Web of Lies (2014–…): Season 4, Episode 2 - High on Love - full transcript

Narrator: A YOUNG MAN
LOOKING FOR LOVE ONLINE...

HE WAS TRYING TO FIND
THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE.

Narrator:...AND A BEAUTIFUL
20-YEAR-OLD NURSE...

HI.

HE WAS GENUINELY
IN LOVE WITH THIS GIRL.

Narrator: BUT THE COURSE OF TRUE
LOVE DOESN'T RUN SMOOTH...

DAMN IT!

Narrator:
...ESPECIALLY WHEN SECRETS...

ERICA, I'LL BE OVER
IN A BIT.

Narrator:...LIES...

DEAL WITH IT.



Narrator:
...AND JEALOUS EXES...

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY ANYBODY
WOULD WANT TO DO THAT.

STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER.
GOT IT?

I COULDN'T FATHOM SOMEBODY
BEING THAT MESSED UP.

Narrator:...CONSPIRED
TO SHATTER A LIFE

JUST GETTING STARTED.

NOT GONNA TAKE IT.

JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

IN THE HEART OF NOVA SCOTIA,

BRIDGEWATER IS A SLEEPY CANADIAN
TOWN OF UNDER 9,000 PEOPLE.

AND LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST

IS 18-YEAR-OLD
BRANDON WENTZELL.



♪♪

HE'S A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL

AND LOVES DIRT BIKING,
SOCIALIZING AND GIRLS.

Cheryl:
I MEAN, WHO WOULDN'T LOVE HIM?

HE HAD DIMPLES TO DIE FOR
AND A BEAUTIFUL SMILE.

Derek: OH, YEAH. YEAH.

I MEAN, HE WAS DEFINITELY,
UH, A COOL KID.

HE HAD NO SHORTAGE OF FRIENDS.

Man: OKAY.
TWO -- TWO WORDS.

SCARED, SCREAMING,
UH...

Narrator:
BRANDON IS AN ONLY CHILD

AND HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP
BY HIS MOM, CHERYL.

HIS FATHER LEFT THEM
WHEN BRANDON WAS VERY YOUNG.

PIZZA.

OKAY.

Cheryl: BRANDON AND I WERE
SUPER CLOSE.

WE WERE ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING.

MMM.

- AND HE LOVED IT.
- YUMMY PIZZA.

PIZZA SAUCE.

- WHAT?
- PIZZA.

Derek: WHENEVER BRANDON,
IF HIS FRIENDS WERE AROUND,

IT DIDN'T MATTER.

HE'D STILL HUG HIS MOM,
STILL ALWAYS SAY HE LOVED HER.

UM, THEY'RE -- THEY'VE ALWAYS
BEEN REALLY CLOSE.

THEY'RE ALWAYS VERY SILLY
TOGETHER, VERY GOOFY.

- WHAT?
- PIZZA SAUCE?

- WHAT ARE THE M's FOR?
- PIZZA SAUCE?

LIKE, MMM,
SO YUMMY TO EAT.

WE GOT TO GO, BRANDON.

OKAY. LET'S GO. ALL RIGHT.

- LOVE YOU.
- LOVE YOU.

SEE YOU LATER, OKAY?

YOU SUCK AT THIS GAME, THOUGH.
- YO, GIVE ME ANOTHER SHOT.

- THANK YOU.
- NICE SEEING YOU AGAIN.

OKAY.
BYE, GUYS.

Cheryl: BRANDON WOULD TALK TO ME
ABOUT ANYTHING, YOU KNOW.

KIDS, HOW THEY ARE,
THEY'LL EXPERIMENT WITH DRUGS.

AND HE'S EVEN TALKED
TO ME ABOUT THAT.

Brandon: OH, YEAH.

I DON'T CONDONE IT.

BUT I KNOW HE WAS
DOING MARIJUANA.

[ HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING ]

COME ON, MAN.
HAVE A HIT.

COME ON, BILLY.

Hamilton: WHEN WE WERE YOUNG,

WE WERE DOING DRUGS
A BIT TOGETHER.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T MUCH.

WE WERE DRINKING UNDERAGE
AND SMOKING WEED.

Hann: IT WOULD START WITH,
"OKAY, WE'RE JUST SMOKING POT.

ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE DRINKING."

ALL OF A SUDDEN, SMOKING POT
ISN'T FUN ANYMORE.

DRINKING ISN'T FUN ANYMORE.

AND IT IS ALL ABOUT
CONTINUING TO PUSH THOSE LIMITS

AND JUST FIND THAT
NEXT LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT.

Cheryl:
BRANDON HAD EXPERIMENTED

WITH A DRUG
CALLED ECSTASY.

LITTLE SOMETHING
FOR LATER?

Derek: I HAD HEARD THAT
HE HAD BEEN EXPERIMENTING.

SO I TOLD HIM MY THOUGHTS
RATHER BLUNTLY.

HEY, BRANDON,
STAND UP FOR A SEC.

YOUR MOM TOLD ME

THAT YOU WERE MESSING
AROUND WITH ECSTASY.

IS THAT RIGHT?
- NO.

MOM DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.

I TOLD HIM, ESSENTIALLY,
"YOU'RE PLAYING WITH FIRE."

THAT STUFF'S
SUPER DANGEROUS, OKAY?

COULD BE DRAIN CLEANER
IN THERE, ANYTHING.

"AND YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET.

AND YOU NEVER KNOW HOW YOU'RE
GONNA REACT TO SUCH THINGS."

CUT THAT STUFF OUT,
ALL RIGHT?

