In a sinister case that shocked the US, Larry Ray, the father of a Sarah Lawrence College student, manipulated and controlled a group of young students. For nearly a decade, he turned the dream college lives of multiple young people into a living nightmare.
This article delves into the dark world Ray created, explores his crimes and looks at the devastating impact on his victims.
Larry Ray’s background
Larry Ray, born Lawrence Grecco, was no stranger to crime before he arrived at Sarah Lawrence College, a private liberal arts college located in Bronxville, New York.
Ray moved into his daughter's dormitory in late 2010, after being released from prison. He had been serving time on charges related to a custody dispute. His daughter, Talia, was unaware of the truth and believed he had been wrongly imprisoned.
Soon after, he began holding ‘therapy’ sessions with some of her roommates, claiming that he could help them navigate psychological issues. Students were encouraged to share deeply intimate details about their lives.
But what appeared to be a father lending a helping hand soon turned into a sinister scenario as Ray embedded himself into the lives of Talia’s friends.
The formation of the cult
Ray’s initial charm won over the students, who viewed him as a father figure and mentor. But as he used increasingly aggressive psychological tactics, he succeeded in isolating them from their families and friends through gaslighting and brainwashing.
After securing the students’ trust, Ray commenced interrogation sessions that frequently involved physical and verbal abuse. His control deepened further as he pitted students against each other and made them dependent on his approval and guidance.
The transformation of these students from independent young adults to subservient followers under Ray’s influence was a gradual but devastating process. By the time his control was fully established, his victims were trapped in a world of psychological and emotional manipulation and unable to see a way out or recognise the extent of his abuse.
Larry Ray’s crimes
For the next decade, Ray used violence, threats and psychological abuse to control and destroy the lives of students. He coerced and manipulated several students into engaging in sexual acts with him and with each other.
But his crimes weren’t only of a sexual nature. Under the guise of teaching them financial responsibility and entrepreneurial skills, students were coerced into unpaid labour. Ray frequently demanded exorbitant sums of money, forcing some into crippling debt.
In total, he extorted about $1m from five victims from false accusations of damages to his property. Ray forced three female victims to work on a family property in North Carolina, where he kept food under lock and key. The students were forced to work in the middle of the night and sleep outside in the summer heat.
Another female student, Claudia Drury, was forced into prostitution for over four years to pay damages that she did not owe. Ray then pocketed the $500,000 she made.
The story of Ray’s cult was eventually discovered following the publication of an article in New York Magazine in 2019.
In 2021, he was charged with 15 counts, including racketeering, violent assault, sex trafficking, tax evasion and money laundering.
The impact on victims
The psychological trauma inflicted by Ray left lasting scars on the victims. Many faced financial ruin, unable to recover from the debts and losses they had incurred.
Personal accounts from survivors offer chilling insights into the depths of suffering inflicted by Larry Ray. They describe a sense of powerlessness and isolation, recounting instances of terror and degradation. Some were driven to suicidal thoughts.
Despite the immense challenges they face, many survivors of Larry Ray’s cult are now on a path toward healing and recovery. With the support of therapists, support groups and loved ones, they’re slowly reclaiming their identities and rebuilding their lives.
The legacy of Larry Ray’s cult
In April 2023, Larry Ray was convicted on 15 counts of extortion, sex trafficking and forced labour. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison and will likely die behind bars.
His crimes at Sarah Lawrence College have left an enduring legacy of pain and suffering for his victims. Across 10 years, Ray intentionally inflicted brutal and lifelong harm on innocent students that he groomed and abused into submission.
The psychological trauma, financial ruin and shattered trust they experienced are a shocking reminder of the devastating consequences of manipulation and exploitation.
