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[Debbie] The wedding was
at our home, in our backyard.
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Tab wore her beautiful red dress
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00:00:13,057 --> 00:00:17,192
and her dad walked
her down the aisle.
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00:00:17,194 --> 00:00:21,997
I remember Tab saying,
"Speed up, Dad." [chuckles]
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So, it was a very, very
exciting, special day.
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She just carried every
emotion she had on her sleeve.
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- [Tabatha] Ready?
- [woman] Yes.
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[woman] Whoa!
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And so I said, "You
better be careful."
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[operator 1 speaking]
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[Tabatha speaking, screaming]
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[man speaking]
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You need to not always
live in, like, la la land
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00:00:49,393 --> 00:00:51,960
where you don't think anything
can happen because it can.
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[woman 2 speaking]
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[theme music plays]
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[narrator] It's Christmas
morning, 1977,
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00:01:16,887 --> 00:01:19,254
in Mountain View,
North Carolina.
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Four-year-old Tabatha Spake
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is opening her presents,
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along with
10-month-old sister Erica,
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and mom Debbie.
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[Debbie] Loved Christmas
morning with the girls.
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They weren't the type
to wake up early.
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I had to go in there
and wake them up.
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And my husband be saying,
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"Leave them alone.
Let them sleep."
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And I said, "No, no, it's
Christmas. We got to get up early."
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I always tried to make
Christmas very special for them.
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[narrator] Dad, Billy Spake
Jr., joins in the festivities
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but he's more used to
being behind the camera.
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[Debbie] We purchased
the camera.
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We just wanted to
be able to capture
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'cause we knew how
quick children grow up
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and we just wanted those
special moments to remember.
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And that's Erica.
[laughs]
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You can tell by the red hair.
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There's big sister
trying to help.
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Tabatha always came to Erica aid
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if she was struggling
with something.
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Tabatha was a little over
three years older than me
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and she was always
very, like, protective.
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Um, she always had my back.
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If anybody would
say anything bad,
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she would be there
to correct them.
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[Debbie] I loved living where
we did in Mountain View.
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I worked at a local
furniture company
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and my husband, Billy,
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went into full-time service
for the National Guard
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to provide for our children.
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So, we did work hard.
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We were very happy.
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You know, we'd come home
and spend our evenings together.
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We didn't have a fancy life,
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but we were very content
to just be home together.
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In 1985, we took our vacation
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to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
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Tab was 12, Erica was eight.
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My dad, every year,
got the same hotel.
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It was on the other side of
the street from the ocean.
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Every year, we knew we
went to that exact same pool.
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They played great together,
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throwing sand on
each other and water,
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and spent time just
with each other.
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Tabatha was a little
quiet, a little reserved.
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She didn't have
a lot of confidence.
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Erica was our little fireball.
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She was always full of energy.
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People used to joke
about redheads,
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I learned what that meant.
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[Erica] So, the fact
that we were opposites
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kind of made it best because
we completed each other.
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And that's really what
made her, like, my best friend
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00:04:03,420 --> 00:04:05,553
because I felt like I
could tell her anything
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and she could tell me anything.
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[narrator] Tabatha comes out
of her shell a few years later.
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That day, she had
asked me to video her.
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And so, she got her red
and white striped outfit
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and her hat, and went
out on our back deck,
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and I taped her singing.
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Once she hit puberty
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and she started, like,
her body changing,
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her appearance changing,
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you know, she started
getting interests from guys,
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which she enjoyed.
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[Debbie]
As she got older,
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she got more into
the boys stage.
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That was, kind of,
hard for my Billy,
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kind of, was a little
more protective on that.
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00:05:00,610 --> 00:05:03,078
[Erica] My dad was very strict.
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00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,314
He didn't want her to get
involved with boys too early.
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00:05:06,316 --> 00:05:10,285
He wanted us to
concentrate on school,
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get a good career, that
was a big thing for him.
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Mom was a little more easygoing.
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She didn't see any harm in it.
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Thought that it was
something that Tabatha needed,
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00:05:26,837 --> 00:05:29,237
you know, to make
her feel more confident.
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[Debbie] Billy didn't like that
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and laid down some strict rules.
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And, of course, that
caused some rebellion.
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Then she started pulling away.
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And we had other issues.
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There was some
financial problems.
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So, the problems started,
you know, building up.
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We separated, and a year later,
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we did get our divorce in 1989.
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It was a very hard decision
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because I never wanted to go
through a separation or divorce.
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I wanted it to work, but we
had just become so distant.
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And so, I knew it was time
we had to make that decision.
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[narrator] The divorce
splits the family.
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Tabatha lives with
her mom, Debbie,
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and Erica chooses
her dad, Billy.
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[Erica] I felt bad for
him being by his self
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and that's one of
the main reasons
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I went back to move in with him
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was because I really
just felt sorry for him,
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and I knew it was just
devastating to him that mom left.
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[narrator]
Summer 1993,
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guests gather to celebrate
Tabatha's marriage
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00:06:49,986 --> 00:06:53,121
to 20-year-old work
colleague, Chris McGalliard.
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[Billy speaking]
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She worked at Rose's
Department Store
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and Tabatha and Chris
met and started dating.
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[Debbie] The day Tab
got married to Chris,
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it was a beautiful day.
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The wedding was at our
home, in our backyard.
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We had a gazebo.
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So, there was probably
maybe 20, 30 people there,
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but it was just mostly
family and close friends.
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[narrator] Also in attendance
is two-year old, Chasity,
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Tabatha's daughter from
a previous relationship.
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[Erica] Tabatha found
out she was pregnant
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when she was 16,
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but she decided she
wanted to have Chasity,
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even if that meant she was
gonna have to do it by herself.
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[Debbie] It was hard
for us to tell her dad.
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It was hard for him,
and she knew it.
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It just took a while
for him to accept it
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and to move on with it.
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It was just wasn't the plan
he had for her, for her life.
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I told her it was her
responsibility, but I would help her.
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And she worked and
she went to school
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00:08:11,768 --> 00:08:13,167
where she did
her school classes,
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and she carried on
until she had her baby.
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So she was very dedicated.
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She made up her mind,
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she was just gonna be
the best mom and she was.
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But Tabatha and
Billy's, relationship
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was strained for many years.
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When she decided to get married,
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he did want to be there
and be a part of it,
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and he did want to walk her in.
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Even though they have
had some issues,
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he still wanted to
be there in her life.
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She wanted that also,
so it was very special.
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[narrator]
Bridegroom Chris
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00:09:01,517 --> 00:09:06,020
is willing to take on the role
of husband and stepfather.
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00:09:06,022 --> 00:09:08,923
[Erica] Tabatha didn't think
anybody would want her
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00:09:08,925 --> 00:09:11,993
because she had
a child so young,
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but Chris came in and
stepped up as a dad to Chasity,
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and she loved him
and she had faith in him.
