♪♪
I WAS WOKEN UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ONE NIGHT
WITH A GUN TO MY HEAD.
A SHOTGUN.
HE SAID, "I MURDERED A WOMAN LAST NIGHT."
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
"I STABBED HER TO DEATH."
I HAD NO DOUBT WHAT HE WAS SAYING HAPPENED.
I BELIEVED IT.
I WAS SO TEMPTED TO TELL SOMEBODY.
I REALLY WANTED TO. I REALLYWANTED TO.
BUT I KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
HE WOULD KILL US ALL.
♪♪
[KNOCK AT DOOR] [CREAKING]
[ BANGING ON DOOR ]
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
YOU JUST WAKE UP ONE DAY
AND YOU REALIZE YOU'RE LIVING A NIGHTMARE
AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT THERE.
AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET OUT.
PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW YOU CAN STAY WITH SOMEBODY LIKE THAT.
[crying] BUT, I LOVED HIM.
AND I REALLY BELIEVED THAT HE LOVED ME.
[ GUNSHOT ]
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
I WAS 16 YEARS OLD
AND IT WAS SUMMER.
I WAS GOING OVER TO MY COUSIN'S HOUSE TO PICK HIM UP.
WE WERE GONNA GO SWIMMING.
AND BRIAN JUST KINDA WALKED OUT OF THE WOODS
BEHIND MY COUSIN'S HOUSE.
HIS PARENTS LIVED LIKE TWO HOUSES DOWN FROM MY COUSIN.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
BERNADETTE.
PRETTY NAME FOR A PRETTY GIRL, YOU KNOW.
I WAS INSTANTLY CURIOUS ABOUT HIM.
AND THESE WERE SOME HAPPY TIMES, YOU KNOW.
THIS IS OUR VERY FIRST DATE, BEFORE ANYTHING EVER HAPPENED.
JUST TWO TEENAGERS FALLING IN LOVE.
I'D NEVER REALLY HAD ANY ATTENTION
FROM ANY GUYS BEFORE THAT, SO IT WAS THE FIRST TIME
ANY GUY SEEMED TRULY INTERESTED IN ME, AS A PERSON, YOU KNOW?
AND I'M FROM A FAMILY OF SIX KIDS,
SO, YEAH, MY PARENTS LOVED ME AND MY SIBLINGS LOVED ME,
BUT I NEVER HAD THAT INDIVIDUAL KIND OF ATTENTION
FOCUSED SOLELY ON ME BEFORE AND HE GAVE ME THAT.
AND HE TOLD ME HOW BEAUTIFUL I WAS
AND THAT WAS THE START OF IT ALL.
♪♪
I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.
ALL I WANTED WAS TO BE AROUND HIM
AND HE JUST MADE IT SEEM LIKE NOBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD
MEANT ANYTHING TO HIM BUT ME.
HE WOULD WRITE ME
LIKE LITTLE LOVE NOTES AND LETTERS ALL THE TIME.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING,
I KNEW I WANTED TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH HIM
AND HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED, TOO.
WE'RE SO YOUNG.
NOT A WORRY IN THE WORLD RIGHT THERE.
[ EERIE MUSIC PLAYS ]
IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.
AND THEN, ONE DAY, WE WERE TAKING A WALK.
UM, WE NEED TO TALK.
OKAY.
AND HE TOLD ME,
"I HAVE SOMETHING REALLY TERRIBLE TO TELL YOU."
[ HEARTBEAT ]
"I'VE KILLED SOMEBODY."
[ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ]
[ EERIE MUSIC PLAYS ]
BABE, DON'T TALK LIKE THAT.
IT'S NOT FUNNY.
I DON'T THINK I REALLY UNDERSTOOD
WHAT HE WAS TELLING ME.
LIKE HE TOLD ME HE KILLED SOMEBODY,
BUT HE DIDN'T GO INTO DETAIL
AND HE DIDN'T TELL ME ANY FACTS.
THERE WASN'T ANY EXPLANATION OF WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY.
I LOVE YOU
AND I WANT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU.
YOU COULDN'T HURT SOMEONE, IF YOU TRIED.
