 'Psilocybin may be the first drug of its kind to act on all of them simultaneously.'For Dr. Ali John Zarrabi, Director of Psychedelic Research in Emory's Department of Psychiatry and a co-investigator on the study, the implications go far beyond lifespan.'As a palliative care physician, I often ask: what's the point of living longer if it's with more pain, more dependency, and less dignity?' Zarrabi said. 'What excited us is that these mice weren't just surviving longer, they were thriving. That suggests psilocybin could help promote healthy aging, not just extended aging.'The findings come amid growing global interest in anti-aging science. With the US anti-aging market now surpassing $500 million annually, the search for therapies that extend both life and vitality has become a high-stakes frontier of medical study's release also follows a sobering report from KFF showing that US life expectancy, currently 78.4 years, lags significantly behind that of other developed nations. From 1980 to 2022, American lifespan increased by only 4.7 years, compared to a 7.9-year increase psilocybin has gained attention primarily for its powerful effects on treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD , this study is one of the first to examine its systemic effects on aging.'Most cells in the human body express serotonin receptors ,' Hecker explained, 'which suggests that psilocybin could exert influence far beyond the brain.' This broad receptor presence may be why the compound had such wide-ranging impacts on both cell health and whole-body confirmed that Emory is actively participating in Phase II and III clinical trials for psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression. He now hopes this study will spark expanded research into psilocybin's potential anti-aging benefits in humans."If psilocybin gets FDA approval for depression in 2027," he said, "it may pave the way for trials investigating whether improved mental health can lead to improved physical health, and even extended lifespan."While the findings are promising, experts caution that much more research is needed before psilocybin can be considered a legitimate anti-aging treatment for humans.'We're just scratching the surface,' said Zarrabi. 'What we need now are long-term human trials in aging populations to explore not only the safety, but the functional benefits of psilocybin as a systemic therapeutic.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Have we found the solution to reversing aging in magic mushrooms? Scientists believe they're closer than ever
Researchers at Emory University have found that psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms , can significantly extend lifespan and improve biological health in mice. The study, published this week in 'Nature Partner Journals: Aging', raises the tantalizing question: could psychedelic therapy offer more than just mental health benefits and actually delay aging in humans? From psychedelics to prolonged Life Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Science Project Management Digital Marketing Data Science MBA CXO Degree Management Data Analytics Technology Leadership Operations Management Cybersecurity Healthcare MCA PGDM Others others Finance Product Management healthcare Design Thinking Public Policy Artificial Intelligence Skills you'll gain: Duration: 30 Weeks IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIT Madras CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details The study's results are as striking as they are unexpected. Mice administered psilocybin lived nearly 30 percent longer than their untreated peers, and they aged more gracefully, too. Treated mice displayed fuller, healthier coats, fewer white hairs, and more physical mobility. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo In parallel lab tests, human skin and lung cells exposed to psilocin demonstrated a 50 percent increase in lifespan. These results, researchers say, suggest that psilocybin may act on cellular aging mechanisms at a foundational level. "Psilocybin doesn't just alter consciousness; it appears to alter cellular fate," said Dr. Louise Hecker, senior author of the study and former associate professor at Emory University. 'Even when administered late in life, psilocybin still extended survival and improved physical function, which is clinically meaningful for aging populations.' Live Events Dr. Hecker, now at Baylor College of Medicine, led the team that tracked the impact of monthly psilocybin treatments on 19-month-old mice, roughly equivalent to 60- to 65-year-old humans. Mice received an initial low dose of 5 milligrams of psilocybin, followed by 15 mg monthly for ten months. What did the study say? The study revealed that psilocybin doesn't simply slow aging; it appears to address the biological hallmarks of aging itself. Treated mice showed reduced oxidative stress, a key driver of age-related diseases, as well as preserved telomere length and improved DNA repair. Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. As we age, they naturally shorten, increasing vulnerability to cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, and heart disease. Psilocin appears to protect these cellular structures, suggesting its potential as a broad-spectrum anti-aging agent. 