YEAH.
YEAH, OKAY.

YOU'RE --
YOU'RE RIGHT.

THEN I SAID, "DON'T YOU DARE
EVER DO THAT, OR --

OR YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO DEAL WITH ME."

YEAH.
- YEAH.

I HAD FOLLOWED UP WITH HIM
ON OUR DISCUSSION.

AND HE TOLD ME
THAT HE WAS DONE.

AND HE WASN'T DOING
THAT ANYMORE.

CAN WE GET BACK
TO FIXING THIS?

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO IT.

- MORNING, HONEY.
- MORNING.

Narrator: AT THE SAME TIME,
THERE ARE SOME DRUGS

BRANDON IS REQUIRED TO TAKE.

SERIOUSLY?

DO I HAVE TO TAKE THESE?

HIS DIAGNOSIS OF ADHD

MEANS A DAILY DOSE
OF METHYLPHENIDATE.

Cheryl: BRANDON DIDN'T REALLY
LIKE TAKING THE MEDICATION.

HE DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY
IT MADE HIM FEEL.

- IT'S IMPORTANT.
- I'M NOT TAKING 'EM, OKAY?

Narrator:
THE STIMULANT IS PRESCRIBED

TO HELP HIM CONCENTRATE
AND CONTROL HIS TEMPER.

NO, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T WANT TO.

I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT.
I CAN'T EVEN TASTE MY FOOD.

YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE
AND UNIVERSITY, RIGHT?

THIS IS SOMETHING
YOU HAVE TO DO, HONEY.

AFTER YEARS OF STRUGGLING
AT SCHOOL,

BRANDON'S GRADES
START TO IMPROVE.

CHECK IT OUT.

OH, MY GOSH.

AMAZING.

I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT.

OH, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

THE FUTURE IS LOOKING
BRIGHTER FOR BRANDON.

ALL HE LACKS NOW
IS A GIRLFRIEND.

Cheryl: GIRLS LOVED BRANDON.

GIRLS, LIKE,
FLOCKED AROUND HIM.

Hamilton: ANY TIME I'D BE
HANGING OUT WITH BRANDON,

THERE'D BE SOME GIRL
COMING UP TO HIM,

"HEY, HOW ARE YOU?"
GIVING HIM A BIG HUG.

Derek: HE HAD A LOT OF GIRLS
THAT WERE INTERESTED IN HIM.

BUT HE WOULDN'T SETTLE
FOR JUST ANY -- ANY GIRL.

HE WAS VERY MUCH,
THOUGH, I THINK,

TRYING TO FIND
THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE.

Narrator:
BRANDON SETS UP A PROFILE

Hamilton: HE FELT,

IF HE WAS LOOKING FOR LOVE
ON THE INTERNET,

HE WOULD HAVE
A BETTER SELECTION.

Narrator:
AND ALMOST INSTANTLY,

BRANDON FINDS
WHAT HE'S LOOKING FOR.

BRANDON TOLD ME ABOUT THIS GIRL
HE WAS TALKING TO ONLINE.

I COULD TELL BY THE WAY
HE WAS TALKING,

HE REALLY LIKED HER.

Narrator: CLARISSA CHISTIAKOV IS
SMALL, BLONDE AND BEAUTIFUL.

SHE WAS HIS IDEA OF GIRL,

EVERYTHING THAT HE TALKED ABOUT.

Narrator:
CLARISSA IS IN SOUTH AMERICA

FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS

WORKING IN A CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL AS A STUDENT NURSE.

CLARISSA LOVES TELLING BRANDON
ALL ABOUT HER FAMILY.

HER FATHER IS A PROFESSOR
AT HALIFAX UNIVERSITY.

AND SHE HAS A PROTECTIVE
YOUNGER BROTHER, KYLE.

BRANDON IS EXCITED TO TELL
HIS MOM ABOUT CLARISSA.

- THAT'S HER THERE.
- SHE'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

YEAH. SHE'S REALLY,
REALLY PRETTY.

AND THAT'S HER PARENTS THERE.
THAT'S HER DAD.

MOM'S A NURSE.

THEY LOOK LIKE
REALLY NICE PEOPLE.

SHE HAD A REALLY
GOOD FAMILY LIFE.

AND EVERYTHING WAS JUST GREAT.

[ DOG BARKING ]

Narrator:
DESPERATE TO VIDEO CHAT,

THEY TRY TO SKYPE EACH OTHER.

BUT CLARISSA CAN'T
GET HER WEBCAM TO WORK.

AND WITH LIMITED SPANISH,

SHE STRUGGLES TO FIND SOMEONE
IN BOGOTA TO HELP HER FIX IT.

HER CAMERA NEVER WORKED.

SO IT WAS ONLY HER
VOICE TO GET TO HEAR.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS,
LIKE, JUST A LOT OF TYPING,

TYPING, TYPING BACK AND FORTH.

THAT'S SO AWESOME.

Narrator: CLARISSA GIVES
BRANDON HER PHONE NUMBER.

AND SOON,
THEY'RE TALKING EVERY DAY.

YOU LOOK AMAZING
IN THOSE PICTURES.

Cheryl: BRANDON.

THEY'D BE CHATTING,
LIKE, THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

SO WHEN DID YOU SAY
YOU WERE GONNA BE BACK AGAIN?

BRANDON.

Narrator:
THEY'D TALK FOR HOURS,

PLANNING TO MEET UP
WHEN CLARISSA RETURNS

TO CANADA
IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

SORRY, YEAH.
IT'S JUST, UH, JUST MY MOM.

YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW IF
I CAN WAIT THAT LONG.

Cheryl: BRANDON USED TO RUN UP
BIG PHONE BILLS.

BUT HE'D PAY IT OFF EVERY MONTH.

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW,
BUT HE DID.

Narrator: THOUGH, TO BRANDON,
THE WAIT FEELS LIKE AN ETERNITY,

CLARISSA FINALLY ARRIVES
BACK HOME IN NOVA SCOTIA.

HEY, SIS.
WELCOME HOME.

KYLE, HI.
IT'S SO COLD.

- I KNOW. HERE.
- CAN YOU HELP ME?

- YEAH.
- THANKS.

[ CELLPHONE CHIMES ]

OH, MY GOD, MOM, DAD.

Cheryl: BRANDON WAS REALLY
EXCITED THAT CLARISSA CAME BACK.

HE WAS LIKE, "OH, MOM,

I'M FINALLY GONNA
GET TO MEET HER.

I'M FINALLY GONNA
GET TO SEE HER."

Narrator: BUT BRANDON'S NOT
THE ONLY ONE

INTERESTED
IN CLARISSA'S RETURN.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

Narrator: AFTER AN INTENSE
FOUR MONTHS OF ONLINE FLIRTING,

18-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT BRANDON WENTZELL

AND 20-YEAR-OLD
CLARISSA CHISTIAKOV,

AN ASPIRING NURSE,
HAVE FALLEN FOR EACH OTHER.

CLARISSA IS BACK HOME
IN NOVA SCOTIA

AFTER WORKING IN SOUTH AMERICA.

THOUGH SHE AND BRANDON
HAVE BEEN CHATTING FOR MONTHS,

SHE HASN'T BEEN
COMPLETELY OPEN WITH HIM.

I'LL USE THIS
IF I HAVE TO.

ERIC?

CLARISSA'S EX-BOYFRIEND,
ERIC VANSTEIN,

IS STILL IN THE PICTURE.

CLARISSA DUMPED HIM BEFORE
SHE RETURNED FROM COLOMBIA.

BUT NOW THAT SHE'S BACK,
HE WON'T LEAVE HER ALONE.

ERIC, I TOLD YOU.
WE'RE THROUGH.

PLEASE,
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.

Cheryl: ERIC WAS VERY JEALOUS

THAT BRANDON WAS DATING
CLARISSA ONLINE.

AND HE DIDN'T WANT BRANDON
TO BE TALKING TO HER ONLINE.

Narrator: WHEN CLARISSA COMES
CLEAN ABOUT HER EX,

BRANDON'S NOT HAPPY EITHER.

HE STARTS CHECKING
OUT ERIC ONLINE.

WHEN SUDDENLY ERIC MESSAGES HIM.

SON OF A BITCH.

ERIC APPROACHED BRANDON
FIRST SAYING,

"THAT'S MY GIRLFRIEND,"
YOU KNOW, AND,

"WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW,

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE
TALKING TO HER."

AND HE THREATENED BRANDON

THAT, YOU KNOW,
IF IT CONTINUED,

YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW,
HE WAS COMING AFTER HIM.

Narrator: ERIC BOMBARDS BRANDON
WITH ABUSIVE MESSAGES.

FURIOUS, BRANDON
REACHES OUT TO KYLE,

CLARISSA'S BROTHER.

[ CHILDREN PLAYING ]

[ DOG BARKING ]

HEY, ERIC.

YOU STAY AWAY
FROM MY SISTER!

GOT IT?!

OH, WHO YOU
TALKING TO, HONEY?

OH, NO ONE.
JUST MAKING PLANS.

Narrator: DESPITE
HER PROBLEMS WITH ERIC,

CLARISSA HAS TO FOCUS
ON PAYING FOR NURSING SCHOOL.

SO SHE TAKES A JOB
WAITRESSING AT A BAR.

HER WORK SCHEDULE MEANS

THAT SHE WON'T HAVE
ANY TIME OFF

UNTIL CHRISTMAS,
TWO WEEKS AWAY.

BRANDON DOESN'T HAVE
A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

SO HE INVITES HER
TO COME TO BRIDGEWATER.

BRANDON WAS VERY EXCITED
FOR HIS MEETING WITH HER.

IT WAS A BIG THING.

HE HAD HER UP ON A PEDESTAL.

HMM.
YOU'VE REALLY FALLEN

FOR THIS GIRL,
HAVEN'T YOU?

UH, YEAH, I GUESS.

BRANDON WAS EVEN
GONNA GO OUT

AND GET HER SOME
QUITE EXPENSIVE JEWELRY.

BUT I TALKED HIM OUT OF THAT.

Narrator: AT CLARISSA'S HOME
IN TANTALLON 50 MILES AWAY,

HER FAMILY IS GATHERING
FOR CHRISTMAS...

HEY, SIS, I FOUND
SOME MORE IN THE GARAGE.

HEY, AMAZING.

Narrator:
...INCLUDING HER FAVORITE AUNT.

- OH, THAT LOOKS GREAT.
- THANKS.

ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL?

SHE SAID THAT HER
AUNT HAD BREAST CANCER.

AND IT WAS GONNA BE
HER LAST CHRISTMAS.

WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT
THE BEST CHRISTMAS YET.

I PROMISE.

Narrator: THEN, JUST A COUPLE
OF DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE,

CLARISSA'S AUNT TAKES
A TURN FOR THE WORSE.

CLARISSA DECIDES
SHE CAN'T LEAVE HER.

