1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: She would go sit outside and smoke, and she was 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: sitting on the phone talking to him, and I put 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: my ear to the glass on our sliding glass door 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: and listen. I caught conversations of them talking about if 5 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: I put this car in your name, she won't get it. 6 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: And at that point I was like, if you ain't 7 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 1: for me, you're against me. 8 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 2: I'm Andrea Gunning. This is Betrayal, Season three, episode three, 9 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 2: The Devil a listener. Note. Some names have been changed 10 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 2: to protect privacy. The Rutherford family was broken. Stacy threw 11 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 2: Justin out of the house after detective served a search 12 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 2: warrant to collect electronic devices from their home. Stacy learned 13 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 2: that a hitting camera had been placed in an upstairs bathroom. 14 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 2: The device recorded thousands of images of mostly children and 15 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 2: some adults using the bathroom and shower naked. Soon after 16 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 2: the raid, a teenage boy confided in Stacy's daughter, Mikayla, 17 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 2: that Justin Rutherford had sexually abused him during a sleepover. 18 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 2: Stacy and the littles were staying at Mikayla's apartment while 19 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 2: they got the house ready to sell so they could 20 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 2: move back to the Virginia area. Tyler Stacy's son was 21 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 2: already there, staying with his aunt, Heather, so that he 22 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 2: wouldn't miss his first day at his new school. Heather 23 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 2: received a call from Stacy that Justin may only be 24 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 2: charged with a misdemeanor for the hitting camera. Heather was 25 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 2: upset and was worried that there was more to this story. 26 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 3: My sister had just called me and she's crying and 27 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 3: she's like, this is crazy, Like how are they gonna 28 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 3: let him go? And I'm like, I know, oh, you know, 29 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 3: God's got this. We're going to figure this out. Like 30 00:01:57,920 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 3: I do not believe in my heart of hearts, disman 31 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 3: is going to walk free. And Tyler's listening to this. 32 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 3: I got phoned and he was helping me fuld laundry 33 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 3: and I said, man, buddy, I. 34 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: Said, I don't know. 35 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 4: We gotta do some serious pray. And he's like, why, 36 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 4: what's up. 37 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 5: I said, they were talking about only charging Justin with 38 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 5: the cameras and he goes, well, what does that mean? 39 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: And I said, well. 40 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 3: That probably means that your little brother will have visitation 41 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 3: with his father. 42 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 5: In due time. And he just looked at me with 43 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 5: the look I will never forget, and his eyes welled 44 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 5: up with tears, and Tyler says he'll never see the 45 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 5: outside of a prison when I tell them what I know. 46 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 2: A couple hours later, Stacy received a cryptic message from 47 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 2: her sister, Heather. 48 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: We were sitting there eating dinner and I get a 49 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: text message from my sister that said, I need you 50 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: to video chat me. We need to talk about some things. 51 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: Mikayla and I went to the bedroom and we called. 52 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: I could tell Heather had been crying. 53 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 5: I was just sick. 54 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 2: There was an awkward silence. Tyler was quiet that. 55 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 4: I could have never looked at my mom on the 56 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 4: face and said it. And even I would say even 57 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 4: a good year after that, it was like hard to 58 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 4: look at my mom. 59 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 2: So Heather broke the news to her sister. 60 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: She said he's been doing it to Tyler too for 61 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: six years. 62 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 2: And there it was what Stacy had feared. Her husband 63 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: had been abusing her son since he was ten. I 64 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 2: went to visit with Stacy and Tyler in West Virginia. 65 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 2: They told me what it was like in the days 66 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 2: after Tyler disclosed his abuse. It was a shock. 67 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: I remember just saying, you know, I'm so sorry, Like 68 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: I just kept saying I'm so sorry because I didn't 69 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: know what else. 70 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 4: Tuesday, I could just see the go on her face 71 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 4: looking at me. I wish she could have hit it 72 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 4: from me. I just wanted to act like everything was normal. 73 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 4: I don't want her to act like she could have 74 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 4: done anything different, because she couldn't have. 75 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 1: It was very hard in the beginning to not feel 76 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 1: every single thing you know of like how could you 77 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 1: let this happen to him? I still to this day 78 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:47,239 Speaker 1: feel like I failed on so many levels. The hardest 79 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: thing for me is to just not feel. 80 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: Like I love you. You know that it's not your fault. 81 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: I don't know. 82 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 2: Stacey felt responsible that this was all her fault, and 83 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 2: on top of that, she continues to worry about the future. 