Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 4 - Demons, Drugs and Darkness - full transcript

Narrator:
A YOUNG WOMAN,

CRIPPLED BY THE DARK FORCES
OF MENTAL ILLNESS...

I WOULD SEE THINGS
THAT OTHER PEOPLE COULDN'T SEE.

Narrator: ...HOPES THE ARMS
OF A LOVING MAN CAN RESCUE HER.

I KNEW SHE WAS THE ONE.

Narrator:
TOGETHER, THEY BUILD A FUTURE...

THINGS WERE GOING GOOD,
AND WE WERE IN LOVE.

Narrator: ...UNTIL THE DEMONS
THAT PLAGUE HER TAKE FULL CONTROL.

[ SCREAMS ]

Angie: HER POSTPARTUM
DEPRESSION WAS REALLY BAD.

TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S
MENTALLY ILL OFF THEIR MEDS



AND THEN ON DRUGS AND ALCOHOL,

THAT'S JUST DISASTROUS.

I'M NOT - AAH!
[ SCREAMS ]

Narrator: NOT ALL FAIRYTALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG,
A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

JUNE 2008.

ON A HOT SUMMER DAY
IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA,

IT'S HARD NOT TO NOTICE
23-YEAR-OLD ANNETTE HERNANDEZ,

A STRIKING BEAUTY WHO
TURNS HEADS EVERYWHERE SHE GOES.

MEN ARE INSTANTLY DRAWN TO HER,

INCLUDING HER NEIGHBOR
CAMERON PATTERSON.

Patterson: I STILL REMEMBER
THE MOMENT I SAW HER.

SHE WAS WALKING, AND, YOU KNOW,
I WAS JUST LIKE,



"WOW, THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN."

SHE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE
THAT RED, RED LIPSTICK.

AND ONE DAY, I WAS LIKE,

"YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M GONNA GO SAY HEY TO HER."

HI.

Narrator: ANNETTE RARELY
GIVES MEN THE TIME OF DAY.

AND HE JUST -
HE TOOK INTEREST IN ME,

AND WE HUNG OUT -
ME, HIM, AND MY COUSIN.

Narrator:
CAMERON IS HOOKED RIGHT AWAY.

ANNETTE DOESN'T SEE HIM

AS ANYTHING MORE
THAN A POSSIBLE FLING.

ENJOYING THE SUN?

I REMEMBER NOT HAVING
A WHOLE LOT OF INTEREST.

ARIZONA.

I JUST FELT LIKE
WE REALLY HAD A CONNECTION.

[ LAUGHS ]
I'M A COOK.

OH, YOU'RE A COOK?
YEAH.

HE WANTED SOMETHING SERIOUS,
AND I DIDN'T.

Patterson:
I COULD OPEN UP AND TALK TO HER.

IT WAS LIKE THE WHOLE
KINDRED-SPIRIT-TYPE THING,

WHERE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH SOMEBODY.

OH, THANK YOU.

Narrator: CAMERON THINKS HE'S
SCORED WITH THIS BRUNET BEAUTY...

BUT ONCE ANNETTE'S DEEP-SEATED
ISSUES FLOAT TO THE SURFACE,

CAMERON WILL FIND HIMSELF
DIRECTLY IN HARM'S WAY.

[ CHUCKLES ]

EVER SINCE
SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL,

ANNETTE HAS ALWAYS FELT
DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CHILDREN.

I REMEMBER KIND OF SITTING AWAY
FROM THE OTHER KIDS,

JUST REALLY NOT FEELING RIGHT.

Angie:
SHE WAS KIND OF A LONER.

RATHER THAN TO GO OUT AND PLAY,
SHE'D STAY IN HER ROOM.

SHE PLAYED WITH HER TOYS
OR WATCHED A LITTLE TELEVISION.

SHE COULD DO THAT FOR HOURS.

SHE HAD MOOD SWINGS -

FROM HAPPY-GO-LUCKY,
JUST REALLY SWEET AND CHEERFUL,

AND THEN SHE'D CHANGE

TO KIND OF QUIET AND DARK,
WITHDRAWN.