CAN YOU PLEASE FORGIVE ME?
ALL HE SAID WAS, "I'M A BAD PERSON.
CAN YOU EVER LOVE ME?
CAN YOU STILL LOVE ME?
CAN YOU FORGIVE ME?"
DON'T TALK LIKE THAT.
I WOULDN'T FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU,
IF YOU WERE A BAD PERSON.
I HOPE SO.
WELL, I KNOW SO.
I DIDN'T --
I-I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUT IT INTO WORDS.
I DIDN'T --
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS REALLY TELLING ME
AND I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS POSSIBLE,
THAT THIS PERSON THAT I LOVED AND LOVED ME
COULD BE CAPABLE OF SUCH A THING.
IN MY MIND, THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON
AND SOMEBODY WAS DEAD,
BUT I DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE THAT HEHAD DONE IT
AND THE POLICE ENDED UP GIVING HIM A LIE DETECTOR TEST
AND NOTHING HAD EVER COME OF THE INVESTIGATION WITH HIM.
THE INVESTIGATION WAS DROPPED.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
[ GIGGLING ]
I DIDN'T SEE HIM AS A BAD PERSON.
I SAW HIM AS THIS GOOD, LOVING PERSON
WHO CARED ABOUT ME AND WHO I LOVED.
AND SO BRIAN ENDED UP ASKING ME TO MARRY HIM.
AND HE GAVE ME A RING AND
HE WORKED WHILE I WENT TO SCHOOL.
AND WE WERE HAPPY. THINGS WERE GOIN' GOOD.
WHITE PICKET FENCE, TWO CHILDREN, A DOG.
HE WAS A GREAT FATHER.
HE LOVED BEING A DAD
AND HE WAS REALLY HAPPY DURING THOSE TIMES.
THAT WAS THE HAPPIEST I HAVE EVER SEEN HIM.
BUT THEN, THINGS CHANGED WITH HIM.
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ]
HE'D GET ANGRY.
HE WOULD CLICK ON AND OFF LIKE A SWITCH.
THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY GOT SCARY.
[ EERIE MUSIC CLIMBS ]
HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO CALL YOU, HUH?
"I REALLY WANT TO TAKE YOU AND BASH YOUR HEAD
AGAINST THE WALL AND WATCH THE BLOOD RUN DOWN."
[distantly] ANSWER ME. HUH? HUH?!
♪♪
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
LOOKING BACK NOW,
IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO SEE THINGS SO CLEARLY
AND WONDER WHY I DIDN'T RUN THEN, YOU KNOW?
WHY I DIDN'T SEE THE RED FLAGS.
BUT, AT THE MOMENT, I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING
BUT THE FACT THAT I LOVED THIS GUY
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD.
YOU HAD TO BE INTELLIGENT.
YOU HAD TO HAVE THE RIGHT RESPONSES.
YOU HAD TO USE THE RIGHT GRAMMAR, THE RIGHT VOCABULARY.
THERE'S A RIGHT WAY TO DO THINGS
AND THERE'S A WRONG WAY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU.
I DON'T WANT MY WIFE SOUNDING LIKE AN IDIOT.
FINE.
YOU ALWAYS HAD TO BE CONCERNED
ABOUT WHAT WORDS YOU WERE SAYING
OR, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU WERE EXPRESSING YOURSELF.
ALL RIGHT. SEE YA SATURDAY.
BYE-YE.
HOW DID YOU ANSWER THAT?
I GOT A PHONE CALL ONCE AND I ANSWERED THE PHONE
THE WRONG WAY AND HE FLIPPED OUT ON ME.
"I REALLY WANT TO TAKE YOU AND BASH YOUR HEAD
AGAINST THE WALL AND WATCH THE BLOOD RUN DOWN.
THAT'S HOW MAD I AM AT YOU."
[distantly] ALL RIGHT, CALM DOWN.
AND HE WAS YELLING, "I DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP]
IF THE NEIGHBORS HEAR! LET THEM HEAR!
LET THEM CALL THE COPS!
DON'T YOU EVER, EVER, DISRESPECT ME LIKE THAT AGAIN."
