1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:01,520 Speaker 1: The Michael Barry Show. 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 2: I told the story about. 3 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: A woman who impersonated an ICE officer to kidnap her 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:18,159 Speaker 1: ex boyfriend's now wife from work and then took her 5 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: to her apartment complex, and it's a funny story. Here 6 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: was my description of that story. A Florida woman has 7 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: been arrested for impersonating an ICE officer in order to 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: kidnap her ex boyfriend's wife from work. She was outfitted 9 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: with a shirt that said ICE and equipped with a 10 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: walkie talkie. The victim told the popo that she believed 11 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: the suspect was quote an ICE law enforcement agent end quote, 12 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: in part because quote she had a handheld radio and 13 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: she was talking on it to who I assumed were 14 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: other ICE agents. Officers arrested fifty two year old Latrance Battle, 15 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: La tr Ncee. I'm guessing she's not a white woman 16 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: from Latrance. Of course, being a government employee and being 17 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: black actually makes it more credible, more believable. I mean, 18 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: I mean really, Here is the story from WMBB Television 19 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: in Lovely Panama City, Florida. 20 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,119 Speaker 3: This is fifty year old La Tranz Battle. Deputies arrested 21 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 3: Battle on Friday, April eleventh, the day after she allegedly 22 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 3: tried to arrest someone else b a County Sheriff's office. 23 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,559 Speaker 3: Officials say Battle showed up at the victim's job, identifying 24 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 3: herself as an ICE agent, wearing a black shirt with 25 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 3: ICE printed on the front, carrying a handheld radio and 26 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 3: a Sheriff's office business card. The woman, who was in 27 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 3: the process of becoming a legal United States resident, told 28 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 3: deputies she believed Battle was legitimate and got into a 29 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 3: car with her. She claims you tried to call her 30 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 3: husband and her lawyer, but Battle snatched away her phone. 31 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 3: Officials say the victim became growingly concerned after they passed 32 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 3: the Sheriff's office and the jail. When they stopped at 33 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 3: the Bridge Plaza apartment complex, the victim was able to 34 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 3: escape and a concerned citizen assisted in contacting authorities. This 35 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 3: is Sheriff's office bodycam video of battles arrest. The County 36 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 3: Sheriff's officials say this was a targeted incident. 37 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 4: There is a connection between the victim's husband in miss Battle. 38 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 4: It goes back a few years ago, so there has 39 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 4: not been much much connection lately, but they do know 40 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 4: each other. This is definitely a targeted, particular incident that 41 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 4: happened here. We're not concerned about anything else like this happening. 42 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 4: But she did pick her victim, and so we don't 43 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 4: believe there's any other threat to the public at this time. 44 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 3: You think Yad's Battle appeared to be on her way 45 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 3: out of town when she was arrested. Battle is charged 46 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 3: with kidnapping and commission of a robbery by sudden snatching, 47 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 3: impersonating an officer, and commission of a felony and felony 48 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 3: violation of probation. She's held on eighty five thousand dollars 49 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,519 Speaker 3: bond on the first three charges and held without bond 50 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 3: on the probation violation. 51 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: Oh, that's like saying yesterday a woman in Crosby went 52 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: over to her her ex boyfriend's house and she shot 53 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: her ex boyfriend's now wife, and then she turned the 54 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: gun on herself. Now, let's talk to local law enforcement. 55 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: Should the public be concerned, Should people in pair Land 56 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: be worried? No, we think this was an isolated event. 57 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 2: We've got it under control. Now you think this Latrentce 58 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: woman was going to hold her for ransom? 59 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 5: Ramon Hello, I speaking with FBI at Yeah, if you 60 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,839 Speaker 5: want to go back a life. Listen and do not talk. 61 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 2: Okay, I'm listening. 62 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 4: Let me get a pink. The drop will be made tonight, 63 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 4: eleven Pierre, the monks will be fifteen million dollars. 64 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: Fifty million dollars. And don't even think you're getting up, 65 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 2: Chelsea Clay, I love this story so much. 66 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:18,679 Speaker 1: When it's a it's a bad movie, but for real, 67 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 1: I mean, can't you just imagine imagine Latrnce battle and 68 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:25,239 Speaker 1: how this makes sense. 69 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 2: She's talking to Shamikua. Shamikha, I'm so. 70 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 1: Mad at Tremaine, girl, What you talking about? I'm just 71 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: sitting here being mad at Tremaine. 