Web of Lies (2014–…): Season 4, Episode 5 - The Child Network - full transcript

I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE
MY FAMILY THROUGH ADOPTION.

MAMA?

WHILE SOME KIDS
ARE SAVED...

I SAID, "YES."
I SAID, "I'VE BEEN WAITING

FOR YOU FOR A VERY LONG TIME."

OTHERS ARE REJECTED.

ONLINE, A NEFARIOUS
MARKETPLACE DEALS

IN VULNERABLE CHILDREN
AND ENTICES PREDATORS.

SHE IS THE DEVIL INCARNATED.

WITH INNOCENCE
IN THE LINE OF FIRE...

WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF YOUR NEW HOME?



THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

KIDS, GET BACK
IN THE HOUSE.

GO.

40-YEAR-OLD MEGAN EXON
IS MOVING INTO A NEW HOME

WITH HER HUSBAND, BRIAN.

YOU CAN PUT THAT
ONE OVER THERE.

THEY HAVE NO
CHILDREN TOGETHER.

AND MEGAN LONGS TO BE A MOTHER.

WHEN I WAS 15 OR 16,

I FOUND OUT I PROBABLY

WOULD NOT HAVE
CHILDREN NATURALLY.

AND SO I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WOULD
MAKE MY FAMILY THROUGH ADOPTION.

MEGAN AND BRIAN START
THE ARDUOUS ADOPTION PROCESS



AND SOON FIND OUT THERE'S
NO GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS.

I THINK AFTER WE HAD
PUT IN OUR NAMES

SO MANY TIMES FOR BABIES,

IT FELT A LITTLE BIT...

THEY WOULD ALWAYS TELL US
IT'S BETWEEN YOU

AND ONE OTHER FAMILY.

THANK YOU.

HONEY, I THINK THIS IS IT.

LET ME SEE,
LET ME SEE.

EMOTIONALLY, YOU GET EXCITED.

AND YOU PREPARE.

I CAN'T.

AND THEN IT WASN'T US.

I'M SO SORRY.
I'M SO SORRY.

WE CAN'T GIVE UP, OKAY?

AT ONE POINT,
IT DID SEEM A STRUGGLE.

BRIAN LOOKS FOR

ALTERNATIVES
TO CONVENTIONAL ADOPTION.

HE COMES ACROSS ONLINE GROUPS
AIMING TO REHOME KIDS

WHO ARE ALREADY ADOPTED

BUT ARE STRUGGLING TO FIT IN
WITH THEIR CURRENT FAMILIES.

THE IDEA BEHIND THE REHOMING

IS THAT THERE ARE
SOME DIFFICULTIES

GOING ON IN THE FAMILY

AND THAT THE PARENTS FEEL

THAT THE CHILDREN
WOULD BE BETTER OFF

IF THEY FOUND
ANOTHER FAMILY, A FOR --

HOPEFULLY A FOREVER
FAMILY FOR THEM.

YOU HAVE TO COME
AND HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.

I FOUND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL KID.

REALLY?

HOW OLD IS SHE?

IT'S NOT A SHE.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS BEFORE.

I WANT A GIRL.
I WANT A LITTLE DAUGHTER.

I REALLY ONLY PLANNED
TO ADOPT ONE TIME.

AND I THOUGHT I WAS A GIRL MAMA.

COME ON.
HE NEEDS A HOME.

AND HE SAID,
"HE'S 6 YEARS OLD."

AND I THOUGHT, "OH, GOSH.
SIX IS KIND OF OLD."

TY IS ORIGINALLY FROM TAIWAN

AND NOW LIVES
IN WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA.

AND I LOOKED AT HIS PICTURE --

I KNEW HE WAS MY CHILD.

MEGAN IMMEDIATELY
CONTACTS TY'S ADOPTIVE MOM.

IN E-MAIL EXCHANGES
OVERNIGHT,

THEY COME TO REALIZE THERE
MAY BE A DREAM SOLUTION

FOR BOTH FAMILIES.

IT WAS 6 O'CLOCK
IN THE MORNING.

AND SHE CALLED ME.
AND WE STARTED TALKING.

AND I FOUND IT HEARTBREAKING

BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE WASN'T
BONDING WITH THIS LITTLE BOY.

AND WHEN I LOOKED
AT HIS PICTURE,

HE TOOK MY BREATH AWAY.

I THOUGHT HE WAS GLORIOUS.

WE COULD BE THERE
BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

NO.
FLYING.

WITH VERY FEW LAWS

GOVERNING THE REHOMING
OF ADOPTED CHILDREN,

THIS COULD BE A FAST TRACK
TO MOTHERHOOD FOR MEGAN.

OKAY. NO.
THAT'S GREAT.

OKAY.

