They say the impact could be heard for miles, magnificent and earthshaking, sending shock waves through the park and the city and the country. Online, some would joke it had resounded through the void of de ep space. Judging by the collected mass of the remains they scraped out of the courtyard, Emmett Truesdale was estimated to weigh between 750 and 800 pounds when he hit the ground, practically as wide as he was tall, more than ten pounds in body weight for every inch of height. These details seemed to re volt and fascinate the public, far more than the circumstances by which he had found himself falling naked from a height with three bullets buried in his heart. It was understood that at that size, he was asking to die. The details were all but immaterial. An eyewitness described the scene as “less of a splat, more of a detonation,” the way Emmett’s flesh exploded out from the point of impact in a perfect circle of gore. Bloody, chewy chunks of him everywhere: splattered against the windows of passing cars; the cheeks of babes, his mother, his best friend; the baroque carvings of the museum building and doors. Soft and spongy. Bruised. Unyielding. The “true him” laid bare for the whole world to see. Investigative R eport Pr epared for Monstera Bio Sciences BY PRENTICE & DARROW LLP Excerpt from “Part 5: Conclusion” (pp. 116–18) It has been the goal of this r eport to review, with objective detachment, the facts of the criminality and demise of participant no. 82941 to assess the liability of the in volved parties: Who is at fault for the murders of five innocent and one potentially guilty American? Was the participant an unr epentant killer who wrongly blamed the effects of Ema C-8 for his cannibalistic tendencies? Is Monstera Bio Sciences accountable, having knowingly subjected said participant to a dangerous mind-altering treatment that transformed him into a ravenous killer? Or should the blame be parceled out more broadly to the society that raised him: the policymakers, the tastemakers, the influencers; Hollywood media and the writers of cultural narratives; the clinicians; the corporate overlords of processed food and sugary drinks; the well-meaning adults and the plain mean children? When it comes to the issue of fat in America, there are no easy answers. Fortunately, those questions fall wide of the scope of this inquiry. A review of the relevant facts shows that participant no. 82941 was an obese, emotionally tortured, and, for most of his life, innocent man. Until shortly before his death, he blamed his ongoing weight struggles chiefly on the way he was parented and alleged mistreatment by his former st epfather, Cecil H.
Smith né Stauder, Ph D, whom the participant attempted to murder when he pulled him off the side of California Tower. The fall killed the participant on impact, but despite plummeting 198 feet, Dr. Smith survived by hitting a palm tree on the way down, slowing his descent and leaving him with only two broken ankles, fractured ribs, and a concussion. Despite the participant’s self-assessment, it is a medical fact —ind ependently corroborated by the participant’s own doctor, Gavin Halleck, MD—that his weight struggles in adulthood were well within his control, resulting from poor diet and lack of physical activity. Though he embarked on many weight loss programs, he did so without the necessary conviction and persistence, failing where others might have succeeded. He failed again in his attempts to obtain medical and therapeutic assistance. For this he blamed lack of access and the medical establishment’s alleged hostility toward obese patients, a claim to which most reasonable Americans would object. Nevertheless, if the testimony of the participant’s friends and family can be believed, Emmett Truesdale had good reason to feel hard done by. He suffered abuse at home, at school, and in the workplace. His BMI pushed him to the fringes of his gay community. Growing up in Southern California—a region known for its rigorous beauty standards—he felt ostracized and “other.” He needed help and he deserved compassion—more than he received of either. Though she declined to be interviewed for this r eport, the participant’s mother, Joanna Rossi, wrote in her self-published essay collection There’s Something Special About That Boy: If I had to pick one thing that defines my failure as a mother, it’s not that Emmett didn’t know how much I loved and adored him. It’s that I allowed him to see those things as unique to me. He believed that, unless he was skinny, only a mother could love him like that. I think that’s why when he received unconditional love from others, he dismissed it. And when he received judgment and cruelty, he soaked it in like a sponge. I told him all the time how exc eptional he was, how loved. But what can any of us do, in a society like ours, to make those words ring true? The participant’s sister, Abigail Truesdale, also blamed herself while being interviewed by investigators: I feel like this is all my fault somehow. Like if I hadn’t had anorexia, he wouldn’t have developed an eating disorder. Or if I hadn’t turned a blind eye when all the Hank stuff was going down, he’d have trusted me more as an adult, confided in me... Who knows if he even wanted help, though. His weight was one thing we never talked about, not until he got really thin. I didn’t want him thinking I cared how he looked. Because I didn’t. Emmett wasn’t fat to me, he was just my kid brother. And when he wasn’t being a little brat, he could be this really smart, funny, kind... [Sobbing.] Sorry... I just can’t help but think there was more I could’ve done.
