Dig

4.5 (957)
NEWS
SERIES

Each season, we expose the systems that allow injustice to fester, and shine a light on the people fighting for solutions. Our reporting is rooted in truth, fairness and accountability. Dig is produced by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, at Louisville Public Media.

EPISODE 1

The Girls, Part 1: 'I need to tell you something'

In 2023, 17-year-old Abbie Jones and her family accuse her high school football coach, Donnie Stoner, of child sex abuse. Another Louisville woman, Alexis Crook, says she was abused by Donnie too, and his twin brother Ronnie, when they were coaches at her private Christian school almost 20 years earlier. Hearing stories like this one can bring up painful feelings and memories, especially if you're a trauma survivor yourself. If you need to talk, you can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE, or visit RAINN.org and click get help now for free, 24/7 support. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Learn more about preventing sexual misconduct and abuse by K-12 school employees (PDF) If you have information about this case, or you think there’s something we should know that we haven’t reported here, please contact Jess Clark at jclark@kycir.org or 502-814-6541. Our work is community funded. To help us keep digging, visit kydig.org and click donate.

36 min
EPISODE 2

The Girls, Part 2: ‘This isn’t ringing alarms to y’all?’

Over the years, two girls and one young woman report Ronnie Stoner for sexual misconduct and rape in a public middle school and high school. But Child Protective Services declines to investigate, and the school district, Jefferson County Public Schools, continues to promote him. Hearing stories like this one can bring up painful feelings and memories, especially if you're a trauma survivor yourself. If you need to talk, you can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE, or visit RAINN.org and click get help now for free, 24/7 support. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Learn more about preventing sexual misconduct and abuse by K-12 school employees (PDF) If you have information about this case, or you think there’s something we should know that we haven’t reported here, please contact Jess Clark at jclark@kycir.org or 502-814-6541. Our work is community funded. To help us keep digging, visit kydig.org and click donate.

43 min
EPISODE 3

The Girls, Part 3: ‘If it was your daughter’

17-year-old Aryalle Stoner runs away from home and tells the police that her father, Ronnie Stoner, has been sexually abusing her for years. The cursory investigation that follows is representative of a larger issue with child sex abuse investigations in Louisville. Hearing stories like this one can bring up painful feelings and memories, especially if you're a trauma survivor yourself. If you need to talk, you can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE, or visit RAINN.org and click get help now for free, 24/7 support. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Learn more about preventing sexual misconduct and abuse by K-12 school employees (PDF) If you have information about this case, or you think there’s something we should know that we haven’t reported here, please contact Jess Clark at jclark@kycir.org or 502-814-6541. Our work is community funded. To help us keep digging, visit kydig.org and click donate.

47 min
EPISODE 4

The Girls, Part 4: ‘This is my story to tell’

Alleged victims of the Stoners find each other online and band together to demand justice. But they find themselves running up against police and prosecutors who want them to stay quiet. Hearing stories like this one can bring up painful feelings and memories, especially if you're a trauma survivor yourself. If you need to talk, you can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE, or visit RAINN.org and click get help now for free, 24/7 support. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988.Learn more about preventing sexual misconduct and abuse by K-12 school employees (PDF)If you have information about this case, or you think there’s something we should know that we haven’t reported here, please contact Jess Clark at jclark@kycir.org or 502-814-6541.Our work is community funded. To help us keep digging, visit kydig.org and click donate.

56 min
SEASON 3 TRAILER

Introducing Dig Season 3: The Girls

They were trusted educators and respected coaches. But in the summer of 2025, twin brothers Ronnie and Donnie Stoner were indicted on more than 50 charges related to child sex abuse allegations. A group of young women say the abuse stretched back nearly two decades. So what took so long? This is the story of those women who say they survived the abuse, took matters into their own hands and are still fighting for the girls they used to be.

2 min

See All Season 3 (5)

Eleanor Klibanoff

Host
Jess Clark

Host

4.5

out of 5

957 Ratings

Well-Reported and Compelling

Nov 12

progressiveinga

Season 3 is so well-reported and the story-telling is very compelling. It is also very frustrating to know how adults close their eyes and their minds to the abuse and r*pe of children. I hope they all get what they deserve.
Incredible

11/07/2021

CPKLouisville

This is the first time I’ve ever felt compelled to leave a podcast review. The second season of Dig shook me to my core. I work in the justice system and represented protestors during 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Eleanor so accurately presents the movement surrounding the deaths of Breonna Taylor and David McAtee, that I found myself having to hit pause to gather myself and my memories of the time. She presents the failures of LMPD in such a straight forward manner through the voices of the communities they have failed the most. Dig season 2 is a call to action.
No Trust

10/21/2021

nervous senior

Police are targeting black citizens of Louisville Ky, No trust is the key problem for us in the “Westend of Louisville. The police is over aggressive when they come to the Westend because they know this community is 90% black
Thank you

11/06/2020

Rachelfugate27

Omg..This is so eye opening and crazy. A must listen if you live in Lou or even anywhere KY really

Each season, we expose the systems that allow injustice to fester, and shine a light on the people fighting for solutions. Our reporting is rooted in truth, fairness and accountability. Dig is produced by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, at Louisville Public Media.