Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry (2010–…): Season 2, Episode 16 - The Perfect Cover - full transcript

AS A DETECTIVE,
JOHN POMROY CONSIDERED HIMSELF

AN EXCELLENT JUDGE OF CHARACTER.

SO, WHEN HE MET TINA HAMILTON,
A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN,

HE THOUGHT HE'D FOUND
THE PERFECT GIRL.

I WANTED TO MARRY HER
AND BE WITH HER FOREVER.

JOHN DID ADORE HER A LOT.

HE WAS IN GREAT LOVE WITH TINA.

BUT WHEN THE DEMONS
FROM TINA'S PAST RESURFACED...

IT WAS SHOCKING FOR EVERYONE
THAT KNEW THE BOTH OF THEM.

...JOHN SUDDENLY FOUND HIMSELF

IN THE STAKEOUT OF A LIFETIME.



SO, I JUST SAT IN THE CHAIR
FACING THE DOOR

WITH A SHOTGUN
AND A COUPLE OF HANDGUNS,

WAITING FOR SOMEBODY.

WHEN IT COMES
TO LOVE AND MARRIAGE,

THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS
AS THEY SEEM.

GROWING UP IN A STRICT,
ROMAN CATHOLIC FAMILY,

JOHN POMROY ALWAYS WANTED
TO HELP OTHERS.

I TOURED A SEMINARY

AND CONSIDERED
BECOMING A PRIEST.

BEFORE COLLEGE,
I STARTED DATING,

AND I REALIZED
I COULDN'T BE A PRIEST

BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED
IN GIRLS.

SO, AT AGE 24,
LIVING IN COVINA, CALIFORNIA,

JOHN PUT HIS PHILANTHROPY
TO WORK IN ANOTHER WAY.



I WAS A HOUSE PARENT

AT A HOME
FOR KIDS WHO ARE ORPHANED.

I LOVED IT A LOT.

JOHN ENJOYED THE WORK,

ESPECIALLY WHEN AN ATTRACTIVE
WOMAN NAMED TINA HAMILTON

JOINED THE TEAM
IN THE FALL OF 1987.

THE FIRST TIME
I SAW TINA, I THOUGHT,

"SHE'S ATTRACTIVE,"
AND, "I WONDER WHO THAT IS."

JOHN WAS INSTANTLY SMITTEN,

SO HE MUSTERED UP THE COURAGE
TO ASK TINA OUT,

BUT HE WAS QUICKLY SHOT DOWN.

UM...

TINA TOLD ME
THAT SHE WOULDN'T DATE ME

BECAUSE WE WEREN'T
OF THE SAME FAITH.

I WAS CATHOLIC, AND SHE WAS
A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN,

AND SHE WAS ONLY GONNA DATE
SOMEBODY

WHO WAS A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN.

AND AT THAT POINT, I REALIZED,

"OKAY, WE'RE JUST GONNA
BE FRIENDS."

SOON, THEIR FRIENDSHIP GREW,

AND TINA CONFIDED IN JOHN
ABOUT HER TROUBLED PAST.

TINA TOLD ME
THAT SHE HAD BEEN A DRUG ADDICT

UNTIL ABOUT THREE YEARS
BEFORE WE MET.

I THOUGHT, "THAT'S INTERESTING.

I'VE NEVER KNOWN ANYBODY
WHO'S USED DRUGS LIKE THAT."

TINA WAS VERY OPEN
ABOUT HER PAST

BECAUSE SHE SHARED IT
AS A TESTIMONY TO OTHER WOMEN

AND HOW SHE HAD OVERCOME
THOSE THINGS.

A TRUE BELIEVER
IN SECOND CHANCES,

JOHN WAS INSPIRED
BY TINA'S TRANSFORMATION

AND CURIOUS ABOUT THE CHURCH
SHE ATTENDED.

I HAD BEGUN TO BECOME RESTLESS

IN MY FAITH AS A CATHOLIC,

AND SHE TOLD ME
ABOUT HER CHURCH.

SHE INVITED ME
TO SOME YOUNG-ADULT MEETINGS.