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[Dan speaking]
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[Debbie] Tab wore the red dress.
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She loved the red and
she loved that dress.
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But she also had
already had her children,
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so she didn't want to
have a church wedding
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wearing the white.
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[Erica] And then I
got one to match her.
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And then later on,
everybody kept saying,
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"Married in red,
better off dead"
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and she was like, "I shouldn't
have done that." [laughs]
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But she was very happy.
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[narrator] Tabatha's
wedding is truly a family affair.
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The minister performing
the ceremony
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00:10:01,077 --> 00:10:04,078
is Tabatha's stepfather,
Dan Miller.
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00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:07,248
I knew Dan for many years.
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00:10:08,884 --> 00:10:11,986
I actually ran into him
one day at a grocery store
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and we started talking.
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Eventually, we got married.
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Tabatha knew that I was a
minister and so she asked me
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00:10:19,996 --> 00:10:23,064
if I would do the
ceremony for her and Chris.
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00:10:23,066 --> 00:10:25,667
And I definitely
told her I would.
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[Dan speaking]
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00:10:27,303 --> 00:10:29,837
I felt privileged that
Tabatha wanted me
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00:10:29,839 --> 00:10:31,139
to be part of her wedding
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instead of just a spectator
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sitting there and watching it.
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[Debbie] I was... Thought
she looked absolutely beautiful
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00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,320
and this was what she
had been searching for,
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so I felt like it was
her dream coming true.
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[Erica] She just... She
felt so loved that day.
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00:11:02,672 --> 00:11:05,373
Tab was very excited
for her future.
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00:11:05,375 --> 00:11:08,042
She thought she had
finally found the person
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00:11:08,044 --> 00:11:09,143
she was gonna marry
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00:11:09,145 --> 00:11:10,845
and live the rest
of her life with
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00:11:10,847 --> 00:11:12,013
and have a family together,
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00:11:12,015 --> 00:11:14,248
and that's really all
she ever wanted.
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[narrator] Christmas
morning, 1995,
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00:11:23,293 --> 00:11:25,860
Tabatha and Chris
McGalliard have been married
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00:11:25,862 --> 00:11:27,395
for two and a half years.
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00:11:29,298 --> 00:11:32,300
Stepdad Chris films
five-year-old Chasity
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00:11:32,302 --> 00:11:34,235
as she receives her presents.
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00:11:34,237 --> 00:11:38,239
[Chasity speaking]
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00:11:46,949 --> 00:11:48,483
[Chris speaking]
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00:11:50,252 --> 00:11:54,255
[Debbie] In 1995, they
had actually found a place
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00:11:54,257 --> 00:11:55,289
in Morganton,
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00:11:55,291 --> 00:11:58,159
and it was in, like,
a mobile home park,
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00:11:58,161 --> 00:12:01,295
and they end up having
a nice place to live.
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00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:06,501
- [Tabatha speaking]
- [Chris] Travis.
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00:12:10,405 --> 00:12:13,074
[narrator] And there's a
new member of the family,
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00:12:13,076 --> 00:12:15,176
two-year-old, Travis.
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00:12:15,178 --> 00:12:17,845
[Debbie] Tab and Chris was
very excited to have a son.
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00:12:17,847 --> 00:12:19,313
Well, him and Chas
got along great
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00:12:19,315 --> 00:12:21,682
and they had
good times together.
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00:12:21,684 --> 00:12:23,518
- [Tabatha speaking]
- [Chris speaking]
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00:12:26,088 --> 00:12:27,889
[Debbie] That was a
good Christmas for them.
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00:12:27,891 --> 00:12:29,423
[Tabatha speaking]
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00:12:35,030 --> 00:12:38,399
Travis was a typical little boy.
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00:12:38,401 --> 00:12:39,634
He was a handful.
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00:12:40,369 --> 00:12:42,236
He was a little daredevil.
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00:12:42,238 --> 00:12:44,505
He was a lot like his dad.
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00:12:44,507 --> 00:12:47,408
[Tabatha speaking]
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00:12:50,445 --> 00:12:52,480
[Chasity speaking]
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00:12:52,482 --> 00:12:54,315
[Tabatha speaking]
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00:12:59,321 --> 00:13:01,022
[Chasity speaking]
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00:13:01,024 --> 00:13:02,490
Tabatha loved Christmas
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00:13:02,492 --> 00:13:04,425
as much as my
mom loved Christmas
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00:13:04,427 --> 00:13:06,327
and us growing up.
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00:13:06,329 --> 00:13:08,362
Both of them are
definitely givers.
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00:13:08,364 --> 00:13:10,364
[Chasity speaking]
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00:13:14,837 --> 00:13:16,370
[Tabatha chuckles]
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00:13:17,940 --> 00:13:19,140
[Debbie] Tab
and Chris were young
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00:13:19,142 --> 00:13:22,143
and trying to plan a future.
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00:13:22,145 --> 00:13:24,812
They didn't have a lot of income
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00:13:24,814 --> 00:13:27,114
and that was a problem.
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00:13:27,116 --> 00:13:30,051
It was a very hard
struggle for them
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00:13:30,053 --> 00:13:33,154
and eventually took
its toll on their marriage.
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00:13:35,958 --> 00:13:37,825
[narrator] Tabatha
works as a hairdresser
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00:13:37,827 --> 00:13:39,961
to bring in some extra cash.
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00:13:39,963 --> 00:13:43,464
It's not too hot for
you, is it, honey?
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00:13:43,466 --> 00:13:45,733
So, she tried to work
as much as she could
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00:13:45,735 --> 00:13:47,535
to make some extra income,
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00:13:47,537 --> 00:13:50,104
but it was, you know, kind
of, paycheck to paycheck.
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00:13:50,106 --> 00:13:54,475
So, it was a very hard
time for them, financially.
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00:13:55,911 --> 00:13:57,411
[Erica] After three
years of marriage,
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00:13:57,413 --> 00:14:00,848
the financial burdens
finally ended
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00:14:00,850 --> 00:14:02,984
in them splitting up and
going separate ways.
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00:14:05,687 --> 00:14:07,088
[Erica] She wanted
to make it work.
250
00:14:07,090 --> 00:14:08,356
She was really devastated.
251
00:14:08,358 --> 00:14:10,191
She gave it her all.
252
00:14:15,964 --> 00:14:17,999
[narrator] Tabatha,
Chasity and Travis
253
00:14:18,001 --> 00:14:21,068
move in with Debbie in 1996.
254
00:14:23,472 --> 00:14:25,339
After her and Chris
had split up,
255
00:14:25,341 --> 00:14:26,908
about six months later,
256
00:14:26,910 --> 00:14:32,046
she reconnected with Jason
Heavner someone from school.