72 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 2: Girl. He had been your man in three years. I'm 73 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 2: still mad at. 74 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: Him, still mad at him. You know I gave I 75 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: let him borrow my car. He ain't never brought it back. Girl, 76 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:53,559 Speaker 1: that's been three years. 77 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 2: I know, I know. I don't want my fat ass 78 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 2: out on the on the bus. 79 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:00,840 Speaker 1: I ain't got time for the bus out on the bus, 80 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 1: and him probably he probably don't already wrecked my car. 81 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: Why are you worried about Tremaine. I'm just mad at it. 82 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get him back. 83 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 2: What are you. 84 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:18,360 Speaker 1: Gonna do Latrens, what are you gonna do? He'll beat 85 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: you up again. I'm gonna get him. 86 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: You know, I'm gonna do You know he dating that 87 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 2: that uh Mexican girl? M who is she cute? By 88 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 2: the way? 89 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: She porto Rican? Oh okay, Well what I'm gonna do. 90 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: I'm on you know what, I'm gonna sick ice on her. 91 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,039 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get her deported. 92 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 2: The trains. 93 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: You messing with the wrong thing, girl, You messing with 94 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: the wrong thing. Oh, you know what, I'm gonna be 95 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: the Ice. I'm gonna kidnap her. I'm gonna go up 96 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,039 Speaker 1: to her job. She don't know what I look like. 97 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: She never seen me, and I'm. 98 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 2: Gonna kidnap her. 99 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: The victim confirmed that she genuinely felt as if Latron 100 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: Trance was an ICE agent at the time, and she 101 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: is in the process of becoming a legal US resident. 102 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: As they were in the car traveling to their destination, 103 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: La Trance forcefully snatched the victim's wig off. No, not 104 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: that La Trance forcefully snatched the victim's phone from her 105 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: as she was trying to contact her lawyer and husband. 106 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 1: After they arrived at the Bridge Plaza, apartment complex. The 107 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: victims suspected something was wrong because La Trance told the 108 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 1: victim they were going to the sheriff's office. Yep, just 109 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: keep on walking. I'll be behind you. I got my 110 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 1: own you. We're going into the sheriff's office. But this 111 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: is section eight housing, Room eight B right down there. 112 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: It's a sheriff's office. We're going in talk to sheriff. 113 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: We're gonna work this out. Man, this don't look like. 114 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: I ain't been here my whole lot, But this don't 115 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: look like what I expected the sheriff's office to be. 116 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: I seen the rock for files. Don't look like no 117 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: sheriff's office to me, ay, bait, keep walking, bitch, you 118 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 1: just keep on a walk and I work for it. 119 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 2: Let me you gonna make me pull out my walkie talkie. 120 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: Love this story so much, Let's open the phone lines 121 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: for the last segment. If you've ever kidnapped anyone or 122 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: been kidnapped, or if you ever snuck into a concert 123 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: or a sporting event with an elaborate disguise, or you 124 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: ever pretended to be something you weren't pulled it off, 125 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: make your story quick seven one three, nine nine nine 126 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: one thousand, seven, one three, nine nine nine one thousand from. 127 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 4: Me. 128 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 2: That's a chef for years. 129 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: This is the Michael Berry Show. 130 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 2: So then I asked, well you heard. 131 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: I asked for people to call in if they were 132 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: if they ever impersonated someone. I had a woman who 133 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: told the story that she went to the Olympics with 134 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: her father and pretended to be a Ukrainian journalist and 135 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: her father will her coach and her translator. He's not 136 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: Ukrainian and he doesn't speak Ukrainian, and all day people 137 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,559 Speaker 1: took pictures with her, and her and her father played 138 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 1: a prank the whole day, and I just thought this 139 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: was the funniest darn thing ever. Anyway, but the call 140 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: of the day was a woman named Victoria, and I 141 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: knew that her story was going to be interesting, and 142 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: we were short on time, so I asked her to 143 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: hold and to talk to us and we would record it. 144 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: And so this has not this conversation has not been 145 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: held on the air yet, So if you are a 146 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: radio listener of ours, you have not heard this conversation yet, 147 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: and I haven't heard it. 148 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 2: So here we go. 149 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: Victoria, set the stage. You've got all the time you need, 150 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: give us all the details because this is kind of 151 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: stuff of movies, but it really happened to you, so. 152 