'Jared from Subway': How authorities uncovered popular spokesman's sinister side (2024)

It’s been more than seven years since the feds raided Jared Fogle’s Zionsville, Indiana,home as part of an investigation into child pornography.

Once celebrated for his astonishing 245-pound weight loss, thanks to a diet of Subway’s low-fat sandwiches, authorities uncovered the true Fogle, one that hundreds of commercials failed to capture: a perverse, power-drunk man who abused 14 minors.

Fogle’s undoing is the focus of Investigation Discovery’s three-hour docuseries, “Jared from Subway: Catching a Monster” (Monday, 9 EST/PST and now streaming on Discovery+). Filmmakers interviewed Fogle's former classmates, radio host-turned-informantRochelle Herman– who befriended Fogle to expose his attraction to minors–and two of Fogle’s victims, Christian Showalter and Hannah Parrett. Fogle declined to participate in the docuseries, according to filmmakers.

'Jared from Subway': How authorities uncovered popular spokesman's sinister side (1)

An informant for the FBI: Rochelle Herman

Herman first met Fogle in 2006 when she hosted him on her local Florida radio show. She was uncomfortable with Fogle’s flirty nature and disturbed when he told her that he found middle school girls hot. Herman, a mother of two, suspected Fogle of deviant behavior and thought if she befriended him and recorded their phone calls, she might obtain evidence she could take to the FBI.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

During their chats, he told her he found minors attractive because “They just have such nice, pure bodies.” He said being with someone 9 or 10 would be “really hot.”

Herman took her tapes to the FBI, but the agents told her that because she had recorded Fogle without his knowledge, the tapes were inadmissible in court. So she became an informant for the FBI, keeping up her relationship with Fogle and handing over their taped chats to the agency.

This went on for about three years, and Herman became frustrated. The FBI attempted to lure Fogle to Sarasota, Florida, for a fake children’s birthday party to prove he was willing to cross state lines in order to have sex with a minor. Due to a last-minute change in Fogle’s schedule, he was unable to attend the party and the sting operation was foiled.

A tip about bestiality, the downfall of Russell Taylor

Indiana State Police Capt. Chuck Cohen received a tip that Russell Taylor, then the executive director of Fogle’s philanthropic organization, sent images that depicted bestiality. Cohen explains in the documentarythat possessing such images is not illegal, but performing sexual acts with animals is. So authorities obtained a warrant and searched Taylor’s home in April 2015.

During their search, they discovered that Taylor had hidden cameras throughout the home and in the bedrooms of hisstepdaughters,Showalter and Parrett. The cameras captured the girls during vulnerable moments, like when they were undressing, as well as their friends. Authorities found more than 500 explicit images.

Through the investigation into Taylor, authorities discovered he had sent an image of a naked minor to Fogle. Fogle responded to the image, asking when he could have sex with the child, which triggered an investigation.

Steven Debrota, an assistant U.S. attorney at the time, says in the docuseries that Taylor gave Fogle a thumb drive and a laptop with child porn.A search warrant was granted and authoritiesraided Fogle’s home on July 7, 2015.

'Jared from Subway': How authorities uncovered popular spokesman's sinister side (2)

Fogle pleads guilty

Fogle allegedly spent $12,000 a year on sex workers, Debrota says in “Jared from Subway.” In text messages obtained during the investigation of Fogle, he wrote to an undisclosed recipient, “I’ll pay you big for a 14- or 15-year-old ..'cause it’s what I crave!” He added of his preference: the “Younger the better LOL.”

Debrota says Fogle had sex with underage sex workers while staying at The Plaza and The Ritz-Carlton hotels in New York.

In August 2015, Fogle pleaded guilty to possession or distribution of child pornography and traveling across state lines to have commercial sex with a minor. He is serving a 15-year sentence at a Colorado prison.

Contributors: Herald-Times, IndyStar and Associated Press

Parents in need of talk support can call the National Parent Helpline at 1-855-427-2736or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD. To report child abuse or neglect, contact law enforcement or child protective services in your county.

More documentaries:

  • Netflix's Alex Murdaugh docuseries'Murdaugh Murders': Here's what you should know
  • The tape, Tommy Lee, kids:All the bombshells from Pamela Anderson’s Netflix doc, memoir
  • 'Harry & Meghan' bombshells:Prince Harry recalls seeing Prince William 'scream' over exit
'Jared from Subway': How authorities uncovered popular spokesman's sinister side (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 5751

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Birthday: 2001-08-13

Address: 96487 Kris Cliff, Teresiafurt, WI 95201

Phone: +9418513585781

Job: Senior Designer

Hobby: Calligraphy, Rowing, Vacation, Geocaching, Web surfing, Electronics, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Benton Quitzon, I am a comfortable, charming, thankful, happy, adventurous, handsome, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.