WITHIN A WEEK,

BOTH FAMILIES HAVE DRAFTED
AGREEMENTS WITH THEIR LAWYERS

TO ALLOW A TRIAL
READOPTION PERIOD FOR TY.

I REMEMBER COMING DOWN.
AND THERE WAS A LITTLE BOY.

AND HE WAS HOLDING MY PICTURE.

AND IT SAID, "MAMA."

AND HE SAID...

MAMA?

AND I SAID, "YES."
I SAID,

"I'VE BEEN WAITING
FOR YOU FOR A VERY LONG TIME."

AND HE SMELLED LOVELY AND SOAPY

AND CLEAN AND FULL OF LOVE.

AND I THOUGHT, "THIS IS WHAT
MY CHILD SMELLS LIKE."

WE FLEW BACK HOME.

AND 90 DAYS LATER,
HE WAS ADOPTED.

AND LIFE WAS GOOD --
WE HAD OUR CHILD,

AND HE HAD A MAMA
AND A DADDY WHO LOVED HIM.

AND IT WAS SUCH
A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

SINCE BRINGING TY INTO HER LIFE

HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL,

MEGAN IS INSPIRED TO BECOME

A MEMBER OF
ONLINE READOPTION FORUMS.

IT WAS LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE

COMING TOGETHER
TO TALK ABOUT ADOPTION.

AND THERE WERE SEVERAL PARENTS

WHO WERE HAVING DIFFICULTIES

AS FAR AS THEIR CHILDREN
WERE CONCERNED

AND THOUGHT THAT REHOMING
WAS SOMETHING

THAT THEY WANTED TO DO.

SOON, MEGAN VOLUNTEERS
TO BECOME A FORUM MODERATOR.

ONE OF HER FIRST TASKS

IS TO WELCOME
A NEWCOMER,

"BIG MOMMA."

SHE HAD A NICE PROFILE.

AND SHE JUST SEEMED
VERY GENUINE...

AND VERY OPEN.

SHE SEEMED VERY HONEST,

LIKE SOMEONE THAT YOU WOULD WANT
TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH.

AND SHE SEEMED KNOWLEDGEABLE
ABOUT ADOPTION.

AND SO SHE HAD SOMETHING
TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROUP.

BIG MOMMA'S REAL NAME
IS NICOLE EASON.

SHE TELLS MEGAN THAT SHE
AND HER HUSBAND, CALVIN,

HAVE A BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER
WHO IS AWAY

ATTENDING PERFORMING ARTS
SCHOOL IN NEW YORK.

SHE REALLY WANTED
A LARGE FAMILY.

SHE SEEMED TO BE
A PERFECT PARENT.

ON THE READOPTION WEBSITE,

MEGAN HAS BEEN MONITORING
7-YEAR-OLD POPPY,

WHOSE ADOPTIVE PARENTS
ARE STRUGGLING TO COPE.

MEGAN IMMEDIATELY THINKS
OF CONNECTING THEM WITH NICOLE.

IT SEEMED LIKE
AN ABSOLUTELY IDEAL MATCH.

BUT BIG MOMMA NICOLE EASON...

IS NOT EVEN CLOSE
TO THE PERFECT PARENT

SHE CLAIMS TO BE.

READOPTION FORUM
REGULATOR MEGAN EXON

THINKS SHE'S JUST FOUND
7-YEAR-OLD POPPY

A POTENTIALLY LOVING HOME

WITH EXPERIENCED FOSTER
MOTHER NICOLE EASON.

POPPY CURRENTLY LIVES WITH HER
ADOPTIVE PARENTS IN CALIFORNIA.

IN THE 3 YEARS
BEFORE SHE WAS TAKEN IN,

SHE LIVED IN SIX
DIFFERENT FOSTER HOMES.

POPPY IS MOSTLY NONVERBAL,

AND HER ADOPTIVE PARENTS
SAY SHE HAS BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.

NOW, 4 YEARS SINCE
BRINGING POPPY INTO THEIR HOME,

THEY HAVE DECIDED THEY CAN
NO LONGER COPE WITH HER.

THEY HAD SOME HEALTH
ISSUES IN THEIR FAMILY

WITH THE FATHER,

AND THEY FELT THAT POPPY
HAD SOME NEEDS

THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO --

TO HANDLE AT THE MOMENT.

AND SO THEY WERE
LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME.

POPPY HAS ALSO BEEN DIAGNOSED

WITH REACTIVE
ATTACHMENT DISORDER,

A PSYCHIATRIC CONDITION

THAT MAKES CHILD-PARENT
BONDING DIFFICULT.

BUT NICOLE EASON SAYS

SHE HAS EXPERIENCE DEALING
WITH THIS CONDITION.

SHE HAD LOTS OF KNOWLEDGE
ON ADOPTION.

SHE HAD LOTS OF
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CHILDREN

WITH REACTIVE
ATTACHMENT DISORDER.

