Son Of Jerry Sandusky Seeks To Have Name Changed
By David Madden
BELLEFONTE, Pa. (CBS) -- A bid by the adopted son of convicted pedophile Jerry Sandusky to legally change his name, along with his entire family, will go a long way in helping them all heal, according to a local therapist.
Matt Sandusky revealed during Jerry's trial that he, too, was a victim. Matt Sandusky filed papers Tuesday in Centre County Court seeking to have the names of him and his family changed.
His sealed motion in Centre County Court makes sense on a lot of fronts, according to Dr. Donna Tonrey, a psychologist and director of the counseling and family therapy masters program at La Salle University.
"If a couple gets a divorce, obviously it's a cut in the relationship. I think Matt Sandusky is trying to put a permanent cut in the relationship with his adoptive father," Tonrey explained.
And doing that will be emotionally beneficial at least to Matt in the short term, and probably protective to the whole family going forward.
But how far does he have to go to change things?
Tonrey says that depends on the support system around the family. They may not necessarily have to move from the Penn State area to start their new life.
Jerry Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of sexual abuse. He is serving a 30- to 60-year prison sentence and maintains he was wrongfully convicted. He is pursuing appeals.