257
00:14:32,048 --> 00:14:34,348
[Debbie] I think she just
enjoyed talking with him
258
00:14:34,350 --> 00:14:36,984
and he had had
a previous marriage,
259
00:14:36,986 --> 00:14:40,855
had two children, so
they had a lot in common
260
00:14:40,857 --> 00:14:43,891
that, kind of,
drew them together.
261
00:14:43,893 --> 00:14:45,293
Eventually, they started,
262
00:14:45,295 --> 00:14:47,028
you know, going out together.
263
00:14:48,363 --> 00:14:50,064
Jason was stable.
264
00:14:50,066 --> 00:14:53,935
He had his own place,
he had a good job.
265
00:14:53,937 --> 00:14:56,704
I feel like Tabatha
was really drawn to that
266
00:14:56,706 --> 00:14:59,273
because she wanted somebody
that she could depend on,
267
00:14:59,275 --> 00:15:02,276
that would take care
of her and the children.
268
00:15:06,281 --> 00:15:08,249
I mean, he was a great guy.
269
00:15:09,451 --> 00:15:13,254
Tabatha and Jason
got married in 1997.
270
00:15:14,389 --> 00:15:17,358
She finally got
her dream wedding.
271
00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,227
She actually wore
my wedding dress
272
00:15:20,229 --> 00:15:21,896
and we had it at the church
273
00:15:21,898 --> 00:15:24,398
and had her hair fixed
and mom got a DJ.
274
00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:25,933
And she was just so happy
275
00:15:25,935 --> 00:15:28,469
because it was like
her dream day.
276
00:15:29,938 --> 00:15:31,906
[Debbie] Jason and
Tab was very happy
277
00:15:31,908 --> 00:15:35,376
and they purchased
his mother's house...
278
00:15:36,378 --> 00:15:38,646
and, of course, had
all the children there.
279
00:15:40,282 --> 00:15:43,851
A little while later,
Jason and Tabatha
280
00:15:43,853 --> 00:15:46,420
had a little girl and
they named her Carly.
281
00:15:47,289 --> 00:15:50,124
And they were very
excited about having,
282
00:15:50,126 --> 00:15:52,793
you know, a child of their own,
283
00:15:52,795 --> 00:15:56,230
as well as, you know,
bringing her into the family.
284
00:15:56,932 --> 00:16:00,267
Jason wanted Tab to
stay home with Carly
285
00:16:00,269 --> 00:16:03,671
and she wanted to give her
more attention than before.
286
00:16:03,673 --> 00:16:07,041
So, their goal was to
raise all the kids together
287
00:16:07,043 --> 00:16:08,576
and to provide them a good home.
288
00:16:10,045 --> 00:16:11,178
She loved doing hair
289
00:16:11,180 --> 00:16:13,981
but she wanted to do
what her husband wanted,
290
00:16:13,983 --> 00:16:17,184
so she did quit and stay home.
291
00:16:17,186 --> 00:16:19,754
It was hard because
she gave up her income
292
00:16:19,756 --> 00:16:22,023
and then had to live
on a tight budget.
293
00:16:26,361 --> 00:16:30,064
[Erica] Tabatha
started losing her hair
294
00:16:30,066 --> 00:16:33,467
a couple years after
Carly was born.
295
00:16:33,469 --> 00:16:35,836
It started...
296
00:16:35,838 --> 00:16:37,805
kind of, in small patches
297
00:16:37,807 --> 00:16:39,774
where you could cover it up.
298
00:16:39,776 --> 00:16:43,077
But then, as time
went on, it got worse.
299
00:16:44,079 --> 00:16:46,013
[Debbie] She went
to different doctors
300
00:16:46,015 --> 00:16:48,649
and never could really determine
301
00:16:48,651 --> 00:16:51,452
what was causing the issue.
302
00:16:52,821 --> 00:16:56,290
Some thought, you know,
it was just maybe stress.
303
00:16:56,292 --> 00:17:00,061
She had always been in
a profession of doing hair
304
00:17:00,063 --> 00:17:01,729
and always kept her hair done.
305
00:17:01,731 --> 00:17:06,734
So, it was very hard
for her to accept this.
306
00:17:06,736 --> 00:17:10,071
She eventually had to
wear a hair piece or a wig
307
00:17:10,073 --> 00:17:13,674
and that was devastating
to her for a good while.
308
00:17:15,343 --> 00:17:17,711
Her confidence went way down
309
00:17:17,713 --> 00:17:20,381
and that's when I saw
a lot of strain
310
00:17:20,383 --> 00:17:24,018
in her and Jason's relationship.
311
00:17:24,020 --> 00:17:28,522
She assumed that Jason
wouldn't love her as much
312
00:17:28,524 --> 00:17:30,324
just because she felt like
313
00:17:30,326 --> 00:17:31,692
she wasn't good enough
314
00:17:31,694 --> 00:17:33,194
or pretty enough for him.
315
00:17:33,196 --> 00:17:36,130
And it just got to the point
316
00:17:36,132 --> 00:17:40,601
where it was arguing
constantly, which is never good.
317
00:17:41,837 --> 00:17:44,004
I think Tab and Jason realized
318
00:17:44,006 --> 00:17:47,808
that... they weren't
able to communicate
319
00:17:47,810 --> 00:17:52,713
without getting, you
know, a little too heated.
320
00:17:52,715 --> 00:17:55,850
They weren't able to
work things out just talking.
321
00:17:55,852 --> 00:17:58,152
It did lead up to
them feeling like
322
00:17:58,154 --> 00:18:00,321
they needed to go
their separate ways.
323
00:18:02,057 --> 00:18:06,060
In 2011, they did get
their divorce.
324
00:18:06,062 --> 00:18:09,029
They were able to
communicate and stay friends
325
00:18:09,031 --> 00:18:11,932
and do things with the children.
326
00:18:11,934 --> 00:18:14,268
They just had that relationship
327
00:18:14,270 --> 00:18:17,037
that they were still
there for each just,
328
00:18:17,039 --> 00:18:19,306
you know, just not married.
329
00:18:19,308 --> 00:18:23,110
[narrator] At 38,
Tabatha is single again.
330
00:18:23,112 --> 00:18:24,945
[Debbie] Tabatha
really had struggled
331
00:18:24,947 --> 00:18:28,082
and going through
several relationships.
332
00:18:28,084 --> 00:18:33,154
She really wanted to
focus on finding a career
333
00:18:33,156 --> 00:18:35,222
she wanted to really do well in.
334
00:18:35,224 --> 00:18:36,991
She wanted to
do that for herself
335
00:18:36,993 --> 00:18:40,761
as well as provide
for her children.