84 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 2: How will Tyler feel in a year or three years 85 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 2: when he is older and has had time to process 86 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:12,600 Speaker 2: what happened to him. 87 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: My greatest fear and still to this day, is that 88 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: someday You're going to be mad at me and never 89 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 1: talked to me, and I couldn't go to the rest 90 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: of my life without that, Like that was always my fear, 91 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 1: was like God, just don't let him stop talking to me, 92 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: you know, because I just was like I can't lose 93 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: one of my kids. 94 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 2: Tyler was left with more than any adult, much less 95 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 2: any teenager should have to handle. There was the weight 96 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 2: of the secret for six years, and then there was 97 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: the weight of the destruction. 98 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 4: There was no relief, but in that specific moment, it 99 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 4: was just that out of body feeling like everyone knows 100 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 4: and they're just staring at you, and you feel like 101 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 4: jumping out of your skin again. You feel like the 102 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,239 Speaker 4: same way you feel when it all first starts. 103 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 2: When it all first started, well, that was a long 104 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 2: time ago, about two years before Stacy and Justin got married. 105 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: As I said, he was only ten years old then, 106 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 2: and their wedding day. 107 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 4: That ring on the finger. I felt like that was 108 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 4: like sealing the fate. I was standing in that courthouse 109 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 4: trying to hold in my tears while everyone else is 110 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 4: trying to hold in theirs for joy mine or not joy. 111 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 2: But Tyler opening up to his family wasn't enough. He 112 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 2: knew he needed to take this information to the police. 113 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 2: Justin was still a free man, and in fact, he 114 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 2: was even checking in with Tyler in Virginia. 115 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 4: He was trying to act like everything was normal and 116 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 4: check in on me, ask how school was going, ask 117 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 4: how life was going in Virginia. I guess to see 118 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 4: if I was going to open up my mouth or 119 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 4: say anything. I just kind of played along, played the part. 120 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 4: I acted like everything was normal as well, just to 121 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 4: keep him not suspicious that people were coming for him. 122 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 2: A few days after Tyler disclosed everything to his family, 123 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 2: he would have to endure one of the hardest days 124 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 2: of his life. He would finally sit with law enforcement. 125 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 4: It was an awful feeling, like a like a mountain 126 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 4: sitting on your chest. Pretty much the whole day. My 127 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 4: school was right next to the Sheriff's office. I could 128 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 4: look out the window at my doom the whole eight 129 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 4: hour day, just sitting there looking at it, knowing it's coming. 130 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 4: It was like I almost couldn't breathe. 131 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 2: Heather picked Tyler up and brought him to the Sheriff's 132 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 2: office for an official forensic interview. 133 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 4: They just put me in the room and it was 134 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 4: mean and two detectives, and they had like a whole 135 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 4: drawing board for me. They had me draw like layouts 136 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 4: of our house and like real crazy stuffs. 137 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 2: Any Sergeant Detective Mike Thick. 138 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 6: It's difficult because a lot of boys don't want to 139 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 6: disclose that they were sexually abused, especially when they're in 140 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 6: their teen years, because a lot of them will disclose 141 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 6: to me and say when he did this or that 142 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 6: to me, he made me do that to them, But 143 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 6: then they'll say that you know, I'm not gay. 144 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 7: You got to realize these are kids and embarrasses them. 145 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 4: That was probably the most uncomfortable fulk I ever had 146 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 4: in my life was that one. Right there. They ask 147 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 4: you some of the most vulgar questions. They need so 148 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 4: much detail, like so specific, to the point where it 149 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 4: doesn't even seem like how they can make any difference 150 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 4: out of that very specific fact, like such minute details 151 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 4: that seem like they wouldn't even make a difference. They 152 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 4: just cut really deep with those questions. 153 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 6: He took advantage of these kids, especially Tyler, like from 154 00:08:58,280 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 6: a young age up. 155 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 7: He groomed them. 156 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 6: Tyler thought, that's my stepfather, It's someone I can go 157 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 6: to and trust some tipes, it's people closest to you. 158 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 4: And that was right after just admitting it had happened. 159 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 4: So it goes from not opening my mouth for years 160 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:16,479 Speaker 4: to spilling the whole story. 161 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 2: Out during this interview, Tyler disclosed all the painful details 162 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 2: his family would never hear. He was smart enough to 163 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 2: know that the detectives interviewing him were collecting evidence. This 164 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 2: was excruciating, but it would matter. 