'These mechanisms are fundamental to aging and disease,' Dr. Hecker noted. 'Psilocybin may be the first drug of its kind to act on all of them simultaneously.' Not just a longer life, a better one For Dr. Ali John Zarrabi, Director of Psychedelic Research in Emory's Department of Psychiatry and a co-investigator on the study, the implications go far beyond lifespan. 'As a palliative care physician, I often ask: what's the point of living longer if it's with more pain, more dependency, and less dignity?' Zarrabi said. 'What excited us is that these mice weren't just surviving longer, they were thriving. That suggests psilocybin could help promote healthy aging, not just extended aging.' The findings come amid growing global interest in anti-aging science. With the US anti-aging market now surpassing $500 million annually, the search for therapies that extend both life and vitality has become a high-stakes frontier of medical research. The study's release also follows a sobering report from KFF showing that US life expectancy, currently 78.4 years, lags significantly behind that of other developed nations. From 1980 to 2022, American lifespan increased by only 4.7 years, compared to a 7.9-year increase elsewhere. Beyond mental health Although psilocybin has gained attention primarily for its powerful effects on treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD , this study is one of the first to examine its systemic effects on aging. 'Most cells in the human body express serotonin receptors ,' Hecker explained, 'which suggests that psilocybin could exert influence far beyond the brain.' This broad receptor presence may be why the compound had such wide-ranging impacts on both cell health and whole-body physiology. Zarrabi confirmed that Emory is actively participating in Phase II and III clinical trials for psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression. He now hopes this study will spark expanded research into psilocybin's potential anti-aging benefits in humans. "If psilocybin gets FDA approval for depression in 2027," he said, "it may pave the way for trials investigating whether improved mental health can lead to improved physical health, and even extended lifespan." What's Next? While the findings are promising, experts caution that much more research is needed before psilocybin can be considered a legitimate anti-aging treatment for humans. 'We're just scratching the surface,' said Zarrabi. 'What we need now are long-term human trials in aging populations to explore not only the safety, but the functional benefits of psilocybin as a systemic therapeutic.'
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Magic Mushrooms could lengthen your lifespan
A new study from Emory University suggests that psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, may extend your lifespan. Scientists at the university's department of medicine in Atlanta discovered that psilocybin increased cellular longevity and enhanced survival rates in aged mice. The study, published last week in the journal Nature, defined Psilocybin as the "naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by hallucinogenic mushrooms.' Researchers noted growing interest in psilocybin for treating psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions, but this study offers the first experimental evidence that psilocin, its active form, boosts longevity in aged mice. The study suggests psilocybin may be a powerful anti-aging agent, with data showing it reduces oxidative stress, prevents DNA damage and helps preserve telomere length, which all help slow the aging process. A study is the first to experimentally show that its active form, psilocin, extends lifespan in aged mice. (Getty Images) The older white-haired mice even appeared younger after treatment, regrowing black hair. "Psilocybin appears to slow the 'wear and tear' that accompanies aging," co-author of the study, Louise Hecker of Emory University, told Fox News Digital. "Mice and cells are healthier and live significantly longer." While the study suggests this could also work for humans, much more testing is needed. Hecker told the outlet that researchers need to answer questions such as, "What are the optimal dosing protocols for humans? What is the optimal age for treatment initiation for optimal benefits?" "Is there an age, beyond which point, when treatment does not provide efficacy?' she continued. 'Are there potential harms or adverse effects associated with long-term treatment? What are the mechanisms of its action? All these questions need to be rigorously tested." Gabe Charambides, founder of the U.S.' first legal psilocybin retreat in Oregon, called the findings 'compelling' but stressed that human use requires stricter screening, preparation and safety than in mice. He added that those who may benefit most from psilocybin therapy are people feeling 'stuck' after major life events, such as childhood trauma, divorce, job loss or bereavement, or those seeking to improve their mental health. The study suggests psilocybin may be a powerful anti-aging agent and even saw some older mice regrow darker hair (AFP via Getty Images) Charambides said his retreat guests have reported relief from physical issues such as chronic pain and migraines, though no biological testing is conducted. Ryan Moss of Filament Health, a Canadian clinical-stage natural psychedelic drug development company, previously stressed to Fox News Digital that the use of psychedelics should be administered in a safe, controlled setting. "Psychedelic experiences can sometimes feature anxiety, hallucinations, and paranoia," Moss said. "Some patients using traditional psychedelics have reported experiencing adverse cardiovascular events during clinical trials." He recommends that clinical trial participants be well-prepared and closely monitored by trained professionals. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The key to living longer could be tied to a surprising substance, study suggests
