In the latest installment of Dateline Originals, Josh Mankiewicz leads a deeply unsettling exploration into the misdeeds of Pastor Nick Hackney. With personal accounts from Annette Anderson, Greg Olsen, Diana Parmley, and Robert Biley, the episode dives into the complex web of manipulation and inappropriate relationships that Hackney forged using his position of trust and faith.
Revealing a troubling pattern of spiritual abuse and predatory behavior, the podcast details how several women, including those seeking pastoral counsel, were drawn into Hackney's sinister orbit. The episode brings to light the profound impact on the victims, marred by guilt and shame, and raises critical questions about church leadership's response—or lack thereof—to the allegations against him. Listen as brave voices break their silence, and a narrative of exploitation unfolds, confronting the darkness that sometimes hides in plain sight.
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Pastor Nick Hackney, after losing his wife Dawn, manipulated several women into inappropriate relationships using his pastoral influence. Annette Anderson shared her experience of being pursued by Nick with unsolicited kisses and the assertion that God wanted them to be together, which she considered spiritual abuse. Nick also had an affair with his late wife's mother, Diana Parmley, which resulted in her experiencing guilt, suicidal thoughts, and the end of her marriage. Sandy Glass and her husband were counseled by Nick, leading to an affair with Sandy even before his wife passed away, taking place within church premises. These encounters left many women battling with shame, regret, and thoughts of suicide.
There were signs of church leadership being aware of Nick’s inappropriate conduct, particularly Senior Pastor Robert Biley, who confronted Nick after concerns were raised about his visits to Sandy’s home. Despite this, there was no clear evidence of concrete or effective actions taken by the church leadership to stop Nick's behavior, leaving a question over the church's response to the issues.
Sandy Glass broke her silence and reported the affair to the police four years after Dawn Hackney's death, revealing the years of secrecy that followed the inappropriate relationship.
1-Page Summary
Nick Hackney, while grieving the loss of his wife, Dawn, engaged in manipulative relationships with several women, using his position as a pastor to justify his actions.
Annette Anderson details how Nick Hackney pursued her shortly after his wife's death, with suggestive comments and unwelcome kisses, even trying to convince her that God wanted them to be together intimately. Similarly, Greg Olsen and Josh Mankiewicz describe how Nick leveraged his role as a spiritual leader to take advantage of women's sympathy and trust, often under the guise of providing counseling.
Nick's manipulation was deeply spiritual in nature, convincing women that their relationships were divinely inspired, which Annette Anderson describes as "hideous spiritual abuse." His actions destroyed her psychologically and spiritually.
In a striking betrayal, Nick Hackney sought comfort not just from unrelated individuals, but from his deceased wife's mother, Diana Parmley. He fostered a complicated relationship of comfort-turned-intimacy with her, which led to Parmley experiencing suicidal thoughts, intense guilt, and the end of her own marriage.
While counseling Sandy Glass and her husband on their troubled marriage, Nick began an affair with Sandy, who held a position of high regard within the church as a ...
Inappropriate Relationships with Multiple Women
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While the evidence suggests some awareness of impropriety, concrete action from church leadership appears lacking.
Senior Pastor Robert Biley was made aware of the situation when concerned parents of Sandy's husband reported Nick’s frequent visits to Sandy. Pastor Biley took the initiative to confront Nick about the behavior. Nick appeared to comply with Pastor Biley’s request to discontinue the visits; however, it seems the affair proceeded unabated.
Despite these actions, the transcript does not provide explicit details that confirm effective intervention by Robert Bile ...
No Church Intervention Despite Knowledge of Behavior
After maintaining years of secrecy, Sandy Glass has approached the authorities, stepping int ...
Sandy Glass Goes to Police After Years of Secrecy
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