165 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:42,079 Speaker 4: I knew my words in that conversation were going to 166 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:46,319 Speaker 4: do a lot of damage. I knew it was the 167 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 4: main evidence they need on him. 168 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 2: The hard truth was law enforcement didn't have a strong case. 169 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 2: Tyler's bravery and coming forward helped corroborate the other victim story. 170 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 2: There was a good chance without this, Justin would walk 171 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 2: away with a misdemeanor, a slap on the wrist. 172 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 7: I mean, they're brave and I just I mean, to me, 173 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 7: they're heroes. 174 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 2: Tyler didn't realize his stepdad was a predator. 175 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 4: I just never thought he would do it to anyone else. 176 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 4: I'd like to have friends over because it was a 177 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 4: sense of security and protection that nothing was going to 178 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 4: happen to me. I just thought when there was a 179 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 4: group of US boys, everyone was safe, and. 180 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 2: Justin took advantage of that access. The other victim reached 181 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 2: out to Tyler and shared his experience. 182 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 4: My friend texted me and he's like, you remember that 183 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 4: night at your house when I had that crazy dream 184 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 4: and how a sleepwalking and everything was all crazy. He 185 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 4: was like, do you think that was Justin? 186 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 2: Tyler deflected. 187 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 4: I was just like, that's crazy. I don't know. I 188 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,199 Speaker 4: don't know, Just like think about it. Are you sure? 189 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 4: Because I'm still scared? 190 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 2: He deflected, and was scared for good reason. 191 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 4: He could monitor everything I did on my phone. He 192 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 4: read every word that went to another person through text. 193 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 2: Justin had been monitoring all of Tyler's communication for years. 194 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 2: There are apps that allow parents to see what kids 195 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 2: are doing on their cell phones, and Justin used one. 196 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 2: Stacy thought it was a good idea to help keep 197 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 2: kids safe, but for Justin it went beyond safety. He 198 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:34,719 Speaker 2: used it to spy on Tyler. So he must have 199 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 2: known the House of cards was about to fall, and 200 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 2: he got a head start on law enforcement. Stacey had 201 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 2: to triage her crises. She now knew for certain that 202 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 2: Tyler and another child had been sexually abused. She was 203 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 2: filing for divorce, selling her house, and trying to get 204 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 2: back to Virginia where she could find more support. Meanwhile, 205 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 2: back at her house, Justin's godmother d or Nanny as 206 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 2: everyone calls her, was living there, but Stacy didn't know 207 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 2: where Justin was. 208 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: Nanny calls me, she's like, I just got home and 209 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: Justin left a letter. He's gone and everything is gone. 210 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 6: Of his. 211 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: And I was like, what what did he say? And 212 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: she read me the letter and it just basically said 213 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 1: something like I love you, Nanny. Tell the kids I 214 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: love them, you know, take care of them. I gotta leave. 215 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: I can't do this anymore. I'm leaving my car. I 216 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 1: won't be back. And I was like, huh. And she 217 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 1: wasn't like frantic, So I had a feeling that something 218 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: wasn't right. 219 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 2: Nanny lived with or near Justin since he was a child. 220 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 2: She even lived with him and his roommates in college. 221 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 2: She would never be so matter of fact about him disappearing. 222 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:05,559 Speaker 1: I go to the house and his side of the 223 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: closet is gone. All of his stuff was gone. Anything 224 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: in that house that remotely was his was gone. But 225 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: his car was there. And I read the letter and 226 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: she's just like, I don't know, I don't know where 227 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: he's at. 228 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 2: Stacy had no idea where he'd gone, but eventually the 229 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 2: police would have enough for charges. Right when would they 230 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 2: come looking for him? She would also need Justin's signature 231 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 2: to finalize the house sale, and Stacy needed that money. 232 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 2: It felt like Justin fled, but without an arrest warrant, 233 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 2: he wasn't technically a fugitive. Stacy knew Justin packed up 234 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 2: his things and moved out of the house, but was 235 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 2: shocked when her credit card company started asking about charges overseas. 236 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: He was charging things on one of my cars, and 237 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: then he would pay it off immediately, so it wasn't 238 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: showing a balance. 239 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 2: The charges were from Great Britain and Amsterdam. He was 240 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 2: in Europe. It turned out that Justin left the country 241 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 2: on August twenty eighth. The first victim disclosed the abuse 242 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 2: to police on August thirty first. Tyler disclosed Justin's abuse 243 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 2: days later, so Justin bolted before either one of the 244 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:17,199 Speaker 2: boys talked. Meanwhile, law enforcement was busy with their. 