A new study suggests that psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, could extend lifespan. Researchers at the Emory University Department of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, discovered that psilocybin extended cellular lifespan and improved survival in aged mice. Psilocybin is the "naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by hallucinogenic mushrooms," as defined in the study. Single Dose Of 'Magic Mushrooms' Provides 5 Years Of Depression Relief, Researchers Find Psilocybin has recently received attention due to "considerable clinical evidence" for its potential in treating various psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions, the researchers noted. The study, published in the journal Nature, uncovered the first experimental evidence that treatment with psilocin – the "active metabolite" in psilocybin – increases longevity in aged mice. Read On The Fox News App This suggests that psilocybin may be a "potent geroprotective agent," the researchers wrote. Co-author Louise Hecker of Emory University said the data suggests psilocybin impacts "multiple hallmarks of aging." This includes reducing oxidative stress levels and preventing DNA damage, also known as preserving "telomere length." (Telomere are DNA-protein structures on the ends of chromosomes, which help to prevent cellular damage.) Parkinson's Patients Who Take 'Magic Mushrooms' See Key Benefits, Study Finds "Psilocybin appears to slow the 'wear and tear' that accompanies aging," Hecker said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "Mice and cells are healthier and live significantly longer." The treatment led to "a dramatic impact on cellular life extensions" and increased the survival of mice, even when administered later in life, the researcher noted. The mice also appeared healthier, growing back black hair that was once white. "Most of what we know about psilocybin is clinical outcomes and what it does in the brain," Hecker commented. "These studies shed light on the fact that psilocybin has potent impacts on the entire body." As these are the first studies showing the impact of psilocybin on aging, Hecker noted that there is still "much more to learn" about the drug's potential. "What are the optimal dosing protocols for humans? What is the optimal age for treatment initiation for optimal benefits?" Hecker questioned. "Is there an age, beyond which point, when treatment does not provide efficacy? Are there potential harms or adverse effects associated with long-term treatment? What are the mechanisms of its action? All these questions need to be rigorously tested." Additional studies are needed to answer these questions and confirm whether treatment impacts lifespan, Hecker noted. Gabe Charambides, founder of Odyssey – America's first legal psilocybin retreat, located in Oregon – said he considers these findings "compelling." "While most human psilocybin trials have focused on mental health outcomes — depression, anxiety, PTSD — this work highlights physiological shifts, including markers of cellular aging," he said in an interview with Fox News Digital. While Charambides' retreat doesn't test for any biological changes, he said that many guests report relief from physical ailments like chronic pain and migraines. "Those self-reports suggest the mind–body effects the study hints at may translate to humans as well," he told Fox News Digital. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Administration of psilocybin should differ "sharply" from mice to humans in terms of screening, preparation and safeguards, Charambides noted. Individuals who benefit the most from psilocybin therapy include those who "feel stuck" after significant life events – like childhood trauma, divorce, career upheaval or bereavement – or people who aim to improve their mental health, he added. Ryan Moss, chief science officer at Filament Health, a clinical-stage natural psychedelic drug development company in Canada, has emphasized the importance of administering psychedelics in a safe setting. For more Health articles, visit "Psychedelic experiences can sometimes feature anxiety, hallucinations and paranoia," Moss previously told Fox News Digital. "Some patients using traditional psychedelics have reported experiencing adverse cardiovascular events during clinical trials." To mitigate these risks, Moss recommended that clinical trial participants receive thorough preparation and monitoring by trained professionals during article source: The key to living longer could be tied to a surprising substance, study suggests