JOHN WAS MOVED BY THE MINISTRY,

AND ON EASTER SUNDAY OF 1988,

HE BECAME A MEMBER
OF TINA'S CHURCH.

SUDDENLY, TINA BEGAN
TO LOOK AT JOHN POMROY

IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT.

SHE BEGAN TO LOOK AT ME

AS A PERSON THAT COULD BE DATED.

BUT TINA'S LIFE
AS A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN

INCLUDED SOME GROUND RULES

THAT SHE TOLD JOHN
SHE WOULDN'T BREAK.

TINA ALWAYS SAID, FROM HER PAST,

SHE DID NOT LIKE THE USE

OF ALCOHOL OR PAIN MEDICATIONS.

SO SHE WAS REALLY OPPOSED
TO THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

SHE SAID
WE COULD DRINK NO ALCOHOL,

WE COULD HAVE NO SEX
BEFORE MARRIAGE,

BUT I SAW THE SPIRITUAL VALUE
TO THESE RULES,

SO I DIDN'T FIGHT THEM.

JOHN RESPECTED TINA'S WISHES

AND KNEW
SHE WAS THE RIGHT GIRL FOR HIM.

A YEAR LATER,
THE COUPLE WAS MARRIED

AT THEIR CHURCH
IN WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA.

WHEN WE WERE SAYING OUR VOWS...

THIS PROMISE
TO EACH OTHER AND TO GOD...

IT WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
TO ME.

I WAS MAKING A COMMITMENT
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
THEIR LIVES TOGETHER TOOK OFF.

JOHN BECAME A POLICE OFFICER
IN POMONA,

AND TINA BECAME PREGNANT
RIGHT AWAY.

WE DIDN'T HAVE
A NORMAL HONEYMOON STAGE.

IT WAS GET MARRIED,
GO TO WORK AT THIS INTENSE JOB,

AND GET READY
FOR A BABY TO COME.

WHEN THEIR SON MICHAEL
WAS BORN IN 1990,

TINA QUIT HER JOB
TO BECOME A FULL-TIME MOM

AND JOHN HAD A NEW HOME BUILT
FOR THE FAMILY.

I WAS VERY HAPPY
BEING A FATHER AND A HUSBAND.

I HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE
WHO WAS A GOOD, CHRISTIAN WOMAN.

BUT 13 YEARS
INTO THEIR MARRIAGE,

IT SEEMED THAT TINA HAD FOUND
ANOTHER CALLING,

AND, BEFORE LONG, THEIR GOOD
LIFE TOGETHER WOULD CRUMBLE.

ON THE MORNING OF MAY 28, 2002,

JOHN'S CELLPHONE RANG
WHILE HE WAS AT WORK.

THIS WOMAN CALLED AND TOLD ME

THAT SHE KNEW MY WIFE
AND SHE KNEW MY KIDS.

I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HER VOICE.

JOHN CONTINUED TO LISTEN

AS THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN TOLD HIM
SOMETHING

THAT WOULD SEND HIM
RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE.

AND SHE SAID THAT SOMEBODY
WAS TRYING TO KILL ME,

AND, I MEAN, I WAS SHOCKED.

TINA HAD GONE SO FAR DOWN
SO FAST.

IN THE WINTER OF 1995,

SEVEN YEARS
BEFORE A DIRE PHONE CALL

WOULD HAVE DETECTIVE JOHN POMROY
FEARING FOR HIS LIFE,

HE AND HIS WIFE, TINA,

WELCOMED THE BIRTH
OF THEIR SECOND SON, BRANDON.

TINA, THE BOYS,
AND I WERE VERY CLOSE.

WE WOULD GO ON VACATIONS,

USUALLY TO COASTLINE
DESTINATIONS...

LONG BEACH, SAN DIEGO,
NEWPORT BEACH.

WE DID A LOT OF STUFF TOGETHER.

THEY HAD EVERYTHING

THAT A FAMILY COULD NEED
AND WANT.

THEY WERE ROLE MODELING
THEIR MARRIAGE TO OTHER COUPLES.