In contrast, the participant’s friend and roommate, Lizette Castillo, refused to blame herself, telling interviewers: Emmett got it wrong. He was always focused on the wrong kind of love. He was pissed at me for months that I wouldn’t tell him how amazing he looked. Felt betrayed, like if anyone should be bigging him up, I should. Aaron, and his fucking Tru epers—he thought they were the only ones who really loved him. But approval from society, that’s not love. Love is your mama’s home cooking, and that kind of acc eptance is like a gas station Icee. Makes you happy for a second, but pretty soon you’re gonna crash. I loved Emmett. Every fucking inch of him. I think de ep down, he knew that. But in the end, he craved more. It is perhaps worth remarking that the men in the participant’s life appear to have had no such revelations in the course of the investigation, with his father naming the participant’s mother as the largest contributor to his disordered eating, and his half brother, Christopher, asking, “Why didn’t he just hit the gym if he wanted to lose weight? I would’ve helped him if he asked.” Thus, the question of culpability remains. In an effort to assess whether Obexity turned a formerly peaceful man murderous, the investigators reviewed hundreds of pages of clinical trial data provided by Monstera Bio Sciences, documentation pertaining not just to the accused but also to his cohort and that of the previous phase of trials. The review proved inconclusive. Although dozens of participants r eported side effects of increased aggression and forgetfulness, only one other, Tanya Swygert, was charged with a murder consistent with the participant’s crimes. It is possible other such examples exist but were not evidenced in the documentation. In any case, to say that everyone who took Obexity was in danger of turning into a man-eating lunatic is almost certainly false. To explain the participant’s murder spree, a closer look was taken at his personal history and online writings. Accusations that Lou Truesdale murdered his firstborn’s mother show that the participant may have been genetically predisposed toward violence. However, the most damning evidence was the participant’s own admission, in a blog post dated June 20, 2018, that while being scolded for attempting to steal and eat cupcakes, he bit his st epfather and lapped up his blood with pleasure. He wrote, “I’d had my first taste and I liked it.” The Legal Information Institute at Cornell School of Law defines cannibalism as “the consumption of another human’s body matter, whether consensual or not,” which would extend to the imbibement of blood. Therefore, this blog post proves that the participant willfully engaged in cannibalism as early as age nine. Furthermore, it draws an early correlation between the participant’s being criticized for his eating habits and the onset of the cannibalistic impulse, a trend consistent with his later crimes. His flagrant disregard for trial protocol, and his self- administration of black-market doses, which cannot be verified as genuine Ema C-8, were also taken into account. The investigators furthermore noted the January 3 Instagram post (Appendix Y) in which the participant publicly accused Monstera Bio Sciences of cannibalism profiteering and Dr. Smith of being a child abuser. The post collected over twelve thousand likes and one thousand comments, which reaffirm the
investigators’ doubt about the participant’s claims. Comments thefatandthefurious omg what is happening right now, this person is unhinged!!! heatherette478 JUST CALLED THE POLICE! YOU ARE SICK! SEEK TREATMENT!!!!! rita_mamacita I think I’m going to throw up dogs_and_dumbells I knew there was something seriously wrong with this guy jackattack7 You know your eating’s out of control when you’re chowing down on a dude named Marco seismicwaste It’s the genetically modified coyotes for me tom_graves Oh no, my st epdad was a dick to me 20 years ago, guess I have to go murder some people. F**k off Although these comments cannot be considered “evidence,” they nevertheless echo the cultural subtext vibrating underneath every page of this r eport: a growing suspicion of the self-pitying narratives popularized by television programs such as My 600-Lb. Life, which insult the superobese by justifying their debility as a product of psychological upset, a genre sometimes referred to as “trauma porn.” Mindful of these hurtful and flattening stereotypes, the investigators have elected not to consider the participant’s history of abuse, bullying, or other psychological trauma in any part of their assessment. The obese, they feel, do not deserve this. Conducting countless interviews with leaders