245 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 6: Investigation some individuals sleep. I didn't think he was going 246 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 6: to leave for good. I mean his young children. I 247 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 6: don't know what he was. 248 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 2: Thinking, and neither did Stacy. 249 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: Annie would go sit outside and smoke and she was 250 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: sitting on the phone talking to him. She would have 251 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: video chats with him, and I'd like put my ear 252 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: to the glass on our sliding glass door and listen. 253 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 2: Nanny Dee had become an important part of the Rutherford household. 254 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 2: It was a tricky situation. Stacy knew that she loved 255 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 2: the kids, but she loved Justin fiercely. The two remained 256 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 2: close no matter what chaos ensued. 257 00:14:57,560 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: And I said, you know that if you know where 258 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 1: he's and if you took him to go there, the 259 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: police can come after you. And I don't want you 260 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: to get arrested. I really think that he's putting you 261 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: in some dangerous situations. He's making you believe that these 262 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: things are legal and okay, and Nanny, they're not. They're 263 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: not okay. And she flew off the hand or oh 264 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: now I'm doing a legal shit too, you and your 265 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: sister and your stories, and something just snapped in me 266 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: and I said, you know what, you can get the 267 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 1: fuck out of my house too. 268 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 2: Battle lines were drawn. Nanny didn't believe the accusations. She 269 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 2: was supporting Justin. 270 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: I caught conversations of them talking about if I put 271 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: this car in your name, she won't get it. And 272 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: at that point I was like, if you ain't for me, 273 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: you're against me. 274 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 2: Justin was busy enjoying Europe. Stacy was picking up the 275 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 2: pieces with him out of the country. It's stalled the 276 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 2: family's ability to move. 277 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: It stopped the house sale. He was emailing with the 278 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: underwriting people about the documents that he would supposed to 279 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: sign because he told them in an email, I'm out 280 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: of the country on business. 281 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 2: It took almost two months for law enforcement to build 282 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 2: their case. 283 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 6: There was forends of work we had to do from 284 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 6: the items that we seized in the home, and also 285 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 6: Detective Weaver had to identify every person that was captured 286 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 6: on video and each person had to be interviewed. We 287 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 6: also received information that we had two victims out there 288 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 6: that were being sexually abused by Justin. The one individual, 289 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 6: I personally did a forensic interview and interviewed him and 290 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 6: he disclosed being sexually abused by Justin. The second individual 291 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 6: was Tyler, and he was out of state and he 292 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 6: made a disclosure of being abused. 293 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 2: Police were ready to issue an arrest warrant, and what 294 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 2: Justin didn't know was that law enforcement was watching his 295 00:16:57,920 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 2: every move. 296 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 7: We had him on a watch list. 297 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,679 Speaker 2: So on October second, when Justin flew back to the 298 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:09,439 Speaker 2: United States, Sergeant Fick. Detective Weaver and their team were ready. 299 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 4: They got word that he was boarding a. 300 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 2: Plane justin Fluenta Dulles International, right outside Washington, d C. 301 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 7: They were watching him and they secured him at the 302 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 7: airport for US. 303 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:24,479 Speaker 1: And then the next morning I wake up to a 304 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 1: message from Detective Weaver. We got him. 305 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 2: The charges included multiple counts of invasion of privacy, rape 306 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 2: of a child, and rape of an unconscious victim. Seeing 307 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 2: that warrant in black and white, reading those chilling words, 308 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 2: Stacy faced the truth about her husband. She thought she 309 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 2: had married a wonderful life partner, but he was a sick, 310 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 2: depraved man. Now he was in jail and she was 311 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 2: trying to find solid ground after a devastating event. The 312 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 2: house sale was settled. Justin's lawyer took the paperwork to 313 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 2: the county jail and it was signed there. Stacey had 314 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 2: four children impacted by the divorce and by Justin's crimes. 315 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 2: They were all experiencing the loss in different ways. First, 316 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:21,439 Speaker 2: there was Stacy's eldest daughter, who was in college. 317 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: Mikayla had felt she had lost her dad. I had 318 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,920 Speaker 1: to treat her a certain way when I talked about 319 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: things I had to be sympathetic. I'm so sorry that 320 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: you don't have your dad anymore. And Tyler, it was 321 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: I'm going to get you justice. I want him to 322 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 1: fry the rest of his life. 323 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 2: All the littles knew is that Daddy had a sickness 324 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 2: in his head, but they didn't care about that. They 325 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 2: just missed him. Stacy allowed the two youngest to write 326 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 2: and receive letters from Justin. 