1 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: I have to go down there. I have to confront her. 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 2: I have to see her, and I remember yelling at 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 2: her like, how. 4 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,040 Speaker 1: Could you do this? How could you do this to 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: our family? 6 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:30,639 Speaker 3: I'm Andrea Gunning and this is Betrayal, a show about 7 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 3: the people we trust the most and the deceptions that 8 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 3: change everything. This is part two of Matt and Laura's story. 9 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 3: If you haven't heard part one, you'll want to go 10 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 3: back and listen to that first. Matt and Laura Trade 11 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 3: went through years of infertility treatment IVF, miscarriages, and a 12 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 3: high risk pregnancy to have their son, Hudson. Soon after 13 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 3: they knew they wanted another child, they decided to pursue adoption. 14 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 3: That's how they met Elizabeth Jones. Elizabeth thought the Traits 15 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 3: would be great adoptive parents to her unborn baby. After 16 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 3: talking daily and visiting Elizabeth in Virginia, they both agreed 17 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 3: that it was a perfect match for an open adoption. 18 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 3: The baby was due in December of twenty eighteen, and 19 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 3: the Trades had picked out a name for her, Noela 20 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 3: and Elizabeth, the birth mom, already felt like extended family. 21 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 3: A month before the baby was due, Elizabeth went into 22 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 3: labor early. It was an emergency. Something wasn't right. Matt 23 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 3: and Laura rushed to the hospital. The nurses weren't able 24 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 3: to find a patient by the name Elizabeth Jones in 25 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 3: the maternity. 26 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 4: Ward, but there was one in the er, so we 27 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 4: went into the hospital room and I remember the curtain 28 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 4: was drawn. 29 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 5: I can just picture in my mind. 30 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 4: Like I was there seeing the nurse moved the curtain 31 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 4: and there's our Elizabeth sitting there and all of her clothes. 32 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 4: So I was so confused. I was like, Elizabeth, Oh 33 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 4: my god, are you okay? 34 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 5: What's happening? Why are you in your regular clothes? 35 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 4: And she just tried to explain it away, you know, like, oh, 36 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 4: we brought a change of clothes for me in the car. 37 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 5: Everything was all bloody, so I had to change. I 38 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 5: was like, where is the baby, Like, what's happening. 39 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 3: Elizabeth explained that her husband was on his way up 40 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 3: to the maternity ward with the baby, and. 41 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 4: I was like, I was just up there waiting. We're 42 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 4: all waiting. There's a whole team of doctors waiting, and 43 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 4: we didn't see the baby. Like I have to go 44 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 4: talk to the nurses and try to figure out what's 45 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 4: going on. So I was walking away, and I remember 46 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 4: her calling my name, but I just kept walking. 47 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 3: A horrible truth was setting in for Laura, a truth 48 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 3: she couldn't process. She went to the nurses station in 49 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 3: a daze. 50 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 4: And I was like, I don't understand whats going on. 51 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 4: She's supposed to be giving birth to our daughter. Her 52 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 4: case manager was like, let me go talk to her. 53 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 5: She came back. 54 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 4: She was like, she's saying she doesn't even know you. 55 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 4: She's saying she has no idea who you are. 56 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 3: Laura fumbled to find her phone to show the nurse 57 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 3: photos of them together, photos from as recent as yesterday. 58 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 4: There's even a picture of my son with his hand 59 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 4: on her stomach because she had told him, oh. 60 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 5: You want to feel your sissy kick. 61 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 3: That's when another nurse stepped in and told Laura the truth, 62 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 3: the truth. Elizabeth couldn't bring herself to say. 63 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 5: I just remember the nurse telling me she's not pregnant. 64 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 3: There was no baby. There never had been. Laura walked 65 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 3: right back into the exam room to confront her. 66 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 4: I just looked at her and I was like, how 67 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 4: could you lie to us like this? How could you 68 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 4: do this? How could you do this to our son. 69 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 4: She just looked at me with these blank, dead eyes, 70 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 4: no emotion, no remorse, just complete blank expression on her face. 71 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 4: At that point, she was silent, and I was like, 72 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 4: you know what, Elizabeth, what goes around comes around, and 73 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 4: this is going to come back to you, like you're 74 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 4: going to get what you give, and I just walked out. 75 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 4: I just didn't even want to face her anymore. I 76 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 4: didn't want to look into those dead eyes. 77 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 3: All the while, Matt was still upstairs with Hudson and 78 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 3: an empty baby carrier, waiting for an update from Laura. 