and researchers at Monstera Bio Sciences—not including Dr. Smith, who left the company following the participant’s allegations of abuse—the investigators found that like many Americans, the makers of Obexity have de ep empathy for the struggles of the overweight and obese. According to them, it was out of this empathy, and nothing else, that the treatment was conceived. Given this evidence, the investigators conclude that the fates of the deceased are owed not to any fault of Monstera Bio Sciences, but to the inherent d epravity and mental fragility of the participant himself, who, under the stress of a clinically induced body transformation and a flagrant disregard for trial protocols, shed what little humanity he still possessed. Submitting to his cannibalistic tendencies in pursuit of revenge on the society he believed had wronged him, he turned himself into a monster. In the eyes of the investigators, the only threat that persists beyond the participant’s death is the unearned notion of victimhood he espoused, which continues to proliferate throughout our country like the next pandemic. At this point in time, the investigators confidently affirm that Obexity and Ema C-8 are of no more danger to the general public than any other weight loss product available on the market today. END OF R EPORT April 29, 2025 Jennifer Saito, Ph D, Chief Science Officer Monstera Bio Sciences 11093 Torreyana Rd. San Diego, CA 92121
SUBJECT: Appeal of decision regarding Abbreviated New Drug Application #407073 Greetings Dr. Saito, I write today in response to Monstera Bio Sciences’ Formal Dispute Resolution Request (FDRR) dated 4/10/2025, regarding ANDA #407073, which appeals CDER’s decision to decline FDA approval for the new drug ephaloma-copiramate (Ema C-8), market name Obexity™. The Administration has reviewed your statement of appeal, including your response to concerns regarding the safety of Ema C-8 as a weight loss aid given nationally publicized incidents in volving clinical trial participant Emmett Truesdale. The Administration also noted your concerns that my predecessor, former CDER director Don Levy, had ties to the National Association to Advance Fat Acc eptance (NAAFA) that may have influenced CDER’s original decision. In light of the evidence enclosed with your FDRR—specifically, the extensive r eport of findings from the liability inquiry lodged by Prentice & Darrow LLP—the Administration has elected to overturn its initial ruling and grant full approval of Obexity™ as a prescription drug for use in conjunction with the patented gene therapy procedure that the FDA Center for Biologics Research and Evaluation approved in 2021. We are reassured by this evidence that Mr. Truesdale’s criminal behavior was not influenced in any way by Ema C-8. And though it was neither necessary nor material to our decision, we commend your company for establishing, in his name, a charitable endowment supporting the California Childhood Obesity Coalition, helping prevent the onset of the condition among the state’s most vulnerable youth. The U. S. government supports all efforts to eradicate this terrible sickness. Congratulations on your approval, and thank you for all you do for Monstera Bio Sciences, which you know remains near and dear to my heart. For the health and happiness of the country. Your friend, Cecil H. Smith, Ph D Director
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS With the exc eption of a weird couple of years in college, I’ve been fat pretty much my whole life. Through myriad diets and weight fluctuations both doctor- approved and medically ill-advised, it has remained a central facet of my identity, equal to my gender, race, sexuality, nationality, and every intersection thereof. Over the years, I’ve adored and related profoundly to the writings of brilliant female authors on the subject of fatness, especially Roxane Gay’s Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body and Lindy West’s Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman. And at the age of thirteen, I devoured (sorry) St ephen King’s Thinner, enthralled by both its fat male protagonist and the idea of losing weight as he does: superfast, no matter how much he eats, with no control over the horrifying consequences. These books were all, in their ways, essential ingredients of what would eventually become Nothing Tastes as Good. But despite the life-changing influence they had on me, I remained unsatisfied, hungry for stories that pull guys like me out of the fringes of popular narratives—as idiots, clowns, troglodytes, and gay best friends—and let us tell society what our fatness means to us, rather than the other way around. In many ways Emmett’s