Cheryl: BRANDON WENT FROM ANGER
TO DISAPPOINTMENT.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A GOOD CHRISTMAS.

AND THEN
HE JUST SHRUGGED IT OFF

AND JUST KIND OF PUT IT
IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD.

COME ON.
COME ON.

Hann:
BRANDON'S THE TYPE OF PERSON

THAT WILL RUN SOMETHING

UNTIL IT IS COMPLETELY DRY

SO THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
THE ONE THAT DIDN'T TRY.

HE'S JUST THAT TYPE OF PERSON.

IF HE REALLY
WANTED SOMETHING, HE...

EVERY RELATIONSHIP,
EVERY FRIENDSHIP,

HE WOULD MAKE SURE
THAT HE DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.

Narrator: BRANDON'S 19th
BIRTHDAY IS IN A FEW WEEKS.

AND IN NOVA SCOTIA,
THAT MEANS BRANDON

WILL BE OF LEGAL DRINKING AGE.

WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING
AWESOME FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY.

BUT BRANDON
HAS ALREADY INVITED

CLARISSA TO JOIN HIM
FOR THE BIG EVENT.

OH, HAS SOMEBODY
ELSE GOT PLANS?

I DON'T THINK, UH,
MANY OTHER PEOPLE WILL WAIT

THAT LONG FOR SOMEONE
THEY HAD JUST MET ONLINE,

SOMEONE THEY HAD MET --
NEVER MET IN REAL LIFE.

BRANDON, HE --

HE REALLY WANTED SOMETHING
WITH THIS GIRL.

[ CELLPHONE VIBRATING ]

DAMN IT!

EVERYTHING WENT DOWN FROM THERE.

Narrator:
JANUARY 8, 2012...

[ CELLPHONE VIBRATING ]

...BRANDON WENTZELL'S
19th BIRTHDAY,

THE DAY HE'LL MEET
HIS ONLINE GIRLFRIEND,

CLARISSA, FOR THE FIRST TIME.

DAMN IT!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

OH, HONEY, WHAT'S WRONG?

OH.

SHE CANCELED AGAIN!

OH.
I'M SO SORRY.

COME OUT, AND WE'LL
TALK ABOUT IT, HONEY.

BRANDON NEVER GAVE UP ON HER
BECAUSE, I THINK,

SHE WAS VERY, UH,
PERSISTENT WITH HIM.

AND JUST SHE WOULDN'T
LEAVE HIM ALONE.

SHE WAS JUST CALLING HIM,
CALLING HIM,

CALLING HIM
AND TEXTING AND TEXTING

AND TEXTING ALL THE TIME.

AND SO SHE WAS
ALWAYS IN HIS HEAD,

YOU KNOW, ALWAYS IN HIS HEAD.

Hamilton: I WAS A BIT WEARY
OF THE SITUATION.

I HAD TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW,
"BE CAREFUL.

DON'T GET TOO CAUGHT UP
IN THIS,"

YOU KNOW, "KEEP YOUR HEAD
ON YOUR SHOULDERS."

BUT HE HAD HIS MIND SET.

[ HORN HONKS ]

[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]

HI, CLARISSA.

Narrator: BRANDON CAN'T STAY MAD
AT CLARISSA FOR LONG.

NO, I KNOW YOU HAD
TO TAKE A SHIFT.

BUT, WELL, HOW ARE YOU
GONNA MAKE IT UP TO ME?

SHE PROMISES
TO COME AND SEE HIM

IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS
ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY.

REALLY?
YEAH.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT,
ABSOLUTELY.

I, UH, OKAY, PERFECT.
I'LL -- I'LL TALK TO YOU SOON.

BYE.

SHE'S GONNA MAKE IT UP
TO ME.

OH, OH, GREAT.
YEAH.

Hamilton:
AND THAT'S HOW BRANDON WAS.

IF BRANDON HAD HIS MIND
SET ON SOMETHING,

DIDN'T MATTER
WHAT YOU TOLD HIM.

HE -- HE WAS GONNA DO
WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.

SHE WAS COMING DOWN.

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER,
SHE WAS COMING DOWN.

NOTHING WAS STOPPING HER.

THIS IS THE DAY.

AND HE'S ALL EXCITED.
AND HE'S RUNNING AROUND.

AND HE'S GOT HIS ROOM CLEAN,
LIKE,

CLEAN SPOTLESS
OR AS SPOTLESS

AS WHAT HE THINKS
IS SPOTLESS,

PRETTY DARN GOOD, YOU KNOW.

HE'D BE BRUSHING HIS TEETH

AND BRUSHING HIS TEETH
AND JUST --

HE'D JUST MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYTHING WAS JUST PERFECT.

BRANDON ASKED ME, HE SAID,
"CAN WE SLEEP TOGETHER?"

AND I SAID, "ABSOLUTELY NOT."
I SAID, "YOU GUYS ARE KIDS."

I SAID, "YOU'RE NOT
SLEEPING TOGETHER."

I SAID, "SHE'LL SLEEP
ON THE COUCH.

AND YOU CAN SLEEP IN YOUR ROOM."

HONEY, ARE YOU 100% SURE
SHE SAID TODAY?

YEAH, I'M SURE, 100%.

Cheryl:
SO A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER...

[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]

...SHE CALLS HIM.

HELLO.

AND SHE SAID,
"I'M NOT COMING DOWN."

OH.

AND THEN EVERYTHING
WENT DOWN FROM THERE.

CAN'T YOU JUST MISS
ONE SHIFT FOR ME?

DON'T BLAME ME.
BLAME MY BOSS.