SHE HAD KNOWLEDGE OF CHILDREN

WHO WERE HAVING DIFFICULTIES.

NICOLE WAS VERY EXCITED
WHEN SHE FOUND OUT

THAT THERE WAS A FAMILY
WHO NEEDED HER.

THINGS SEEMED
TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY.

THEY MADE ARRANGEMENTS
THAT THE FATHER

WOULD BRING POPPY

FROM CALIFORNIA TO ILLINOIS

AND THAT SHE WOULD LIVE
WITH THE EASONS.

UNGOVERNED BY LAWS
SURROUNDING ADOPTION,

REHOMING REQUIRES
LITTLE PAPERWORK.

POPPY'S PARENTS DRAW UP
A TRANSFER OF GUARDIANSHIP

WITH THEIR LAWYERS.

AND NICOLE IS CERTIFIED
WITH A HOME STUDY,

PROOF OF THE EASONS' SUITABILITY

AS ADOPTIVE PARENTS.

HI.
YOU MUST BE POPPY.

COME ON IN, SWEETHEART.

THOSE FOR ME?

PERFECT.

HERE ARE THE PAPERS
WE DISCUSSED.

NO REASON TO WORRY.

MY LAWYERS DRAFT
THESE UP ALL THE TIME.

JUST GIVES US THE OPTION
TO MAKE IT PERMANENT

AT A LATER DATE

IF SHE SETTLES IN OKAY.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO LOVE IT HERE, SWEETHEART.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S
EVERYTHING IN ORDER.

WE'LL CALL YOU
IF WE NEED ANYTHING.

BUT EVERYTHING'S
GONNA BE JUST FINE.

- THANK YOU.
- TAKE CARE.

SATISFIED THAT HE'S
LEAVING HER IN GOOD HANDS,

POPPY'S ADOPTIVE FATHER SETS OFF

FOR THE LONG DRIVE BACK
TO CALIFORNIA.

POPPY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF YOUR NEW HOME?

I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA
LOVE IT HERE, SWEETHEART.

700 MILES AWAY...

I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.
I'M JUST GONNA CHECK SOMETHING.

PRIVATE ADOPTION INVESTIGATOR
LYNNE BANKS

HAS MADE IT HER MISSION

TO RESEARCH ONLINE
ADOPTION FRAUD.

YEARS AGO, WE HAD BEEN
SCAMMED BY A GAL

WHO WAS PRETENDING
TO BE PREGNANT.

AND A BABY NEVER EXISTED.

WELL, AFTER WE GOT
THROUGH THAT,

I WANTED TO TAKE OUR LESSONS,

OUR MISTAKES AND BE THAT SUPPORT

FOR OTHER POTENTIAL
ADOPTIVE PARENTS.

HONEY, YOU GONNA GRACE US
WITH YOUR PRESENCE

- DOWNSTAIRS TONIGHT?
- YEAH.

JUST A FEW MORE MINUTES.

WHAT ARE YOU
CHECKIN' UP ON THERE?

IT'S THIS WOMAN.

THERE'S SOMETHING JUST NOT
RIGHT ABOUT HER.

ONLINE, LYNNE HAS
STUMBLED ON SOME

DISTURBING INFORMATION
ABOUT NICOLE EASON.

THE FIRST REAL RED FLAG
WAS THE CHILDREN

SHE SAID WERE HERS BIOLOGICALLY.

LYNNE BANKS DISCOVERS
THAT NICOLE AND CALVIN

HAD THEIR TWO
BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN REMOVED

FROM THEIR CARE AFTER
THEIR 10-MONTH-OLD BABY GIRL

WAS VIOLENTLY ABUSED.

THEY ARE NOT FIT
TO BE PARENTS.

YET ON NICOLE'S
READOPTION PROFILE,

LYNNE FINDS A HOME STUDY

DOCUMENT CERTIFYING
THEIR SUITABILITY

AS ADOPTIVE PARENTS.

LYNNE REALIZES IT IS A FORGERY.

I HAD RECOGNIZED THIS HOME STUDY
AS A SAMPLE HOME STUDY.

AND SHE HAD JUST BASICALLY
COPIED AND PASTED IT

AND FILLED IN HER
OWN INFORMATION.

WHEN LYNNE DIGS DEEPER,

SHE FINDS THAT IN JULY 2006,

NICOLE IS PROFILED ON ANOTHER
READOPTION SITE PARTNERED

WITH A MAN NAMED RANDALL,

NOT HER HUSBAND, CALVIN.

THIS MAN WAS CAUCASIAN.

NICOLE'S HUSBAND
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

THAT WAS A HUGE RED FLAG.

LYNNE'S ONLINE
RESEARCH INTO RANDALL WINSLOW

POINTS TO AN EVEN
DARKER WORLD.