BUT BY THE SUMMER OF 2000,

11 YEARS INTO THEIR MARRIAGE,

JOHN BEGAN TO NOTICE TROUBLING
CHANGES IN TINA'S BEHAVIOR.

I SAW TINA BEING MORE IRRITABLE.

SHE SEEMED
TO BE ALWAYS ANGRY WITH ME,

AND HER PERSONALITY
WAS CHANGING.

TINA STARTED TO TAKE
A LITTLE BIT OF A TURN.

A LOT OF DEPRESSION
STARTED TO SET IN.

IT SEEMED LIKE SHE WAS
JUST THERE BUT NOT THERE

MOST OF THE TIME.

SOMETIMES SHE WOULD LEAVE

AND BE GONE TILL 3:00, 2:00
IN THE MORNING,

AND MY DAD WAS THE ONE WHO WAS
THERE HELPING TAKE CARE OF US

OR PUT US TO BED, YOU KNOW.

IT WAS WEIRD.

I WOULD ALWAYS ASK HER
WHERE SHE WAS GOING,

AND SHE WOULD JUST TELL ME
IT WAS NONE OF MY BUSINESS.

I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT I COULD DO TO STOP IT.

AND AROUND THAT TIME,
ACCORDING TO JOHN,

THEIR MONEY
WAS QUICKLY DISAPPEARING.

I WOULD GO TO THE SUPERMARKET,

AND THERE WAS NO MONEY
IN MY ACCOUNT.

BY THE WINTER OF 2000,
THE SITUATION HADN'T IMPROVED.

JOHN HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY.

HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO NEXT,
AND BY THE FOLLOWING YEAR,

HE SAW YET ANOTHER DISTURBING
SIDE TO HIS WIFE.

SHE WOULD OCCASIONALLY SLAP ME
OR HIT ME.

MY FATHER TAUGHT ME NEVER
TO RAISE A HAND TO A WOMAN,

AND I JUST TOOK THE HITS.

TINA'S ACTIONS
MADE ONE THING CLEAR TO JOHN.

I SUSPECTED THAT SHE WAS USING
ILLEGAL DRUGS.

THERE WERE SOME STRANGE
BEHAVIORS THAT WERE GOING ON

THAT I COULDN'T EXPLAIN,

AND SHE WAS BEGINNING
TO LOSE WEIGHT.

AS A GOOD CHRISTIAN,

JOHN DID WHAT HE COULD
TO HANG ON TO HIS MARRIAGE.

HE MOVED OUT OF THEIR BEDROOM
IN TO THEIR HOME OFFICE

AND PLEADED WITH TINA TO GET
THE HELP IT APPEARED SHE NEEDED.

I ASKED HER TO GO
TO THE REHAB FACILITY

WHERE SHE FIRST GOT CLEANED
ON DRUGS,

AND SHE JUST KEPT TELLING ME,
NO, SHE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM.

HE WAS TRYING
TO KEEP HIS FAMILY TOGETHER,

AND THAT WAS HIS GOAL
AND HIS FOCUS,

BUT TINA WAS NOT GONNA LET
THAT HAPPEN.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2001,

TINA TOOK A JOB AS A COUNSELOR

AT A DRUG-EDUCATION PROGRAM
FOR TEENS.

GOOD FRIEND RHONDA MORKEN
FOUNDED THE PROGRAM

AND HIRED TINA.

SO, TINA CAME TO ME
AT THAT TIME AND ASKED,

YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS ANY WAY
SHE COULD GET PAID.

THERE WERE MANY PROBLEMS
THAT THEY WERE HAVING,

SO THEY NEEDED THE MONEY.

SO I SAID, "WELL, COME ON,
I CAN HIRE YOU ON PART-TIME."

JOHN HOPED
HER NEW JOB WAS A SIGN

THAT TINA WAS ON THE ROAD
TO RECOVERY,

BUT HE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN
MORE WRONG.

IN JULY 2001,

TINA AND JOHN
GOT INTO A HEATED ARGUMENT.

I DON'T RECALL WHAT IT WAS,

BUT TINA STARTED ARGUING
WITH ME.

