Smoke Screen: Fake Priest
At some point in our lives, we all get taken for a ride. Hucksters and con men are as ancient as Adam and Eve. But Ryan Scott, known to some as “Father Ryan,” was no ordinary con man. He’d been accused of abusing followers and enriching himself with their money. He's left a wake of angry people across multiple states. And that’s not all. There are questions surrounding the brutal deaths of two priests he associated with. Investigative reporter Alex Schuman explores Scott's bizarre, quizzical, and sometimes dangerous world. Why did Father Ryan steal money -- and people's faith? And at this point, why isn't he in jail?
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Meet the Host
A native Iowan, Alex grew up in Fort Dodge before attending the University of Iowa. After covering politics and anchoring in local television markets, Alex moved to Washington, D.C. to help build a news bureau from scratch and now covers national politics for 171 stations across the United States. His work has taken him to the NCAA Final Four, Iowa Caucus, national political conventions, and across the country to cover major news. Alex has executive produced two feature films and is currently directing his third while being based in Des Moines, Iowa.