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 5: Go ahead, Yeah, I agree. So, you know, I was 153 00:08:55,760 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 5: in my early twenties and I had just you know, uh, 154 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 5: I think the rise of social media was coming out 155 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 5: before it was advertisements and businesses, just you know, it 156 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 5: was people and so you would share your interest. Mine 157 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 5: was photography, like landscapes throughout Texas, small dive bars and records, 158 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 5: music books, and I had I had met someone through 159 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 5: shared interest, so you know, I thought it was harmless, 160 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 5: uh you know, friends, and then you know we I 161 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 5: wasn't comfortable exchanging phone numbers, so I we exchanged emails 162 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 5: and uh we were just emailing each other, communicating back 163 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 5: and forth, and probably about two weeks of uh you know, 164 00:09:52,800 --> 00:10:00,040 Speaker 5: conversations throughout work weekends. I was like, you know, we 165 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 5: should we should like we should meet and hang out, 166 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:09,079 Speaker 5: and we you know, exchanged ideas of maybe doing that someday, 167 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 5: but nothing was for sure. Set and Stone fast forward 168 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 5: maybe two to three months. He had you know, we 169 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 5: had exchange to talking on the phone, face timing, and 170 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 5: he was like, all right, I'm going to come visit 171 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:28,839 Speaker 5: you in in Houston, you know, because I live in 172 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 5: Houston and he lived in Arizona, and it was just 173 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 5: meant to be friends because we knew the distance would 174 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:40,319 Speaker 5: never work for anything romantically. And I was young, and 175 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 5: he was probably fifteen years older than me. Well, no, 176 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 5: I think maybe ten to fifteen, somewhere around that range. 177 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 5: And we meet, we are who we say we are. 178 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 5: You know, there's no catfishing involved. And I'm just going 179 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 5: on about how I was stressed at home with my 180 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 5: home life. I still lived at home, and I was 181 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 5: taking some classes at community college and working full time 182 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 5: in retail. And he worked at a university in Arizona, 183 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 5: like in Phoenix, and he said, well, you know, you 184 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 5: can always come move to Arizona with me. You know, 185 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 5: I could try to get you a job, and you know, 186 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 5: just promised this whole precipice of a more safe, comfortable 187 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 5: future that I could control. And so from all the 188 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 5: Hollywood movies I had seen in books I had read, 189 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 5: you know, there's a sense of wonder that encompasses someone 190 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,439 Speaker 5: in their twenties that they think the world is wide open, 191 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 5: and you know, opportunity is there if you want to 192 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 5: take it. And so I did that, and you know, 193 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 5: I told my parents, and of course, you know, my 194 00:11:55,480 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 5: mom is an avid true crime watcher, and rightfully so, 195 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 5: you know, parents want to do what's best and look 196 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,679 Speaker 5: out for their children. It's instinctual. It's in humans, it's 197 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:09,359 Speaker 5: in animals. 198 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 4: You know. 199 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 5: It's looking back at it now that I'm in my thirties, 200 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 5: I totally understand the kind of fear of just doing 201 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 5: something like this. And they they met him, he was 202 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 5: who he said he was. Helped me move out, you know, 203 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 5: took everything that I wanted that could fit in a 204 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 5: Cadillac car and drove through West Texas all the way 205 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 5: back to Phoenix, Arizona. And it did feel a little cinematic, 206 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 5: like it does feel like stuff movies are made out of. 207 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 5: And I got, you know, to where he lived, and 208 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 5: the the interesting thing was that he was a thirty 209 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 5: six year old man who lived with his parents still. 210 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,959 Speaker 5: And I did not find this out until I was there, 211 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 5: and I had no car, no phone, because I left 212 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 5: on kind of bad terms with my parents, and you know, 213 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 5: they were like, well, you're on your own. So I 214 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 5: was really totally reliant on this man who I had 215 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 5: seen had become a liar. Not only did I not 216 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 5: get a job at the university he worked at, I 217 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 5: was forced into taking care of his elderly parents, you know, 218 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 5: making sure they had their medications. I was basically like 219 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 5: a home health nurse without the experience to do that 220 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 5: or the desire to do that. I'm not like a 221 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 5: blood person or a taking care of someone that's has 222 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 5: complex issues that I couldn't. And I had found out 223 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 5: that he was a biker who was trying to join 224 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 5: the Hell's Angels biker gang. And there was numerous times 225 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 5: where I was forced into accompanying him to the club 226 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 5: events and I would see the most gruesome things that 227 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 5: would happen to people through drug abuse, alcohol abuse, domestic abuse. 