Often silence — whether through fear, intimidation, or apathy — is what allows people to continue to commit crimes uninhibited. So, while it’s brave and necessary for people to come out and speak out against illegal or immoral activity, it can be dangerous. That’s why the so-called Deepthroat on The Keepers must remain anonymous — he could be in serious danger if his identity is revealed.
According to amateur investigators Gemma Hoskins and Abbie Schaub, Deepthroat (named after the then-anonymous witness that broke the Watergate scandal in the 1970s) reached out to them during their recent investigation into the unsolved murder of their teacher Sister Cathy Cesnik, which took place in 1969. After they graduated, started their adult lives, and eventually retired, they decided to do something about Cesnik's lack of justice and start looking for evidence. Why was she killed? What happened to her in her final hours? Of course, looking for evidence in Cesnik’s disappearance and death led to something much more sinister, according to the series — allegations that Father Maskell, the chaplain and head counselor of Archbishop Keough, where the women attended high school, had allegedly been abusing and raping students during his tenure at the school.
According to The Baltimore Sun, Maskell denied the accusations until his death in 2001. According to the series, it's believed by some that Cesnik allegedly knew about the abuse and was about to take it to a higher person in the organization when she was murdered. Maskell was never charged in connected to Cesnik's death or the abuse allegations, though the The Archdiocese of Baltimore states on their website that Maskell was interviewed by police in conjunction with both cases. The Archdiocese also issued the following statement to Bustle acknowledging the sexual abuse accusations against Maskell:
Since the 1990s, when the Archdiocese of Baltimore first learned of an allegation of child sexual abuse against Maskell, and on numerous occasions since, the Archdiocese has publicly acknowledged and apologized for the horrific abuse committed by him. The Archdiocese reported the allegations to civil authorities in the 1990s and cooperated fully in any investigation, removed Father Maskell’s faculties to function as a priest, apologized to victims and offered them counseling assistance, sought additional victims, and provided direct financial assistance to 16 individuals abused by Maskell.
Though it was unaware of the abuse at the time it occurred approximately 50 years ago, the Archdiocese deeply regrets the damage that was caused to those who were so badly harmed and has worked diligently since becoming aware of their abuse to bring some measure of healing to them. The Archdiocese is wholly committed to protecting children, holding abusers accountable — clergy and laity alike, and promoting healing for victims. These are hallmarks of the Archdiocese’s child protection efforts, which we strive to constantly strengthen.
There is no room in the Archdiocese for anyone who would harm a child and every effort must be made to ensure what happened before never happens again. It is our hope that The Keepers advances this pursuit, just as we hope the series helps those who have kept alive the memory of Sr. Cathy and our collective hope that justice will be won for her.
Somewhere along in their investigation, Deepthroat came into contact with Hoskins and Schaub. Deepthroat, claiming to be a former police detective in Baltimore, speaks only on the condition of anonymity because he doesn't want his true identity connected to the case.
Speaking off the record is definitely one way to disseminate information about Maskell’s alleged abuses and Cesnik’s murder, and if The Keepers must keep his identity silent to do it, well, that’s the way it is. It doesn’t necessarily negate anything Deepthroat may have to say, though one must hold it with a grain of salt — being unable to verify his identity. But, for now, it seems anonymity keeps the well flowing — what would happen if Deepthroat’s identity was revealed and he was silenced? Cesnik and the women from Archbishop Keough may never get justice without the right information to break the case, and if Deepthroat's information can ever do that, well then his wishes to stay anonymous should continue to be honored just so.