336
00:18:40,763 --> 00:18:44,031
[Erica] But she just
wanted to keep searching,
337
00:18:44,033 --> 00:18:47,134
thinking she was gonna
find the one eventually.
338
00:18:47,136 --> 00:18:50,371
She just carried every
emotion she had on her sleeve,
339
00:18:50,373 --> 00:18:52,840
and in some ways, that
was good and some ways,
340
00:18:52,842 --> 00:18:54,475
you know, it wasn't.
341
00:19:03,852 --> 00:19:06,353
[Debbie] I think after
Tabatha and Jason divorced,
342
00:19:06,355 --> 00:19:07,888
she felt like
she had some freedom
343
00:19:07,890 --> 00:19:10,357
that she could enjoy
family time,
344
00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:12,593
and we were all very close.
345
00:19:14,095 --> 00:19:16,263
[Erica] Well, once
they divorced,
346
00:19:16,265 --> 00:19:17,898
she went and got
her own apartment,
347
00:19:17,900 --> 00:19:19,700
she had a good job,
348
00:19:19,702 --> 00:19:24,672
she seemed to be
getting everything on track.
349
00:19:24,674 --> 00:19:27,341
[narrator] Tabatha also
helps out stepdad Dan
350
00:19:27,343 --> 00:19:30,144
with his painting
and restoration business.
351
00:19:31,146 --> 00:19:33,781
She seemed a lot happier.
352
00:19:33,783 --> 00:19:36,450
I think her hair kind of
started growing back.
353
00:19:38,787 --> 00:19:40,321
[narrator] Tabatha
strikes up a friendship
354
00:19:40,323 --> 00:19:42,022
with Dan's business partner,
355
00:19:42,024 --> 00:19:45,025
48-year-old Aaron Compton Jr.
356
00:19:46,228 --> 00:19:47,861
Aaron was always
around my family,
357
00:19:47,863 --> 00:19:49,330
like, he was part of the family.
358
00:19:50,031 --> 00:19:52,800
He teamed up with me in 2002
359
00:19:52,802 --> 00:19:56,303
and we started doing fire
and water damage our self.
360
00:19:57,405 --> 00:20:00,307
I was with him 24/7,
and a great guy,
361
00:20:00,309 --> 00:20:02,343
great person to be
around, you know,
362
00:20:02,345 --> 00:20:04,712
always bubbly, joking.
363
00:20:06,114 --> 00:20:08,983
One day, we had a fire
damage we were working on.
364
00:20:08,985 --> 00:20:10,351
I got a phone call
365
00:20:10,353 --> 00:20:13,187
and as I stepped outside
to take the call,
366
00:20:13,189 --> 00:20:16,390
and apparently, during
that time I was outside,
367
00:20:16,392 --> 00:20:20,027
they must've talked enough
that he asked her out.
368
00:20:20,962 --> 00:20:24,365
[chuckles] So, that was
kind of a surprise, but...
369
00:20:26,167 --> 00:20:28,102
that's kind of how
they got started,
370
00:20:28,104 --> 00:20:31,372
um, seeing each other.
371
00:20:32,007 --> 00:20:33,874
He did call me one day
372
00:20:33,876 --> 00:20:38,045
and asked me if I
had any issues for him
373
00:20:38,047 --> 00:20:39,813
actually taking Tabatha out
374
00:20:39,815 --> 00:20:41,582
and going out with her.
375
00:20:42,417 --> 00:20:45,152
It did make me feel,
"Wow." [chuckles]
376
00:20:47,389 --> 00:20:48,589
That meant a lot to me,
377
00:20:48,623 --> 00:20:51,058
that he was considerate
enough to ask, you know.
378
00:20:51,060 --> 00:20:53,694
And I remembered saying
"As long as you're good to her,
379
00:20:53,696 --> 00:20:55,663
you know,
that's all I care."
380
00:20:59,167 --> 00:21:01,368
Aaron bought her flowers,
381
00:21:01,370 --> 00:21:03,270
wrote her cards.
382
00:21:04,506 --> 00:21:08,142
Just constantly telling
her how beautiful she was,
383
00:21:08,144 --> 00:21:09,410
and he made her laugh
384
00:21:09,412 --> 00:21:11,945
and that was something
that she needed
385
00:21:11,947 --> 00:21:15,249
'cause... she had not
laughed in a long time.
386
00:21:21,856 --> 00:21:23,190
[narrator] Tabatha and Aaron
387
00:21:23,192 --> 00:21:26,460
visit Erica 15 months
after they start dating.
388
00:21:28,330 --> 00:21:31,932
[Erica] I remember when Aaron
and Tabatha came to the house
389
00:21:31,934 --> 00:21:33,267
and she held up her finger
390
00:21:33,269 --> 00:21:34,435
and showed me a ring,
391
00:21:34,437 --> 00:21:36,537
and she was like,
"We're getting married."
392
00:21:36,539 --> 00:21:40,341
And I was like,
"Okay." [laughs]
393
00:21:40,343 --> 00:21:43,243
But I didn't want to be
too much of a downer on it,
394
00:21:43,245 --> 00:21:45,346
so I was just like,
"Well, congratulations."
395
00:21:45,348 --> 00:21:49,316
But I really though that
that was way too fast.
396
00:21:50,819 --> 00:21:53,387
That was just the way
she felt validated,
397
00:21:53,389 --> 00:21:56,523
I guess, and loved,
just to have a man.
398
00:21:58,159 --> 00:21:59,893
Aaron lived with his mother
399
00:21:59,895 --> 00:22:01,328
and was talking care
of his mother.
400
00:22:01,963 --> 00:22:04,298
And so, when passed away,
401
00:22:04,300 --> 00:22:06,333
then that's when
Tabatha was, like,
402
00:22:06,335 --> 00:22:08,569
invited him to come
move in with her.
403
00:22:10,205 --> 00:22:13,307
And... they
moved in together
404
00:22:13,309 --> 00:22:17,144
and it wasn't very long
at all that I remember...
405
00:22:18,313 --> 00:22:21,515
her telling me he got
jealous of the cable guy
406
00:22:21,517 --> 00:22:23,350
coming to hook up the cable.
407
00:22:24,953 --> 00:22:27,421
It just-- It definitely changed
408
00:22:27,423 --> 00:22:29,690
when he moved in with her.
409
00:22:29,692 --> 00:22:31,458
[cell phone ringing]
410
00:22:35,530 --> 00:22:36,697
Hi, Jason.
411
00:22:38,566 --> 00:22:39,700
[chuckles]
412
00:22:41,002 --> 00:22:45,706
Aaron told me that Tabatha's
ex-husband would call.
413
00:22:47,809 --> 00:22:50,978
One time, he took
the phone from Tabatha.