BECAUSE, NEXT TIME,
I WON'T BE SO NICE.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ]
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS ]
YOU DO WHAT I TELL YOU TO DO.
THAT'S IT! PLAIN AND SIMPLE!
WITH HIM, IT COULD BE SOMETHING
AS LITTLE AS THE FLOOR BEING DIRTY
OR A FINGERPRINT ON THE TELEVISION.
IF HE SEES THAT, HE'S GONNA GO ON A TIRADE.
HE WOULD TURN HIS LECTURES
INTO 2-HOUR, 3-HOUR-LONG EPISODES
OF JUST BEATING IT INTO YOU,
THE STUFF YOU'RE DOING WRONG.
I'M SORRY. I JUST --STOP BEING SORRY
AND START LISTENING TO WHAT I'M SAYING.
I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO SIT THERE AND LET HIM RANT.
AND THE MORE I COULD SIT THERE AND APPEASE HIM,
THE BETTER OFF I KNEW WE WERE,
AND THAT WAS LIKE AN EVERY- OTHER-NIGHT TYPE OF THING.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
EVERY DAY WAS LIKE WALKING ON EGGSHELLS.
THE ANXIETY WAS SO BAD, I COULDN'T EAT.
SO, GUYS, TODAY, I THINK WE SHOULD GO TO THE PARK.
YES!YEAH.
RIGHT? YEAH.
I COULD LOOK AT HIM AND KNOW THAT HE WAS IN A MOOD.
AND IT WAS NOT GONNA BE A GOOD DAY.
OR A GOOD NIGHT.
[ EERIE MUSIC PLAYS ]
I DREADED MONDAYS. I HATED THEM.
BRIAN WAS ALWAYS OBSESSED WITH MARTIAL ARTS, BOXING,
AND HE WANTED US TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND OURSELVES,
SO HE WOULD TEACH US ALL KIND OF THINGS.
IT WASN'T JUST BOXING.
IT WAS LEARNING HOW TO USE A KNIFE
OR DEFEND YOURSELF FROM A KNIFE.
LEARNING HOW TO USE A GUN.
AT FIRST, FOR A WHILE THERE, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD THING.
THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, ENJOYED LEARNING HOW
TO DO THAT STUFF WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER.
BUT THEN, IT BECAME A FORCED THING.
I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE.
THE KIDS DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE.
IT WAS A MANDATORY THING WE HAD TO DO EVERY MONDAY NIGHT.
AND IT WOULD LAST ABOUT 3 HOURS LONG.
EITHER HE WAS HAPPY WITH HOW YOU DID,
OR HE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH HOW YOU DID
AND, USUALLY, HE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH HOW I DID.
HE DIDN'T CARE THAT HE WAS,
YOU KNOW, HITTING ME HARD AND LEAVING BRUISES.
WELL, YOU HAD TO DO AS MUCH AS HE TOLD YOU TO DO
AND YOU HAD TO TAKE IT.
AND THE CHILDREN, HE MADE THEM FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER.
AND THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE EASY ON EACH OTHER.
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS ]
IN FACT, THEY WERE TOLD, YOU KNOW,
"IF YOU TAKE IT EASY ON HER" OR "IF YOU TAKE IT EASY ON HIM,
I'LL PUNCH YOU, INSTEAD."
[ EERIE MUSIC CLIMBS ]
HE HAD JUST BOUGHT US CELLPHONES
AND I NEVER REALLY USED A CELLPHONE BEFORE,
SO I WASN'T REALLY VERY USED TO IT.
[ RING ]
HE TRIED CALLING ME AND MY CELLPHONE WAS IN MY PURSE
AND I DIDN'T HEAR THE CELLPHONE RING
AND I DIDN'T ANSWER.
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ]
SO, WHEN HE FINALLY GOT HOME AND HE CAME IN --
HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO CALL YOU, HUH?
HOW MANY TIMES?!
[hyperventilating] I'M SORRY.
PUSHED ME AGAINST THE WALL
AND WAS JUST YELLING AT ME ABOUT MY CELLPHONE.
[ SHOUTING ] AAH!
JUST STARTED HITTING ME.
