Marked for Life

Alabama Astronaut
  • 5.0 (33)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • WEEKLY SERIES
Marked for Life

Cody Coots is a fourth-generation serpent handler. By age 6, he handles mock serpents with his sister, Trina, in the church, using leather belts for props. Cody secretly yearns for a normal childhood. He likes to ride his bike, play drums, and watch WWE wrestling with his father, Jamie. (Jamie is the world's most famous serpent-handling preacher.) A terrible act of violence befalls 8-year-old Cody, shocking the serpent handling community. A preacher pleads guilty to charges of deviant sexual abuse, but it's too late: Cody's innocence is shattered. Anger boils inside him, so he turns his wrath upon his parents, his church, and even his God. As he cruises the backstreets of Middlesboro, Ky, looking for nothing but trouble, Cody's sins begin piling up. But the consequences do, too. Is Cody beyond salvation? Or, is he as the community describes him: "Marked for life?"

  1. Foreword

    EPISODE 1

    Foreword

    Cody Coots is a fourth-generation "Signs Follower." His childhood was anything but normal.  At age 6, he started handling fake serpents with his sister Trina. They used leather belts for props. Such was life in East Kentucky. Cody's congregation of believers proclaimed themselves to be the truest followers of an "Old Time Religion." Cody tries his best to have a normal childhood: He rides his bike, practices drums on pots and pans in the kitchen, and even watches WWE Wrestling with his dad Jamie – one of the most famous serpent-handling preachers of all time. When an unspeakable act of evil leaves Cody devastated at 8 years old, Cody turns his wrath upon his parents, his church, his God, and even himself.

    8 min
  2. 1 – 2. "The House of Horror"

    EPISODE 2

    1 – 2. "The House of Horror"

    After a fatal rattlesnake bite at his apartment in Middlesboro, Kentucky, Cody and his family move to a new place on South 45th Street. This is a house that changes Cody forever, and not for the better. In this account, he refers to the house as The House of Horror. A special introductory episode, it features chapters 1 & 2.

    33 min
  3. 3. "We Can't Testify"

    EPISODE 3

    3. "We Can't Testify"

    A trial is scheduled for Cody’s abuser. However, believers across the faith are concerned about Cody testifying. The reason? One day at church, long ago, when Cody was 8, something unbelievable happened.  It's something only Cody's church knows. Now, if it comes out at trial, they all know Cody and Trina will be whisked away from their parents.

    13 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    4. "Coots vs. The Public School System"

    The Bible passage "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man" from Deuteronomy means another life change for Cody. This child of the serpent-handling faith continues to suffer from the reverberations of a horrid abuse case... and now, this. A real-life monster, behind bars, means Cody can now tune into his father's shepherding style. Jamie Coots is the beloved preacher from Middlesboro who leads the family church. Cody will pursue a friendship with his father.

    19 min
  5. 5. "Nothing Left To Lose"

    EPISODE 5

    5. "Nothing Left To Lose"

    Cody Coots' childhood is in shambles, so he pursues a relationship with his father: the world-famous serpent handling preacher Jamie Coots.  Jamie starred in what Cody calls, "a national TV program that I won't mention out of legal concerns."  Together, they watch WWE every weekend. It's what they have in common. They pull for the great underdog, Chris Benoit, who's a man disrespected by the system.  Cody sees himself in the wrester, with a real-life horror story of his own. Cody then receives a call from his sister, Trina, whose car is stuck in a ditch. For some reason, it's outside the House of Horror.

    19 min
  6. 6. "Run to the Altar!"

    EPISODE 6

    6. "Run to the Altar!"

    Cody is haunted by his secret sins, so he runs to the altar to pray.  His father sees this and kneels by his side, taking his son's hand. Together they call upon The Lord for salvation. Cody knows he must change his ways. He must stop cussing. He must stop listening to country music. And, he must give up rock n' roll forever. He will even shave his "bad attitude" mohawk.  Most importantly, he must stop sleeping around.  "Pap" begs Cody to go to college, but Cody will follow in his father's footsteps, leading him ever toward the Kentucky coal mines.

    10 min
  7. 7. "Andrew Got Bit"

    EPISODE 7

    7. "Andrew Got Bit"

    A rattlesnake slithers in the woods, and by divine help, Jamie knows where to find it. He pulls it from some weeds. God says, "Take it inside the house, not the snake room." Jamie obeys. Here is the story of an emerging friendship between two prominent, Signs-following preachers: Cody Coots and his friend Andrew Hamblin.

    11 min
  8. 8. "Andrew's Ordeal Continues"

    EPISODE 8

    8. "Andrew's Ordeal Continues"

    Andrew and Cody emerge from the snake room. Andrew's arm desperately needs attention.  With every step, he deteriorates. Cody knows rattlesnake bites are nothing to play with.  He also knows his friend is in for a long, hard ride. When Jamie walks downstairs to find Andrew suffering in the La-Z-Boy, he says, "Oh, Andrew. Are you scared, Son?" "Yes sir." "Well, then," the man says, "we should already be at the hospital by now."

    15 min
See All (35)

    5
    out of 5
    33 Ratings

    About

    Cody Coots is a fourth-generation serpent handler. By age 6, he handles mock serpents with his sister, Trina, in the church, using leather belts for props. Cody secretly yearns for a normal childhood. He likes to ride his bike, play drums, and watch WWE wrestling with his father, Jamie. (Jamie is the world's most famous serpent-handling preacher.) A terrible act of violence befalls 8-year-old Cody, shocking the serpent handling community. A preacher pleads guilty to charges of deviant sexual abuse, but it's too late: Cody's innocence is shattered. Anger boils inside him, so he turns his wrath upon his parents, his church, and even his God. As he cruises the backstreets of Middlesboro, Ky, looking for nothing but trouble, Cody's sins begin piling up. But the consequences do, too. Is Cody beyond salvation? Or, is he as the community describes him: "Marked for life?"

    Information

    • Creator
      Alabama Astronaut
    • Years Active
      2K
    • Episodes
      35
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © 2024

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