SHE HIT ME IN FRONT OF THE KIDS.

I MEAN, IT WAS JUST LIKE
A LIGHT SWITCH FOR ME.

I REALIZED, "I NEED TO GET OUT.

I NEED TO GET OUT
OF THIS MARRIAGE."

DEVASTATED,
JOHN MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE

AND INTO THE BASEMENT
OF THE POMONA POLICE STATION.

I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
I COULD CONFIDE TO ANYBODY

WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I WAS ASHAMED AS A MAN,
AS A POLICE OFFICER,

TO ADMIT THAT I WAS A VICTIM

OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

WITH NO LEGAL RIGHT
TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN,

JOHN VOWED TO RETURN FOR THEM
AS SOON AS HE COULD.

I FELT TERRIBLE
ABOUT LEAVING MY BOYS.

I FELT LIKE
I WAS ABANDONING THEM.

I COULDN'T TELL THEM
THE HISTORY OF THE VIOLENCE.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT
FELT LIKE MY DAD ABANDONED ME,

BUT IT WAS VERY EASILY PUT TO ME
FROM MY MOTHER

THAT MY DAD HAD JUST UP AND LEFT
AND HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT US.

I THOUGHT MAYBE TINA
WOULD THINK ABOUT THE KIDS,

BECAUSE
THERE WOULDN'T BE ME THERE

TO KEEP EVERYTHING TOGETHER

AND THAT SHE MIGHT GET HER LIFE
BACK IN ORDER.

BUT IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE.

TINA'S DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

WAS ABOUT TO REACH
A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

I WAS IN SHOCK. I SAID,
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME."

I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT
SHE WOULD GO TO THAT EXTREME.

IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2001,

JOHN POMROY
MOVED OUT OF HIS HOUSE

WITH THE HOPE
THAT HIS WIFE, TINA,

WOULD QUICKLY COME
TO HER SENSES.

I THOUGHT
THAT I WAS ENABLING HER

TO REMAIN IRRESPONSIBLE

AND THAT, IF I LEFT,

SHE MIGHT SNAP OUT OF IT
AND GET HER ACT TOGETHER.

BUT, WITHIN WEEKS,
TINA WAS FIRED

FROM THE DRUG-EDUCATION PROGRAM
WHERE SHE WORKED.

SHE STARTED
TO NOT SHOW UP FOR WORK.

SHE WOULD COME TO ME,
AND SHE WANTED TO BORROW MONEY.

WE HAD SEVERAL TALKS WITH HER

ABOUT HER BEHAVIORS
DURING THAT TIME,

AND I SAW THE CHANGE IN TINA

WAS NOT THE TINA
THAT I KNEW AT ALL.

SO IT WAS TIME
FOR US TO LET HER GO.

JOHN SAW NO END IN SIGHT

TO HIS WIFE'S DOWNWARD SPIRAL.

ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001,

HE FILED FOR DIVORCE

AND JOINT CUSTODY
OF THEIR TWO BOYS.

I KNEW THAT THERE WAS
NO GOING BACK TO HER,

THAT THERE WAS NO WAY
THAT OUR MARRIAGE

WOULD EVER BE RECONCILED.

I KNEW IT WAS OVER.

BY APRIL OF 2002,

JOHN MOVED IN
TO HIS OWN APARTMENT,

BUT HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT
THE WELFARE OF THEIR CHILDREN.

THE BOYS WOULD TELL ME

THAT THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY
AT THE HOUSE,

THERE WAS NO RUNNING WATER
AT THE HOUSE.

I WAS REALLY ANGRY

THAT SHE WAS EXPOSING OUR BOYS
TO THAT ENVIRONMENT.

AT A CERTAIN POINT, YOU
LOOK AT THE HOUSE AND YOU SAY,

"THERE'S NOTHING HERE THAT'S
CONDUCIVE TO A GOOD UPBRINGING."

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,

JOHN SUSPECTED
THAT TINA WAS HANGING

AROUND MEMBERS
OF A NOTORIOUS BIKER GANG

WHO LIVED DOWN THE STREET
FROM THEIR HOME.