[HIGH-PITCHED FEEDBACK WHINES] [HEARTBEAT]
AND HE JUST KEPT HITTING.
AAH!
[ SHOUTS ]
HE JUST KEPT HITTING ME ACROSS THE HEAD,
KICKING ME IN THE LEGS.
'TIL I FELL DOWN ON THE FLOOR.
[ SINISTER MUSIC CLIMBS ]
[ SOBBING ]
[ EERIE MUSIC CLIMBS ]
[ GASP ]
"GET THE [BLEEP] UP, YOU STUPID BITCH."
BRIAN, STOP.
"I'LL KILL YOU RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW."
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ]
♪♪
[ FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYS ]
HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO CALL YOU, HUH?
SORRY. HOW MANY TIMES?!
YOU NEVER PICK UP YOUR PHONE.
WHY DON'T YOU LISTEN TO ME?!
[ SOBBING ]
HE JUST KEPT HITTING.
HE JUST KEPT HITTING ME ACROSS THE HEAD
AND HE JUST WENT ON AND ON AND ON.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!
AND HE JUST STARTED ON THIS RANT
ABOUT HOW I MESS THINGS UP AND IF I COULD ONLY BE,
YOU KNOW, WHAT HE WANTED ME TO BE.
DO YOU EVER LISTEN TO ME?!
"IT'S TIME YOU START LIVING UP TO MY STANDARDS.
IF YOU DON'T LIVE UP TO MY STANDARDS, I'LL KILL YOU."
LISTEN. THAT'S IT. STUPID!
[ SOBBING ]
"I CAN EASILY KILL YOU. I CAN GET RID OF YOU.
I CAN MAKE IT SEEM LIKE AN ACCIDENT."
[ SOBBING ]
I'M SORRY.
[ WHIMPER ]
HEY. CALM DOWN.
I'M SORRY.
HE EVENTUALLY JUST STARTED SAYING,
"OH, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, YOU KNOW,
WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK. WE'LL GET PAST THIS."
IT'S ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT?
YOU JUST HAVE TO CHANGE A FEW THINGS.
[ SOBBING ]
"IT'S YOUR FAULT, BUT WE CAN, YOU KNOW,
WE CAN GET PAST THIS.
CAN YOU FORGIVE ME?"
DO YOU LOVE ME?
AND THAT'S HOW IT ALWAYS WAS WITH HIM.
LIKE HE'D GET SO MAD AND THEN, THE NEXT MINUTE, YOU KNOW,
HE'D BE LIKE "PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I LOVE YOU."
FOR A VERY LONG TIME, THE ONE THING THAT I HUNG ON TO WAS
"HE WON'T KILL ME.
HE LOVES ME TOO MUCH."
[ DISCORDANT NOTES BUZZ ]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
I WAS WOKEN UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ONE NIGHT.
[ GASP ]
WITH A GUN TO MY HEAD.
A SHOTGUN.
BRIAN. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
AND HE WAS STANDING ABOVE THE BED,
HOLDING THE GUN TO MY HEAD, SAYING,
"GET THE [BLEEP] UP, YOU STUPID BITCH."
BRIAN. STOP.
AND I HAD NO IDEA WHY,
WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
I JUST DID WHAT HE TOLD ME AND I GOT UP.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
♪ [HEARTBEAT] ♪
AND HE BROUGHT ME DOWN INTO OUR DINING ROOM
AND SAT ME AT THE TABLE
AND WAS WAVING THE GUN AROUND
AND THEN HE WENT OFF ON THIS TYRANT SPEECH
ABOUT ALL THE STUFF THAT I'M NOT DOING RIGHT.
IF YOU JUST DID WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO,
I WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS RIGHT NOW.
[sobbing] NO!
AND I JUST SAT AT THE TABLE, LIKE WONDERING
WHAT THE HELL, YOU KNOW, MADE HIM PUT THIS GUN TO MY HEAD
AND START TALKING ABOUT THIS OUT OF THE BLUE RIGHT NOW.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME
I EVER FELT REALLY AFRAID FOR MY LIFE.
LIKE "OH, MY GOD.
IS HE REALLY GONNA KILL ME?"