327 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: He sent color pictures, and they knew once or twice 328 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 1: a week it was going to be in the mailbox. 329 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,479 Speaker 1: You know, nobody would know, you know how fast they 330 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,919 Speaker 1: would run to the mailbox to get those every time. 331 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: And it was just color pictures. What could it hurt? 332 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: And that's what I told myself. So it was like, 333 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: you know, you're trying to parent four different ways and 334 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: do what's best for you, but still not hurt you. 335 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 1: It was just like ever see those things where they 336 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 1: juggle the plates and all the plates are spinning it once, 337 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 1: That's how I felt during that time. 338 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 2: It might be hard to digest that, but remember the 339 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 2: little ones had lost their home, a parent, their school, 340 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 2: everything familiar. Stacy was doing whatever she could to quell 341 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 2: their anxiety. Justin didn't just send letters to the kids, 342 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 2: he also sent them to Stacy. They were full of regret. 343 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 2: Sometimes he pledged his love for her, other times he 344 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 2: tried to cryptically explain his behavior. And then there were 345 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 2: the letters that leverage Stacy's faith. 346 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 1: When everything first happened. I did send him a Bible 347 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: from the kids and I for Christmas the first year 348 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: he was in because he was talking about faith. In 349 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: one letter, he wrote, you were the best thing that 350 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: ever happened to me. We had two beautiful kids, and 351 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: I fucked everything up, I alone, and you didn't deserve that. 352 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:22,880 Speaker 1: God what I wouldn't. 353 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 8: Give to be with you again. 354 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: I would thank God every day if we could only 355 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 1: have a time machine. 356 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 2: Justin also acknowledged the deep connection they shared. 357 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:36,159 Speaker 1: We were soulmates. You were the only person on this 358 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: earth who had the same thoughts as me. Every time. 359 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: I feel like every time that happened, a jolt would 360 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:46,679 Speaker 1: go through my soul Proverbs thirty one eleven through twelve. 361 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 9: Her husband trusts her judgment. 362 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 7: He does not lack income. 363 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 9: She brings him profit, not loss, all the days of 364 00:20:56,320 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 9: her life. I should have been completely honest with you 365 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 9: every day of our lives. Together. I was selfish because 366 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:08,399 Speaker 9: I was worried that you would leave me. 367 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 2: What did that mean? Honest about what? That he was 368 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 2: sexually abusing her son and would abuse another boy, that 369 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:18,119 Speaker 2: he was a pedophile. 370 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,160 Speaker 9: I wish we somehow could have solved all of this 371 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 9: without the police, because then maybe we could still have 372 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 9: our family. But it's with God now. I pray for 373 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:32,120 Speaker 9: you every day, just like you did for me all 374 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 9: those years. I pray for your healing and forgiveness. I 375 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 9: pray for God's mercy. I pray that you find happiness, 376 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 9: even if that means losing you. I'm sorry for my flaws. 377 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 9: I'm sorry I let the devil into our lives. 378 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 2: It was the devil's work, if only the police hadn't 379 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 2: been involved. Even as he laments the loss of their 380 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 2: life together, he skirts his responsibility as Justin spent more 381 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 2: time in jail and became more frustrated with his living conditions. 382 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:21,160 Speaker 2: He sent another letter escalating his faith based manipulations. 383 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: He was kind of like condemning me for not forgiving him, 384 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:27,960 Speaker 1: coming at it like, well, I'm just worried, you know, 385 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:30,479 Speaker 1: like you want to get into heaven, but Stacey, you 386 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:34,400 Speaker 1: can't with unforgiveness. I was like, oh no, no, no, hold 387 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 1: up with your Bible vomit. I don't need you to 388 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:39,879 Speaker 1: tell me how to get in with God, like I 389 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,400 Speaker 1: already know that I'm okay, So you need to worry 390 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,199 Speaker 1: about yourself. So he very much tried to appeal to 391 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: the faith side of me. 392 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 2: Stacy needed a safe place to grieve and plan her 393 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 2: next steps. Her sister Heather opened her door once again 394 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 2: and Stacy and the little ones moved in For about 395 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 2: six months. It was crowded, but they made it work 396 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 2: until Stacey could find a home of her own that 397 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 2: she could afford. In April of twenty twenty two, she 398 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 2: and the littles moved into an old farmhouse in Jared'stown, 399 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,959 Speaker 2: West Virginia, just down the road from her friend Karen. 400 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 2: It wasn't the modern five bedroom place they've left in Pennsylvania, 401 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 2: but they would have a roof over their heads. Nanny 402 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 2: Dee also moved back to the Virginia area. She went 403 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 2: to live with her sister, and she still supported Justin. 