THE BOYS STARTED TELLING ME

ABOUT CERTAIN PEOPLE
WHO WERE COMING TO THE HOUSE,

AND WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE
MEMBERS OF A MOTORCYCLE GANG.

I KNEW A LOT
ABOUT ALL THE GANGS IN THE AREA.

THEY WERE INTO DRUGS,
CRIME, SEXUAL ASSAULTS...

I MEAN, EVERYTHING
THAT YOU CAN THINK OF.

I HAD ALREADY DECIDED

THAT I WANTED TO GET CUSTODY
OF THE BOYS,

BUT THAT RAMPED IT UP FOR ME.

THAT MAY, JOHN WAS AWARDED

TEMPORARY CUSTODY
OF HIS CHILDREN

THAT WOULD BECOME FINAL
WITHIN A MONTH.

ALL I WANTED WAS THE BOYS.

I TOLD HER
THAT SHE COULD HAVE THE HOUSE.

SHE COULD HAVE ALL
OF THE PROPERTY IN THE HOUSE,

THAT I WOULD PAY
SPOUSAL SUPPORT,

AND THAT I WOULD
EVEN INCLUDE CHILD SUPPORT

IF THE BOYS
COULD JUST LIVE WITH ME.

BUT TINA HAD ANOTHER
ARRANGEMENT IN MIND.

ON THE MORNING OF MAY 28, 2002,

JOHN WAS AT HIS DESK AT WORK

WHEN HE RECEIVED A STRANGE CALL
FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN.

THE WOMAN TOLD JOHN
SHE KNEW TINA AND THEIR BOYS,

AND THEN SHE DROPPED
A BOMBSHELL.

SHE TOLD ME THAT TINA...

WAS TRYING TO HIRE A HIT MAN
TO KILL ME.

I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED.

I NEVER THOUGHT
THAT SHE'D GO THAT FAR.

AND I REALIZED THAT SHE COULD BE
GIVING ME EVIDENCE OF A CRIME.

I HAD A TAPE RECORDER
ATTACHED TO MY PHONE,

SO I TURNED ON THE TAPE RECORDER
AND I BEGAN INTERVIEWING HER

THE WAY I WOULD INTERVIEW
ANY OTHER WITNESS TO A CRIME.

AS JOHN RECORDED
THE CONVERSATION,

THE WOMAN INFORMED HIM
THAT SHE WAS RELATED

TO A MEMBER OF THE BIKER GANG
NEAR THEIR HOME.

SO, SHE TOLD ME
TINA WAS HOPING THAT THIS WOMAN

COULD GET THEM TO KILL ME.

THE WOMAN DECLINED

AND NEVER TOLD
THE OTHER GANG MEMBERS.

INSTEAD, SHE CALLED JOHN.

SHE AGREED
TO GIVE A FORMAL STATEMENT

AND HELP POLICE
WITH THE INVESTIGATION

IN ANY WAY SHE COULD.

SO, I WENT TO MY SUPERVISORS.

I GAVE THEM THE TAPE RECORDING.

EVERYTHING THAT THIS WOMAN SAID
WAS VERIFIABLE INFORMATION.

WITH THE HELP OF THE
INFORMANT, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY,
WHERE TINA LIVED,

IMMEDIATELY SET UP
A STING OPERATION

TO CATCH HER IN THE ACT.

THE UNDERCOVER DETECTIVES
CAME UP WITH A PLAN

OF HOW TO USE THIS WOMAN
TO ARRANGE A MEETING WITH TINA

AND CONVINCE TINA
THAT THESE UNDERCOVER DETECTIVES

WERE A HIT MAN AND HIS PARTNER.

MEANWHILE, JOHN AND HIS KIDS

WERE QUICKLY MOVED
TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION.

ONE DAY,
MY DAD COMES TO ME, AND HE SAYS,

"YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA GO ON
A LITTLE, SHORT, MINI VACATION,

"AND WE'RE GONNA STAY AT A HOTEL
FOR A FEW DAYS.

IT'S GONNA BE FUN."

WE WENT INTO HIDING,
AND I HAD TO TELL THE BOYS

THAT WE WERE PLAYING A GAME
FOR MY JOB.