TELL ME RIGHT NOW! IS IT GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN?!
[sobbing] NO! NO!
[hyperventilating, sobbing] NO!
GOOD!
OH, MY.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT DAY, HE'S LIKE
"OH, MY GOD. I'M SO SORRY."
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO SCARE YOU LIKE THAT.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE THE BEST THING
THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME. PLEASE FORGIVE ME."
I FORGIVE YOU.
AFTER THAT, IT JUST GOT WORSE FROM THERE.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
I HAD A, YOU KNOW,
A VERY CLOSE DOG, ATHENA,
THAT I HAD FOR QUITE A WHILE,
AND THE DOG RAN OUT OF THE YARD ONCE.
THAT'S WHAT DOGS DO.
AND HE GOT MAD
AND HE TOOK THE DOG IN THE BACKYARD, IN FRONT OF US,
AND SHOT IT IN THE HEAD.
[ GUNSHOT ]
[ EERIE MUSIC PLAYS ]
AND THE BLOOD SPLATTERED ON MY LEGS.
I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I COULDN'T CRY. I COULDN'T SHOW ANY EMOTION.
I COULDN'T.
AND MY CHILDREN WERE LITTLE AND THEY HAD TO WATCH THAT.
AND ALL HE COULD TELL US WAS,
"THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CAN'T FOLLOW DIRECTIONS."
HE HAD NOT SLEPT ALL NIGHT AND HE HAD BEEN OUT ALL NIGHT.
AND HE SAID, "I HAVE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
I HAVE SOMETHING I NEED TO TELL YOU."
I NEED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
♪ [HEARTBEAT] ♪
IT WAS LIKE A FLASHBACK TO THAT MOMENT IN TIME.
I KILLED SOMEONE.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU.
YOU COULDN'T HURT SOMEONE, IF YOU TRIED.
AND I KNEW, AS SOON AS HE WAS SAYING THOSE WORDS,
WHAT HE WAS GONNA SAY.
IT HAPPENED AGAIN.
I KILLED SOMEONE.
HE SAID, "I MURDERED A WOMAN LAST NIGHT.
I KILLED A PROSTITUTE.
I STABBED HER TO DEATH."
IT'S TRUE.
I KNEW. I HAD NO DOUBT WHAT HE WAS SAYING HAPPENED.
I BELIEVED IT.
I NEED YOU TO DO EXACTLYWHAT I SAY.
I FELT SICK.
I FELT AFRAID.
IF YOU DO ANYTHING
APART FROM WHAT I TELL YOU TO DO,
YOU KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND THE FIRST THING HE MADE CLEAR TO ME WAS
"IF YOU TELL ANYBODY, I WILL KILL YOU."
I KNEW HE WOULDN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT IT.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA TELL A SOUL ABOUT THIS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF.
HE WENT IN THE BACKYARD
AND HE BURNED SOME THINGS IN THE BACK FIRE PIT.
HE TOLD ME IT WAS, YOU KNOW, HER CLOTHES AND STUFF.
AND HE STARTED TELLING ME THINGS TO DO, LIKE
"YOU'RE GONNA DRIVE ME TO THE BUS STATION,
DROP ME OFF, YOU KNOW, AND YOU'RE GONNA TELL PEOPLE
THAT WE'RE HAVING A TRIAL SEPARATION.
AND I WANT YOU TO KEEP YOUR EYE OUT AND, YOU KNOW,
TELL ME IF YOU SEE ANYTHING IN THE NEWS
AND KEEP ME UPDATED AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON THERE."
I DID.
LINDA KAY GIBSON WAS FOUND SEPTEMBER 13, 2003.
SOMEONE SAW HER BODY NEAR FACTORY LANE
IN THE CITY'S MILLWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
POLICE SAY LINDA KAY GIBSON WAS BRUTALLY BEATEN
AND STABBED, LEFT IN THIS FIELD.
IT WAS SICKENING.
IT WAS AWFUL, TO SEE THAT WOMAN'S FACE.
AND IT EATS AWAY AT YOU, INSIDE.
POLICE SAY THEY HOPE THE PASSAGE OF TIME
COULD HELP CLOSE THE CASE.