228 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 5: And it's a crazy hierarchy of how women are treated 229 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 5: their kind of like club property. And so, you know, 230 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 5: I don't want to trigger any listeners. And I've already 231 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 5: you know, made my peace with it and talked to 232 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 5: professionals for my own benefit to be able to share 233 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 5: my story and you know, just to be there for 234 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 5: people who have gone through you know, sexual abuse and 235 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 5: rape and harassment, because it's no cakewalk. I mean, people 236 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 5: like to downplay it and think that it's just something 237 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 5: that you could block out of your mind. But you know, 238 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 5: every now and then you may it triggers on that stuff. 239 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 5: So you know, that was very it was. I was 240 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 5: only here in that situation for about six to eight months, 241 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 5: but it felt like five years, just because of all 242 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 5: the I guess, the survival instincts that I had to 243 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 5: do for myself. Every day. I didn't know if I 244 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 5: was going to live or die. And I was completely 245 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 5: at the mercy of this person who you know, just 246 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 5: was not anything who they said they were. And I 247 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 5: was kept in a separate bedroom with no phone, and 248 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 5: my food would be given to me under a door. 249 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 5: And I was good for I think the first two months, 250 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 5: and I was, you know, actively trying to find a 251 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 5: job and in anything, I think the you know, I 252 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 5: had my previous job experience had come from working retail 253 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 5: and entry level kind of corporate accounting administration, and I 254 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 5: was interviewing for jobs that were being a janitor on airplanes, 255 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 5: and the person interviewing me was like, you know, I 256 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 5: don't know why you would think, like, why would you 257 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 5: want this job? I wouldn't want to say anything too specific, 258 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 5: but you know, it's like, well, I moved here. I'm 259 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 5: kind of you, willing to take any chance. I just 260 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 5: want a job because if I had a job, I 261 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 5: could have a phone. If I had a phone, I 262 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 5: could find a way to you know, let my parents 263 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 5: know I'm okay, and you know, to help me. I 264 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 5: definitely had developed Stockholm syndrome. I didn't even know what 265 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 5: that was until after I was safe at home back 266 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 5: in Excess. But you know, I always downplayed it and 267 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 5: I said, well, you know, it could be worse. I could, 268 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 5: you know, be pregnant with kids, or I could you know, 269 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 5: I've broken bones instead, I just like sprainged my shoulder. 270 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 5: It was just insane, the level of mental hoops that 271 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:22,399 Speaker 5: I would jump through, and it was I think I 272 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 5: was on like it was rewarded to go to the 273 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 5: neighborhood pool by myself. And that's when I had a 274 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 5: friend of a lifeguard and she said, yeah, how's it going, 275 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 5: And we just became friends and I told her I'd 276 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 5: like to hang out, but I don't know if I 277 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 5: had permission to. And she was at I think a 278 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 5: university there and she said, well, what do you mean. 279 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 5: You know, she started to pry and she said, you know, 280 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 5: I'm gonna come pick you up, but we're gonna go, 281 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:55,680 Speaker 5: like to the movies. I want you to like meet 282 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:59,439 Speaker 5: friends of mine. And she was my age, and it 283 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 5: was the only friend I had had come across that 284 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 5: was my age, that seemed like a normal person. And 285 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:10,239 Speaker 5: so that day came around when I she showed up 286 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 5: to the to the house where I was at, and 287 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 5: it was probably around seven point thirty. And you know, 288 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 5: the guy that I was with, he was not at home, 289 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 5: but his parents were, and his parents were watching the 290 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 5: local news and the boordbell ring. I'd go over open 291 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 5: it and I get an earfull from this man's father 292 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 5: who says, why are you You can't be going out 293 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 5: like by yourself. You can't be going out like with 294 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 5: my son. Like you're a whore, you're a prostitute. Like 295 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 5: I was wearing a dress that was probably mid mid thigh. 