HERB, CAN YOU COME
IN HERE FOR A SEC?

WHAT'S UP?

I FOUND OUT RANDY WINSLOW.

HE'S A SEXUAL PREDATOR.

IT SEEMS THAT NICOLE
HAS POSED AS WINSLOW'S WIFE

TO PROCURE HIM
A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY

FOR THE MOST VILE PURPOSES.

THERE WAS EVIDENCE
OF CHILD MOLESTATION

BETWEEN THIS LITTLE BOY
AND RANDY WINSLOW.

WINSLOW IS EVENTUALLY
CONVICTED ON CHARGES

OF DISTRIBUTING EXPLICIT
PHOTOS OF CHILDREN.

BUT NICOLE'S INVOLVEMENT
IS NEVER INVESTIGATED.

ONLY LYNNE BANKS
HAS MADE THE CONNECTION.

AND SHE HAS NO IDEA

THAT NOW ANOTHER
VULNERABLE CHILD

IS IN THE CLUTCHES
OF NICOLE EASON.

SHE'S THE DEVIL
INCARNATED IN MY EYES.

POPPY, I KNOW
YOU'RE AWAKE.

THESE KIDS WERE TRAUMATIZED.

AND POPPY WAS JUST DROPPED OFF,

JUST A LITTLE GIRL.

- CALVIN.
- WHAT?

- GET IN HERE.

IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS

AFTER SHE MOVES IN
WITH THE EASONS...

- GOSH, MONEY AGAIN?
- YES, MONEY AGAIN!

POPPY IS NOT SENT TO SCHOOL.

SHE HAS NO DIRECT CONTACT

WITH ANYONE SHE
CAN CONFIDE IN.

YOU'VE BEEN KEEPING
THIS FAMILY UNDERWATER.

OH, AND WHAT I DO
ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH?

BUT WHATEVER TRAUMA
SHE'S EXPERIENCING,

SHE LEARNS TO BURY IT.
JUST GET IT DONE.

START PULLING YOUR WEIGHT
AROUND HERE.

I'M DOING AS MUCH AS I CAN.

YOU NEED TO BE DOING MORE.

YOU SHOULDN'T PUT
THIS ALL ON ME.

NICOLE, I'M TALKING TO YOU.

AND NICOLE GIVES NO REASON
FOR THE OUTSIDE WORLD

TO SUSPECT THAT
ANYTHING IS WRONG.

I REMEMBER NICOLE SAYING

THAT THE LITTLE GIRL
WAS VERY HAPPY.

AND SHE LOVED
POPCORN AND ORANGES.

AND I DON'T KNOW
WHY I REMEMBER THAT.

BUT IT JUST WAS SOMETHING
THAT SHE SHARED.

ASSUMING POPPY'S
REHOMING HAS BEEN

A TOTAL SUCCESS,

A FEW WEEKS AFTER POPPY IS LEFT
WITH THE EASONS,

MEGAN IDENTIFIES ANOTHER CHILD
FOR NICOLE.

IN REMOTE
DANVILLE, ILLINOIS...

HI. YOU MUST BE POPPY.
COME ON.

NICOLE AND CALVIN EASON

HAVE DECEIVED DESPERATE
ADOPTIVE PARENTS INTO PLACING

7- YEAR-OLD POPPY IN THEIR CARE.

AND NOW ANOTHER CHILD IS ABOUT
TO BE DELIVERED TO THEM.

SUSPECTING NOTHING,

MEGAN EXON
INTRODUCES THE EASONS

ONLINE TO THE STRUGGLING PARENTS

OF 14-YEAR-OLD ADOPTEE DIMITRI.

IT SEEMED LIKE
A GOOD MATCH.

IT SEEMED LIKE
A GOOD INTRODUCTION.

IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE
DIMITRI JOINS POPPY

AT THE EASONS' HOME IN DANVILLE.

NICOLE STILL GIVES NO REASON
FOR MEGAN EXON TO BELIEVE

THAT SHE IS ANYTHING
BUT A PERFECT PARENT.

IT SEEMED LIKE SHE WAS
A GOOD MOM

WHO LOVED CHILDREN.

I CAN REMEMBER HER SAYING
SHE WAS PLANNING

A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR POPPY.

AND SHE WAS TAKING THEM BOWLING.

AND SHE WAS DOING THESE
ACTIVITIES WITH THEM --

NORMAL, EVERYDAY MOM STUFF
THAT WE DO.

WITH HER OWN
READOPTION OF TY

A GREAT SUCCESS...

MAMA, CATCH.

OKAY.
YOU GO STAND OVER THERE.

...IT DOES NOT OCCUR TO MEGAN
THAT THE REHOMING

SHE'S HELPED TO ARRANGE
WITH THE EASONS

COULD BE ANY DIFFERENT.

HERE IT GOES.