WE'RE CONFIDANT THAT THERE'S A CITIZEN OUT THERE
THAT HAS THE ANSWERS AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED.
[ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ]
DID I THINK ABOUT GOING TO THE POLICE WHILE HE WAS GONE?
SURE.
I DID.
FEAR KEPT ME FROM SAYING ANYTHING TO ANYBODY.
HE WAS WITH MY FAMILY.
HE WAS STAYING WITH MY FAMILY.
THAT'S WHERE HE WAS HIDING, WITH MY COUSIN.
HE WOULDN'T HESITATE TO KILL THEM TO PROTECT HIMSELF.
SO I DID EXACTLY WHAT HE ASKED ME TO DO.
I THINK IT WAS A MONTH THAT HE STAYED AWAY.
THERE WAS NO SUSPICION TOWARDS HIM AT ALL.
NOTHING.
ONCE HE FELT THE COAST WAS CLEAR, HE CAME BACK.
HE JUST, ONE DAY, SHOWED UP.
NOTHING WAS THE SAME AFTER THAT.
GET UP!
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ]
♪♪
[ BUZZ ]
FEAR
IS THE MOST POWERFUL THING IN THE WORLD.
YOU BECOME SO AFRAID OF SOMEONE
THAT YOU BECOME PARALYZED.
[ GIGGLING ]
SURE, HAD I THOUGHT ABOUT PICKING UP MY KIDS AND LEAVING?
ABSOLUTELY.
AND I WOULD'VE DONE IT, IN A HEARTBEAT,
HAD I NOT BEEN
AFRAID OF WHAT HE WOULD DO IN REPERCUSSION.
[distantly] CAN'T CATCH ME.
[ EERIE MUSIC PLAYS ]
♪ [HEARTBEAT] ♪
THERE HAD BEEN ONE DAY
I TRIED TO TELL HIM THAT I WANTED TO LEAVE.
BRIAN, I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE.
I TOLD HIM I JUST WASN'T HAPPY.
THAT I LOVED HIM, BUT I WASN'T INLOVE WITH HIM.
WE TOOK VOWS.
DO THOSE VOWS MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?
AFTER A LITTLE BIT, HE SAID, "YOU KNOW,
I KILLED THAT WOMAN BECAUSE OF YOU.
SHE REMINDED ME OF YOU.
AND I COULDN'T KILL YOU 'CAUSE YOU'RE MOTHER OF MY CHILDREN,
SO I KILLED HER."
"BUT MY CHILDREN DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE."
IT WILL BE YOU, NEXT,
IF YOU WALK OUT THAT DOOR.
"I CAN KILL YOU AND MAKE IT SEEM LIKE AN ACCIDENT
AND THEY'LL NEVER KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
YOU PROMISED ME THIS LIFE, YOU KNOW.
YOU BETTER UPHOLD TO WHO YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO BE."
"OR I WILL KILL YOU. IT'S A SIMPLE AS THAT."
SO WHY DON'T YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE KIDS,
INSTEAD OF THINKING ABOUT A DIVORCE.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT HE WAS GOINGTO KILL ME
AND HE WAS PLANNING IT.
[ SOBBING ]
HE WANTED THE GUN, SO I DID WHAT HE TOLD ME TO DO.
WHEN YOU BUY A GUN IN MICHIGAN,
YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE
AND GET IT REGISTERED.
OKAY.
AND, WHILE I WAS THERE,
I SAW THE PICTURE OF THE WOMAN.
[ EERIE MUSIC CLIMBS ]
UNSOLVED CASE.
IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS WOMAN, PLEASE CALL.
THAT WAS DEVASTATING.
THERE IT IS, IN BLACK AND WHITE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE.
OKAY.
YOU'RE ALL SET.
OFFICER.
I WAS SO TEMPTED TO TELL SOMEBODY.
I REALLY WANTED TO. I REALLYWANTED TO.
BUT I KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
WHY WOULD THEY BELIEVE ME, YOU KNOW,
AND WHAT WOULD HE DO?
THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.
I COULDN'T.
BUT I WANTED TO.