414
00:22:55,950 --> 00:22:58,452
And told him that he was
the man of the house now,
415
00:22:58,454 --> 00:23:00,754
and that he made the rules,
416
00:23:00,756 --> 00:23:03,590
and that he didn't
need to be calling.
417
00:23:05,093 --> 00:23:08,429
Tabatha's ex-husband
said something like,
418
00:23:08,431 --> 00:23:11,432
"Well, you know, my
daughter lives there."
419
00:23:11,434 --> 00:23:13,434
And Aaron bragged and said,
420
00:23:13,436 --> 00:23:15,569
"Oh, well,
she's my daughter now."
421
00:23:16,271 --> 00:23:17,771
[Debbie]
Tab did not like that.
422
00:23:17,773 --> 00:23:20,407
She started seeing
more and more of that,
423
00:23:20,409 --> 00:23:24,478
and that kind of raised a
red flag in their relationship.
424
00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:27,414
After about a month
of him living with her,
425
00:23:27,416 --> 00:23:29,149
she asked him to move out.
426
00:23:35,223 --> 00:23:37,224
[Debbie] Danny did
talk to Aaron a lot,
427
00:23:37,226 --> 00:23:40,394
trying to get him to
move on with his life...
428
00:23:41,162 --> 00:23:43,597
and let Tab live her life.
429
00:23:45,266 --> 00:23:47,301
[Dan] Aaron wouldn't let it go.
430
00:23:47,303 --> 00:23:49,203
I mean, every day,
he talked about her
431
00:23:49,205 --> 00:23:52,072
and every day,
I'm encouraging him,
432
00:23:52,074 --> 00:23:54,341
"Aaron, you got to quit
talking about her so much.
433
00:23:54,343 --> 00:23:56,009
Aaron, you got to move on,
434
00:23:56,011 --> 00:23:58,245
you got to try to do
something different.
435
00:23:58,247 --> 00:24:00,481
Why don't you take a
break and leave town?"
436
00:24:03,985 --> 00:24:05,986
[Debbie] He had a
hard time letting go.
437
00:24:05,988 --> 00:24:08,121
He was determined that they
were gonna get back together
438
00:24:08,123 --> 00:24:09,223
and work it out.
439
00:24:10,992 --> 00:24:14,728
Aaron was still
calling and texting,
440
00:24:14,730 --> 00:24:17,431
and he put flowers
on our porch one time.
441
00:24:21,936 --> 00:24:24,505
[Erica] And then that's
whenever it, kind of, hit me that
442
00:24:25,073 --> 00:24:26,607
he's not giving up.
443
00:24:32,881 --> 00:24:34,681
[narrator] Tabatha
and Erica catch up
444
00:24:34,683 --> 00:24:37,117
a few weeks after
Aaron moves out.
445
00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:38,385
Hi.
446
00:24:38,387 --> 00:24:40,053
- Hey.
- Hello.
447
00:24:40,055 --> 00:24:42,990
And so what's been
happening with you?
448
00:24:42,992 --> 00:24:46,393
[Erica] So mom had treated
me to go get my hair done.
449
00:24:46,395 --> 00:24:50,197
Her and Tabatha and
Carly met with me up there,
450
00:24:50,199 --> 00:24:53,000
so we just had
a little girl day.
451
00:24:53,002 --> 00:24:57,137
And... she had
got a phone call
452
00:24:57,139 --> 00:24:58,539
and she walked outside.
453
00:24:58,541 --> 00:24:59,673
[cell phone ringing]
454
00:25:01,342 --> 00:25:02,476
Hi.
455
00:25:02,677 --> 00:25:06,113
And she came back in and
she was grinning ear to ear,
456
00:25:06,115 --> 00:25:09,816
and the first thing I asked
her is, like, "Who is it?"
457
00:25:09,818 --> 00:25:13,020
Because I could tell
it had to be a guy,
458
00:25:13,022 --> 00:25:14,154
and that's when she told me
459
00:25:14,156 --> 00:25:17,224
that she was talking
to some other man.
460
00:25:18,459 --> 00:25:20,460
[narrator] The man is an
old friend from high school
461
00:25:20,462 --> 00:25:22,229
called Joshua Titus.
462
00:25:22,231 --> 00:25:23,964
I'm seeing someone else.
463
00:25:23,966 --> 00:25:27,134
[Erica] Tabatha was
very excited to move on
464
00:25:27,136 --> 00:25:29,136
and start dating again,
465
00:25:29,138 --> 00:25:33,407
and... I didn't ask
any questions.
466
00:25:35,109 --> 00:25:38,211
I wanted her to just be happy
467
00:25:38,213 --> 00:25:41,248
and so I said,
"You better careful."
468
00:25:49,190 --> 00:25:50,624
[operator 1 speaking]
469
00:25:52,427 --> 00:25:53,694
[Tabatha speaking]
470
00:25:56,664 --> 00:25:57,598
[operator 1 speaking]
471
00:25:58,666 --> 00:25:59,933
[Tabatha speaking]
472
00:25:59,935 --> 00:26:01,001
[operator 1 speaking]
473
00:26:02,270 --> 00:26:05,038
[Tabatha speaking, screaming]
474
00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:06,273
[Aaron speaking]
475
00:26:10,345 --> 00:26:12,045
[Tabatha screaming]
476
00:26:12,047 --> 00:26:13,246
- [operator 1 speaking]
- [Aaron speaking]
477
00:26:17,285 --> 00:26:19,019
[operator 1 speaking]
478
00:26:21,923 --> 00:26:23,357
[Michael]
When the call came out,
479
00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:27,327
I remember very distinctly
hearing a woman scream,
480
00:26:27,329 --> 00:26:28,996
on the radio.
481
00:26:28,998 --> 00:26:31,298
The hair stood up on
the back of my neck.
482
00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:33,600
I knew the importance
of the call.
483
00:26:34,969 --> 00:26:36,937
I knew where
Rocky Ford Road was.
484
00:26:36,939 --> 00:26:38,238
It's not far from where I live,
485
00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,073
it's only about
five minutes away.
486
00:26:40,541 --> 00:26:43,110
So, I responded.
487
00:26:43,112 --> 00:26:46,279
[siren wailing]
488
00:26:47,415 --> 00:26:48,682
[Michael]
That morning,
489
00:26:48,684 --> 00:26:50,050
the door's standing open.
490
00:26:50,052 --> 00:26:51,385
No one's there.
491
00:26:51,387 --> 00:26:53,820
The phone was still on.
492
00:26:53,822 --> 00:26:56,490
They were still trying to listen
493
00:26:56,492 --> 00:26:59,526
listen to what was going
on inside of that apartment.
494
00:27:00,762 --> 00:27:03,296
It was a very eerie feeling
495
00:27:03,298 --> 00:27:07,000
to know that you only missed
them by probably seconds.