296 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 5: You know, it was appropriate to wearing school or work. 297 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 5: It wasn't you know, laces and whips and chains like 298 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 5: it was. It was very conservative but still young and cute. 299 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 5: And he's you know, I said, well, I have a 300 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:10,160 Speaker 5: friend I'm gonna go see movies with and start walking 301 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 5: outside and he's pursing at me and pushing me, and 302 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 5: I hurry up and run to the car, and the 303 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,360 Speaker 5: you know, my friend is like, what the heck is happening? 304 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 5: Is that your dad? And I said, no, man's just 305 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:29,440 Speaker 5: about my dad. Uh that's a guy I'm with his dad. 306 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 5: And she said, where is your car? And I said, oh, 307 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,479 Speaker 5: I don't have one. She said, you know, I am 308 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 5: a part of like the volunteer group for our college 309 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 5: that specializes in human trafficking. Like are you where are 310 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 5: you from? Like where's your family? She's just started to 311 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 5: pry and I just told her, you know everything, like 312 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 5: well I came here because I was a viding impression 313 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 5: blah blah blah. I don't get a job and it's 314 00:19:57,080 --> 00:20:02,159 Speaker 5: gonna be better, but thanks, we're not better. And so 315 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 5: she said, Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna give you some money. 316 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 5: We're gonna get a prepaid phone. I want you to 317 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 5: like reach out to your family and tell them what 318 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 5: happened and see if they can come help you, because 319 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 5: this is not normal. And it did seem normal to 320 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,239 Speaker 5: me that that was just what was crazy, Michael. It 321 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 5: was just like it was an a mental you know, 322 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 5: block in my head, and so I'll never forget how 323 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 5: after when I was dropped off from movies, the windows 324 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 5: were locked, the doors were locked. I was sitting outside 325 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 5: on the driveway of this house, and it's weird because 326 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 5: the neighborhoods don't have grass and they just have cactus 327 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:46,919 Speaker 5: and rock. And there was coyotes walking around, and I 328 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 5: remember locking my eyes with one of its gaze, and 329 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 5: I wasn't afraid because I felt that if I got 330 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,440 Speaker 5: eaten and attacked by a coyote, I mean, it would 331 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 5: be better than what I'm experiencing now. And I looked 332 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 5: up at the moon and it was a full moon. 333 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 5: It was probably around two to three am, and so 334 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 5: I know that was probably four to five am for 335 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 5: Texas time. And so I'm like, Okay, this is like 336 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,200 Speaker 5: the moment of if I can, if I can muster 337 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 5: up more courage to endure this life, or if I 338 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 5: call my mom and dad and say, hey, it didn't 339 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 5: work out in Arizona. And so I call and call 340 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 5: my dad first, because my mom she just I didn't 341 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 5: know how she would react because we had left on 342 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 5: bad terms. And so I called my dad and he's like, 343 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 5: you know, I wake him up. He's the middle of 344 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 5: he's he if like when you're when you call someone 345 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 5: with bad news and you can tell they just woke 346 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 5: up the middle of the night. So call my dad 347 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,439 Speaker 5: and I'm like, hey, Arizona is not working out. I 348 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 5: need you to come get me. And I think my dad, 349 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 5: I think he knew how bad it was because I'm 350 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 5: the eldest daughter of three total, like including myself, and 351 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 5: I'm two younger brothers, and so I've always just been 352 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 5: a little more tougher, like a kind of like a tomboy. 353 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 5: And you know, I don't have the luxury to ask 354 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 5: for help because I'm supposed to be the help, so 355 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:38,440 Speaker 5: no questions asked. My dad said, all right, well, well 356 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 5: we'll come get you. And it was symbolic because it 357 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 5: was around Easter, and I think it was Easter. Sunday 358 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,879 Speaker 5: was two days from that. I think this happened on 359 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 5: a good Friday, and in that moment, it did feel 360 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 5: like a good Friday to me, just because it meant 361 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 5: that this nightmare would be over. That my family drove 362 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 5: and all night like throughout the day and night, and 363 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 5: I was into the impression that only my mom and 364 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 5: dad would be coming but my brothers also came and 365 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,360 Speaker 5: my mom I had SUV and so we were kind 366 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:22,679 Speaker 5: of limited on space of what I could fit. And uh, 367 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 5: you know, my dad and brothers like showed up with 368 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:31,160 Speaker 5: you know, packing heat, and you know, my mom wanted 369 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 5: to call the cops because she was like, this is 370 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 5: not normal. You know, you were lied to, You were 371 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:42,920 Speaker 5: held in a room without you know, your permission and consent, 372 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:46,680 