Narrator: ANNETTE'S PARENTS
AREN'T TOO WORRIED

ABOUT THEIR DAUGHTER'S
STRANGE BEHAVIOR AT FIRST

AND FIGURE IT'S JUST A PHASE.

SHE WAS LOVING, FUNNY, SWEET.

SHE WAS A SWEET LITTLE GIRL.

Narrator: HER PARENTS HAVE
NO CLUE THAT THEIR LITTLE GIRL

IS BATTLING
SOME SERIOUS MENTAL DEMONS.

Annette: I WOULD KIND OF SEE
THINGS THAT WEREN'T THERE,

THAT OTHER KIDS COULDN'T SEE,
LIKE SHADOWS.

THEY SEEMED TO BE EVIL.

I COULDN'T MAKE OUT
WHAT THEY WERE SAYING.

I'D HEAR, LIKE, AN OLD-FASHIONED
RADIO, KIND OF STATIC.

I WOULD HEAR MY NAME
BEING CALLED.

Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

THERE COULD BE
SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS

FOR ANNETTE'S UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR
AS A CHILD.

MAYBE SHE SIMPLY IS
PRONE TO FANTASY

OR HAS
AN OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION.

PARENTS WANT TO CHALK THIS UP TO
THE UNIQUENESS OF THEIR CHILD

AND NOT IMAGINE

THAT THERE COULD BE SOMETHING
SEVERELY, ORGANICALLY WRONG.

Narrator: ANNETTE NEVER TELLS
ANYONE ABOUT THE HALLUCINATIONS.

THEN ONE DAY, AT THE AGE OF 12,

SHE DECIDES
SHE CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

ANNETTE GETS HER HANDS
ON A BOTTLE OF MUSCLE RELAXANTS.

Annette:
I TOOK ALL OF THEM.

I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER
HOW MANY THERE WERE.

AND I DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY
ABOUT IT.

I THOUGHT MAYBE I'D GO TO SLEEP
AND WOULDN'T WAKE UP AGAIN.

ARE YOU SAYING YOU WERE TRYING
TO KILL YOURSELF?

YES.

AT 12?
YES.

Angie: I JUST REMEMBER THAT
I COULD HEAR HER THROWING UP,

AND SHE WOULDN'T SAY WHAT
WAS WRONG WITH HER AT FIRST.

NETTIE,
WHAT'S THE MATTER?

AND THEN,
SHE FINALLY TOLD ME -

"MOM, I TOOK THESE PILLS.
NOW I FEEL REALLY BAD."

WHY?!

"I'M VERY SCARED.
I'M VERY WORRIED. I'M CONFUSED."

I'M LIKE, "WHY?"

WE TOOK HER RIGHT AWAY
TO THE HOSPITAL,

WHERE SHE HAD HER STOMACH
PUMPED.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: DOCTORS SEND ANNETTE
TO A PSYCHOLOGIST

FOR AN EVALUATION.

THE DIAGNOSIS
SURPRISES EVERYONE -

PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA.

SEVERAL TYPES OF THERAPY
WE CAN TRY.

THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT
MEDICATIONS WE CAN TRY

TO KIND OF MINIMIZE
HER SYMPTOMS.

Angie:
IT WAS HARD TO BELIEVE AT FIRST.

I'M LIKE, "SCHIZOPHRENIA?
MY DAUGHTER?"

THE DOCTORS EXPLAINED IT TO US,

WE READ ABOUT IT,
WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS,

LIKE, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?

AND THEY SAID,
"PUT HER ON MEDICINE,

GO TO COUNSELING AND THERAPIES,"
AND WE DID.

Dr. Jordan: IT'S VERY RARE

THAT PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA
IS DIAGNOSED IN CHILDREN.

IT USUALLY CAN'T MANIFEST ITSELF

UNTIL THE LATE TEENS
OR EARLY 20s.

THE BIGGEST INDICATORS
OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

ARE HALLUCINATIONS, DELUSIONS,
THE SUBJECT MAY HEAR VOICES,

SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLY
UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION

FOR THE SUBJECT TO EXPERIENCE.

Narrator:
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS,

DOCTORS PRESCRIBE
A LAUNDRY LIST OF MEDICATIONS

IN HOPES
OF TREATING ANNETTE'S ILLNESS.