496
00:27:08,803 --> 00:27:12,272
There appeared to be signs
of a struggle inside the house.
497
00:27:12,274 --> 00:27:14,241
There was a broken window
498
00:27:14,243 --> 00:27:18,011
and also, there was some
smears of blood on the hallway.
499
00:27:18,013 --> 00:27:21,181
It appeared to be
from, like, fingertips
500
00:27:21,183 --> 00:27:25,352
and it appeared to be
going out of the house.
501
00:27:25,354 --> 00:27:29,289
The only thing that is
missing is the occupant.
502
00:27:30,291 --> 00:27:32,159
It's a kidnapping.
503
00:27:34,295 --> 00:27:37,931
We heard the name Tabatha
Heavner from communications.
504
00:27:37,933 --> 00:27:39,366
It was a absolute race
505
00:27:39,368 --> 00:27:41,568
to try to find Tabatha
at that point in time.
506
00:27:43,905 --> 00:27:47,908
[narrator] Deputies learn that
Tabatha's daughter Carly is safe.
507
00:27:47,910 --> 00:27:50,143
She's staying
with her dad Jason.
508
00:27:52,547 --> 00:27:55,082
[cell phone ringing]
509
00:27:59,087 --> 00:28:01,121
4:56 when I looked
at the clock
510
00:28:01,123 --> 00:28:03,924
and I quickly grabbed the phone
511
00:28:03,926 --> 00:28:06,326
so it didn't wake Debbie up
512
00:28:06,328 --> 00:28:08,128
and I said,
"Hey, Aaron."
513
00:28:09,130 --> 00:28:10,764
He said,
"Dan, don't hate me."
514
00:28:10,766 --> 00:28:13,133
And this is exactly
the way he talked,
515
00:28:13,135 --> 00:28:15,368
"Dan, don't hate me,
I've done something."
516
00:28:15,370 --> 00:28:17,304
And I said, "What have
you done, Aaron?"
517
00:28:17,306 --> 00:28:19,139
"I stabbed Tabatha.
518
00:28:19,141 --> 00:28:21,708
If I can't have her,
nobody else is going to."
519
00:28:25,513 --> 00:28:27,714
[Debbie] He didn't say
anything for a while.
520
00:28:27,716 --> 00:28:29,116
And I kept saying,
521
00:28:29,118 --> 00:28:30,884
"What is it?
What's wrong?
522
00:28:30,886 --> 00:28:32,018
What's going on?"
523
00:28:32,020 --> 00:28:36,323
And he finally said, um...
524
00:28:36,325 --> 00:28:39,493
He told me that Aaron
had stabbed Tabatha.
525
00:28:42,697 --> 00:28:44,431
I remember saying,
"Where is she?"
526
00:28:44,433 --> 00:28:46,433
And he said...
527
00:28:46,435 --> 00:28:48,301
something about
going to the hospital.
528
00:28:52,340 --> 00:28:53,640
[operator 2 speaking]
529
00:28:56,711 --> 00:28:58,278
[Dan speaking]
530
00:29:11,692 --> 00:29:13,226
[operator 2 speaking]
531
00:29:15,329 --> 00:29:16,496
[Dan speaking]
532
00:29:17,331 --> 00:29:18,431
[operator 2 speaking]
533
00:29:25,940 --> 00:29:26,640
[Dan speaking]
534
00:29:27,475 --> 00:29:28,642
[operator 2 speaking]
535
00:29:29,277 --> 00:29:30,410
[Dan speaking]
536
00:29:45,226 --> 00:29:47,194
[narrator] Deputies
find Aaron's gold truck
537
00:29:47,196 --> 00:29:48,495
near Tabatha's house.
538
00:29:49,697 --> 00:29:53,166
Tabatha's car is missing
from the driveway.
539
00:29:53,701 --> 00:29:55,368
Anytime we have an abduction,
540
00:29:55,370 --> 00:29:56,670
or a kidnapping case,
541
00:29:57,071 --> 00:29:58,405
seconds really do count.
542
00:30:00,741 --> 00:30:03,877
We pretty much knew she
was in the white Honda Accord.
543
00:30:03,879 --> 00:30:06,680
And that's what we gave
out for the attempt to locate.
544
00:30:11,319 --> 00:30:12,719
[narrator]
Dan and Debbie Miller
545
00:30:12,721 --> 00:30:15,021
are now driving
to Catawba Hospital.
546
00:30:15,023 --> 00:30:17,424
- [cell phone ringing] -
[Dan] My phone rings again,
547
00:30:17,426 --> 00:30:20,427
at, I think, 5:17,
548
00:30:20,429 --> 00:30:22,796
and he said,
"Dan, it gets worse."
549
00:30:22,798 --> 00:30:24,297
I said, "What, Aaron?"
550
00:30:24,299 --> 00:30:26,299
He said, "Tabatha
jumped from the car,
551
00:30:26,301 --> 00:30:28,401
got hit by
a tractor-trailer."
552
00:30:32,473 --> 00:30:33,974
I said,
"Where is she?"
553
00:30:33,976 --> 00:30:36,076
He said,
"Laying on 321."
554
00:30:40,748 --> 00:30:42,315
I said, "You need to
turn yourself in."
555
00:30:42,317 --> 00:30:45,986
And with that, I hung
it up and called 911.
556
00:30:45,988 --> 00:30:49,222
[operator 3] 911. What's the
address of the emergency?
557
00:30:49,224 --> 00:30:50,290
[Dan speaking]
558
00:31:00,301 --> 00:31:01,635
[operator 3 speaking]
559
00:31:04,138 --> 00:31:05,372
[Dan speaking]
560
00:31:07,541 --> 00:31:08,575
[operator 3 speaking]
561
00:31:11,279 --> 00:31:12,579
[Dan speaking]
562
00:31:16,384 --> 00:31:20,053
[Kerry] Highway 321,
it's a very long highway.
563
00:31:20,055 --> 00:31:22,422
It runs through Lincoln County,
564
00:31:22,424 --> 00:31:25,458
Gaston County, and on
into Mecklenburg County.
565
00:31:25,460 --> 00:31:27,027
There's a lot of
jurisdictions there.
566
00:31:27,029 --> 00:31:29,596
So, when he says she
jumped from the vehicle,
567
00:31:29,598 --> 00:31:31,598
they have no idea
where that was.
568
00:31:32,900 --> 00:31:34,234
[Tammy]
We all had doubts
569
00:31:34,236 --> 00:31:37,037
as to where Tabatha was.
570
00:31:37,039 --> 00:31:39,973
If she had really
jumped out of a vehicle.
571
00:31:39,975 --> 00:31:42,108
There were just a lot of ifs.
