The Peacemaker – Episode 7: Sex, Drugs, and Trauma

Release Date: November 25, 2025
Hosts: Ben Westhoff & Ryan Krull
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts / Coolfire Studios

Episode Overview

Episode 7 of The Peacemaker delves into the intricate factors behind the infamous suicide cluster at Truman State University, focusing on the complex interplay of sex, drugs, trauma, and mental health issues. The hosts probe the narrative that fraternity brother Brandon Grossheim may have influenced these deaths, juxtaposing this public perception with testimonies from friends, professionals, and those closest to the victims. This episode critically examines the scapegoating of Brandon and considers broader campus and cultural dynamics that contributed to the tragic outcomes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reconsidering Blame: The Case Against Targeting Brandon Grossheim

• Brandon’s Civil Suit: Parents of two victims are suing Brandon, alleging that his influence led to their sons' suicides. Brandon’s lawyer, Curtis Nywald, asserts his client is "not liable of anything yet," emphasizing the toll the case has taken on Brandon despite no formal blame (03:16).
• No Consensus Among Friends: Several close to the victims, like Ethan Trower (ex-boyfriend of victim Josh Thomas), deny Brandon’s culpability. Ethan never met Brandon and doesn’t hold him responsible, nor do his friends (05:09).
• Elena Bora’s Perspective: Elena, a close friend of Josh Thomas, struggles with the community's fixation on Brandon:

  "I have a hard time with all of the emphasis on Brandon because we failed Brandon too. Brandon needed things from us as a community that he did not get." – Elena Bora (06:06)
  She speculates that, at most, Brandon might not have discouraged Josh from suicide, but insists this "in no way does that mean that Brandon killed him."

2. Scrutinizing the Rumors: Suicidal Encouragement and Evidence

• Rumors of Instructions: Stories circulate that Brandon may have aided or encouraged suicide methods; e.g., a claim Brandon and Josh “looked up how to tie a noose” together (06:45–08:10). However, both Elena and another friend, Tristan Weiser, can’t verify these allegations.
• Police and Public Reports: No official evidence or police records substantiate claims that Brandon gave detailed suicide instructions (08:41).
• Complexity Over Simplification: Elena underscores the multifactorial nature of suicide:

  "Josh died of a preventable and fatal psychic wound that could have been healed at any of those moments if we as a community had those systems for healing." – Elena Bora (09:13)

3. Josh Thomas: Trauma, Mental Health Struggles, and Circumstances

• Josh’s Background: Josh Thomas endured severe trauma—he was raped as a teenager and had done sex work. He struggled at Truman State, experiencing isolation and harassment, and faced serious allegations that further stressed him (14:10).
• Suicide Attempts & Substance Use: Multiple prior attempts, substance abuse, and turbulence in relationships marked Josh’s final months. He had difficulty accessing medication due to insurance issues, and frequently drank or used drugs (14:10–16:50).
• Manifesto and Motive: Josh left a detailed suicide note—"T virus Takedown," connecting his suicide directly to his rape and psychological distress, not to Brandon (21:00).

  "I tried fighting off the virus... it just became too strong. No matter how much treatment I got or how many people I surrounded myself with, I just couldn’t win. I’m so sorry. I just can’t do it anymore. I love you all, but I lost." – Josh Thomas (Suicide Manifesto; summarized at 22:32)

4. Youth Suicide Clusters: Alcohol, Drugs & Mental Health

• Historical Context: The episode references other American suicide clusters, notably the 1987 Bergenfield, NJ case, and past research linking teen suicide clusters to substance abuse (28:17–31:32).
• Substance Use and Suicide Risk: Vic Schwartz, a counselor brought to Truman after the deaths, explains:

  "Most drugs impair people’s sense of judgment... Many people who die by suicide have alcohol in their system at the time of their death. The alcohol may have disinhibited them sufficiently to... give them the ability to take actions that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do." – Vic Schwartz (31:55)

• Pharmaceuticals + Alcohol: All suicide victims and Glenna Haut (who died from alcohol-related causes) were on psychiatric medications—antidepressants, antipsychotics, amphetamines—often contra-indicated for use with alcohol (32:52).
• Romantic Relationship Drama as a Recurring Motif: Every victim recently endured heartbreak or tumultuous breakups, echoing themes in literary works like Sorrows of Young Werther (35:45–37:52).

5. Reframe: Broader Causes Beyond Brandon

• Patterns Among Victims:
  • Pre-existing trauma
  • Mental illness (including previous suicide attempts)
  • Drug and alcohol abuse
  • Romantic and interpersonal turmoil
• Challenging the Media Narrative: Sensational headlines have painted an oversimplified, villainous portrait of Brandon (“Death Obsessed Frat bro Pushed five People to kill Themselves”), which the hosts argue doesn’t reflect the complex reality (37:52–38:43).
• Looking Ahead: The hosts tease the final episode’s focus on how media mishandling exacerbated public perceptions and the enduring consequences for the individuals and community.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Empathy and Accountability:

  "Brandon needed things from us as a community that he did not get." — Elena Bora (06:06)

• On the Role of the Community:

  "If we as a community had those systems for healing." — Elena Bora (09:13)

• On Learning from Tragedy:

  "I think a lot of the reason I became a therapist is because of what happened with Josh, right?" — Elena Bora (09:51)

• On Suicide Risk and Impulsivity:

  "Drugs impair people’s sense of judgment... The alcohol may have disinhibited them sufficiently to... take actions that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do." — Vic Schwartz (31:55)

• On Media Sensationalism:

  "You wouldn’t know it, though, from some of the headlines in the case... Death Obsessed Frat bro Pushed five People to kill Themselves." — Ben Westhoff (37:52)

• Literary Parallel:

  "I see no end to this misery but the grave." — From The Sorrows of Young Werther, read by Ryan Krull (37:52)

Key Segment Timestamps

• [03:07] — Trigger warning: Depression and Suicide
• [03:16–06:06] — Defense of Brandon Grossheim and the perspectives of friends
• [06:06–08:10] — Elena and rumors of assistance; speculation vs. evidence
• [09:13–10:09] — Systems of support and reflections on community
• [14:10–22:32] — Deep dive on Josh Thomas: trauma, relationships, substance use, suicide note
• [28:17–31:32] — Explaining youth suicide clusters and the role of drugs/alcohol
• [31:55–32:52] — Counselor Vic Schwartz on drugs, alcohol, and suicide risk
• [32:52–37:52] — Prescriptions, heartbreak, and cyclical trauma among victims
• [37:52–38:43] — Critique of media narrative and lead-in to the next episode

Tone & Style Highlights

The episode’s tone is investigative yet compassionate, refusing easy answers or villains. The hosts prioritize empathy, context, and nuance, spotlighting the fracture lines in both campus culture and the national response to youth suicide.

Summary Takeaway

Sex, Drugs, and Trauma pushes listeners to look beyond headlines and scapegoats. The Kirksville suicide cluster, it argues, was the tragic result of layered traumas, untreated mental illness, substance abuse, and institutional failures—not the sinister manipulations of one individual. The episode calls for greater community support, understanding, and more sophisticated narratives about grief and accountability.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, support is available—call or text 988 for the suicide and crisis lifeline.