Annette: I'VE GONE THROUGH
ABOUT 36 OF THEM -

SEROQUEL, ZYPREXA,
RISPERDAL,

DEPAKOTE, LITHIUM -
DIFFERENT ONES.

DID ANY OF THEM HELP?

NO.

I DIDN'T WANT
TO TAKE MY MEDICATION.

WHETHER I WAS ON IT
OR NOT,

I STILL COULD SEE
THESE THINGS,

AND I STARTED TO REALIZE,

"HEY, THESE THINGS ARE
GONNA BE HERE NO MATTER WHAT."

Narrator: ANNETTE STRUGGLES
WITH HIGH SCHOOL.

Annette: I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO
BE AROUND ALL THE KIDS SO MUCH.

I HAD A HARD TIME
BEING AROUND OTHER PEOPLE.

Narrator:
BY THE TIME SHE'S 16,

ANNETTE CONVINCES HER PARENTS
TO LET HER LEAVE SCHOOL

AND GET HER OWN PLACE NEARBY,

ON THE CONDITION
THAT SHE GET HER G. E. D.

BUT SHE'S STILL PLAGUED
BY THE SAME HALLUCINATIONS.

NOW ON HER OWN, ANNETTE DOESN'T
HAVE TO ANSWER TO ANYONE,

AND SHE QUICKLY
STARTS DOWN A DANGEROUS PATH

WITH THE NEW FRIENDS SHE MEETS
AT HER WAITRESSING JOB.

I STARTED DOING CRANK,
OLD-SCHOOL SPEED.

[ SNIFFS ]

AND THEN I DID ICE.

AND THESE ARE
JUST FORMS OF SPEED?

YEAH.

IN THE SAME FAMILY
AS METHAMPHETAMINE?

YES.

DID IT HELP TO SELF-MEDICATE
THE VOICES IN YOUR HEAD?

AT THE TIME
THAT I DID IT, YEAH.

I KIND OF
WOULD FORGET ABOUT IT.

IT WAS AN ESCAPE FOR ME.

I JUST WANTED SOMEBODY
TO UNDERSTAND,

AND THEY COULDN'T,
AND IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING.

[ CHUCKLES ]

ANNETTE IS
IN A DANGEROUS CYCLE

OF SELF-MEDICATION
THROUGH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

THIS IS GOING TO BRING HER
TEMPORARY RELIEF,

BUT IN THE END,
IT'S NOT A SOLUTION.

IT'S GOING TO GET HER
INTO TROUBLE.

Narrator: WHILE THE DRUGS
PROVIDE A QUICK FIX,

THEY ALSO MAKE
HER HALLUCINATIONS MUCH WORSE.

ANNETTE BELIEVES THESE DELUSIONS

ARE LINKED TO SOMETHING
MUCH MORE SINISTER.

Annette: I BELIEVE THAT THE
DEVIL COMES IN MANY FORMS,

AND A MAJOR ONE IS METH.

I FEEL LIKE IT WAS A PORTAL
TO THE OTHER SIDE WHEN I DID IT,

AND I BELIEVE THE THINGS THAT
I HALLUCINATED WHEN I WAS ON IT,

THAT THEY WERE REAL.

I SEE PUPPETS RUNNING AROUND,

MESSING WITH MY DOORKNOB
IN THE HOUSE.

AND I GO TO SEE IF SOMEBODY
WAS MESSING WITH THE DOOR,

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
I LOOK UP,

AND THERE WAS SOMETHING RUNNING
UP AROUND THE LIVING ROOM,

AND IT WAS SO REAL.

I MEAN, IT WAS SO REAL.

Narrator:
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS,

ANNETTE REFUSES TO TAKE
HER MEDICATIONS REGULARLY,

AND HER SELF-MEDICATING SPIRALS
INTO A LIFE OF ADDICTION,

WHICH TRIGGERS
A SERIES OF RELATIONSHIPS

THAT ARE DOOMED FROM THE START.

Annette: EVEN IF I DIDN'T
LIKE THE GUY, I'D DATE HIM

JUST SO I COULD GET HIGH
AND I WOULDN'T HAVE TO BUY IT.