The Guardian
18-04-2025
- The Guardian
Survivor of notorious New Orleans child sex abuser priest speaks out for first time
The clergy abuse survivor who helped prosecutors secure the only conviction against a notorious child rapist and retired Roman Catholic priest in New Orleans is still hoping that authorities file criminal charges against his former high school principal and everyone else who enabled the clergyman. 'Everybody that had any part … needs to be held accountable. Period – period,' Neil Duhon, whose rapist was Lawrence Hecker, said in an interview with WWL Louisiana and the Guardian, the first and only time he's ever revealed his identity to the public. Referring to the Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans, the institution that employed and protected Hecker for decades and kept doing so even after the cleric admitted he had preyed sexually on minors throughout his career, Duhon added: 'I hope they get some type of criminal charge. 'You know, they are responsible for all of this.' And Duhon, who is now 65 but was about 16 when Hecker raped him in 1975, had particularly harsh words for a judge who handled part of his ordeal. New Orleans criminal court judge Benedict Willard delayed Hecker's trial date for more than a year before recusing himself on the day that jury selection for the case was to begin. Only by handing the matter over to another judge did Willard finally clear the way for Hecker to plead guilty in December – shortly before the priest died. Duhon called Willard 'a coward – a coward. That's it.' The hours-long interview Duhon granted a pair of outlets whose reporting aided Hecker's successful prosecution provided the most detailed account yet of the stand he took against one of the Catholic church's most inveterate abusers. Hecker's prosecution also showed how the clergy molestation crisis roiling the US church for decades was not yet over. As Duhon told it, he was a freshman student at New Orleans' St John Vianney high school – which catered to boys interested in joining the priesthood – when he met Hecker in 1973. The school, which has since closed, required students to essentially help local Catholic churches with their masses and other services. And Duhon was assigned to do that at a church adjacent to St John called St Theresa and colloquially known as Little Flower, where Hecker introduced himself to him. Hecker left Little Flower – which has since closed, too – in about 1974. But during the summer of the following year, Duhon saw him again at one of the weekly pool parties that the Notre Dame seminary, an institution in New Orleans that educates and trains priests, would host for St John students. According to Duhon, Hecker recognized him and asked if he was still working at Little Flower. Duhon said he was. Days later, after finishing his mass-related duties at Little Flower, Duhon was exercising on a weight bench set up in a room attached to the church bell tower. Hecker appeared unannounced, offered to give him pointers that could help Duhon earn a spot on a wrestling team being started at St John, and eventually put him in a headlock. Duhon tried to force himself free of Hecker but couldn't. He said he suddenly felt Hecker's penis inside of him. As he tensed up, Duhon said Hecker's arm came across his upper chest toward his neck. Duhon said he lost consciousness and woke up alone. The shadows cast in the room were much longer than he remembered them, suggesting hours had passed. Duhon said he soon realized he had semen on his backside. His mind raced as he removed his gym shorts and underwear, changed into his trousers and rushed to his bus stop. Along the way, he said he suddenly realized he was carrying the soiled clothes and – overcome with disgust – threw them in a garbage can. Duhon said his mother was the first person he told about his rape, when laundry day arrived the following Friday. He said he disclosed the attack to her after struggling to give an answer when she asked where his gym shorts and underwear were so she could wash them. He said his mother said nothing but appeared to be in shock. Duhon said he was never sure whether she disclosed the rape to his father. But his parents soon decided he would not return to Little Flower and instead would work a newspaper delivery route with his father. Not immediately realizing that he was traumatized, Duhon said he returned to St John much more combative than he had been before. One priest and teacher, Luis Fernandez, had the habit of using a lengthy stick to strike students who were sleeping, talking or inattentive. He hit Duhon with it one day that year, and the pupil snatched it away, igniting a heated confrontation that got him sent to the office of the principal, Paul Calamari. Calamari initially punished Duhon with detention. But later that same day, Duhon was standing in the lunch line with a friend and began arguing with him over something he can no longer remember. They ended up in a fistfight. Teachers sent Duhon back to Calamari. Duhon recalled the principal saying: 'Ah … you're fighting now. Why you fighting, Neil?' As he remembered it, Duhon didn't mince any words and immediately told Calamari that Hecker had raped him. Duhon said Calamari's reaction was to angrily ask who else the boy had told. 