404 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 4: I was working out and I don't know where she 405 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,120 Speaker 4: comes in, which is really weird to see an old 406 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:40,919 Speaker 4: lady like that in the gym who I know doesn't 407 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:43,359 Speaker 4: work out, and she walks up to me and hands 408 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 4: me this note, and it's a note from Justin. 409 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,439 Speaker 2: Justin was prohibited from communicating with the victims in his case. 410 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 4: I read it while sitting on the machine at the gym, 411 00:23:57,600 --> 00:23:59,199 Speaker 4: and she's standing there right in front of me, in 412 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 4: the middle of every thing going on, everyone watching. I 413 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 4: get done reading it, and as soon as I lift 414 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 4: my head, she just snatches it out of my hand. 415 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:11,920 Speaker 4: I was like, what are you doing. That's my letter. 416 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 7: Can I have my letter? 417 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 4: No? No, He told me that you couldn't keep it, 418 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,919 Speaker 4: and I was like, it's noted to me, give it 419 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 4: to me, and she refused and then just left. 420 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 2: Tyler wrote down everything he could remember about the letter 421 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,440 Speaker 2: to tell detectives. Later, we were able to find a 422 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 2: letter that Justin wrote to him in court records. Tyler 423 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 2: told us that it's not the same one, but its 424 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 2: content was similar to the one Nanny showed him. 425 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 9: T first, I would like to say that I am 426 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 9: truly sorry. I wish there was a way I could 427 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 9: take it all back and prove to you how sorry 428 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 9: I am. All of the stems from the fact that 429 00:24:51,880 --> 00:25:00,200 Speaker 9: I hated who I was, my body, my sexuality. I'm 430 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,879 Speaker 9: not making excuses, just explaining that all I ever wanted 431 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 9: was to be normal. Your generation doesn't give a shit 432 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 9: about normal, and I wish I was born later. I 433 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 9: know I fucked up, and if I could take your 434 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 9: pain away, I would. I don't deserve it from you, 435 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 9: but I am asking for your mercy. I'm asking for 436 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,159 Speaker 9: me to not miss the littles whole lives and to 437 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 9: hopefully have some sort of semi normal life with them. 438 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:34,879 Speaker 9: I'm not trying to make you feel sorry for me, 439 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:39,160 Speaker 9: just asking for a small amount of grace and mercy. 440 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:42,960 Speaker 9: I would still do several years in jail for the 441 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 9: other charges, but not their whole lives. I'm already in treatment, 442 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 9: and I one day hope to prove to you that 443 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 9: I am changed. 444 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 2: What Justin was really asking Tyler to do was recant 445 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:00,959 Speaker 2: his statement to police. 446 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 1: I immediately text Nanny and I was like, what in 447 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: the world were you thinking delivering a letter to my 448 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: son from him? Do you understand this is something that 449 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:13,479 Speaker 1: you could get in trouble for. He used to have 450 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: no contact even through third parties. Third party being you, 451 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:20,880 Speaker 1: and her response was, well, Justin said it was okay. 452 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 2: It was hard to know what to do with Nanny. 453 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 2: Justin was like her child. She took Justin at his word. 454 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 1: She is so manipulated by him that he tells her 455 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,400 Speaker 1: it's okay and she doesn't even question it and goes 456 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: and does it. And there was a part of me 457 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 1: that almost felt sorry for her, because I'm like, you 458 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,680 Speaker 1: don't even realize that you're breaking. 459 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 7: The law here. 460 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:49,400 Speaker 2: Maybe she was ignorant, maybe she was biased. Eventually, however, 461 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 2: it would make her dangerous. When Justin couldn't get anywhere 462 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:57,159 Speaker 2: with Tyler, he worked on Stacy. When the reality of 463 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 2: the prison time he was facing started to sink in, 464 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 2: he wrote another letter. Here are portions of it. 465 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 9: Dear Stacy, I guess now you know what they're trying 466 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 9: to offer me is thirty years. I won't be able 467 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 9: to do that amount of time. Going to trial would 468 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:20,679 Speaker 9: be worse and would result in even more time. I 469 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 9: have literally seen murderers get ten to twenty or seven 470 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:29,119 Speaker 9: to fifteen, so I don't understand the logic here. Mine 471 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:32,360 Speaker 9: is literally the worst offer, and I truly think it's 472 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:36,320 Speaker 9: because they want to make an example of me, and honestly, 473 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 9: if it comes down to it. I guess I'll have 474 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 9: to take the pain away myself. I don't want it 475 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 9: to end that way, but I literally can't do it. 476 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 9: Psalms one O two, Verse twenty three and twenty four. 477 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 9: God sovereignly brought me to my knees. He cut me 478 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:08,960 Speaker 9: down in my prime. Oh don't, I prayed, Please don't 479 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:13,920 Speaker 9: let me die. God has set me straight. First off, 480 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 9: I want you to know I already started treatment. We 481 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 9: meet two hours per week. I could have my lawyer 482 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 9: go back to preliminary hearings and ty could not show 483 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 9: up or recant his statement that would drop the mandatory 484 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 9: ten year charges. 