572
00:31:42,110 --> 00:31:44,678
And we really had no idea
573
00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:46,913
what his next move was gonna be,
574
00:31:46,915 --> 00:31:48,682
or if he was even
telling us the truth.
575
00:31:51,986 --> 00:31:54,020
[narrator] 5:25 a.m.,
576
00:31:54,022 --> 00:31:56,222
911 receives another call.
577
00:31:57,391 --> 00:31:59,993
[phone ringing]
578
00:31:59,995 --> 00:32:01,194
[operator 4 speaking]
579
00:32:01,662 --> 00:32:02,595
[Paula speaking]
580
00:32:07,501 --> 00:32:08,468
[operator 4 speaking]
581
00:32:08,470 --> 00:32:09,669
[Paula speaking]
582
00:32:16,844 --> 00:32:18,545
[operator 4 speaking]
583
00:32:31,425 --> 00:32:34,995
[narrator] Eleven minutes
later, 911 receives a call
584
00:32:34,997 --> 00:32:37,030
from Tabatha's new boyfriend.
585
00:32:38,366 --> 00:32:40,266
[operator 5 speaking]
586
00:32:40,268 --> 00:32:41,534
[Joshua speaking]
587
00:32:55,149 --> 00:32:56,249
[operator 5 speaking]
588
00:33:00,955 --> 00:33:02,222
[Joshua speaking]
589
00:33:03,657 --> 00:33:06,693
After the calls from
numerous people,
590
00:33:06,695 --> 00:33:09,095
that knew Aaron
and knew Tabatha,
591
00:33:09,097 --> 00:33:10,897
it's got a little scary.
592
00:33:10,899 --> 00:33:14,200
We didn't know, do
we have a serial killer?
593
00:33:14,202 --> 00:33:16,302
Do we have somebody that is
594
00:33:16,304 --> 00:33:18,905
gonna go after family members,
595
00:33:18,907 --> 00:33:21,408
take revenge to the point
it just didn't matter to him.
596
00:33:21,410 --> 00:33:23,376
He didn't care
what he did anymore.
597
00:33:36,190 --> 00:33:37,690
[operator 6 speaking]
598
00:33:43,197 --> 00:33:45,832
Once we got the call
that Tabatha had jumped
599
00:33:45,834 --> 00:33:49,235
from the vehicle
somewhere on Highway 321,
600
00:33:51,772 --> 00:33:53,840
we automatically started calling
601
00:33:53,842 --> 00:33:55,642
the surrounding
police departments.
602
00:33:56,944 --> 00:33:58,445
[Gaston county
operator speaking]
603
00:33:59,914 --> 00:34:00,780
[operator 6 speaking]
604
00:34:00,782 --> 00:34:02,582
[Gaston county
operator speaking]
605
00:34:08,255 --> 00:34:10,990
[Tammy] Gaston County
had a person
606
00:34:10,992 --> 00:34:13,560
that had been hit on 321.
607
00:34:14,261 --> 00:34:16,229
We didn't have any description.
608
00:34:16,231 --> 00:34:17,597
We didn't have a name.
609
00:34:17,599 --> 00:34:21,201
We were hoping and
praying that it wasn't Tabatha.
610
00:34:26,240 --> 00:34:29,642
[narrator] The victim is
unrecognizable following the collision.
611
00:34:32,179 --> 00:34:33,780
[Kerry] I had to report
to the Sheriff's Office
612
00:34:33,782 --> 00:34:36,082
where the family
had started to gather,
613
00:34:36,084 --> 00:34:38,585
there's when I met
with those guys.
614
00:34:40,421 --> 00:34:42,088
That was probably
one of the hardest things
615
00:34:42,090 --> 00:34:43,156
I've ever had to do...
616
00:34:50,431 --> 00:34:53,133
especially...
617
00:34:53,135 --> 00:34:55,201
in the condition
that body was in
618
00:34:55,203 --> 00:34:58,271
after that horrible
incident on Highway 321.
619
00:34:59,907 --> 00:35:03,176
The only way the family could
620
00:35:03,178 --> 00:35:04,711
positively identify her
621
00:35:04,713 --> 00:35:07,013
was a tattoo of a butterfly.
622
00:35:07,015 --> 00:35:08,982
It was on her shoulder.
623
00:35:08,984 --> 00:35:11,518
I remember taking
Mr. Miller
624
00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:13,319
out in the hall way alone.
625
00:35:14,221 --> 00:35:15,688
He's a strong man.
626
00:35:19,994 --> 00:35:21,327
I showed him that picture.
627
00:35:23,197 --> 00:35:25,098
[Dan] And I said,
"Yeah, that's it."
628
00:35:25,100 --> 00:35:29,035
And unfortunately, that was
the way I had to identify her.
629
00:35:29,037 --> 00:35:33,206
Then, my mind was going
to a lot of different places
630
00:35:33,208 --> 00:35:34,307
at that point,
631
00:35:34,309 --> 00:35:37,644
and at same time,
worried about my wife.
632
00:35:39,180 --> 00:35:41,381
I just, I just, I didn't
wanna accept it,
633
00:35:41,383 --> 00:35:42,882
I didn't wanna believe it.
634
00:35:42,884 --> 00:35:45,051
I think I kept telling
myself it wasn't her,
635
00:35:45,053 --> 00:35:48,021
it was somebody else,
but I knew it was
636
00:35:48,023 --> 00:35:49,522
but, um...
637
00:35:51,192 --> 00:35:53,660
It was just--
It was devastating.
638
00:35:57,932 --> 00:36:01,367
[Tammy] We had called Aaron
Compton's phone numerous times.
639
00:36:01,369 --> 00:36:04,571
He wouldn't answer.
We tried again.
640
00:36:06,140 --> 00:36:08,107
He did answer the phone.
641
00:36:27,995 --> 00:36:30,997
[Tammy] We were able to get
him to come to a local pharmacy
642
00:36:30,999 --> 00:36:33,166
there in Catawba County,
643
00:36:33,168 --> 00:36:35,301
and he was gonna
turn himself in.
644
00:36:50,684 --> 00:36:52,252
When the deputies arrived,
645
00:36:52,254 --> 00:36:54,354
they encountered
Mr. Compton
646
00:36:54,356 --> 00:36:58,091
still seated inside
the white Honda.
647
00:36:58,093 --> 00:37:02,161
They instructed Mr. Compton
to get out of the car
648
00:37:02,163 --> 00:37:04,297
where he was then
handcuffed and detained.
649
00:37:07,368 --> 00:37:09,035
[Aaron T. speaking]
650
00:37:10,404 --> 00:37:12,038
Aaron and I arrived
at the Sherriff's Office
651
00:37:12,040 --> 00:37:14,474
a little after
7:00 a.m.