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ]
I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT SHOOTING HIM, AT SOME POINT,
AND I'M NOT ASHAMED TO SAY IT.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT, IF IT EVER GOT TOO BAD,
YOU KNOW, I'D USE IT.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS] [WATER RUNS]
HE WAS IN THE SHOWER IN THE MORNING.
AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
"ALL I HAVE TO DO IS TAKE THE GUN AND WALK IN THERE.
HE WON'T EVEN SEE ME COMING."
"I CAN SHOOT IT RIGHT THROUGH THE SHOWER AND IT'LL BE OVER."
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ]
AND, UM... [gulp]
I COULDN'T, YOU KNOW, DO IT.
IN MY MIND I KNEW THAT, YOU KNOW,
THEN, IWOULD BE A KILLER
AND MY CHILDREN WOULD BE WITHOUT A FATHER.
AND THEIR MOTHER KILLED THEIR FATHER.
HOW BAD IS THAT FOR THEM, YOU KNOW?
AND I'D PROBABLY BE IN JAIL
AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ME, YOU KNOW.
BUT I FANTASIZED ABOUT IT. YEAH, I DID.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
THAT DAY WAS A MONDAY.
[SNIFFLE] IT WAS A TRAINING DAY
AND WE WERE ALL
NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
COME ON, CHRIS, YOU HAVE TO DO
BETTER THAN THIS! COME ON!
WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK, I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG,
AS SOON AS I PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY.
[distantly] GIMME!
BRIAN AND CHRIS WERE BOXING IN THE DRIVEWAY.
COME ON. HIT STRAIGHT!
WEAK! YOU'RE WEAK!
AND I COULD SEE SKY INSIDE THE GARAGE
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS] AND MY HEART JUST DROPPED.
SKY WAS LIKE LOOKING AT ME
WITH TERRORIN HER EYES.
LIKE "MOMMY, PLEASE,HELP ME.
HELP ME."
AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.
I COULD READ IT IN HER FACE.
SKY, ARE YOU OKAY?
AND I WALKED OVER TO HER
AND I SAID, "SKY, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"
AND HE IMMEDIATELYJUMPED IN THE MIDDLE
AND HE SAID, "THAT'S NONE OF YOUR CONCERN."
STAY OUT OF IT.
HE HAD THIS BATON STICK THAT HE USED FOR KARATE.
[ SNIFFLE ]
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ]
GET UP. GET UP!
AND HE WAS HITTING HER ACROSS THE BACK WITH IT.
AND HE JUST KEPT HITTING HER WITH THAT BATON.
[distantly] BRIAN, I BEG YOU TO STOP!
BRIAN!
I TRIED TO STEP IN AND STOP HIM FROM HITTING HER.
HE GRABBED ME BY THE THROAT
AND SAID, "DON'T YOU [BLEEP] THINK ABOUT IT.
I'LL KILL YOU RIGHT HERE."
[distantly] DON'T YOU EVER TELL ME WHAT TO DO.
TIME SLOWLY TICKED BY AND, IN BETWEEN EACH BOXING SESSION,
HE WOULD BEAT HER SOME MORE.
BEND YOURSELF! BEND YOURSELF!
COME ON! COME ON!
I COULD FEEL THE TERROR IN MY DAUGHTER'S EYES
AS SHE WAS LOOKING AT ME.
EVERY TIME HE TURNED AWAY, SHE'D MOUTH, "MOMMY, HELP."
AND THEN, DURING ONE OF THE ROUNDS
THAT HE HAD ME BOXING WITH HIM,
I WAS WATCHING SKY OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
SHE HAD RAN.
SHE JUST RAN
AND JUST KEPT RUNNING.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
AND THEN YOU HEARD THE SIRENS.
THE POLICE SIRENS.
AND HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
SHE DID WHAT I COULDN'T DO.
WHEN THE COPS CAME TO THE HOUSE --
IS EVERYTHING OKAY HERE?
I KNEW, AT THAT MOMENT,
THAT, AS SOON AS THOSE COPS LEFT,
HE WOULD KILL US ALL.
