Thursday, 24 September 2026 05:00 PM
Company Update
Jenner Law honors the longtime Maryland advocate who dedicated decades to seeking answers and supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
BALTIMORE, MD / ACCESS Newswire / September 24, 2026 / Jenner Law is mourning the death of Gemma Hoskins, the Baltimore-area teacher, The Keepers investigator, and longtime advocate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Hoskins died Sunday at age 73 following a recent illness.
For more than a decade, Hoskins worked to uncover the truth surrounding the 1969 disappearance and murder of her former teacher, Sister Catherine "Cathy" Cesnik, and to amplify the voices of survivors of sexual abuse connected to Archbishop Keough High School in Baltimore.
Her work, alongside fellow Keough alumna Abbie Schaub, ultimately helped bring the story to a global audience through the 2017 Netflix documentary series The Keepers. But for Hoskins, the investigation was never about fame. It was about finding answers, listening to survivors, and refusing to let their stories disappear.
"Gemma was never a lawyer, but she did more to open Maryland's courthouse doors to survivors than most lawyers ever will," said Robert K. Jenner, founder of Jenner Law. "She listened when no one else would, she refused to let the truth stay buried, and she stood beside survivors in Annapolis until the law changed. Many of the survivors we represent today have their day in court because Gemma Hoskins would not quit."
From Teacher to Investigator
Hoskins entered Archbishop Keough High School as a freshman in 1966, where she was taught by Sister Cathy Cesnik, a young nun who taught English and drama.
Cesnik became one of the most influential people in Hoskins' life and inspired her to become a teacher herself.
Hoskins spent more than three decades as an educator and was named Harford County Teacher of the Year in 1991. In 1992, she was named Maryland Teacher of the Year for her work with fifth-grade students at Jarrettsville Elementary School.
But Hoskins never forgot Sister Cathy.
Cesnik disappeared on November 7, 1969. Her body was discovered in January 1970 in Baltimore County. Her murder remains unsolved.
Decades later, former Keough students began coming forward with allegations of sexual abuse. In 2013, Hoskins began publicly asking questions about Cesnik's death and reconnected with former classmates. She and Schaub began tracking down former students, witnesses, and information about what had happened at Keough.
Their investigation eventually became the foundation for The Keepers, the seven-part Netflix documentary released in 2017.
The series brought the stories of Keough survivors to an international audience and introduced Hoskins to viewers around the world.
A Champion for Maryland Survivors
After The Keepers was released, Hoskins became a trusted point of contact for survivors and others who had information about the abuse and the events surrounding Sister Cathy's death.
She often emphasized that she was not a lawyer, therapist, or doctor. She was a retired teacher who listened and helped connect people with resources.
Hoskins and Schaub also became advocates for legislative changes affecting survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
In 2023, Hoskins testified before Maryland lawmakers in support of legislation that became the Child Victims Act of 2023. Maryland General Assembly records identify Hoskins as a witness who testified in support of the legislation.
The Child Victims Act was approved by Gov. Wes Moore on April 11, 2023. Among other changes, the legislation repealed certain civil statutes of limitations and statutes of repose for child sexual abuse claims and provided for retroactive application under specified circumstances.
The legislation became a landmark change in Maryland law for survivors seeking to pursue civil claims related to childhood sexual abuse.
Her Advocacy Continued After The Keepers
Hoskins continued telling the stories of survivors long after the documentary's release.
She co-hosted the podcast Foul Play: Who Killed Sister Cathy? with Shane Waters, producing 95 episodes over nearly eight years. She also participated in survivor advocacy efforts and helped raise money for the Sister Cathy Cesnik Survivors Fund.
Hoskins also shared her own story in her 2020 memoir, Keeping On: How I Came to Know Why I Was Born. Her second book, Teddy Tales: A Puppy Primer, followed in 2021.
At Jenner Law, Hoskins also recorded a video for the firm's Survivor & Advocate Stories series titled "An Advocate for Survivors," sharing her perspective and encouraging survivors to know that they were not alone.
Remembering Gemma
For those who knew Hoskins personally, the investigator seen on television was only part of her story.
Mary Beth Diaz, a paralegal at Jenner Law and Hoskins' longtime friend, remembers her as someone who consistently checked on the people around her.
"Often I would receive a call or text from Gemma just saying, ‘Hey it's me, just checking on you,'" Diaz said. "Not because she heard something was wrong or something had happened, but because she genuinely knew how difficult this work is but also reminded me that this is what we were meant to do."
"We made an agreement, she would carry me up the hill when I needed it and I would carry her when she needed me, no questions asked," Diaz said. "Gemma showed that hard work, determination and straightening each other's crown is how we need to live life."
Sister Cathy's murder remains unsolved, but Hoskins spent the final years of her life making sure that the stories of survivors were heard.
"She was a teacher to the end," Jenner said. "She taught people to ask questions, to listen to survivors, and to keep going when the answers seemed impossible to find."
Jenner Law extends its deepest condolences to Hoskins' family, friends, former students, fellow advocates, and the survivors whose lives she touched.
Rest well, Gemma. We will keep on.
About Jenner Law
Jenner Law, P.C. is a Baltimore-based law firm representing survivors of sexual abuse and other victims of serious wrongdoing. The firm represents survivors in Maryland and advocates for accountability and justice for victims of abuse.
Media Contact:
Jenner Law, P.C.
Baltimore, Maryland
Robert K. Jenner
(888) 297-0616
[email protected]
https://www.jennerlawfirm.com/
SOURCE: Jenner Law, P.C.