COME ON.
CAN'T YOU JUST...

HE IS THE ONE THAT'S BEEN
CHANGING MY SHIFTS.

PLEASE.

BRANDON, I KNOW IT SUCKS,
BUT JUST DEAL WITH IT.

Cheryl: THIS WAS DEFINITELY
THE FINAL STRAW FOR BRANDON.

HE HAD ENOUGH.

THREE TIMES,
SHE HAD PULLED THE CARPET

OUT FROM UNDERNEATH OF HIS FEET

AND JUST CANCELED
ON HIM EVERY TIME.

DAMN IT!

HE JUST COULDN'T
TAKE IT ANY MORE.

HE JUST -- THAT'S IT.
HE SAID, "I'M DONE."

HE SAID, "TO HELL WITH IT."

YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M GOING OUT.

- WELL, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
- I'LL SEE YOU LATER, MOM.

OH, BRANDON.

NO, YOU KNOW WHAT?
I -- I -- I CAN'T BELIEVE HER.

SHE KEEPS PULLING
THE SAME STUPID THING.

NO, I'M DONE.
I'M NOT DOING THIS ANYMORE.

I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT.

[ CAR ALARM BLARING ]

Derek: WHEN HE WAS FRUSTRATED,
HE GOT IN SOME FIGHTS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT
WAS ATTRIBUTED TO HIS ADHD.

BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE BEST WAY

TO RESOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS.

HE WAS NOT SHY ABOUT
SHOWING HIS FRUSTRATION.

Narrator: BRANDON HEADS TO HIS
BUDDY TIM'S PLACE.

I MEAN, FIRST,
IT WAS CHRISTMAS.

AND THEN IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY.
AND THEN IT WAS SUPER BOWL.

AND I --
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

SHE -- SHE'S JUST
DRIVING ME CRAZY.

TO CHEER HIM UP,

TIM SUGGESTS MEETING
SOME FRIENDS

TO GO OUT TO EAT.

I JUST CAN'T GET HER
OUT OF MY HEAD.

BUT BRANDON JUST WANTS
TO KEEP DRINKING.

[ DIALING ]

LATER, TIMMY.

HEY, ERICA.

YEAH, IT'S BEEN
A ROUGH DAY.

REALLY?
YOU'D BE OKAY WITH THAT?

ALL RIGHT, COOL.

UH, I'M ON MY WAY NOW.

I -- I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

BYE.

Cheryl:
BRANDON LEFT TIMMY'S.

AND FROM THERE, HE WENT DOWN TO,

UH, HIS FRIEND ERICA'S,
TO HER APARTMENT.

LOOK, IT'S ALWAYS
EXCUSES WITH HER.

IT'S EITHER HER
FAMILY OR HER JOB

OR JUST SOMETHING STUPID.

I DON'T GET IT.

I MEAN, I DON'T REALLY KNOW
WHAT TO TELL YOU.

THIS ISN'T EXACTLY NEWS.

THIS IS, LIKE,
THE THIRD TIME.

BRANDON, DON'T...
BRANDON.

MAYBE SHE'S JUST NOT, YOU KNOW,
THE RIGHT GIRL FOR YOU.

BRANDON FELT THINGS
SO MUCH MORE INTENSELY

THAN A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

AND WHEN YOU DEAL
WITH EMOTIONS ON THAT LEVEL,

YOU HAVE TO GO TO EXTREMES
TO COMBAT THEM.

Narrator:
IT'S AFTER 10:00 P.M.

AND ERICA HAS GONE TO BED,

LEAVING BRANDON ALONE
WITH HIS FRUSTRATION.

[ DIALING ]

[ Cellphone ringing ]

HEY, MAN.

LOOK, ARE YOU AROUND?

JUST, UH, JUST NEED SOMETHING
TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF.

ALL RIGHT, COOL.
MEET ME AT ERICA'S.

I'LL -- I'LL SEE YOU IN 10.

OKAY.

HEY, MAN.

Narrator: BRANDON MEETS UP
WITH A STREET DEALER

SELLING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Hann:
IT'S A VERY OLD TOWN.

OLDER PEOPLE
GET MORE PRESCRIPTIONS.

OLDER PEOPLE KNOW OTHER PEOPLE.

AND IT JUST ENDS UP
BEING THIS LOOP OF --

OF DRUGS THAT EVERYONE
HAS ACCESS TO.

IT WASN'T A DIFFICULT THING.

IT'S A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW,
PICKING UP YOUR PHONE.

AND IT'S THERE IN A MINUTE.

Narrator:
BRANDON BUYS DILAUDID,

A POWERFUL PAINKILLER

FIVE TIMES
STRONGER THAN MORPHINE.

AS THE DRUG TAKES HOLD,

BRANDON CAN'T GET
CLARISSA OUT OF HIS MIND.

♪♪

[ CELLPHONE CHIMES ]

HE TELLS CLARISSA
HE'S FEELING OUT OF IT.

[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]

HELLO.

MOM,
CAN YOU COME GET ME?

WELL,
WHERE ARE YOU, HONEY?

I'M AT, UH, ERICA'S.

Cheryl: I SPOKE WITH BRANDON
LATER ON THAT NIGHT.

AND HE SAID, UH, "MOM."

HE SAID, "CAN YOU
COME PICK ME UP?"

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT?
MY CAR'S NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW.

IT'S STILL IN THE GARAGE.

AND THE BRAKES
STILL AREN'T WORKING.

OKAY.

BRANDON SOUNDED REALLY TIRED.
AND I JUST THOUGHT,

"OH, IT'S LATE,
THE END OF THE NIGHT,"

YOU KNOW, "HAD A BIT TO DRINK.