Speaker 5: and you know they're probably going to traffic you into 373 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 5: like you know, Mexico for money. Like we don't even 374 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:53,159 Speaker 5: know still to this day, what could have happened, but 375 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 5: just the things I would see, how the extended family 376 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,640 Speaker 5: would interact with each other. You know, they were gypsy 377 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 5: and you know, so they were traveling heavy with illusions 378 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 5: and I never knew, you know, who was safe to 379 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,360 Speaker 5: talk to, who I should have been more hesitant of. 380 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 4: And so. 381 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 5: You know, I think I believe my family got there 382 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:19,400 Speaker 5: around three am on a Saturday. We went to Walmart 383 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 5: picked up something, and I was staying in a hotel 384 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:30,160 Speaker 5: because the front desk receptionist had you know, some mercy 385 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 5: for me, I guess. And I don't know if you've 386 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 5: ever seen that kill Bill movie where Luma Thurman is 387 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 5: buried in a casket and she kind of breaks her 388 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 5: way out of it and she's walking into a store 389 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 5: or something, all dusty, and I fought I had walked 390 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 5: from the house through the desert to a hotel because 391 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:59,119 Speaker 5: it was a kind of desolate area where it was 392 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:02,880 Speaker 5: just one sea in your like sort of senior community 393 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:06,639 Speaker 5: neighborhood and one gas station and it was closed. So 394 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 5: I had walked about five miles with foot flops and 395 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 5: my legs were all scratched up from cactus and I 396 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 5: couldn't even have I could have been bitten by a 397 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 5: snake and wouldn't have even known it because I was 398 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 5: just on a mission to survive. And so. 399 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 4: No. 400 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:30,639 Speaker 5: I stayed at a hotel in like the staff room 401 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 5: for one night and was able to walk back to 402 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 5: the house before my parents had got their Saturday so 403 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 5: that I could get my things. And it was crazy 404 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 5: because whenever my parents, you know, knocked the door and 405 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 5: the elderly parents answered, they were like, yeah, you know, 406 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 5: it just didn't work out here. You know, they had 407 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 5: no remorse or anything, and they were the ones that 408 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 5: were complicit with this treatment that I experienced. And you know, 409 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 5: my mom is Mexican and so she was just you know, 410 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:15,880 Speaker 5: very feisty and cursing up the storm and I just 411 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 5: felt completely like relieved, but at the same time, everything 412 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:25,400 Speaker 5: was still raw. And whenever we you know, arrived back 413 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:29,680 Speaker 5: in Texas for Easter Sunday, we were at my family's 414 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 5: in the whole country, very nice you know area, you know, 415 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:36,919 Speaker 5: seeing just green, I was like, oh god, this is 416 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 5: this is great, Like this is a silver lining. These 417 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 5: are the little things, you know. It's not a desolate, 418 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:47,879 Speaker 5: broken desert that has a lot of bad memories. And 419 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 5: there was an aunt that asked me, well, I thought 420 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 5: you were supposed to be, you know, living a life 421 00:26:53,880 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 5: in Arizona, and I still remember around my family I 422 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 5: would be very reserved and respectful. But I said, yeah, well, 423 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 5: you know that's what happens whenever you get sexually assaulted 424 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:12,879 Speaker 5: and held for you know, hostage and thrown in a 425 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 5: biker gang, you just can't do it anymore. So do 426 00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 5: you mind, I'd like to finish my food. And everyone 427 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 5: kind of left me alone for the rest of the day, 428 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 5: which is exactly what I wanted to. I didn't want to, 429 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 5: you know, have to explain this story to everybody numerous times, 430 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,119 Speaker 5: and I figured if I nailed it on the head 431 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:35,440 Speaker 5: in a very raw and uncomfortable way for a listener 432 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:38,719 Speaker 5: to hear, they wouldn't have to ask me again. So, 433 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 5: you know, I was back in Texas and I had 434 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:49,119 Speaker 5: an Arizona license. They needed a Texas license, and my 435 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 5: brother had to take me to the DMV, And if 436 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,680 Speaker 5: anybody knows anything about the DMV, it's not really run 437 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 5: quickly more efficiently, you know, they were if I had 438 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 5: I was a Texas resident, but I had you know, 439 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 5: there wasn't a license, and a lady was like, well, 440 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:10,199 Speaker 5: you know you need this, this and that. You know, 441 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:12,880 Speaker 5: I need to see blah blah blah. And my brother 442 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:14,639 Speaker 5: was there and he was like, well, she doesn't have 443 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 5: it because she was she was kidnapped and she was 444 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 5: held hostage, so she needs a license. And the lady, 445 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,680 Speaker 5: I could tell she just loved to hear this drama. 