[ EERIE MUSIC CLIMBS ]
♪♪
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
WHEN THE COPS CAME TO THE HOUSE,
FIRST, THE COP SAID, "DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR DAUGHTER IS?"
"YOUR DAUGHTER HAD THE NEIGHBORS CALL THE POLICE."
SHE'S VERY DISTRAUGHT.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO TELL ME, MA'AM?
I KNEW, AT THAT MOMENT, THAT
THAT IT WAS NOT GONNA BE OKAY, FROM THERE ON OUT.
IS EVERYTHING OKAY HERE?
YEAH. YEAH. EVERYTHING'S FINE.
I KNEW THAT THAT WAS THE BREAKING POINT,
BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO PORTRAY HIMSELF AND OUR FAMILY
LIKE WE WERE THE PERFECT FAMILY, YOU KNOW?
WE'RE JUST BOXING.
HE WAS A GOOD MAN WHO TOOK CARE OF HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTEDTHEM TO SEE.
AND, NOW, THE COPS WERE INVOLVED
AND I KNEW THAT, AS SOON AS THOSE COPS LEFT,
HE WOULD KILL US ALL.
I WAS
TERRIFIED.
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ]
THE DETECTIVE, HE LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID,
"IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO TELL ME?
NOW'S THE TIME. IT'S OKAY."
LISTEN, I TOLD YOU. WE'RE FINE. ALL RIGHT?
I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU, SIR.
AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE,
I FELT LIKE "THIS IS MY CHANCE.
IF YOU DON'T SAY IT, THEN YOU'RE GONNA BE DEAD.
THERE'S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS.
THERE'S NO TALKING YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS.
THERE'S NO CONVINCING BRIAN THAT IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
THIS TIME, IT'S DIFFERENT."
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ]
PLEASE DON'T GO! PLEASE!
SO I TOLD HIM. I SAID, "YEAH,
[gulp] I DO HAVE SOMETHING ELSE I WANT TO TELL YOU.
HE MURDERED SOMEBODY AND HE TOLD ME ABOUT IT."
AND THEY ARRESTED HIM AND THEY TOOK HIM AWAY.
I WAS TERRIFIED HE WOULD GET AWAY WITH IT
AND THERE WAS ALWAYS THE FEAR THAT, YOU KNOW,
"WHAT IF THE JURY DOESN'T BELIEVE IT?"
"WHAT IF HE IS OUT IN, YOU KNOW,
10 YEARS' TIME AND WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?"
TOLD ME, "I'VE DONE SOMETHING REALLY BAD.
I KILLED SOMEBODY."
"I KILLED A WOMAN."
HE MADE IT CLEAR TO ME THAT HE WOULD KILL ME
IF I EVER SAID ANYTHING.
I'D BEEN LIVING WITH THAT SECRET,
THAT BURDEN, FOR 8 YEARS,
AND I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I'D HAVE A CHANCE
TO TELL WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.
I THOUGHT I'D HAVE TO CARRY THAT FOREVER.
AND IT WAS
SO UNBELIEVABLE,
TO LET IT OUT.
IT WAS TERRIFYING, GOING THROUGH THE TRIAL
AND WAITING FOR THAT JURY TO COME BACK.
[ DRAMATIC MUSIC CLIMBS ]
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
WHEN THAT JURY CAME BACK
WITH GUILTY AND LIFE IN PRISON WITH NO PAROLE,
IT WAS SUCH A RELIEF,
LIKE A WEIGHT WAS LIFTED OFF MY SHOULDERS,
LIKE I COULD BREATHE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS.
BUT, IT'S STILL THERE
AND YOU STILL THINK ABOUT IT AND YOU STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES
AND YOU STILL BREAK DOWN AND YOU STILL CRY IN THE SHOWER.
AND, EVEN NOW, THERE'S ALWAYS THIS FEAR,
IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
THAT, YOU KNOW, HE CAN ESCAPE, YOU KNOW?
THAT HE'S GONNA FIND ME.
THAT HE'LL COME AFTER ME.
I KNOW THAT HE'S PLOTTING THAT IN HIS CELL EVERY DAY
AND HE WILL BE, FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
AND I'M NEVER GONNA BE THE SAME.