'My mom,' Duhon recalled saying, which prompted Calamari to summon the boy's parents and meet with them without their son present. Ultimately, Duhon recalled agreeing to undergo treatment from a psychiatrist in lieu of expulsion over the fight with his friend and confrontation with Fernandez. The sessions – which Duhon suspects were paid for by the school – focused on managing his anger problems and what Calamari called 'fantasy stories' instead of addressing his rape at the hands of Hecker, he said. 'We never talked once about that,' said Duhon, adding that the sessions went on for months. Duhon said he eventually graduated from St John, burned his memorabilia from the school and threw his class ring into Lake Pontchartrain. Despite everything, his mother wanted him to become a priest, and he enrolled briefly at St Joseph seminary college north of New Orleans. Yet he said he intentionally tanked his studies and withdrew, having concluded he was not comfortable around priests and felt 'hypocritical' pretending he was. Duhon later served in the US navy and coast guard. And he served as an emergency medic and police officer, first in Louisiana and then in north-west Ohio. He got married, started a family in Ohio and tried not to think about St John. But that became impossible beginning in 2018 when, amid its efforts to manage the fallout of the worldwide Catholic church's clergy abuse crisis, New Orleans' archdiocese released a list of priests and deacons whom it had judged to be credibly accused of child molestation. Hecker was on that list in connection with reported abuse that had nothing to do with Duhon. Another person on that list was Calamari, who became a priest after Duhon's rape. Carl Davidson, a priest who worked at St John and had successfully recruited Duhon to join a choir there, was on the list, too. Robert Cooper, who taught at St John while Duhon was a student there, would be added after a 2020 investigation by WWL Louisiana and a reporter now at the Guardian. Not on the list was Fernandez, whom the reporters also investigated later. After the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020 in an attempt to limit its liability from lawsuits prompted by the abusive conduct underlying the list, the church quietly canceled most of Fernandez's retirement benefits. The priest, who moved to Florida, later told the Guardian that a church attorney told him he lost the benefits because of a credible child molestation accusation, though he correctly said he had never been put on the New Orleans archdiocese's credibly accused list. Duhon noted that the credibly accused list's publisher, Archbishop Gregory Aymond, worked at St John at the beginning of his career alongside all those clergymen. Looking back, Duhon said it was as if his high school education unfolded within the clutches of 'a pedophile ring'. 'I actually feel [that] as an adult now looking back,' Duhon said. Louisiana state police troopers would arrive at a similar suspicion after Duhon was put in touch with attorney Richard Trahant, who frequently represents clergy abuse survivors. Duhon – with Trahant's help – reported Hecker to law enforcement in June 2022, formally accusing him of rape, a crime for which he could be prosecuted no matter how long ago it occurred. Duhon immediately realized how grueling the ensuing process would get. For example, immediately after Duhon described passing out as Hecker began raping him, an apparently inattentive investigator filling in that day for a co-worker jabbered: 'There's no penetration.' 'Yep – this is over,' Duhon recalled saying irately as he got up to leave and considered abandoning his complaint. Yet he calmed down and continued cooperating, though there was little progress for several months. In June 2023, the Guardian reported on a printed copy of a confession Hecker provided to his church superiors in 1999, in which the priest admitted molesting or sexually harassing several children other than Duhon. The Guardian provided the confession to WWL Louisiana in August 2023, and journalists from both outlets confronted Hecker on camera. Hecker told the outlets that his written confession about 'overtly sexual acts' with underage boys was accurate and authentic. Nonetheless, he insisted that the children were '100% willing' despite their legal inability to consent. As part of the New Orleans archdiocese bankruptcy, the judge overseeing the proceeding – Meredith Grabill – was provided that confession. But as she weighed whether such information about Hecker should remain secret because of confidentiality rules governing the bankruptcy or be accessible to the public, she indicated she would 'destroy' documents 'that this court received' pertaining to the self-admitted child abuser. Duhon, after learning about that during his interview with WWL Louisiana and the Guardian, said Grabill has 'got to get [her] head examined'. 'A judge squashing that … is absolutely ridiculous,' Duhon said. 