BUT THEN, BY CHANCE,

MEGAN STARTS TALKING ONLINE TO
ADOPTION INVESTIGATOR

LYNNE BANKS.

IT WAS AN HONEST DISCUSSION

ON THE BOARD
ABOUT ADOPTION SCAMS.

SHE WAS GIVING ME EXAMPLES.

"WELL, THERE'S A FAMILY HERE.

AND THEY TAKE KIDS
FOR WELFARE FRAUD.

THERE'S A SINGLE MOM
WHO HAS EIGHT KIDS.

AND SHE GETS MONEY
FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR THEM.

THERE'S A FAMILY
IN DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.

HER EX IS A PEDOPHILE."

WHEN SHE SAID DANVILLE,
ILLINOIS,

I IMMEDIATELY KNEW
IT WAS NICOLE.

I FELT LIKE OUR GROUP

THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
DOING SO MUCH GOOD

SOMEHOW GOT WRAPPED UP
IN SO MUCH BAD.

LYNNE?

I FELT NAIVE
AND I FELT STUPID.

LISTEN, LISTEN -- THEY'VE GOT
TWO KIDS RIGHT NOW.

I FELT HELPLESS.

I PUT THEM IN TOUCH
WITH FAMILIES WHO NEEDED HELP.

THEY'VE GOT A BOY
AND A LITTLE GIRL.

AND I THOUGHT,
"WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING."

OKAY.
I'LL CALL YOU BACK.

MEGAN IMMEDIATELY
CALLS NICOLE EASON

TO CONFRONT HER.

- HELLO?
- NICOLE?

IT'S MEGAN EXON.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS.

BUT YOU SHOULDN'T
BE TAKING IN KIDS.

YOU DON'T HAVE
THE RIGHT PAPERWORK.

AND YOU LIED TO US, NICOLE.

LISTEN, MEGAN.
I'M SORRY.

I'VE CUT SOME CORNERS HERE
AND THERE

JUST SO THAT
WE CAN ADOPT AGAIN.

SHE WAS SO OPEN ABOUT HER FLAWS.

WE'RE A LOW-INCOME FAMILY.
AND THIS IS SOME...

LIKE, "WE DON'T
HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

PEOPLE HAVE TREATED US BADLY

BECAUSE WE'RE
A BIRACIAL COUPLE."

CALVIN AND I CAN GIVE THEM

A SUPPORTIVE
AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S LIKE YOUR MIND
PLAYS GAMES WITH YOU.

YOU'VE JUST HEARD
SHE'S NOT A GOOD PERSON.

BUT YOU STILL REMEMBER
ALL THE GOOD THINGS.

AND SO IT'S --
IT'S LIKE A...

I DON'T KNOW.

IT -- IT'S JUST
VERY CONFLICTING.

NICOLE, YOU ARE GOING TO DRIVE
THOSE KIDS TO THEIR PARENTS.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

YOU ARE GOING
TO DRIVE THEM HOME.

I AM ONLY GONNA
GIVE YOU ONE CHANCE

BEFORE I CALL THE POLICE.

CALL ME WHEN YOU
GET INTO THE CAR.

NICOLE DOES NOT CALL
MEGAN BACK.

WHEN MEGAN ALERTS
LYNNE BANKS,

SHE PUTS HER KNOWLEDGE
OF ADOPTION LAW INTO PRACTICE.

UH, DANVILLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, PLEASE.

I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT THERE

ARE SOME VULNERABLE
CHILDREN AT RISK.

NO. NO.
THEY'RE NOT WITH THEIR PARENTS.

THEY'RE WITH THEIR
ADOPTIVE PARENTS.

I KNEW THAT YOU CAN CALL
A LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT

AND ASK THEM TO DO
A WELLNESS CHECK.

THANK YOU.

NICOLE EASON?

YES.

I'VE BEEN CALLED
IN TO CONDUCT

A WELLNESS CHECK ON THE CHILDREN
STAYING HERE.

ARE YOU ABLE
TO GET THEM FOR ME?

OF COURSE.
YEAH.

THANK YOU.

THIS IS POPPY.
AND THIS IS DIMITRI.

I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CHILDREN,

IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

OF COURSE.

NOW, YOU KIDS
CAN ANSWER ME HONESTLY.

OKAY?

ARE YOU WARM?

ARE YOU HUNGRY?

ARE YOU SAFE?

IT'S OKAY, HONEY.

YEAH.

DO YOU HAVE
ANY ADOPTION DOCUMENTS

I'D BE ABLE
TO TAKE A LOOK AT?

- I HAVE THE HOME STUDY INSIDE.
- THAT'D BE PERFECT.

NOW, I WANT YOU KIDS
TO ANSWER ME HONESTLY.

ALL RIGHT?

ARE YOU KIDS OKAY?