446 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:30,920 Speaker 5: She put her phone down, she looked at me with 447 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 5: like endearing eyes and was like, it's really that happened 448 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 5: to you. And my brother is as great as a 449 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 5: storyteller as I am, and he's like, yeah, we showed 450 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 5: up with guns, like we had to rescue her in 451 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 5: the middle of the night. We drove all day, and 452 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 5: so we repeated this story that I've just told you 453 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 5: a more bullet point esque and through the perspective of 454 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 5: my brother. But I was able to get a license 455 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 5: that day, you know, just because as I was talking 456 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 5: to a person like a person and explaining like, yeah, 457 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 5: the situation was bad, but I ended up, you know, 458 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 5: mustering through and realizing it could have been so much worse. 459 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 5: I could have you know, been killed. I could have 460 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 5: been sold off to someone or another place, another country. 461 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:27,120 Speaker 5: I mean, I just I'm glad that I was able 462 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 5: to talk to people to actually understand that could help me, 463 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 5: and having the courage to put ego aside and ask 464 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 5: for help and continue to help people today that have 465 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 5: gone through similar things because right now I have a 466 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:51,120 Speaker 5: really great career, really great family, and I'm able to 467 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 5: you know, just live after that. It didn't hold me back. 468 00:29:57,040 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 5: I didn't, you know, develop any underlying problems from that situation, 469 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 5: just because I was so stubborn in a way that 470 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 5: I didn't want that situation to break me. And so 471 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 5: my brother was listening to your show, and I'm a 472 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 5: listener too, as a matter of fact, I think I 473 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 5: was in third grade living in Humble, a task acta area, 474 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:26,360 Speaker 5: and there was a child named Michael Barry in my 475 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 5: class and we've just I think it's your net it 476 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 5: was your nephew. I'm not sure, but this was around 477 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 5: two thousand and one. Yeah, third grader and it was 478 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 5: you know, he said, oh, hey, Victoria, there's you know, 479 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 5: they said, anybody who's been kidnapped or snuck in in 480 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:50,200 Speaker 5: the disguise to call. And I said, well, you know, 481 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:55,400 Speaker 5: I've my family knows this story, but I just want 482 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:58,960 Speaker 5: to also share that story because, you know, for anybody 483 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 5: that has going through that or it's currently going through it, 484 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 5: just knowing that other people have gone through it to 485 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 5: know exactly what it feels like and to kind of 486 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 5: see the light at the end of the tunnel and 487 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 5: that the help is out there and you can you know, 488 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 5: regain your life back and have that you know, confidence again. 489 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 5: It just takes that understanding and time. 490 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:29,880 Speaker 2: Really, your story, Victoria, is not in the purest sense. 491 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 1: You know, somebody who's jogging and the guy jumps out 492 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:35,640 Speaker 1: and puts a gun to your head and takes you away, 493 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 1: and you know kind of gone girl. 494 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 2: That ended up not being either. 495 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:41,760 Speaker 1: You know that. I think of the guy in Cleveland, 496 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 1: Ohio that it took these girls and had them held 497 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:47,280 Speaker 1: hostage in the house. You know, these creepy guys that 498 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 1: do this, and they do it, you know, to a 499 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:51,200 Speaker 1: random stranger. 500 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:52,120 Speaker 2: What was the little girl? 501 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 1: Was Elizabeth smart Yours isn't exactly that. I mean, there 502 00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 1: was some part of defying your parents, but lord knows, 503 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:03,440 Speaker 1: you never asked to be put in that situation. It 504 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:06,440 Speaker 1: was against your will. And uh so you know that 505 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 1: it's a horrible, horrible thing. But what's interesting is that 506 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 1: you have an ability now to talk about it, because 507 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:18,360 Speaker 1: I can't imagine. You know this, this is tough. And 508 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 1: I watch these these stories and women will often say, 509 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:26,240 Speaker 1: and sometimes you'll see a reporter ask them, you know, 510 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: why didn't you just run away? And you know, earlier 511 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 1: in my life I would ask the same question, you know, 512 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:35,800 Speaker 1: you idiot, why don't you just run away? But I've 513 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 1: come to understand that we're not all the same, and 514 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 1: that some people psychologically at that moment, whether it's a 515 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 1: child or a woman, or or a prisoner of war 516 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: or whatever else, at that moment, the fear can be 517 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:54,400 Speaker 1: paralyzing and and there's a lot more that goes into 518 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:57,200 Speaker 1: it than that. We're talking as logical people right now, 519 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:00,400 Speaker 1: not as someone who is caught in the throat of this. 520 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:02,560 Speaker 1: It's sort of like, you know, why does a sixteen 521 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 1: year old commit suicide. 