Narrator: ANGIE IS CONSTANTLY
WORRIED ABOUT HER DAUGHTER,

BUT EVERY TIME
SHE TRIES TO STEP IN,

ANNETTE PUSHES HER AWAY.

I TRIED CALLING HER.
SHE WOULDN'T ANSWER HER PHONE.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

SHE JUST WANTED
TO BE LEFT ALONE.

IT WAS FRUSTRATING.

SHE WAS SELF-MEDICATING.

IF SHE WASN'T
ON HER PRESCRIBED MEDICATION,

SHE WAS ON STREET DRUGS
OR ALCOHOL.

I KNEW SHE WASN'T HAPPY.

YOU KNOW, YOU ACT AS IF
YOU ARE THERE, AND YOU'RE NOT.

Narrator: ANNETTE'S FRAGILE
MENTAL STATE TAKES ANOTHER HIT

WHEN HER PARENTS SPLIT UP
AFTER 25 YEARS OF MARRIAGE.

I SAW IT COMING. I MEAN,
THEY WEREN'T REALLY THAT HAPPY.

I REMEMBER MY MOM NOT REALLY
WANTING TO BE WITH HIM GROWING UP.

I COULD ALWAYS SEE THAT.

Narrator: DESPITE HER
CHALLENGES, AT THE AGE OF 23,

ANNETTE FEELS
SHE MAY FINALLY BE READY

TO OPEN HERSELF UP TO TRUE LOVE.

ANNETTE AND CAMERON
QUICKLY GET HOT AND HEAVY

AND SEEM TO HAVE
A REAL CONNECTION,

BUT PART OF THAT STEMS
FROM THEIR MUTUAL LOVE

OF GETTING HIGH.

Annette: WE DID COKE.
WE GOT HIGH A LOT.

I COULDN'T TAKE US
BEING TOGETHER SERIOUSLY.

Angie: THEIR RELATIONSHIP
WAS MOSTLY BASED ON

JUST PARTYING
WITH ALCOHOL AND METH.

I DIDN'T THINK THAT RELATIONSHIP
WAS GONNA LAST.

Narrator: THE HOT NEW LOVERS
SPEND EVERY MOMENT TOGETHER.

ANNETTE'S SELF-MEDICATING

SEEMS TO KEEP
HER MENTAL ILLNESS AT BAY,

AND SHE SLOWLY
LETS HER GUARD DOWN.

IN FACT, SHE STARTS TO DEVELOP
REAL FEELINGS FOR CAMERON.

WE'D GO PLAY POOL, AND WE'D
GO SWIMMING AT THE LAKE,

LIKE, AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING,

AND WE HAD FUN TOGETHER.

WE COULD BE AT THE LAUNDROMAT
AND HAVE FUN.

HE MADE ME LAUGH.

Patterson:
WE WERE VERY SPONTANEOUS.

WHATEVER CAME UP
AND WE FELT LIKE DOING,

WE'D JUST GO AND DO IT.

I KNEW SHE WAS THE ONE.

Narrator: THIS COUPLE
SEEMS PERFECT TOGETHER,

BUT THEIR RECKLESS LIFESTYLE
IS ABOUT TO TURN

THIS DRUG-FILLED ROMANCE
UPSIDE DOWN.

ONE DAY
AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF DATING,

CAMERON AND ANNETTE
ARE HANGING OUT BY THE POOL.

I WAS REALLY MESSED UP -
I HAD TAKEN SOME XANAX,

AND I WAS DRINKING WHISKEY
AND DOING SOME OTHER STUFF.

Narrator: SUDDENLY,
THEY GET A SURPRISE VISITOR.

IT'S CAMERON'S EX-GIRLFRIEND.

WHO THE HELL IS THIS?!

SHE STARTED A BIG SCENE.

WE NEED TO TALK!

ANNETTE WAS REALLY UPSET
AT THAT POINT.

THIS IS ANNETTE.
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?

OH! WHO AM I?
YEAH.

SHE STARTED ATTACKING ME.

YES, I HAVE!
ARE YOU KIDDING?!

Cameron:
HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!

I THOUGHT, "THIS IS NOT GOOD."