79 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: We're sitting up there and the minutes are just crawling by, 80 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 2: and I have no idea what's going on, and I'm 81 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 2: texting Laura for information and not hearing anything because she's 82 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 2: in the thick of all of. 83 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: This, and just waiting and waiting. 84 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,799 Speaker 2: I remember Laura coming back up and entering the Nicky 85 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 2: Way room with no baby, and she just had this look. 86 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 1: On her face. 87 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 4: I remember saying, there is no baby and she was 88 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 4: never pregnant. I remember Matt tearing up at that point 89 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 4: and us all embracing as a family. 90 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 3: Matt couldn't leave the hospital without seeing Elizabeth for himself. 91 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 2: I didn't get closure. You know, I wasn't the one 92 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 2: down in the er like Laura was, and so I said, 93 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 2: I have to go down there. I have to confront her. 94 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 2: I have to see her. And so the three of 95 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 2: us went down to the er, and it just so 96 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 2: happened the right when we got down to the waiting room, 97 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 2: she started to come out the door because she was released, 98 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 2: and she saw us and looked at us and started 99 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 2: to kind of turn the other way. And I remember 100 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 2: yelling at her, how could you do this? And how 101 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 2: could you do this to our family? And just wanted 102 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 2: to follow her, you know, but she knew going back 103 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 2: into that er. 104 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: We weren't able to go back. 105 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 2: There because we weren't patience, and you know, I think 106 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 2: she escaped out the back door. 107 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 1: At that point. 108 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 2: I wanted to chase after her even more, but my 109 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 2: family needed me. 110 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 3: His family did need him. Hudson, wearing his Big Brother 111 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 3: T shirt, seemed confused. Nothing hurt the Traits more than 112 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 3: watching their son lose a piece of his innocence in 113 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 3: that moment. 114 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 4: You know, it's hard to talk about that because that's 115 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 4: six years old. At that moment, you have to explain 116 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 4: to him that there are people out there in the 117 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 4: world that are not nice, not good people that would 118 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 4: hurt others like this. I just I'll never forget Petson 119 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 4: with his question like it was a trick. Why would 120 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 4: someone trick us just such an innocent question? 121 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 3: It was an innocent question. Won that on some level 122 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 3: Matt and Laura had too. 123 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 4: After the fact, she got interviewed by the News. She 124 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 4: told them that she wanted us to feel her pain. 125 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 4: And I think by that she meant maybe from her 126 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 4: own childhood, things that happened to her. You know her 127 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 4: people hurt people, but I don't know. She wanted us 128 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 4: to feel her pain. That's what she said. 129 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 3: That's the closest the traits would ever come to an 130 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 3: answer about why Elizabeth deceived them. She wanted someone else 131 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 3: to feel the pain she felt inside. That was the 132 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 3: only explanation for why she took it so far. 133 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 2: At any point during this whole thing, she could have 134 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 2: ended it. Laura tried so many times to convince her 135 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: to keep the baby, the baby would be best with her, 136 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 2: and she have not shown up to the hospital right. 137 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 6: But the fact that she chose to show up at 138 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 6: the hospital where she knew that we would be to 139 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 6: check herself in, to tell us that she was in 140 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 6: the er for us to go down for that very. 141 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 2: Moment of seeing us in pain, to inflict emotional suffering 142 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 2: on us like that, that's the only thing that we 143 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 2: can think of was the end goal in that moment 144 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 2: for her, because obviously she knew at some point she 145 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 2: was going to get found out. 146 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 5: The extent to which she brought it was just cruel. 147 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 4: And in my mind, just an evil thing to do. 148 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 3: Almost immediately they started to think back on the last 149 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 3: few months and they saw it all in a new 150 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 3: horrible light. The woman they'd spent months building a relationship with, 151 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 3: expecting to have as a lifelong family member, was faking 152 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 3: her pregnancy. The whole time. 153 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 5: She physically looked pregnant. 154 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 4: She just had that body type where she looked like 155 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 4: she could have been pregnant, and I really thought she 156 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 4: was pregnant. 157 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 2: She sent us videos, you know, where she'd looked up 158 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,079 Speaker 2: her shirt and video what you know, look at babykick. 