The younger sister of Adam Savage has reportedly accused the MythBusters cohost of raping her during their childhood. She filed a lawsuit against her brother under the New York Child Victims Act. The lawsuit is one filed under the New York law’s lookback window, giving victims a chance to seek justice over claims for which the statute of limitations would normally have already run out. 

According to Miranda P., the MythBusters co-host abused her when she was between seven and ten years old, and he between nine and 12. She explains that the abuse occurred around 1976 through 1979 when the family lived in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. She asserts that Savage called himself the “raping blob” and pretended his abuse against her was a game.

Miranda now works as a social worker, and shared that her family did not support her when she shared that she had been abused. According to Miranda, her family did believe her, but made efforts to cover up her story. In her words, the family “seemed determined to brush my trauma under the rug.” She went on to say her family saw her “as the problem for focusing on the abuse. Not the brother who abused me.”

For his part, the MythBusters star maintains that the abuse never happened, says The New York Post. He said that the allegations were a money-making scheme, rather than a legitimate claim.

The New York Post quoted him as saying “For many years, she has relentlessly and falsely attacked me and other members of my family to anyone who will listen. By spreading numerous untrue stories about is in pursuit of a financial bonanza, she has touted our entire family and estranged herself from all of us. I will fight this groundless and offensive lawsuit and work to rest once and for all.”

Miranda and Savage’s mother reportedly said, “Adam is a good man, and I support him completely,” citing her daughter’s mental health issues as the source of her allegations. 

Miranda claims that the alleged abuse took an enormous toll on her when it occurred, and continues to affect her to this day. On her blog, The Second Wound, she discusses the mental health problems she says that she suffers as a result of the abuse she experienced.

In her blog, she discusses her estrangement from her family, noting that she has not spoken to her brother, the MythBusters star, in over 20 years. She states that she has not witnessed an effort by her brother to understand what he did to her or any reflection of care about the impact his actions have had.

Miranda says that the New York Child Victims Act is the reason why she can new pursue a lawsuit against her brother against the alleged abuse. The New York Child Victims Act is a law that extends the statute of limitations on the amount of time that victims have to file both civil and criminal lawsuits against supposed abusers and culpable institutions for childhood sexual abuse.

The New York City Bar explains that where victims used to have only up to five years to file a lawsuit against their abusers, now they have until they are age 55 to file such a lawsuit.

The law also has established a one-year look-back window that allows victims of any age to file a lawsuit, even if the new statute of limitations would still normally bar their claim. 

The law was enacted after more victims began to come forward with allegations of childhood sexual abuse. Prominent institutions like the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts of America are among those who have faced allegations. 

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.