485 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 2: And so he had arrived at the real meeting of 486 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 2: the letter. Tyler could recant, He could lie and say 487 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:47,440 Speaker 2: it never happened. Justin had broken the law and tried 488 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:50,719 Speaker 2: to get to Tyler. He had quoted Bible verses and 489 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 2: leveraged his children to get to Stacy. But neither God 490 00:28:55,720 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 2: nor guilt would work. Stacy and Tyler were after justice. 491 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 2: We first met Tyler and Stacy back in December of 492 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 2: twenty twenty three. Their story was really upsetting, and to 493 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 2: be perfectly transparent, we were pretty hesitant to move forward. 494 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:20,400 Speaker 2: With producing it, we weren't sure where Stacy and Tyler 495 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 2: were in their journey. Stacy was willing to share everything, 496 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 2: good and bad. She's also an adult with a lot 497 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 2: of experience. She's truly an amazing person. And then there's Tyler. 498 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 2: He's young and has had unimaginable trauma no one should 499 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:41,640 Speaker 2: ever experience. He does receive therapeutic support, but this is 500 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 2: sharing on a very public level. So we had several conversations, 501 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 2: and Tyler advocated for himself to participate hard. He wanted 502 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 2: a platform he was not going to hide. 503 00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:01,000 Speaker 4: So I was hoping by doing this podcast that somebody 504 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:05,240 Speaker 4: like me could find it and let them know they're 505 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 4: not alone. 506 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:12,360 Speaker 2: Tyler wants to normalize this conversation and make it less uncomfortable. 507 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 4: Guys don't really talk about our weaknesses. We just make 508 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 4: jokes about it, about trauma and whatnot. People make sly 509 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 4: comments about it, ask you questions that are highly uncomfortable, 510 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:31,000 Speaker 4: but they think it's a joke just because they don't 511 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 4: see it out there. When they hear it happen to 512 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:36,480 Speaker 4: a guy, they think, oh, that must be the only 513 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 4: guy in the world. But it's a lot more common 514 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 4: and there's no one that relates to you, and it's 515 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 4: really nice to have someone to relate to. 516 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:50,400 Speaker 2: Tyler wants to be that someone for another male sexual 517 00:30:50,440 --> 00:30:54,640 Speaker 2: abuse victim who feels isolated and alone. 518 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 4: I want to help other people. There's not really any 519 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 4: resources for men. That's really the biggest thing is being 520 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 4: a guy, and not many talk about it. And I 521 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 4: had to go through not really being able to relate 522 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 4: to many people. I mean, the most I found was, 523 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 4: like Tyler Perry, you know a few celebrities, but really 524 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 4: there's not much to go off of. And if I 525 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:19,400 Speaker 4: can be that person that people can look up to, 526 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 4: that would be awesome. 527 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:24,880 Speaker 2: He told us about the beginning when he was ten, 528 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 2: and as a trigger warning, some details may be difficult 529 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 2: to hear. 530 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:33,440 Speaker 4: For the most part, he was a good father figure. 531 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 4: But at night is when the monster came out. I'm 532 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:41,600 Speaker 4: pretty sure I've said to you guys, and I've told 533 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:46,160 Speaker 4: my mom and anyone who questions me. Without getting too vulgar, 534 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:48,360 Speaker 4: the only way I can put it is if you 535 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 4: can imagine it, it happened. It started about six months 536 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 4: after he met my mom, maybe a little longer. That 537 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 4: was before they got married. That was before they even 538 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,840 Speaker 4: lived together. It's one of those things, like you're so 539 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:06,600 Speaker 4: young when stuff like that happens, it's hard to kind 540 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 4: of process something feels wrong and off, but like you 541 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:12,560 Speaker 4: don't necessarily know how to go about it, what to do, 542 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 4: what to say, and you kind of just want to 543 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:17,479 Speaker 4: keep that to yourself. You know, you're scared it just 544 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 4: you feel out of your own skin. 545 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 2: Tyler was a child weighing all the trade offs of 546 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:27,680 Speaker 2: their relationship, not just for himself, but for his entire family. 547 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:30,120 Speaker 2: What if you told someone. 548 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:33,280 Speaker 4: As a kid, I wouldn't see my mom happily married 549 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:38,440 Speaker 4: and have younger siblings that I love. Without even saying anything, 550 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:42,560 Speaker 4: He knew that was on the line for me. He 551 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:46,640 Speaker 4: had definitely brought it up a few times. If it 552 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 4: wasn't for him, we wouldn't have this nice, big house. 553 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:52,120 Speaker 4: We wouldn't be able to go to these fancy dinners. 554 00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:54,920 Speaker 4: We wouldn't have a pool, which I've wanted in my 555 00:32:54,960 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 4: whole life. They were at work, making the money, doing 556 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:03,160 Speaker 4: their jobs, and I was doing my job, keeping my 557 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 4: mouth shut to keep the family together. 558 00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:09,440 Speaker 2: There were many times that Justin gave Tyler drugs and alcohol. 