159 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 4: I actually remember her being like, yeah, feel your baby pick, like, 160 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 4: put your hand in my stomach. And I never did 161 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 4: feel the baby pick obviously. 162 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 3: But what about the ulder soound photos and the stuffed 163 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 3: unicorn with a recording of the baby's heartbeat. 164 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 4: I think it was probably her other kid's ultrasounds, and 165 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 4: or the heartbeat might have been from one of her 166 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 4: other kids. 167 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 3: As for Elizabeth's husband, they can only guess. 168 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 2: I think he honestly had no idea she was doing this. 169 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 2: She was not involving him at all. 170 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 4: He traveled a lot for work, so when we were 171 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 4: there at their house, we never met him. I don't 172 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 4: think he knew that she had reached out to us. 173 00:09:57,960 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 4: I don't think he knew what she was doing. 174 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:04,199 Speaker 3: Did she even have a husband at all. Some parts 175 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 3: of the elaborate deception are still a mystery. 176 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 4: I don't know where she got the pictures of the blood. 177 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 4: I have no idea where she got those pictures. 178 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 3: Matt and law Trait were in the waiting room of 179 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 3: the er with their six year old, reeling from the 180 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 3: news that the daughter they were expecting to adopt never 181 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 3: existed at all. All morning, their phones were blowing up 182 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 3: messages from family and friends wanting updates about Noela. 183 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 2: I remember sending a message, you know, there is no baby, 184 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 2: and having to sort of explain that, but at the 185 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 2: same time not really wanting to talk to anybody about it, 186 00:10:56,160 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 2: and just other shock from everybody. We all just kind 187 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 2: of had this moment together. Obviously, there are situations and 188 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,319 Speaker 2: adoption where you expect, you know, possibly the birth mother 189 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 2: to change your mind and you decide to keep the baby. 190 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 1: But this was so different. 191 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 2: We worked so hard to reach this moment, to finally 192 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 2: be able to adopt, and thought the dream was finally 193 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 2: coming true. 194 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 3: Leaving the hospital that day, they got into a fender 195 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 3: bender in their rental car. It was one of those 196 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:37,599 Speaker 3: absurd moments in life. I can't imagine what Matt and 197 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 3: Laura were thinking on hold with the insurance company while 198 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 3: staring in disbelief at the empty car seat. After what 199 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:50,119 Speaker 3: felt like an eternity, they finally got back to their airbnb. 200 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 2: At that point, something switched in us and we immediately 201 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 2: went into attack mode. 202 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: We can't let someone get away with this. 203 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 2: You can't let someone emotionally abuse you like that and 204 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 2: just lay down and take it. And so back at 205 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 2: their BnB, we started immediately making phone calls to the 206 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 2: sheriff's apartment to I mean, anybody that would listen, and. 207 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 4: I remember the sheriff saying, well, it's not a crime 208 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 4: to hurt someone's feeling. 209 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 3: That comment sent them over the edge, spurred them into 210 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:31,199 Speaker 3: a level of action they didn't even know they were 211 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 3: capable of. This was more than a case of hurt feelings, 212 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 3: and they were going to prove it. 213 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 2: I think as a lesson to Hudson, He's obviously watching 214 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 2: how we're reacting to all of this, and it was 215 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 2: so important for us to have him know that we 216 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 2: were going to do something about this, that it's important 217 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 2: in life to stand up for what's right and to 218 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 2: stand up for what you believe in rather than just 219 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 2: cowering in a corner and just letting it defeat you. 220 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 2: And in a way, I think that was cathartic because 221 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 2: it was a. 222 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 4: Way for us to take our power back because it 223 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 4: felt like a really powerless situation. 224 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 3: So they just kept making phone calls. 225 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 4: I remember calling Child Protective Services to let them know 226 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 4: what was happening. I just felt like she was not 227 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 4: mentally stable and I was really concerned about her kids, 228 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 4: and we were calling like the district Attorney's office, just 229 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 4: anybody that would listen. 230 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 2: Really, I want to credit Laura because she was the 231 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 2: one who was at home. Hudson went back to school, 232 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,839 Speaker 2: I went back to work, and you know, she's at 233 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 2: home on the phone every single day. Reaching out to police, 234 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 2: reaching out to the Commonwealth Attorney is kind of like 235 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 2: trying to see what could happen. 236 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 3: And finally they found someone who would listen, someone who 237 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,200 Speaker 3: had more information about Elizabeth Jones. 