SO, YEAH, HE'S PROBABLY
A LITTLE GROGGY," YOU KNOW.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST
SLEEP THERE TONIGHT?

AND I'LL GET GRANDPA JOE
TO PICK YOU UP IN THE MORNING.

HE GOES, "YEAH, YEAH."
HE SAID, "THAT'S OKAY."

HE SAID, "I GOT TO BE AT SCHOOL
NEXT MORNING, MOM."

HE SAID, "IT'S A NEW SEMESTER."
I'M LIKE, "OKAY."

I SAID, "ALL RIGHT,
I'LL SEE YOU."

AND I SAID,
"I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW."

HE SAID, "OKAY."

JUST, UH, I DON'T WANT TO BE
LATE FOR SCHOOL.

YOU WON'T, HONEY.
IT'LL BE OKAY.

SLEEP TIGHT.
I LOVE YOU.

I SAID, "I LOVE YOU, BRANDON."

AND I SAID, "UH-HUH,
TALK TO YOU LATER."

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

THAT WAS MY LAST CONVERSATION.

Narrator:
FOLLOWING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS

TO MEET HIS ONLINE GIRLFRIEND,
CLARISSA CHISTIAKOV,

BRANDON WENTZELL HAS BEEN
LET DOWN BY HER YET AGAIN.

I'M NOT DOING THIS ANYMORE.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT.

Narrator: AFTER HEAVY DRINKING
AND SNORTING PAINKILLERS,

HE HAS CRASHED ON HIS FRIEND
ERICA'S COUCH.

[ ALARM BEEPING ]

HEY, WAKE UP.

YOU NEED TO GO
TO SCHOOL, RIGHT?

BRANDON?
BRANDON?

BRANDON? BRANDON?

[ Telephone rings ]

BRANDON, BRANDON, WAKE UP.
BRANDON.

BRANDON, WAKE UP.

BRANDON.

I NEED AN AMBULANCE.

BRANDON WON'T WAKE UP.
BRANDON, WAKE UP.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

WHEN THE PARAMEDICS ARRIVE,

BRANDON BARELY HAS A PULSE.

THEY RUSH HIM
TO BRIDGEWATER HOSPITAL.

AN HOUR LATER,
DETECTIVE STEPHEN SHIPLEY

OF BRIDGEWATER PD
AND HIS COLLEAGUE PAY A VISIT

TO BRANDON'S MOTHER,
CHERYL'S, HOUSE.

Cheryl:
IT WAS 7:00 IN THE MORNING.

AND I WAS GETTING DRESSED.

AND I HEARD, UM, THE BUZZER GO.

[ DOORBELL BUZZES ]

- CHERYL JONES?
- YES.

SORRY TO BOTHER YOU,
MA'AM.

UH, YOU'RE
BRANDON WENTZELL'S MOTHER?

YES.

I'M LIKE, "OH."
I SAID, "WHAT DID HE DO?"

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I THOUGHT

HE WAS JUST DOING
SOMETHING MISCHIEVOUS.

CAN WE COME IN?

OH, OKAY.

AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BRANDON

HAD DIED THAT MORNING
AT THE HOSPITAL.

AND THEY NEEDED ME
TO GO IDENTIFY HIS BODY.

HONESTLY, LIKE, THE WORLD
KIND OF STOPPED SPINNING

FOR A MOMENT.

AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT THINGS

COULD REALLY GO FORWARD
AFTER THAT.

IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST
DAYS OF MY LIFE.

THAT WHOLE MORNING
WAS SUCH, UH,

A WHIRLWIND OF EMOTION.

IT'S -- IT'S A BLUR TO ME.

I WAS A MESS.

I COULDN'T BREATHE.
I... JUST NOTHING FELT REAL.

Narrator: DETECTIVE SHIPLEY
DRIVES CHERYL TO THE HOSPITAL.

Cheryl:
AND HE WAS LAYING THERE.

HIS HAIR WAS STILL PERFECT.

IT JUST LOOKED LIKE
HE WAS SLEEPING.

HE'S JUST LAYING THERE.

AND I'M GLAD I DID GO

BECAUSE IF I DIDN'T GO,

I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD MY CHANCE
TO SAY GOODBYE.

SO THAT WAS MY CLOSURE FOR THAT.

[ Cellphone ringing ]

[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]

HELLO.

HI, CLARISSA.

THIS IS CHERYL.
IT'S BRANDON'S MOM.

HI, CHERYL.
WHAT'S UP?

WELL, SHE WAS
PRETTY CLOSE TO HIM.

I SHOULD -- BETTER TELL HER.
YOU KNOW, I BETTER TELL HER,

JUST TO MAKE SURE SHE'S OKAY.

I HAVE SOME REALLY
BAD NEWS TO TELL YOU.

NO. NO.

Cheryl:
SHE WAS, LIKE, REALLY UPSET.

I SAID, "JUST MAKE SURE
YOU'RE OKAY," YOU KNOW,

"I DON'T WANT ANYTHING
TO HAPPEN TO YOU."

"NO, NO. I'LL BE OKAY.
I'LL BE OKAY."

SAID, "I HAVE THE POLICE HERE."

I SAID, "I CAN'T STAY
ON THE PHONE WITH YOU.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY

AND THAT YOU WON'T DO
ANYTHING TO HURT YOURSELF."

[ CRYING ]

Narrator: THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT
WOULD LATER CONFIRM

THE PRESENCE
OF DILAUDID AND VODKA.