559 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 4: The first instance I remember that night vividly up until 560 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:16,720 Speaker 4: blackout point. 561 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 2: Me. 562 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:22,840 Speaker 4: It was four locos and cinnamon moonshine. I do remember 563 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:23,680 Speaker 4: that pretty much. 564 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:29,120 Speaker 2: Tyler was way too young to be consuming alcohol, but 565 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 2: he was happy to drink it. 566 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:34,960 Speaker 4: The numbed everything, I mean not even numbed. It blurred everything. 567 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:40,680 Speaker 4: I would just go robot mode and just kind of 568 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:41,600 Speaker 4: let it happen. 569 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:46,120 Speaker 2: For all intents and purposes. This was Tyler's father. He'd 570 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:49,440 Speaker 2: been conditioned and emotionally blackmailed since he was in fifth grade. 571 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:53,920 Speaker 2: This was his life. While Stacy slept, Justin would stay 572 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 2: up late playing video games, eventually finding his way into 573 00:33:58,520 --> 00:33:59,719 Speaker 2: Tyler's room. 574 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:03,800 Speaker 4: Every so often, I'd tell myself, Okay, it's clear he 575 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:09,239 Speaker 4: likes little boys. I'll grow to be a teenager and 576 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:11,359 Speaker 4: he won't want to do anything to me. So I'm 577 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:15,040 Speaker 4: thirteen and it's still going on. So then I go, okay, 578 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 4: wait till I turned about sixteen, you know, a sixteen 579 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:21,920 Speaker 4: year well into puberty. I thought, as I'd become to 580 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:24,040 Speaker 4: be more of a man, he wouldn't want anything to 581 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:27,520 Speaker 4: do with me. And then here I am fifteen and 582 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 4: a half coming close to sixteen, and here it is 583 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:37,120 Speaker 4: still going It wasn't until I got around fifteen that 584 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:42,000 Speaker 4: I started vocally saying stuff to him and like speaking 585 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:45,840 Speaker 4: up for myself or trying to. He would never hit me, 586 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:49,480 Speaker 4: but he would talk to me with like a real 587 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:52,359 Speaker 4: stern voice and almost try to scare me and make 588 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:53,000 Speaker 4: me shut up. 589 00:34:56,680 --> 00:34:59,759 Speaker 2: It's infuriating to think a man would trap, manipulate, and 590 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 2: say actually abuse a child. But Tyler wants to turn 591 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 2: his pain into purpose, and he's thinking of other victims 592 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:09,040 Speaker 2: and how he could help them. 593 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:11,960 Speaker 4: It doesn't make you less of a man, it doesn't 594 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:16,040 Speaker 4: make you weak. And I think this podcast can do 595 00:35:16,080 --> 00:35:18,479 Speaker 4: a lot of good for a lot of heartbroken young 596 00:35:18,520 --> 00:35:21,080 Speaker 4: men out there, and even grown men, because I know 597 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:24,880 Speaker 4: there's plenty out there who you know, followed through with 598 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:26,640 Speaker 4: that plan of never opening up their mouth. 599 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:30,239 Speaker 2: Tyler isn't a better place now where he is able 600 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:33,279 Speaker 2: to process what happened to him. But before he could 601 00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:36,799 Speaker 2: get there, things for Stacey and Tyler would take an 602 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:41,680 Speaker 2: even sinister turn. Even though Justin was behind bars, that 603 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:49,920 Speaker 2: didn't mean they were safe. On the next episode of Betrayal, 604 00:35:50,719 --> 00:35:53,400 Speaker 2: Justin forms a plan to get out of prison. 605 00:35:53,960 --> 00:35:56,560 Speaker 8: He knew he was looking at a very, very, very 606 00:35:56,640 --> 00:36:00,040 Speaker 8: long time in jail on the sex assault charges. I 607 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 8: want to believe somebody's like that. I think that people 608 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:04,360 Speaker 8: can get desperate. 609 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:13,120 Speaker 2: If you're a man who has experienced sexual abuse or assault, 610 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:16,160 Speaker 2: or you know someone who is seeking support, go to 611 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:19,920 Speaker 2: one in six dot org. That's the number one I 612 00:36:20,239 --> 00:36:24,440 Speaker 2: n number six dot org. Find a path to a happier, 613 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:27,719 Speaker 2: healthier future. If you would like to reach out to 614 00:36:27,719 --> 00:36:31,320 Speaker 2: the Betrayal team, email us at betrayalpod at gmail dot com. 615 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:35,719 Speaker 2: That's Betrayal pod at gmail dot com. Also, please be 616 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:39,400 Speaker 2: sure to follow us at Glass Podcasts on Instagram for 617 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:43,640 Speaker 2: all Betrayal content, news and updates. We're grateful for your support. 618 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:46,600 Speaker 2: One way to show support is by subscribing to our 619 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,560 Speaker 2: show on Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to rate and 620 00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:53,040 Speaker 2: review Betrayal. Five star reviews go a long way. A 621 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:56,640 Speaker 2: big thank you to all of our listeners. Betrayal is 622 00:36:56,680 --> 00:37:00,280 Speaker 2: a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group, 623 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:04,320 Speaker 2: in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. The show is executive produced 624 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:08,279 Speaker 2: by Nancy Glass and Jennifer Fason, hosted and produced by 625 00:37:08,280 --> 00:37:12,280 Speaker 2: me Andrea Gunning, written and produced by Kerry Hartman. Also 626 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:16,480 Speaker 2: produced by Ben Fetterman. Associate producers are Christen Melcury and 627 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 2: Caitlin Golden. Our iHeart team is Ali Perry and Jessica Crincheck. 628 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:26,160 Speaker 2: Voice acting by Andrew Dobby. Special thanks to Stacy Rutherford, 629 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:29,160 Speaker 2: Tyler and the rest of Stacy and Tyler's friends and family. 630 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:34,840 Speaker 2: Audio editing and mixing by Mattsalvechio. Editing support from Nico Ruka. 631 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:39,720 Speaker 2: The Trayals theme composed by Oliver Bains. Music library provided 632 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:43,479 Speaker 2: by Mob Music and For more podcasts from iHeart, visit 633 00:37:43,560 --> 00:37:49,360 Speaker 2: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.