Oct 25, 2026 · 53 min
A victim faces her abuser as online sleuths pursue his platform
BONUS SERIES: Levittown Episode 5 | The Vigilantes
The episode examines what justice can deliver after image-based abuse—and what happens when online investigators act where law enforcement cannot.
- 1Kayla confronts Patrick Carey in court and describes how his fake images reshaped her body image and sense of self.
- 2Carey receives prison time, extensive probation, and lifetime sex-offender registration after Kayla delivers a direct victim impact statement.
- 3Investigator Will Wallace and Reddit researchers identify the website’s suspected operator, shut it down, and confront the limits of vigilantism.
Don't miss
Kayla reads her victim impact statement directly to Patrick Carey, explaining the harm and why speaking publicly mattered to other victims.
The brief
Kayla confronts Patrick Carey in court after his sexualized fake images leave lasting damage to her body image, eating, and sense of self.
Her victim impact statement turns private harm into a public reckoning, while Carey’s apology fails to change her view of what he did.
Carey receives prison time, extensive probation, and lifetime sex-offender registration, but the episode asks whether punishment can address the damage.
Investigator Will Wallace traces the abusive website to Scott Trent Costa through domain records, breached databases, reused passwords, and company registries.
Reddit investigators help pressure hosting and advertising providers into taking the site offline, yet a replacement appears soon after, exposing vigilantism’s limits.
What was said on this episode
13 statements · 2 positive · 7 negative · 4 neutral
Patrick Carey’s manipulated images altered Kayla’s body image and contributed to eating issues.
“It completely altered the way that I thought about my body.”
Listen at 4:18
Patrick Carey mentally and emotionally abused the victims.
“But he mentally and emotionally abused us.”
Listen at 8:34
Patrick Carey’s actions changed Kayla’s view of herself and her body.
“You completely changed the way that I viewed myself and my body”
Listen at 12:22
Kayla recommends speaking publicly about the abuse rather than remaining silent.
“Because someone needs to speak out.”
Listen at 13:29
Patrick Carey’s apology cannot change the harm caused by his actions.
“You did what you did and that's that. Like, you already did that just because you say, I'm sorry, it's not going to change anything.”
Listen at 19:37
Will Wallace provided evidence linking Scott Trent Costa to the abusive website.
“With this evidence, Will began tipping information on Scott to reporters who had previously written about the website. and law enforcement who might be interested.”
Listen at 28:36
Ban Female Hate had more than 20,000 members.
“a subreddit with more than 20,000 members called Ban Female Hate”
Listen at 34:11
Reddit users launched a vigilante campaign against Scott Trent Costa’s website.
“They started a vigilante campaign against his tributing website.”
Listen at 37:22
Will Wallace and Reddit investigators helped take the website offline.
“And then, after weeks of Will and the Reddit army's efforts, it was gone.”
Listen at 40:02
The Reddit and hacker campaign drove Scott Trent Costa further underground.
“If the Redditors and hackers' motive was to expose Scott, their efforts had the opposite effect.”
Listen at 43:22
Scott Trent Costa has been moving between Airbnb rentals.
“he's been Airbnb hopping, not staying in one place for long.”
Listen at 43:35
Scott Trent Costa no longer lived at his recent Los Angeles address and remained mobile.
“Scott didn't live there anymore. Apparently he's still on the move.”
Listen at 49:01
Sol Ecom Inc owned DrawnNudes.io and used the Los Angeles apartment as its registered address.
“The apartment that's registered is the address for Sol Ecom Inc, which is the owner of DrawnNudes.io.”
Listen at 49:22
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
Weekly email
State of the Pod, every Monday
The week's most-discussed names and stories from podcasts, with the moments behind them. Free, five minutes, unsubscribe in one click.