NICOLE AND CALVIN EASON

HAVE BEEN DECEIVING
ADOPTIVE PARENTS ONLINE

IN ORDER TO TAKE
IN VULNERABLE CHILDREN.

DO YOU HAVE
ANY ADOPTION DOCUMENTS

I'D BE ABLE
TO TAKE A LOOK AT?

I HAVE THE HOME STUDY INSIDE.

THAT'D BE PERFECT.

NOW,
INVESTIGATOR LYNNE BANKS

HAS REQUESTED THAT POLICE

IN ILLINOIS CHECK
ON THE CHILDREN.

NOW, I WANT YOU KIDS
TO ANSWER ME HONESTLY.

ALL RIGHT?

ARE YOU KIDS OKAY?

HERE YOU ARE, OFFICER.

THANK YOU.

THOUGH THE OFFICER
DOESN'T KNOW IT,

NICOLE'S HOME STUDY
DOCUMENT IS A FAKE.

I THINK YOU'LL FIND
EVERYTHING'S IN ORDER.

WELL, EVERYTHING
LOOKS TO BE OKAY.

I'M SORRY TO HAVE
BOTHERED YOU.

OH, THAT'S OKAY.

WE NEED TO LOOK OUT
FOR THE CHILDREN.

THEY'RE THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING
ON THEM, OFFICER.

OF COURSE.
NO PROBLEM.

THANK YOU.

INSIDE, KIDS.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

YOU TOO.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON
FOR PATROL OFFICERS

THAT AREN'T TRAINED
IN HANDLING

CHILD VICTIM CASES TO NOT SEE
THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

AND WHEN THEY DON'T SEE
AN EMERGENCY TAKING PLACE,

ASSUME THAT THAT WELLNESS VISIT
ACCOMPLISHED WHAT IT NEEDED TO,

THAT THE CHILDREN WERE SAFE.

WHEN MEGAN EXON HEARS
THAT THE CHILDREN

REMAIN LIVING WITH THE EASONS,

SHE CONTACTS NICOLE TO TELL HER
SHE WILL COLLECT THEM HERSELF.

I MADE A MISTAKE,
AND I WAS THE ONLY ONE

AT THAT MOMENT
ABLE TO CORRECT IT.

AND SO FOR ME, I HAD TO TAKE THE
INITIATIVE TO GO AND GET THEM.

IN HUSBAND BRIAN'S ABSENCE,

A FRIEND, SHERRY,
JOINS HER FOR MORAL SUPPORT.

MEGAN'S LAWYERS HAVE WORKED
WITH THE CHILDREN'S

ADOPTIVE PARENTS
TO GRANT HER

TEMPORARY POWER OF ATTORNEY

OVER DIMITRI AND POPPY.

IT'S A 10-HOUR DRIVE
FROM HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA,

TO DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.

MEGAN HAS ASKED NICOLE
TO BRING THE KIDS HALFWAY.

NICOLE, HAVE YOU
EVEN LEFT YET?

I'M HAVING CAR TROUBLE.
AND I'M ON MY WAY...

BUT SHE STARTS FEEDING
MEGAN EXCUSES...

"MY CAR BROKE DOWN.
I'LL BE ON THE ROAD IN 2 HOURS.

IT'S GONNA BE
6 O'CLOCK TONIGHT."

MEGAN REALIZES NICOLE
HAS NO INTENTION

OF MEETING HER HALFWAY.

THEY ARE FORCED TO DRIVE

THE ENTIRE 640 MILES
TO DANVILLE.

THE WHOLE TIME I'M THINKING,

"WE'RE JUST GIVING HER
THE CHANCE TO RUN AWAY."

THE OTHER FEAR, OF COURSE, WAS,

"WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH THE CHILDREN RIGHT NOW?

THEY KNOW WE'RE COMING.

SO ARE THEY GOING TO DO
SOMETHING TO THE CHILDREN

BEFORE WE GET THERE?"

AND THEN WE WERE THINKING,

"WELL, WHAT IF THEY FOUGHT US?

WHAT IF THINGS TURNED UGLY?"

I'M GONNA BE
THE ONE TO DO THIS.

BUT IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG,
GET READY TO CALL THE POLICE.

OKAY.

IT WAS A PIG STY.

THERE WERE GARBAGE BAGS JUST
KIND OF THROWN OUT IN THE YARD.

THERE WAS DOG FECES.

AND THAT'S WHERE
POPPY WAS PLAYING.

OH, HONEY.

COULD YOU GO GET NICOLE FOR ME?

I REMEMBER LOOKING
INSIDE THE HOUSE.

THERE WAS SOMETHING
DEAD ON THE FLOOR.

THERE WAS DOG POOP.

IT WAS DISGUSTING.

SUDDENLY, CALVIN WAS
STANDING AT THE DOOR.