238 00:13:56,520 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 2: It was discovered through one of the detectives that she 239 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 2: was on probation for a credit card fraud and she 240 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 2: actually had an ankle bracelet. 241 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 1: The problem was every time. 242 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:10,840 Speaker 2: That we saw her, well at the time Laura visited, 243 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 2: in the time that we were all out there, she 244 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 2: was wearing you know, big ugg boots and so it 245 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 2: wasn't possible to see the ankle bracelet on her. And 246 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 2: so from that point, I think charges kind of gained 247 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 2: steam because once it was determined that she was on probation, 248 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 2: the detective was able to finally do some work. 249 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 3: It was only because Elizabeth was on probation that the 250 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 3: trades had a chance to pursue criminal charges against her, and. 251 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 2: It's like, Okay, we have some traction, we have something 252 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 2: happening here. We might have an opportunity to be able 253 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 2: to hold her accountable for her crimes. 254 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 3: Accountability was important to them. After all, Elizabeth took more 255 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 3: than just a few thousand dollars. She took one of 256 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 3: their last chances at growing their family. 257 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 4: I had always thought that there was another baby out 258 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 4: there was meant to be a part of our family. 259 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 3: After everything they'd been through in their fertility journey. Elizabeth's 260 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 3: betrayal fundamentally changed Matt and Laura. 261 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 4: I never knew that people like that were e've been 262 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 4: out there that could go to those means to hurt 263 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 4: someone else. So the impact is that the adoption fraud 264 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 4: had on me personally. Wasn't just really scared me away 265 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 4: from pursuing any future opportunities. I was just really afraid 266 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 4: to get hurt again. 267 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 3: The trades still believe in adoption. They've heard many success stories, 268 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 3: but they were exhausted they couldn't keep trying. It's still 269 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 3: the thing that stings the most. 270 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 4: Maybe we weren't meant to have another child, but maybe 271 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 4: we were meant to help others. 272 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 3: And one way they're planning to help others is through 273 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 3: building an online community. It's called infertility noow dot com, 274 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 3: where they want to host resources, meeting groups, and online 275 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 3: courses for people going through infertility. 276 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 4: We're hoping to create a community of people who are 277 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 4: going through infertility, and we hope to offer classes to 278 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 4: them and kind of give guidance and teach people all 279 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 4: the different options there are out there for building a family, 280 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 4: and also just to be a support to people who 281 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 4: are going through it, because we know what it's like. 282 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 4: Infertility is really a lonely place to be. 283 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 3: Against all odds. And despite what the police had initially 284 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 3: told them, the Trades were finally able to pursue charges 285 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 3: against Elizabeth and find. 286 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 2: Justice March third of the following year, twenty nineteen. After 287 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 2: months of working, we were able to get nine felony 288 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 2: charges of obtaining money on false pretenses. As she was 289 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 2: on probation, so all of the times we took her 290 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 2: out for dinner or meals, buying her gifts, things like that, 291 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 2: they were able to make those charge. 292 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: That's because of her probation. 293 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 3: And remember those professional photos where Laura and Elizabeth are 294 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 3: wearing matching shirts. Those photos cost a few hundred dollars 295 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 3: and that expense was added to Elizabeth's felony charge. 296 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 5: At first, she had put not guilty, but. 297 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 3: Before the hearing, Elizabeth changed her plate. She was going 298 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 3: to plead guilty. 299 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 4: We were going to fly out there for the trial, 300 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 4: and we got a call from her lawyer saying, you know, 301 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:31,719 Speaker 4: she's going to plead guilty. 302 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 5: You don't have to come out now. 303 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 4: It's okay, you don't need to come out, and we 304 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 4: were like, we're coming because at the last minute she 305 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 4: could change her mind, and we're still in California. We're 306 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 4: not there to speak for ourselves. So we're going to 307 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 4: make the trip and we're going to be there for 308 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 4: the trial. So we flew out there again. We faced 309 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 4: her in court. 310 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 2: At the beginning of the hearing. She ended up pleading 311 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 2: guilty rather than going to trial. She agreed to a 312 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 2: sentence of ten years, eight of which were suspended, so 313 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 2: she served two years in state prison, with the remaining 314 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 2: eight years to be added if she commits another crime 315 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 2: on top of that, and. 316 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:19,360 Speaker 1: So we really felt like it was a victory. 