'It's just ridiculous.' The media outlets were also able to report on a video deposition that Hecker gave during civil litigation stemming from a separate complaint against him. The video was confidential but obtained by the outlets. In it, Hecker outlined how New Orleans' last four archbishops had helped him avoid all accountability over the course of decades. Hecker also testified about collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of retirement benefits after he retired in 2002, in effect on his own terms. In September 2023, just two weeks after Hecker's on-camera confession to WWL and the Guardian made national headlines, the office of New Orleans' district attorney, Jason Williams, obtained a grand jury indictment charging Hecker with rape, kidnapping and other crimes against Duhon. The case was the first time Hecker faced consequences for his crimes. It was randomly allotted to Judge Willard. Hecker turned 92 shortly after his indictment. And over the next year, Willard repeatedly postponed trying the case over questions about whether Hecker – at his advanced age – had the mental competence required to withstand trial. Doctors determined that Hecker had dementia but fit the constitutional criteria to legally stand trial. It seemed that Hecker would be tried in late September. And Duhon flew in from Ohio to be the star witness, one of nearly a dozen victims of Hecker whom prosecutors had lined up to testify against the clergyman. Yet on the morning of jury selection, Willard suddenly recused himself from handling the case, citing nothing more than a clash of personalities with one of Williams's prosecutors. Duhon, through Trahant, released a media statement saying Willard's waffling on the bench offered an example of why many rape survivors decline to ever come forward. It wasn't immediately clear how much more time Willard's recusal might cost Hecker's prosecution. But the judge who took over the case, Nandi Campbell, set a trial date for 3 December. And Campbell made clear the trial would go forward that day barring the death of Hecker, who by then had turned 93. On the morning of the trial, as prospective jurors gathered outside the courtroom, Hecker suddenly pleaded guilty as charged. Campbell imposed a mandatory life sentence a little more than two weeks later. But first, she held a hearing during which Duhon addressed his rapist. It was the first time Duhon had seen Hecker in person in half a century. Duhon directed his words at Hecker, saying that he couldn't wear trousers without underwear to this day without thinking of the rape. 'My whole aspect of church changed' because of that attack, Duhon said to Hecker, as a weeping Campbell listened. Duhon also said he would never forgive Hecker – not that the priest asked for it when Campbell gave him the chance to address the courtroom before he was sentenced. Hecker served eight days of his punishment. He died early in the morning of 26 December of natural causes as he awaited transfer to Louisiana's maximum-security state penitentiary, infamously nicknamed Angola. Duhon got emotional reflecting back on his reaction when he first got word of Hecker's death. 'I actually felt free,' Duhon said. He said he regretted that he had lost both of his parents before ever experiencing the relief Hecker's death brought him. Still, 'my feeling [was], 'It's finally over,'' Duhon remarked. But he also feels the case isn't totally resolved. Duhon said he was aware that his case spurred a broader investigation into Hecker's former employer. Statements sworn under oath in April 2024 by the Louisiana state police investigator who built the case against Hecker, Scott Rodrigue, allege that authorities already have probable cause to suspect that the archdiocese ran a child sex-trafficking ring responsible for the 'widespread … abuse of minors dating back decades'. That abuse was illegally 'covered up and not reported' to authorities, Rodrigue's sworn statement said. Calamari was questioned about Hecker as part of that investigation. And he admitted he was a child molester, according to Rodrigue's sworn statement. However, Calamari has not been charged for, as Duhon put it, sending an underage boy to therapy without alerting police that the child had been raped. And neither had any of Hecker's other superiors – who Hecker acknowledged in his deposition had coddled him despite knowing he was a serial child molester. Duhon said he decided to shed his anonymity to lend weight to his plea for Rodrigue and his colleagues to complete that investigation, no matter the political and logistical hurdles that may complicate their efforts. 'We need to hold the archdiocese accountable,' Duhon said. 'I mean – their secrets cannot stay secret any longer. [They] really can't.' In prior statements, archdiocesan officials have said they are cooperating with the state police investigation. They have said that they 'hope and pray [Hecker's] death will bring closure and peace to … survivors'. Duhon furthermore said he wanted to openly tell his story as a demonstration of strength to his fellow survivors. As he put it: 'I'm Neil Duhon. I was sodomized [and] choked unconscious by a priest named Father Lawrence Hecker. 'I couldn't say that with my name attached to it prior to his death. But now … to publicly say this, I feel that it just sets [me] right.' In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453 or visit their website for more resources and to report child abuse or DM for help. For adult survivors of child abuse, help is available at In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International