652
00:37:14,476 --> 00:37:17,810
Initially, Aaron was
offered his Miranda Rights.
653
00:37:17,812 --> 00:37:19,012
Aaron waived those rights
654
00:37:19,014 --> 00:37:19,979
and agreed to speak with us
655
00:37:19,981 --> 00:37:21,347
without an attorney
being present.
656
00:37:23,050 --> 00:37:24,417
[Aaron T. speaking]
657
00:37:31,992 --> 00:37:34,427
[Aaron T.] I began the
interview with Aaron
658
00:37:34,429 --> 00:37:36,029
by speaking with him about
659
00:37:36,031 --> 00:37:38,197
his relationship with Tabatha.
660
00:37:38,199 --> 00:37:39,699
Aaron explained to me that
661
00:37:39,701 --> 00:37:41,901
he was trying to rekindle
662
00:37:41,903 --> 00:37:44,203
his relationship with Tabatha,
663
00:37:44,205 --> 00:37:45,672
but that she'd begin
to see another man.
664
00:38:21,775 --> 00:38:23,710
[narrator] Aaron drives
to Tabatha's house
665
00:38:23,712 --> 00:38:27,046
on the morning of
August 14th, 2013.
666
00:38:29,283 --> 00:38:30,783
Store surveillance cameras
667
00:38:30,785 --> 00:38:34,420
revealed that Aaron purchased
some items at 3:58 a.m.,
668
00:38:37,324 --> 00:38:40,526
forty minutes before
Tabatha's call to 911.
669
00:38:42,930 --> 00:38:46,265
The surveillance
footage captured Aaron
670
00:38:46,267 --> 00:38:48,167
purchasing a length of rope,
671
00:38:48,169 --> 00:38:50,837
a machete and a knife,
672
00:38:50,839 --> 00:38:54,407
which he eventually
used to stab Tabatha.
673
00:38:54,409 --> 00:38:58,010
Aaron claimed that his only
intent was to speak with Tabatha
674
00:38:58,012 --> 00:39:00,079
in hopes of resuming
their relationship.
675
00:39:01,115 --> 00:39:05,151
That footage...
was integral
676
00:39:05,153 --> 00:39:09,021
in proving premeditation
in this incident.
677
00:39:12,159 --> 00:39:15,962
It was clear to us
that from the outset,
678
00:39:15,964 --> 00:39:18,331
Aaron intended to kidnap...
679
00:39:18,333 --> 00:39:20,633
and ultimately murder
Tabatha Heavner.
680
00:39:23,237 --> 00:39:26,105
So, Aaron Compton was
charged with first-degree murder
681
00:39:26,107 --> 00:39:27,673
and first-degree kidnapping.
682
00:39:32,079 --> 00:39:34,147
[narrator] Investigators
piece together the events
683
00:39:34,149 --> 00:39:36,249
that led to Tabatha's murder.
684
00:39:37,317 --> 00:39:39,118
Tabatha had been on a date
685
00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:43,189
with her new boyfriend,
Joshua Titus, that evening.
686
00:39:43,191 --> 00:39:46,993
We feel, for sure,
that Aaron waited there
687
00:39:47,194 --> 00:39:49,228
for Josh Titus to leave,
688
00:39:49,230 --> 00:39:52,198
so he could force entry
into Tabatha's home.
689
00:39:56,904 --> 00:39:59,806
Once inside, Aaron
confronted Tabatha
690
00:39:59,808 --> 00:40:01,674
and told her that
she had a short time
691
00:40:01,676 --> 00:40:03,776
in which she could
leave with him
692
00:40:03,778 --> 00:40:05,945
or that he would
have to kill her
693
00:40:05,947 --> 00:40:08,714
because Aaron was aware
that the police were on the way.
694
00:40:14,087 --> 00:40:16,522
Aaron had kidnapped
Tabatha from her home,
695
00:40:18,058 --> 00:40:20,259
stabbing her on
her own front porch.
696
00:40:24,298 --> 00:40:28,668
Aaron convinced her
to get into her car
697
00:40:28,670 --> 00:40:30,403
with him driving under the guise
698
00:40:30,405 --> 00:40:32,672
of him driving her
to an area hospital.
699
00:40:34,141 --> 00:40:36,976
Tabatha realized
during that trip
700
00:40:36,978 --> 00:40:40,379
that they were not in fact
heading to that hospital.
701
00:40:40,381 --> 00:40:43,349
It was then that Tabatha
decided to jump out of the car.
702
00:40:46,420 --> 00:40:48,521
Aaron called after Tabatha
703
00:40:48,523 --> 00:40:51,023
and began stabbing her again
704
00:40:51,025 --> 00:40:53,993
in an effort to stop
her from running.
705
00:40:57,664 --> 00:41:00,066
[Kerry] And trying to
get away from Aaron,
706
00:41:00,601 --> 00:41:04,036
I feel she ran into
oncoming traffic.
707
00:41:07,274 --> 00:41:09,242
[car honking]
708
00:41:13,113 --> 00:41:15,948
The driver of the vehicle
that struck Tabatha
709
00:41:15,950 --> 00:41:19,218
wasn't at fault, nor
charged with any crimes
710
00:41:19,220 --> 00:41:21,020
related to this case.
711
00:41:23,423 --> 00:41:25,324
[narrator] Aaron
Compton pleads guilty
712
00:41:25,326 --> 00:41:27,059
in April, 2014,
713
00:41:27,061 --> 00:41:29,495
to avoid the death penalty.
714
00:41:29,497 --> 00:41:33,099
The judge sentences him
to life without parole.
715
00:41:34,167 --> 00:41:36,202
And I think Aaron Compton Jr.
716
00:41:36,204 --> 00:41:38,271
Is exactly where
he needs to be...
717
00:41:40,040 --> 00:41:42,208
for the rest of
his life in prison.
718
00:41:47,080 --> 00:41:49,282
[Debbie] I was so
proud to be her mom.
719
00:41:51,885 --> 00:41:54,720
And I'd do anything
to get her back.
720
00:41:56,223 --> 00:41:58,524
Life's been hard without her.
721
00:42:01,128 --> 00:42:03,496
I was glad to have her
the 40 years I had her.
722
00:42:12,005 --> 00:42:13,406
She just wanted to be loved,
723
00:42:13,408 --> 00:42:15,241
it's all she ever wanted.
724
00:42:16,243 --> 00:42:18,377
[Dan] You may kiss the bride.
725
00:42:18,379 --> 00:42:20,012
[Erica] Out of every
person in her life,
726
00:42:20,014 --> 00:42:21,747
she wanted to be loved.
727
00:42:21,749 --> 00:42:24,116
And I wish that
she could have that,
728
00:42:24,118 --> 00:42:27,420
but I know that she
has it now in heaven.