'Stolen Youth' Hulu's harrowing take on the Sarah Lawrence cult, exposes an unfathomable college experience

College is typically a transformative time, but Stolen Youth, Hulu's latest true crime documentary, shows how one man robbed a handful of students of a positive university experience. 

According to reviews of Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult as Sarah Lawrence, the three-part project is a particularly traumatic watch, as it includes firsthand recordings of the evildoings that transpired under Larry Ray's rule—psychological punishments, meal deprivations and verbal humiliation, to name just a few.

Shows about cults are always triggering additions to our screen time, but this particular chain of events about an undergrad gone wrong has gripped a national audience. Here's what you need to know about the tragic happenings that unraveled at one of New York's most prestigious liberal arts colleges.

*Trigger warning ahead*

What is 'Stolen Youth,' Hulu's new true-crime doc, about?

In 2010, Larry Ray (born Lawrence Grecco) decided to set up shop in his daughter Talia's dorm at Sarah Lawrence College to get back on his feet. This all transpired after he was released from prison after a child custody dispute. While on campus, he attempted to give her roommates and friends "counseling sessions" that lead to unthinkable actions. 

One year later, he convinced a group of students to move into his Upper East Side apartment, where he mentally and physically abused them and even managed to extort roughly $1 million from at least five victims, all while he had cut them off from contact with their families.  

"[He] lead these young adults to become unwitting victims of sexual exploitation, verbal and physical abuse, extortion, forced labor and prostitution," William F. Sweeney, Jr., the school's Assistant Director in Charge, said in a statement, per People (opens in new tab). 

In the three-part series, viewers will listen to the recordings of the acts Ray had insisted on documenting. Additionally, those tuning in will hear from several of his victims about the abuse they faced a decade ago—and continue to face today. 

When is the 'Stolen Youth' release date?

The three-part Stolen Youth docuseries will hit Hulu on Thursday, February 9. The premiere comes on the heels of the podcast "Devil in the Dorm," by Law & Crime (opens in new tab), which debuted at the end of January. 

That means you will need a Hulu subscription to watch the doc. Current plans include an ad-supported plan for $7.99 per month (or $79.99 per year) or a commercial-free option for $14.99 per month. 

Watch the 'Stolen Youth' trailer: 

What happened to Larry Ray from 'Stolen Youth'?

In 2019, a New York Magazine article titled "The Stolen Kids of Sarah Lawrence" went to press, and from there, the story was exposed. After an investigation conducted by the F.B.I., Larry Ray was arrested in New Jersey. 

In 2022, he was charged with 15 counts of racketeering, extortion, violent assault, sex trafficking, forced labor, money laundering and tax evasion, according to People. 

In January 2023, just a few short weeks before Stolen Youth's release, Ray was sentenced to 60 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy, violent crime in aid of racketeering, extortion, sex trafficking, forced labor, tax evasion and money laundering offenses. Reports suggested that he did not show any remorse in the courtroom for his wrongdoings, but did detail the ailments he suffered while imprisoned for three years upon his 2020 arrest.

Catch Stolen Youth on Hulu beginning Thursday, February 9.