Frontline Season 18 Episode 4 The Lost Children of Rockdale County

In season 18 episode 4 of Frontline, viewers are taken on a disturbing journey into one of the most shocking scandals that hit Rockdale County in the state of Georgia. In "The Lost Children of Rockdale County," Frontline investigates the perplexing case that involved a community known for their high morals suddenly plunging into the abyss of sexual promiscuity.

The episode opens with the discovery of a sexually transmitted disease that had spread amongst the youth of the Rockdale County community. What was once a tight-knit family-filled town was now a hotbed of rampant sexual activity amongst a group of teens who seemingly had free reign over their lives. The investigation that follows is not one that offers answers quickly but presents all the many layers that contributed to the unsettling events that rocked the foundations of the town.

The Frontline team makes use of interviews with key figures who were closest to the case. They also obtain archived news footage that helps to illustrate the pain and despair of parents who are discovering the alarming lifestyle their kids have adopted. Some of the interviews center on people who were present in the county during the time the scandal played out, including medical professionals, law enforcement officers, and educators who were at the frontlines of the community.

So what exactly happened? How did an entire community become host to sexually promiscuous teenagers who engaged in orgies and shared partners as if they were swapping cards? Through a series of painstaking interviews, Frontline explains how a culture of rebellion against traditional values was instilled in the teens of the community, who were initially seen as sporting over-indulgent behavior that had become all too common in that generation.

The Frontline team exposes parents who were way too permissive in their parenting style, mentally overwhelmed with their careers that they neglect the needs of their kids. The filmmakers reveal a plethora of instances where kids find freedom in partying and sexual activity and lock out parents to communicate with them about what's going on in their lives.

As the documentary moves towards its climax, viewers are given an in-depth look at how the authorities responded to the chaotic situation. A massive investigation was launched that saw several young people established as individuals who spread the sexually transmitted disease. At its peak, dozens of people were found to have acquired the disease with juveniles, both male and female, among the most affected parties.

"The Lost Children of Rockdale County" is a deeply troubling story that reveals the power of peer pressure, the dangers of the adult permissiveness, and the vulnerability of an entire community that fell victim to an unthinkable scandal. Through the documentary, Frontline manages to communicate a powerful message that is still relevant today, years after the scandal rocked the Rockdale County community. The message is that it is imperative to have guardians who can keep watch over children, communicate effectively with them, and instill traditional values that safeguard children from corruption.