HE WAS 6-FOOT-4,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HE HAD A TRACHEOTOMY
THAT WAS KIND OF DIRTY.

HE WAS FRIGHTENING.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

CALVIN, I'M HERE FOR THE KIDS.
NICOLE KNOWS.

AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS TO THEM.

WRONG, YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY RIGHTS TO THEM.

THEY'RE STAYING HERE.

NOW, WHY DON'T YOU GO BACK
TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

KIDS, GET BACK IN THE HOUSE.
NO.

CALVIN, YOU HAVE
NO RIGHTS TO THESE KIDS!

I HAVE POWER OF ATTORNEY.

AND IF YOU GIVE ME ANY TROUBLE,
I WILL CALL 9-1-1.

I MEAN IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I DON'T NEED THIS.

KIDS, GET YOUR STUFF
AND GET OUT.

COME ON, GUYS.

MEGAN STARTS
THE ARDUOUS RETURN JOURNEY

TO NORTH CAROLINA,

STILL REELING FROM
THE ENCOUNTER WITH CALVIN.

BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING
THAT HAD JUST HAPPENED,

I WAS SHAKING.

AND I'LL REMEMBER
THIS ALL OF MY LIFE

BECAUSE POPPY SAID...

ARE YOU COLD?

OH, UM, YEAH.
A LITTLE COLD.

SHE TOOK THE SCARF
OFF OF HER NECK.

THANKS, SWEETIE.

AND SHE WRAPPED IT
AROUND MY NECK.

AND I REMEMBERED MY SON,

AT THAT SAME MOMENT,
IN THE AIRPORT,

JUST AS I REMEMBER
WHAT MY SON SMELLED LIKE.

AND I'M SURE BIRTH PARENTS,

WHEN THEY PUT THEIR NOSE
IN THE NECK OF THEIR CHILD,

WHEN THEY'RE FIRST BORN,

THEY REMEMBER THAT SMELL
ALL OF THEIR LIVES.

AND ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER,
SHE SAID...

CAN YOU PROMISE
ME SOMETHING?

YES, SWEETIE.
WHAT IS IT?

CAN YOU PROMISE THAT
I NEVER HAVE TO GO

TO ANY OTHER PLACE AGAIN.

YES.
I PROMISE.

YOU WON'T HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE
THAT YOU DON'T WANNA GO.

AND I MADE THE COMMITMENT
RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT

THAT NO MATTER WHAT,

SHE WOULD NEVER EVER HAVE
TO GO ANY PLACE EVER AGAIN

UNLESS IT WAS HER CHOICE.

ONCE THEY GET BACK,
MEGAN STARTS THE PROCESS

OF LEGALLY
ADOPTING POPPY HERSELF.

DIMITRI SETTLES IN WITH
A FOSTER FAMILY IN GEORGIA.

EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO POPPY
UNDER THE EASONS' CARE

IS A SECRET POPPY
KEEPS TO HERSELF.

BECAUSE OF HER SILENCE

AND THE LACK OF CLEAR
LEGAL GUIDELINES ON REHOMING,

THE EASONS ARE NOT
INVESTIGATED BY THE POLICE.

WE'D LIKE TO THINK
AS LAW ENFORCEMENT

THAT WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING
TO STAY ONE STEP AHEAD.

AND I THINK THAT WAS
A HUGE PROBLEM

IN TERMS OF AN ONLINE WORLD

PUTTING PEOPLE TOGETHER

IN A WAY THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT
HADN'T QUITE CAUGHT UP WITH.

I KNEW AS LONG AS THEY
WERE OUT AND ALIVE,

THEY WERE GONNA KEEP
TAKING KIDS INTO THEIR HOME.

FOR A DECADE NOW,
NICOLE AND CALVIN EASON

HAVE BEEN POSING
AS APPROVED ADOPTIVE PARENTS

TO PROCURE VULNERABLE CHILDREN.

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING
ON THEM, OFFICER.

NO PROBLEM.

BUT THE LAW HAS NEVER
CAUGHT UP WITH THEM.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

YOU TOO.

IT WILL TAKE AN ACT
OF GREAT PERSONAL COURAGE

TO FINALLY BRING THEM
TO JUSTICE.

ADOPTED BY MEGAN EXON
8 YEARS EARLIER...

HAVE A GOOD DAY AT SCHOOL.
AND DON'T BE LATE.

OKAY.
SEE YA LATER.

POPPY IS NOW A THRIVING
15 YEAR OLD.

BUT SHE IS STILL HIDING
A DEVASTATING SECRET.

ONE DAY WE WERE HAVING
COMPANY COME TO VISIT.

AND I WAS IN
MY DAUGHTER'S BEDROOM.

AND I HAD PICKED SOME BOOKS UP.