UM, YOU KNOW,
I HAD TO LIE TO MY BOYS.

ALL THE WHILE, JOHN HAD NO IDEA

IF TINA HAD ALREADY HIRED
SOMEONE ELSE TO KILL HIM.

HE WAS TAKING NO CHANCES.

I STAYED AWAKE ALL NIGHT LONG,

WORRIED THAT SOMEBODY WAS GOING
TO TRY AND BREAK DOWN THE DOOR

AND COME IN TO HURT ME.

SO I JUST SAT IN A CHAIR
FACING THE DOOR

WITH A SHOTGUN
AND A COUPLE OF HANDGUNS,

WAITING FOR SOMEBODY.

ON MAY 28, 2002,

AFTER LEARNING
THAT HIS WIFE OF 13 YEARS

WAS TRYING TO HIRE A HIT MAN
TO KILL HIM,

JOHN POMROY WAS HIDING OUT
AT A SAFEHOUSE WITH HIS SONS.

I WAS SITTING IN A CHAIR

FACING THE FRONT DOOR
WITH A SHOTGUN.

I WAS PREPARED TO SHOOT IT OUT
IF I HAD TO.

THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON,

POLICE SENT
TWO UNDERCOVER DETECTIVES

POSING AS MEMBERS
OF THE BIKER GANG

TO MEET WITH TINA POMROY.

SAN BERNARDINO
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

HAD AN UNDERCOVER OFFICER GO IN.

HE WORE A WIRE
AND GOT THIS RECORDED,

ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS,

WHERE TINA ASKED THIS PERSON,
WHICH WAS AN UNDERCOVER DEPUTY,

TO KILL JOHN,

AND SHE EVEN TOLD HIM THAT JOHN
WAS A POMONA POLICE OFFICER.

SHE AGREED TO PAY THEM $2,500,

AND SHE WAS GONNA MAKE
A DRUG RUN FOR THEM.

SHE WAS ALSO
GOING TO PROVIDE THE GUN

THAT WAS GONNA BE USED
TO KILL ME.

BUT HER PLAN
WAS FOILED WHEN, LATER THAT DAY,

THE SAME TWO DETECTIVES
ARRESTED TINA

AND CHARGED HER WITH
SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MURDER.

I FELT RELIEVED
THAT SHE WAS OFF THE STREETS,

THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE THROUGH WITH HER PLAN.

I THINK TINA WANTED ME DEAD

BECAUSE
IF YOU'RE A POLICE OFFICER

AND YOU'RE MURDERED
IN THE LINE OF DUTY,

THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT
OF INSURANCE MONEY

THAT GOES TO THE BENEFICIARY,

AND SHE WAS THE BENEFICIARY.

TINA WOULD ALSO GET THE BOYS
FULL-TIME.

I WAS JUST VERY ANGRY
AND LET DOWN BY MY MOM.

I FELT LIKE SHE REALLY BETRAYED

NOT ONLY MY FATHER
BUT, YOU KNOW, MYSELF, BRANDON.

ON JANUARY 7, 2003,

TINA PLEADED GUILTY
AND WAS GIVEN A 3-YEAR SENTENCE.

SHE SERVED 22 MONTHS IN PRISON

AND WAS RELEASED
IN THE WINTER OF 2004.

THAT WAS NOTHING
FOR WHAT SHE HAD PLANNED

AND WHAT SHE WAS
GOING TO CARRY OUT.

I THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE GOT
AT LEAST 10 YEARS.

I MEAN,
SHE HONESTLY DESERVED THAT TIME.

ON JUNE 3, 2004,

JOHN AND TINA'S DIVORCE
BECAME FINAL.

BUT A LOOPHOLE
IN THE CALIFORNIA DIVORCE LAWS

MEANT THAT TINA
WAS STILL ENTITLED

TO HALF OF JOHN'S ASSETS
AND PENSION,

TOTALING ALMOST $70,000.

IT'S JUST A SLAP IN THE FACE

THAT THIS WOMAN WAS ENTITLED
TO ANY MONEY AT ALL.

