Oct 25, 2026 · 53 min
Listen from 43:05
Listen at 43:05
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
18 statements · 1 positive · 10 negative · 7 neutral
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
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
BreachForums was the largest English-language stolen-data market.
“BreachForums was the largest English language market for hackers to sell stolen data.”
Listen at 37:52
BreachForums enabled extortion of companies worldwide.
“enabling the extortion of countless companies in the US and around the world”
Listen at 37:57
Reporting Scott’s site caused its advertising company to remove its ads.
“Will and others also went after Scott's income source by reporting the site to an online advertising company, which pulled the website's ads.”
Listen at 39:46
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
PomPomPurin was 22 years old at the time described.
“Pom is now 22 years old”
Listen at 42:39
Connor Brian Fitzpatrick received 20 years of supervised release, including two years of house arrest.
“he was sentenced to 20 years of supervised release, with the first two years under house arrest”
Listen at 42:49
An appeals court ordered Connor Brian Fitzpatrick to be resentenced.
“an appeals court agreed, ordering that he be resentenced”
Listen at 42:59
Connor Brian Fitzpatrick is prohibited from using internet-connected devices.
“he can't use any device connected to the internet”
Listen at 43:05
The vigilante campaign drove Scott further underground instead of exposing him.
“If the Redditors and hackers' motive was to expose Scott, their efforts had the opposite effect.”
Listen at 43:22
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 became more difficult to locate after the campaign began.
“Since the campaign began, Scott has gone further underground.”
Listen at 43:27
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.
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