SINCE BRANDON SNORTED
THE DILAUDID,

THE DRUG ENTERED
HIS BLOODSTREAM

MUCH FASTER THAN NORMAL,

SUPPRESSING HIS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM.

THE CORONER'S VERDICT
FOR CAUSE OF DEATH

IS ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE.

THE REASON HE HAD PASSED
AWAY WAS AT HER FAULT

BECAUSE OF HER
YANKING THE CARPET

OUT FROM UNDERNEATH
HIS FEET ALL THE TIME.

SHE WAS THE REASON HE WAS UPSET.

IF IT WASN'T FOR HER,

HE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE FELT
THE NEED TO TAKE THE PILLS

AND ABUSE ALCOHOL THAT NIGHT.

BUT IT WAS HIS DECISION.

Shipley:
WAS HE ON ANY MEDICATION?

HE WAS TAKING, UM,
ADHD MEDICATION,

WHICH WAS PRESCRIBED
BY THE DOCTOR.

OKAY.

Narrator: DETECTIVE SHIPLEY
IS NOW LEADING

THE INVESTIGATION
INTO BRANDON'S DEATH.

MY ROLE WAS TO DETERMINE
EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED,

WHY BRANDON HAD DIED

AND, UH, ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS
FOR HIS FAMILY.

WAS HE INTO
ANY STREET NARCOTICS

THAT YOU KNOW OF?

Narrator: AS DETECTIVE SHIPLEY
IS QUESTIONING CHERYL,

SHE RECEIVES A TEXT
FROM CLARISSA'S PHONE.

OH, MY GOD.

OH, MY GOD.

Narrator: THE AFTERNOON
OF THE TRAGIC DEATH

OF BRANDON WENTZELL FROM AN
OVERDOSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

MIXED WITH ALCOHOL...

BRANDON.

...HIS MOTHER, CHERYL,
RECEIVES AN UNTHINKABLE MESSAGE

FROM THE MOTHER
OF BRANDON'S GIRLFRIEND.

OH, MY GOD.

OH, MY GOD.

AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT?"

OH, MY GOD.

Narrator:
BUT AFTER HER INITIAL SHOCK,

CHERYL REALIZES SOMETHING
ABOUT THE TEXT MESSAGES

DOESN'T ADD UP.

AT THIS POINT, I'M LIKE,
"THAT'S JUST KIND OF BIZARRE,"

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I MEAN...

- HER MOM'S A NURSE.
- WOW.

HER MOM IS SUPPOSED
TO BE A NURSE.

WHY ISN'T HER MOM
GIVING HER CPR?

NUMBER TWO, WHY IS
HER MOM TEXTING ME?

I DECIDED, AS --
AS A POLICE OFFICER,

THAT THE FIRST PRIORITY
WAS TO ENSURE THAT

CLARISSA RECEIVED HELP.

YEAH. WE'RE GONNA NEED
AN AMBULANCE IN TANTALLON.

[ CELLPHONE CHIMES ]

Narrator: BUT THEN ANOTHER
TEXT COMES THROUGH.

- I'M WITH YOU, OKAY?
- WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Man: I NEED YOU
TO BACK UP, SIR.

Narrator: JULIE SAYS CLARISSA
IS ALREADY IN AN AMBULANCE...

...AND THAT PARAMEDICS
ARE UNABLE TO RESUSCITATE HER.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

I HAD NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANYTHING
LIKE THIS IN MY POLICING CAREER,

UM, WHERE, UH,

ONCE ONE SUDDEN DEATH IS

POSSIBLY TRIGGERING
ANOTHER ONE SO IMMEDIATELY,

ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING
THE TWO PEOPLE HAD NEVER MET.

THINGS DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

THINGS WERE KIND OF GOING,

YOU KNOW, OFF KILTER
RIGHT THERE.

I BECAME SUSPICIOUS AND STARTED
TO, UM, IN THE BACKGROUND,

UM, MAKE SOME PHONE CALLS.

Narrator: CLARISSA'S MOTHER
SAID HER DAUGHTER

HAD BEEN TAKEN
TO HALIFAX INFIRMARY.

I CALLED HALIFAX REGIONAL POLICE

TO FIND OUT WHICH OFFICERS
WERE ON SCENE.

THERE WERE NONE.

CAN YOU CHECK AGAIN, PLEASE?

AND THERE WAS NO AMBULANCE

SENT TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE
TO HER, EITHER.

YOU'RE SURE?

THE MOM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE --

JULIE CHISTIAKOV WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING

AS A NURSE
AT THE HOSPITAL IN HALIFAX.

NO ONE BY THAT NAME?

THEY HAD NO RECORD
OF ANY JULIE CHISTIAKOV

IN ANY OF THEIR
PERSONNEL RECORDS

WITHIN THE WHOLE HALIFAX
REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY.

Narrator:
ALARMED BY WHAT HE'S LEARNED,

DETECTIVE SHIPLEY HEADS
TO THE HALIFAX BAR

WHERE CLARISSA
TOLD BRANDON SHE WORKED.

YOU THE BAR MANAGER?
I'M DETECTIVE SHIPLEY.

YOU SEEN THIS GIRL?
- NO.

SHE HASN'T WORKED HERE
FOR YOU?

NO.

THANK YOU.

WE WERE LIKELY DEALING
WITH THE CASE

OF A FAKE IDENTITY.

WE FOLLOWED UP
WITH CLARISSA'S JOB

AND THE AMBULANCE...
- YEAH.

...FAMILY.

I WAS CAREFUL TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE

THAT I WOULD END UP BEING WRONG.

