Just a warning before we start. This episode contains descriptions of sexual abuse and is not

suitable for everyone. Jim de Regatus never set out to be an investigative journalist. His

passion had always been music and he was a seasoned music critic with the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper.

But back in the year 2000, something happened that would change Jim's career trajectory

forever. He was about to start on a journey that would come to consume the next two decades

of his life. And in a roundabout way, it started with a pretty standard album review.

I'm Maitlandigan. This is the tip-off.

Back in the year 2000, Jim had just written a review of the album, TP2.com, by R&B singer R. Kelly.

I had compared him to Marvin Gay. This is not a unique critical thought. It is the oldest

trope in R&B. The blurring of the line between sex and salvation. You know, you're at the club or in the sheets on Saturday night and you're in church

on Sunday morning.

And I noted that, you know, Prince and Reverend Al Green and Marvin Gay, this was what all

the greats of R&B and Soul had done, were it was to blur that line.

Sex can be salvation, and that

Kelly may get there someday, but for him, the shift was so jarring it could give you whiplash.

Jim filed the review of R. Kelly's album. It was printed, and he didn't think much more about it.

Until about a week later, a few days before

Thanksgiving, and on a rare trip into the office, Jim usually worked from home, he noticed a fax

had come into the newspaper, a fax that was addressed to him. It was one page, single-spaced, and it said, Dear Mr. Dear Goddess, I don't know if you're the right person at the newspaper to send this to.

If you're not, please steer it to someone who is.

You compared R. Kelly to Marvin Gay.

Well, Marvin Gay had his problems, but they're not like Roberts. Robert's problem,

...