317 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 2: I just remember standing out front of the courthouse, speaking 318 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 2: in front of the news conference and just how amazingly empowering. 319 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: It was that we didn't give up. 320 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 2: We were able to hold her accountable and show people 321 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 2: out there that it's not okay to do things like 322 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:41,200 Speaker 2: this to people. 323 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 4: Felt like we had closure to that part of our life. 324 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 4: We had gotten our power back, and so we felt 325 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 4: like we could take on the future and we could 326 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 4: move on. 327 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 3: After seeing Elizabeth sentenced to two years for the fraud 328 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,959 Speaker 3: she committed, the traits still weren't done. They knew that 329 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 3: they only got justice because their perpetrator happened to be 330 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:25,200 Speaker 3: on probation. So they worked with Virginia's Deputy Attorney General 331 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 3: to write a new law. 332 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 2: It officially became Senate Bill one zero zero three that 333 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 2: made it a crime to lie in electronic communications during 334 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:39,160 Speaker 2: a business transaction. So the crime is actually punishable by 335 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 2: up to a year in jail and a twenty five. 336 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 1: Hundred dollars fine. 337 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 2: So it went into effect in Virginia on July first 338 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty, and it was named after US trades 339 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 2: Law in that sense of pride and accomplishment. 340 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: You know, like a sense of legacy. 341 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 2: We're making a difference in the world and helping people, 342 00:19:57,760 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 2: and so we were really proud of that. 343 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 3: They say that trades Law in Virginia is just the beginning, 344 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 3: one small step towards very necessary adoption reform and regulation 345 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 3: in the United States. 346 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 2: You know, it's like the wild West out there. It's 347 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 2: a multi billion dollar industry. There are so many desperate 348 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 2: families as well as desperate birth mothers, and I think 349 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,680 Speaker 2: the adoption industry as a whole praise on these desperate 350 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 2: people who don't know where else to turn to. 351 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 1: Costs are through the roof and there needs to be 352 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:34,160 Speaker 1: more oversight. 353 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 3: One of the reasons the Traits initially decided to go 354 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 3: public with their story was to help educate other adoptive 355 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 3: families about their rights. At the time, they tried to 356 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 3: get pregnancy verification, something signed and dated. 357 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 2: By a doctor, we were told that there was nothing 358 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 2: that could be done on our end until after the 359 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 2: baby was born, which we found kind of strange and 360 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 2: very frustrating. That led us to reaching out to try 361 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 2: to get a hold of someone to get pregnancy verification, 362 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:13,400 Speaker 2: and either people wouldn't return our calls or they told 363 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 2: us we didn't have the authority to get that information 364 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 2: from them. 365 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 3: Since this happened, they've learned adoptive parents do have legal 366 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:24,640 Speaker 3: rights to pregnancy verification, So. 367 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 2: We want to let families know you have a right 368 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 2: to that as an adoptive parent, and that's one of 369 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,439 Speaker 2: the first things that you should do is try to 370 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 2: get a pregnancy verification. 371 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 3: They don't want anyone else to have to learn these 372 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 3: lessons the way they. 373 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 4: Did, And I'd say one of the most important things 374 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,120 Speaker 4: is to listen to your gut, because if I had 375 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 4: listened to my gut instead of giving her the butt, 376 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 4: I'm a doubt just trying to see it from her side, 377 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 4: you know, empathetic if you feel like something is off. 378 00:21:57,320 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 5: Just trust your intuition. 379 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 3: It's been a few years since the adoption fraud, and 380 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 3: since then they've spent the time healing as a family. 381 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 3: Matt says that instead of letting this betrayal break them, 382 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:13,159 Speaker 3: it's brought their family unit closer together. 383 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 2: One of my biggest takeaways for this is just how 384 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 2: strong we are as a family and as a couple. 385 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 2: I mean, rates in this country are sky high, especially 386 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 2: divorces within the infertility community, because of the emotional toll 387 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 2: that it takes on couples. 388 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,919 Speaker 1: And I just look back at how much Laura. 