story is the easiest thing I’ve ever written. It doesn’t feel like something I made up, more like a part of me that’s been surgically removed and preserved in book form for others to consume at their peril. To the skilled and compassionate literary surgeons who helped bring this monstrosity to life, I offer my sincerest thanks. To my agent, Maria Whelan, whose tireless enthusiasm and positivity fed my soul through long months of self-doubt. I hope you never get your fill of me. To my editor, Loan Le, who always sees straight to the heart of my words and delights when it spurts blood. Thank you for being who you are and for all the ways you go above and beyond for your authors. To the larger team at Simon & Schuster/Atria, especially those I’ve had the pleasure to work with directly, Natalie Argentina, David Brown, Elizabeth Hitti, Dayna Johnson, Debbie Norflus, Morgan Pager, and Dana Trocker. Special thanks to Claire Sullivan for the deliciously evil cover. To my friends Claire Duleba, Caitlin Hannah, and Melissa Wells, for your support, enthusiasm, and early feedback. To my writing buddy Caitlin, thank you for spending many a Saturday with me at the world’s most chaotic Starbucks. Among the constant distractions on offer there, chitchatting with you is by far my favorite. To Matt Alan and Brian Ogle, Ed D, for your expert insight into the student- teaching experience. To the Bookstagram community, which has been so good to me, including Matt Chisling (@mattyandthebooks), Dennis (@scaredstraightreads), Sadie Hartmann (@mother. horror), Janelle Janson (@shereadswithcats), Mindy Rose (@garbagesauce), Taylor (@taylorsmagicbookshelf), Marguerite Turley (@pegt), Louis
Williams (@bookmearead), and so many more. To the Horror Writers Association San Diego Chapter, my friends at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore and Barnes & Noble Bookstar Loma Theatre, and the booksellers across the country who continue to champion books, both mine and others’. You are heroes. To Gina Kolata, whose book Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss—and the Myths and Realities of Dieting had a massive impact on me and provided much of the disturbing research that appears in Dr. Smith’s memo; and Johann Hari, author of Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs—I can never unlearn just how royally fucked up the modern food industry is and how desperately it cries out for regulation. I highly recommend everyone read these books. To the readers who allow me to do this job I love so much—I will never be able to r epay you for the joy you’ve brought to my life, but with every new story and book, I will try. To my parents, Mary and Bryan, for your unconditional love and support. And finally to my husband and first reader, Adam, who’s watched me gain and lose hundreds of pounds over the years and never made me feel anything less than totally acc epted and adored. Thank you for loving me still. More from the Author The Paleontologist A History of Fear ABOUT THE AUTHOR Luke Dumas is the USA Today bestselling author of The Paleontologist and A History of Fear. He is the winner of a 2024 ITW Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original, and his work has been optioned for film and TV. He received his master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Edinburgh and has worked in nonprofit philanthropy for more than a decade. Luke was born and raised in San Diego, California, where he works for a biomedical research institute. Simonand Schuster. com www. Simonand Schuster. com/Authors/Luke-Dumas @Atria Books ALSO BY LUKE DUMAS The Paleontologist A History of Fear We hope you enjoyed reading this Simon & Schuster ebook. Get a FREE ebook when you join our mailing list. Plus, get updates on new releases, deals, recommended reads, and more from Simon & Schuster. Click below to sign up and see terms and conditions. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Already a subscriber? Provide your email again so we can register this ebook and send you more of what you like to read. You will continue to receive exclusive offers in your inbox. ATRIA BOOKS, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, fosters an open environment where ideas flourish, bestselling authors soar to new heights, and tomorrow’s finest voices are discovered and nurtured. Since its launch in 2002, Atria has published hundreds of bestsellers and extraordinary books, which would not have been possible without the invaluable support and expertise of its team and publishing partners. Thank you to the Atria Books colleagues who collaborated on Nothing Tastes as Good, as well as to the
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