I THOUGHT
THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS

FOR HER TO GET
HALF OF HIS RETIREMENT

AND HALF OF HIS DEFERRED
COMPENSATION MONEY

AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT HE HAD.

SHE GETS HALF OF EVERYTHING.
THAT WAS COMPLETELY WRONG.

FURIOUS, JOHN WENT
TO LAWMAKERS TO GET EVEN.

I WENT TO MY LOCAL ASSEMBLYMAN.

I WROTE HIM A LETTER
TALKING ABOUT THE SITUATION

AND WHY I BELIEVED
THE LAW NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.

FOLLOWING HER RELEASE,

TINA WAS ARRESTED FOR THEFT,
A D.U.I., AND DRUG POSSESSION.

SO IN 2006, THE COURTS
GAVE JOHN AND HIS TWO BOYS

A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST HER
FOR FIVE YEARS.

IT WAS MY BELIEF

THAT, BECAUSE TINA'S BEHAVIOR
WITH DRUGS WAS BACK

AND KNOWING
WHAT HER STATE OF MIND WAS,

I FELT THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY
MORE OF A DANGER TO MY FAMILY

THAN BEFORE.

ACCORDING TO JOHN,

TINA HAS NEVER ONCE APOLOGIZED
OR SHOWN REMORSE

FOR WHAT SHE DID.

MY MOM WOULD NEVER ADMIT
TO ACTUALLY ANYTHING.

SHE WOULD ONLY SAY,
"I AM SORRY FOR BEING AWAY."

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SORRY FOR?

YOU'RE NOT SORRY
FOR YOUR ACTIONS.

YOU'RE NOT SORRY THAT YOU TRIED

TO DO SOMETHING TOTALLY HEINOUS
TOWARDS MY FATHER,

AND IT WAS VERY UPSETTING.

IN JULY OF 2010,
JOHN FINALLY SUCCEEDED

IN GETTING THE CALIFORNIA
DIVORCE LAW CHANGED.

THE HIT MAN BILL WAS SIGNED

AND WENT INTO EFFECT
ON JANUARY 1, 2011.

BUT JOHN DID NOT GET REIMBURSED

FOR WHAT HE HAD ALREADY PAID
TO TINA.

THE SATISFACTION
FROM GETTING THE LAW CHANGED

WAS NOT ABOUT GETTING ANYTHING
FOR ME.

IT WAS ABOUT PREVENTING
THIS KIND OF TRAUMA

FROM HAPPENING TO ANYBODY ELSE
IN THE FUTURE.

TODAY JOHN IS STILL A DETECTIVE

AND IS CLOSER THAN EVER
TO HIS TWO BOYS.

THEY'VE GROWN UP A LOT
THROUGH THIS.

MICHAEL'S 21.
HE'S GOING TO COLLEGE.

BRANDON'S 16. HE'S PLAYING BALL
IN HIGH SCHOOL.

HE'S LOVING HIS TEENAGE YEARS.

MY FATHER COULD HAVE GONE
COMPLETELY DOWNHILL

AFTER THE WHOLE SITUATION
WITH MY MOM,

BUT YET HE DIDN'T.

HE BECAME SOMETHING MORE
THAN JUST A VICTIM OF MY MOM.

HE'S BECOME STRONGER.

THROUGH HIS FAITH,

JOHN HAS BEEN ABLE TO FORGIVE
TINA FOR WHAT SHE DID,

BUT HE WILL NEVER FORGET.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S OUR ROLE
ON EARTH TO FORGIVE AND FORGET.

IT'S OUR JOB TO FORGIVE
AND LIVE MORE WISELY.

JOHN CREDITS THERAPY
WITH HELPING HIM REGAIN HIS LIFE

AND CONTINUE RAISING
HIS TWO SONS.

THIS EXPERIENCE
HELPED ME TO FOCUS

ON WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT,

AND WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
IS NOT THINGS, IT'S PEOPLE.

I'VE GOT A BETTER LIFE
THAN I EVER HAD BEFORE,

SO I'M A VERY BLESSED MAN.