Woman exposes gut-wrenching family secret about serial sexual abuse committed by her ‘pedophile’ GRANDFATHER – as she grills him over his crimes and attempts to track down his many victims

• Photojournalist Amanda Mustard was raised on a farm in rural Pennsylvania
• She described her chiropractor grandfather, William Flickinger, as ‘touchy feely’
• Amanda is now a central figure in HBO’s Great Photo, Lovely Life documentary

A woman has launched a gut-wrenching investigation into sexual abuse committed by her own grandfather as she attempts to track down dozens of his victims.

Photojournalist Amanda Mustard, who was raised on a Christmas tree farm in rural Pennsylvania, described William Flickinger as a ‘touchy, feely grandpa.’

She is now a central figure in HBO’s upcoming documentary Great Photo, Lovely Life: Facing A Family’s Secret, which has been nine years in the making.

In it, Amanda delves into the serial abuse carried out by her grandfather as she ‘reveals decades of secrecy and coverups rooted in shame and self-deception and discovers the dysfunction lurking in her own family.’

Photojournalist Amanda Mustard, who was raised on a Christmas tree farm in rural Pennsylvania, described William Flickinger as a ‘touchy feely grandpa’

During the investigation, Amanda sits down with Flickinger, who was reportedly attracted to girls as young as four years old, for ‘stark, confessional interviews’

The harrowing trailer begins with footage taken during Amanda’s work trips as she explains how her career has helped shape her views: ‘I love that I get to make exposing the truth about something a part of my job.

‘I had this new language to describe things that for my whole life I thought were just normal.

‘Like the way that some men treated me and my body, that was actually assault.

‘Or my touchy, feely grandpa is actually a pedophile.’

Speaking about viewing old family footage featuring her grandfather, who worked as a local chiropractor, she continued: ‘When I watch these tapes, I see a man with a serious problem who knows that he’s not gonna get caught.’

During the investigation, Amanda sits down with Flickinger, who was reportedly attracted to girls as young as four years old, for ‘stark, confessional interviews.’

She asked whether there was anybody that he ever felt like he could talk to about it, to which he simply sighed.

And, when Amanda posed the question of whether he thought God had forgiven him, he said: ‘Absolutely.’ 

Elsewhere, it becomes clear that Amanda’s relationship with her mother has been strained over the abuse and ‘the complexities of the silence that followed’

Speaking about viewing old family footage featuring her grandfather, who worked as a local chiropractor, she continued: ‘When I watch these tapes, I see a man with a serious problem who knows that he’s not gonna get caught’

Amanda’s mom candidly said: ‘Of course I feel responsible. She’s my kid, and I’ve always wanted to protect her’

Elsewhere, it becomes clear that Amanda’s relationship with her mother has been strained over the abuse and ‘the complexities of the silence that followed.’

Amanda’s mom candidly said: ‘Of course I feel responsible. She’s my kid, and I’ve always wanted to protect her.’

Turning to address her daughter directly, she added: ‘If you stay angry and can’t forgive somebody, you’re drinking the poison yourself. You’ve got to let go.’

But this seemingly did not sit well with Amanda who later declared: ‘I would like to not have my relationship with my mom end.’

The documentary sees the tenacious photojournalist posting dozens of letters to people who had previously used her grandfather as a chiropractor.

The documentary sees the tenacious photojournalist (pictured as a child) posting dozens of letters to people who had previously used her grandfather as a chiropractor

Flickinger, who had his chiropractor license revoked in 1982, served a modest prison sentence in 1992 – prior to that only getting two years probation for committing statutory rape

The notes read: ‘I’m writing to you as you may have been a past patient of William Flickinger, and I’m in the process of taking accountability for my grandfather’s actions.’

Amanda tearfully concludes: ‘If I can be the one to step forward and on the record, say, “He did this. You can’t deny it,” it’s the very least that I can do.’

Flickinger, who had his chiropractor license revoked in 1982, served a modest prison sentence in 1992 – and prior to that only received two years probation for committing statutory rape.

HBO’s Great Photo, Lovely Life: Facing a Family’s Secret will air on December 5.

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