AND IN BRIGHT PINK WRITING,
MY DAUGHTER HAD WRITTEN,

"THERE IS SOMETHING THAT
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME."

AND IT SAID, "I WAS MOLESTED."

AND I SAID,

"I THINK WE NEED
TO TALK ABOUT THIS."

I KNOW THIS ISN'T EASY.
BUT YOU CAN TELL ME.

SHE BROKE DOWN.

AND SHE TOLD ME
WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER.

BUT THEY MADE ME DO THINGS
I DIDN'T WANNA DO.

AND I NEVER KNEW WHY.

OKAY.

IF YOU HELP, WE CAN DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

AND SHE SAID,
"IF I TELL MY STORY,

WILL IT STOP THE EASONS?"

AND I SAID, "I CAN'T PROMISE
YOU IT WILL STOP THEM.

BUT THE MORE PEOPLE THAT KNOW,

THE MORE LIKELY THAT
THEY'LL BE STOPPED."

OKAY.

AND SHE SAID,
"LET'S CALL THE FBI."

I WANTED THEM TO STOP
WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

I DIDN'T WANT THEM
TO HAVE ANY MORE KIDS.

WHILE THE FBI BUILD A CASE,

NICOLE AND CALVIN EASON

ARE STILL USING
THE SAME ONLINE DECEPTION

TO TAKE
IN MORE VULNERABLE CHILDREN.

BUT THE EASONS' ACTIVITIES
HAVE BEEN MONITORED

BY TIRELESS
INVESTIGATOR LYNNE BANKS

WHO HELPS TRACK THEM
TO A TRAILER PARK

IN TUCSON, ARIZONA.

I SEEN NICOLE'S FACEBOOK PAGE,

UH, VARIOUS SIZES OF SHOES.

AND THE CAPTION OF THE PICTURE

INDICATED A HAPPY FAMILY

MAKES A HAPPY HOME.

I KNEW THEN WHAT SHE WAS STATING

IS THEY HAD MORE KIDS
IN THEIR HOME.

LITTLE DOES NICOLE KNOW,

HER ADDICTION TO SOCIAL MEDIA
WILL BE HER DOWNFALL.

POLICE WITH A WARRANT.

OPEN UP.

NICOLE EASON,
CALVIN EASON,

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO REMAIN SILENT.

- NICOLE!
- THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN

SOME SORT OF A MISUNDERSTANDING.

THIS IS A FAMILY HOME.

INFORMATION
CAME TO US

THAT THEY HAD AT LEAST
ONE CHILD IN THEIR CARE

BASED ON THEIR POSTINGS
TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN
SOME SORT OF A MISTAKE.

IF YOU CAN NOT AFFORD
AN ATTORNEY...

WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT MOVED
IN TO MAKE THAT ARREST,

THEY HAD FIVE OTHER CHILDREN

IN THEIR CARE.

NICOLE!

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE RIGHTS
I'VE JUST READ TO YOU?

CALVIN, SHUT UP.

GET 'EM OUT OF HERE.

IN 2015,
NICOLE AND CALVIN EASON

ARE TRIED AND FOUND GUILTY
OF CHILD SEX CRIMES,

AND, THANKS TO POPPY'S
CRUCIAL TESTIMONY,

RECEIVE LENGTHY
PRISON SENTENCES.

THE EASONS RECEIVED
A SENTENCE

IN THIS CASE OF 40 YEARS.

NICOLE EASON IS 37.

CALVIN'S 47.

SO IT IS EFFECTIVELY
A LIFE SENTENCE FOR THEM.

THE PIVOTAL MOMENT
WITH THIS CASE

WAS WHEN ONE OF OUR VICTIMS

WAS COURAGEOUS AND BRAVE
AND CAME FORWARD

AND TOLD US ABOUT THE ABUSE
SHE HAD SUFFERED.

I DIDN'T KNOW.
I DID HAVE A LOT OF GUILT.

AND I FELT LIKE A LOT
OF IT WAS MY FAULT.

PART OF ME WAS TIRED
OF ALWAYS HIDING --

HIDING IN A WAY.

SHE IMPRESSES ME EVERY
DAY WITH HER STRENGTH.

AND SHE IMPRESSES ME
THAT SHE HAS DECIDED

NOT TO ALLOW WHAT THE EASONS

DID TO HER
TO AFFECT HER LIFE.

OKAY.
WELL, YOU CAN HAVE IT BACK.

SHE IS A WONDERFUL,
VERY NORMAL,

VERY MOODY
17-YEAR-OLD GIRL.

I DON'T THINK THAT
ANY MOTHER COULD BE

ANY MORE PROUD OF HER CHILD.

DURING THE TRIAL,
I FELT HAPPY THAT I NEVER --

NEVER HAVE TO DEAL
WITH IT AGAIN.

I WAS HAPPY IT WAS OVER.