Two years after accusing her former therapist of sexual abuse, she plugged his address into an online directory and found a new identity. There were newspaper articles about the death of a young girl.
She wanted to know what that had to do with Peter.
She found a pair of obituaries that were close to each other. She was sitting at a public library computer in January 2020 and looking at photos on a newspaper archive site.
She thought that she had gotten a bingo win. It is him.
What's her next thought?
You are a criminal.
New Hampshire is one of 10 states that allow people to change their names while in prison, but the public has no way of knowing if the change was approved or not. It was the latter that led to the discovery that Peter Stone was once Peter Dushame.
Questions about the right to forge a new life after incarceration and what patients can or should know about a mental health provider's past were raised in between.
A professor at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law asked if they wanted to tar someone for the rest of their life. Should therapists be required to tell new patients that they have been convicted of crimes?
Stone was drunk when he crashed into a parked motorcycle in New Hampshire in 1989. Lacey Packer died on her way home to Massachusetts with her dad.
He held a valid driver's license despite five previous drunken driving convictions and it was his third fatal crash. The Boston Globe said he was the most notorious drunk driver in New England history.
He devoted himself to helping people recover from addiction, earning a master's degree in psychology and leading treatment programs from behind bars.
He changed his name to Peter Stone. He worked as a drug and alcohol counselor after being released from prison.
Stone wrote to state regulators that he stood as proof that people could change.
He was charged with five counts of sexual assault in July of last year. The American Psychological Association prohibits such behavior.
The 61-year-old woman said in a recent interview with The Associated Press that she developed romantic feelings for Stone after he began treating her for anxiety, depression and alcohol abuse. He started sexual contact with her in February of 2016 despite telling her it wouldn't be ethical.
He said after he pulled up his pants that it crossed the line. "'When will I see you again?'"
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Illinois has one of the most restrictive laws when it comes to name changes after a felony conviction.
A review of records obtained by the AP shows that Stone disclosed his criminal record appropriately. Gary Goodnough said that disclosure to clients isn't mandatory. He thinks clients have a right to know about convictions.
The idea of veracity is one of the principles that underlies the counseling profession. The truth should be told.
Stone told investigators that the woman fondled him, but that he didn't know how his genetic material ended up on her shirt. He surrendered his license after it was suspended by the state.
Stone's attorney did not reply to requests for comment. The prosecutor wouldn't say anything about the case. The competency hearing for Stone will be held in September.
Donna and Gordon Packer, who became advocates for tougher drunken driving laws after their daughter's death, were unaware of Stone's arrest until contacted by the AP.
Stone asked for help getting out of prison early after his wife offered forgiveness, according to Donna Packer. She said that she had hoped he had changed and that he had struck the couple as dishonest.
She hates that he still victimizes people. It didn't need to be like that.
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