389 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:38,919 Speaker 2: And I have been through together and how much we 390 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 2: support each other, and just how strong we still are 391 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 2: in coming through all of this together. I couldn't have 392 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 2: made it through without her. I'm very grateful for her 393 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 2: and for Hudson. 394 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 4: Hudson was meant to be our son and our one 395 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 4: and only child, and that dream of having a going 396 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 4: for him is something that I try to fill it 397 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:06,399 Speaker 4: in other ways. We're always meeting up with friends. He 398 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 4: has tons of cousins, so he spends a lot of 399 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 4: time with them. He's also very empathetic. He really is 400 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,399 Speaker 4: aware of other people's feelings and how his words affect 401 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:20,280 Speaker 4: other people, and I'm really proud of that part of him. 402 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:22,199 Speaker 5: He is a really good person. 403 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,479 Speaker 3: On our video call with Laura and Matt, Laura had 404 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 3: one of Hudson's drowings up on the wall next to 405 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 3: her bed. Our producer Mo asked her about it. 406 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 5: Thank you. 407 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 4: It's counting the ways I Love you, and it has 408 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:42,919 Speaker 4: like his little handprint on it in blue crayon, and 409 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 4: each finger has something so it says you love me, 410 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 4: playing games, going to school with me, family, hugs and snuggling, 411 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 4: and then in the center of the little handprint is 412 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 4: a little red heart. 413 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:56,399 Speaker 5: That's a thank you. 414 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 4: I think that helps me too, because I right not 415 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 4: to take for granted how lucky I am. That's a 416 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,479 Speaker 4: good reminder just to like really churesh the things that 417 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 4: you do have. 418 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 3: We end all of our weekly episodes with the same question, 419 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 3: why did you want to tell your story? This is 420 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 3: what Matt says. 421 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:23,640 Speaker 2: I think it's important to share our story because there 422 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 2: are a lot of people out there who are victims 423 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 2: of emotional abuse. Because that's what our story is, is 424 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 2: emotional abuse. And you know, as much as that affects you, 425 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:41,919 Speaker 2: it's so important to not take it lying down, you know, 426 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 2: to try to stand up for yourself and do something 427 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 2: about it. Emotional abuse can be a crime, as we've 428 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 2: proven here, and I know a lot of your listeners 429 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 2: are victims of emotional abuse or familiar with that. And 430 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 2: just people understanding that they're not alone, that there are 431 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 2: lots of other people out there that are going through 432 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 2: something similar. You never know what someone is dealing with 433 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 2: on the inside. 434 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 4: And for Laura, just that feeling that you're not alone 435 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 4: helps so much when you're going through something like this. 436 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:16,199 Speaker 4: Infertility is such a lonely journey and it's important that 437 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 4: you surround yourself with other people that are going through 438 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:22,399 Speaker 4: the same situation. You can learn from each other. Not 439 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 4: everybody wants to share their story, but for us, it's 440 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 4: really important that we do something positive with our experience, 441 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 4: so something good can come of this. 442 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 3: On the next episode of Betrayal. 443 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 7: She's practicing how she's going to cry when the police 444 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 7: calls her after they kill me. 445 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 3: If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal 446 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 3: team or want to tell us your Betrayal story, email 447 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 3: us at Betrayal Pod at gmail dot com. That's Betrayal 448 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 3: pod at gmail dot com. Also, please be sure to 449 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:14,680 Speaker 3: follow us at Glass Podcasts on Instagram for all Betrayal content, 450 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 3: news and updates. We're grateful for your support. One way 451 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 3: to show support is by subscribing to our show on 452 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:24,400 Speaker 3: Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to rate and review Betrayal. 453 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 3: Five star reviews go a long way. A big thank 454 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 3: you to all of our listeners. Betrayal is a production 455 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,679 Speaker 3: of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group, in 456 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 3: partnership with iHeart Podcasts. The show was executive produced by 457 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 3: Nancy Glass and Jennifer Fason, hosted and produced by me 458 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 3: Andrea Gunning, written and produced by Monique Leboard, also produced 459 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 3: by Ben Fetterman. Associate producers on this episode are Kristen 460 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 3: Melcurie Caitlin Golden and Grace Bollinger. Our iHeart team is 461 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 3: Ali Perry and Jessica Krincheck. Audio editing and mixing by 462 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 3: Matt del Vecchio and Nico Ruka. Betrayal's theme composed by 463 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:10,720 Speaker 3: Oliver Bains. Music library provided by my Music and For 464 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 3: more podcasts from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 465 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 3: or wherever you get your podcasts