522 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 2: Because his girlfriend breaks up with him? 523 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:07,000 Speaker 1: Because in his mind this is the most important thing 524 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:09,000 Speaker 1: in the world and he can't go on living. And 525 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:11,920 Speaker 1: you realize when you're fifty four, your sixteen year old 526 00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:14,120 Speaker 1: girl breaking up with you was nothing, you know, some 527 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:17,000 Speaker 1: of God's grace gifts or unanswered prayers. But at the time, 528 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:20,320 Speaker 1: in your mindset, in your crazy little mind, it made sense. 529 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:23,560 Speaker 1: And I suppose in your crazy little mind and your and. 530 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 2: Your wounded, vulnerable, hurt. 531 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:30,280 Speaker 1: Mind, at that point it didn't make sense. And it 532 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:33,880 Speaker 1: wasn't until it did that that you did. Can I 533 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:36,920 Speaker 1: wrap this conversation by asking you to briefly tell me 534 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 1: how you're doing today? 535 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 5: Oh? Yeah, yeah, today? You know, I I'm really great. 536 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 5: I would never think that, you know, if I if 537 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 5: I asked myself back then, if I thought that, I 538 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:53,920 Speaker 5: would have you know, mental stability and you know great 539 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 5: relationship you know with a man too. That also affected me. 540 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 5: I thought, gosh, how can I ever, you know, come 541 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 5: across like a man ever again and trust him. That 542 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:08,640 Speaker 5: was my biggest thing, because I do you know, love 543 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:11,839 Speaker 5: is important in everyone's lives, and I thought this, this 544 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:15,400 Speaker 5: man took away my ability to love someone and trust 545 00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 5: a man and be vulnerable again. But you know it 546 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 5: just I'm doing really great, and you know, I'm able 547 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:25,360 Speaker 5: to talk about this without you know, tearing up a crying. 548 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:29,240 Speaker 5: There was years when I couldn't even think about talking 549 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 5: about this with my parents, you know, with most of 550 00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:34,560 Speaker 5: my family, but it's just something that they've come to 551 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:39,040 Speaker 5: see me as a stronger person for. And going back 552 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:43,360 Speaker 5: to what you said, you know, back then, people would 553 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:45,840 Speaker 5: be like, why didn't you just run away? Well? I 554 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:51,759 Speaker 5: was afraid of bikers. I mean, Arizona was littered with them, 555 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:55,719 Speaker 5: and I didn't know how the extensions of this biker gang, 556 00:34:56,400 --> 00:34:59,480 Speaker 5: but I mean there would be people who would be murdered, 557 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:03,719 Speaker 5: held hot, like women who would just disappear, and it's like, 558 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:06,440 Speaker 5: oh my gosh. I didn't want that to be me. 559 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:10,920 Speaker 5: I wanted to somehow scheme my way logically out of it. 560 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:13,120 Speaker 5: And so that's what kept me there for so long. 561 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:15,280 Speaker 5: But I just reached a breaking point and I couldn't 562 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:15,880 Speaker 5: do it anymore. 563 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:22,720 Speaker 2: Well, you sound like you're very composed. 564 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:29,759 Speaker 1: Together, balanced today, and that's that's what matters most. It's 565 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:31,960 Speaker 1: not an easy thing to come through, Victoria. Thank you 566 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:34,040 Speaker 1: for sharing your story. I really do appreciate it. 567 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:35,520 Speaker 5: Yeah, thank you for having me. 568 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:39,640 Speaker 1: If you liked the Michael Berry Show in podcast, please 569 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:44,000 Speaker 1: tell one friend, and if you're so inclined, write a 570 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:49,160 Speaker 1: nice review of our podcast. Comments, suggestions, questions, and interest 571 00:35:49,239 --> 00:35:53,120 Speaker 1: in being a corporate sponsor and partner can be communicated 572 00:35:53,160 --> 00:35:57,640 Speaker 1: directly to the show at our email address, Michael at 573 00:35:57,760 --> 00:36:02,279 Speaker 1: Michael Berryshow dot com, or simply by clicking on our website, 574 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:07,160 Speaker 1: Michael Berryshow dot com. The Michael Berry Show and Podcast 575 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 1: is produced by Ramon Roeblis, the King of Ding. Executive 576 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:21,440 Speaker 1: producer is Chad Knakanishi. Jim Mudd is the creative director. 577 00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:27,840 Speaker 1: Voices Jingles, Tomfoolery, and Shenanigans are provided by Chance McLean. 578 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:33,160 Speaker 1: Director of Research is Sandy Peterson. Emily Bull is our 579 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:40,640 Speaker 1: assistant listener and superfan. Contributions are appreciated and often incorporated 580 00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:44,400 Speaker 1: into our production. Where possible, we give credit, where not, 581 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:48,080 Speaker 1: we take all the credit for ourselves. God bless the 582 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:53,800 Speaker 1: memory of Rush Limbaugh. 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