A Memoir by Michael Caven
Capable of Betrayal
A Survivor's Fight for Justice at Phillips Exeter Academy
The true story of Michael Caven's journey to expose a predator and hold a prestigious institution accountable.
A Survivor's Story
Capable of Betrayal is a memoir about revisiting our past, especially the dark parts, to create a brighter future. My journey begins with the arrival of an unsettling shipment from my former high school mentor — thrusting me back into the shadows of my adolescence, compelling me to revisit buried traumas, turbulent family dynamics, and a life spiraling through addiction and identity crises — on a quest for redemption, justice, and peace.
Dallas, 1989. My life is upended with an unexpected package of Polaroids from Larry Lane Bateman, once a trusted teacher at the renowned Phillips Exeter Academy who exploited my innocence as a sixteen-year-old. The photos resurrect memories I have struggled to suppress: growing up in a household filled with dysfunction, addiction, and hidden abuses, my adolescence is marked by confusion and shame, setting the stage for a self-destructive adulthood.
As a young man navigating New York's nightlife and Dallas's turbulent social scene, I seek escape in glittering but hollow pleasures, encountering figures like Steve Rubell, co-founder of Studio 54, and the legendary Andy Warhol, who illuminate paths toward self-awareness. Yet unresolved pain lies beneath the glamorous exterior, fueling an endless search for validation and belonging — until I break the cycle and fight for accountability through a complex legal battle against Bateman.
By confronting my perpetrator, I begin a profound journey of healing, revealing how forgiveness and compassion — especially toward oneself — can pave the way for genuine recovery. This memoir invites readers into a candid, emotionally charged exploration of resilience, transformation, and the profound strength found in sharing one's truth, proving that acknowledging wounds leads to personal power.
What You'll Find Inside
My memoir offers a fresh and unflinching portrayal of childhood trauma, family dysfunction, addiction, and a journey toward healing. The book transports readers through extraordinary swings from poverty to luxury and back again — the gritty realities of hustling in Manhattan and the suburban hell of Long Island, the founding of the first LGBTQ-themed restaurant in the United States, a groundbreaking courtroom drama, and a spiritual reckoning deep within the Amazon jungle.
From the Memoir