UH, I THEN TOLD HER THAT,
IN MY OPINION,

CLARISSA CHISTIAKOV
WAS NOT A REAL PERSON.

OF COURSE SHE IS.

SHE HAS TO BE.

CHERYL WAS, UM, SHOCKED.

I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY.

AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, LIKE,
I'M GRIEVING FOR MY SON,

WHICH IS, LIKE,
THE WORST POSSIBLE THING

THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN
TO ANY PARENT

TO LOSE THEIR CHILD,

LET ALONE THEIR ONLY CHILD.

AND THEN THERE'S
ALL THIS CONFUSION.

IT'S LIKE, "WELL,
WHO IS THIS PERSON?"

OH, MY GOD.

Narrator: AND YET THE TEXT
MESSAGES KEEP COMING.

AND THEY BECOME MORE
AND MORE DISTURBING.

SHE WAS TEXTING ME SAYING
THAT HER DAUGHTER HAD PASSED

AND THAT SHE, UH,
WAS LAID TO REST AT,

UM, A SPECIFIC FUNERAL HOME.

AND SHE TOLD ME THE NAME
OF THE FUNERAL HOME.

AND THERE WAS
NO SUCH BODY THERE.

I WAS IN A COMPLETE STATE
OF GRIEF

AND A COMPLETE STATE
OF CONFUSION.

SOMEONE'S LOST A LIFE.

DON'T CONTINUE TO
TORTURE THEIR FAMILY.

Narrator: DETECTIVE SHIPLEY
NEEDS TO PUT A STOP

TO THIS CRUEL CHARADE.

Shipley: I NEED YOU TO RUN
A NUMBER AND GIVE ME, UH,

A NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.

Narrator: AUTHORITIES TRACE
CLARISSA'S CELLPHONE

TO AN ADDRESS 80 MILES SOUTH,

BRINGING SHIPLEY
TO THE SMALL TOWN OF LIVERPOOL.

HE'S ALREADY BEEN
TOLD THE PHONE

IS NOT REGISTERED TO A WOMAN.

THE CELLPHONE BELONGED
TO AN ADULT MALE.

AND I WAS JUST SHOCKED.

THERE'S SOMETHING
DEFINITELY WRONG.

I COULDN'T FATHOM SOMEBODY
BEING THAT MESSED UP.

[ DOORBELL RINGS ]

Narrator:
THE PHONE IS REGISTERED

TO A MIDDLE-AGED MAN
NAMED DEREK BOUDREAU.

IS THIS
THE BOUDREAU RESIDENCE?

I'M DETECTIVE SHIPLEY

FROM THE BRIDGEWATER
POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MR. BOUDREAU INSISTS

THAT HE'S NEVER HEARD
OF CLARISSA CHISTIAKOV.

PHONE'S LINKED
TO THIS ADDRESS.

HE DENIES USING THE PHONE.

IS IT ALL RIGHT
IF I COME IN?

SHIPLEY QUICKLY CONFIRMS
MR. BOUDREAU

IS NOT BEHIND THE PROFILE
OF THE PRETTY BLONDE

20-YEAR-OLD NURSE.

BUT HIS 18-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER, JESSICA, IS.

WHY WOULD SOMEBODY
BE SO UNHAPPY

WITH WHO THEY ARE
THAT THEY HAVE TO CREATE

THIS ENTIRE ALTERNATE LIFE?

WHY DO PEOPLE
EVEN HAVE TO DO THIS?

WHY -- WHY DO YOU HAVE
TO BE CATFISHING?

LIKE, WHY CAN'T YOU
JUST BE WHO YOU ARE ONLINE?

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO PRETEND
TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE?

Narrator: THE POLICE
INVESTIGATION UNCOVERS

THE EXTENT OF JESSICA'S LIES.

CLARISSA WAS ENTIRELY FICTIONAL.

THE PHOTOS OF HER WERE STOLEN.

HER BROTHER, KYLE,
NEVER EXISTED...

...NOR DID HER PARENTS

OR HER EX-BOYFRIEND, ERIC.

THEY WERE ALL
JESSICA'S INVENTIONS.

HER REAL PARENTS
HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA

WHAT SHE HAD BEEN UP TO.

IT'S JUST A LIE, A HUGE --

AND IT'S A HUGE INTRICATE,

INTRICATE WEB OF LIES.

Narrator: IN NOVA SCOTIA,

PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE
ONLINE IS NOT A CRIME.

JESSICA BOUDREAU IS CHARGED
ONLY WITH THE MINOR OFFENSE

OF PUBLIC MISCHIEF
FOR WASTING POLICE TIME.

JESSICA NEVER GOES TO COURT.

BUT UNDER THE TERMS
OF HER PROBATION,

SHE IS REQUIRED
TO APOLOGIZE IN PERSON

TO BRANDON'S MOTHER, CHERYL.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY
ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO DO THAT.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S BEYOND ME.

THERE'S A MOTHER
WHO HAS NO CHILD.

THERE ARE FAMILY
THAT HAVE LOST

THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON
IN THEIR LIFE.

THERE'S A FRIEND GROUP THAT IS
FOREVER MISSING A HUGE PIECE.

AND THEN SHE GOT
A SLAP ON THE WRIST.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S
FAIR AT ALL.

Cheryl: I STILL TALK
WITH BRANDON EVERY DAY.

THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY
THAT I DON'T TALK ABOUT HIM,

NOT ONE DAY.

YOU KNOW, HE'S --
HE'S HERE ALL THE TIME.