Narrator: CAMERON TRIES
TO BREAK UP THE CATFIGHT

AND GETS CAUGHT
IN THE CROSSFIRE.

I JUST THOUGHT,
"THIS NEEDS TO STOP."

I THOUGHT HE WAS TRYING
TO GO FOR HER, I GUESS,

SO I WAS MAD.

OH, YOU'RE THE HO!

WOW. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

Annette: I WENT AND GOT
THE JAR OF COFFEE THAT I HAD.

YOU'RE NOT EVEN LISTENING
TO ME!

I'M NOT - AAH!
[ SCREAMS ]

OH, MY GOD!

Narrator:
AND SHE'S NOT DONE YET.

GOD!

Narrator: AUGUST 2008.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

ANNETTE HERNANDEZ
HAS BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP

WITH HER NEIGHBOR
CAMERON PATTERSON

FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

BUT WHEN HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND
SHOWS UP UNANNOUNCED,

ANNETTE FEELS THREATENED,
AND ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.

Annette:
I HAD GOTTEN THE KNIFE...

AND I SAID, "HEY, CAMERON,
I'M SORRY I DID THAT.

I HIT YOU," YOU KNOW,
"COME HERE."

WHAT IS WRONG
WITH YOU?!

I THOUGHT WE WERE JUST -
SHE WANTED TO TALK TO ME.

I WALKED UP TO HER. NEXT THING
I KNOW, SHE CAME AROUND.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

AAH!

SHE STABBED ME.

SHE HIT ME IN THE BACK.

I ACTUALLY LOOKED AT HER.
I WAS LIKE, "REALLY?"

YOU KNOW, "YOU STABBED ME?"

TO THIS DAY, I STILL DON'T
REALLY REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED.

Narrator:
POLICE ARRIVE AT THE SCENE.

ANNETTE IS ARRESTED
AND CHARGED WITH ASSAULT.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

DOCTORS SAID THAT,
"MAN, YOU WERE LUCKY,"

'CAUSE IT CAME RIGHT BETWEEN
MY SPLEEN AND MY KIDNEY.

Narrator: WHEN QUESTIONED,

ANNETTE TELLS POLICE SHE
BLACKED OUT DURING THE ATTACK

AND HAS NO MEMORY
OF WHAT HAPPENED.

HER FATHER HIRES A LAWYER
AND BAILS HER OUT.

IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE

THAT ANNETTE HAS NO MEMORY
OF STABBING CAMERON.

WHEN PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENICS
BECOME OVERWHELMED

WITH THE HALLUCINATIONS,
DELUSIONS, THE VOICES,

THEY FLY INTO A PEAK OF RAGE

WHERE THEY HAVE NO MEMORY
AFTERWARDS

OF WHAT THEY DID IN THE MOMENT.

Narrator: CAMERON LEAVES TOWN,
HOPING TO NEVER LOOK BACK.

I JUST WANTED TO GO SOMEWHERE
AND START OVER AGAIN, YOU KNOW.

Narrator: THE COUPLE'S
FLEETING ROMANCE IS OVER.

THAT IS, UNTIL ANNETTE
GETS SOME STARTLING NEWS.

I WENT OVER ONE MORNING,
AND I HAD MADE COFFEE,

AND SHE JUST STARTING
THROWING UP AND THROWING UP.

SHE SAID THE SMELL
MADE HER GO THROW UP.

I SAID, "UH-OH."

Annette: I WENT THE MENTAL-HEALTH
CLINIC TO TRY TO GET SOME HELP,

AND THEY SAID, "WE NEED
TO TAKE A PREGNANCY TEST."

AND I SAID, "ALL RIGHT, FINE."
I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT.

AND THEN THEY TOOK IT.
THEY SAID, "YOU'RE PREGNANT."

AT FIRST, I WAS UPSET.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

Patterson: WHEN I HEARD THE
NEWS, I WANTED TO COME BACK.

I'M PREGNANT.

SHE TOLD ME
ABOUT HER SCHIZOPHRENIA.

I HAVE A DISORDER.

I KNEW
THAT WAS A PART OF HER,

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF
WHAT MADE HER WHO SHE WAS,

AND WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEBODY,
YOU ACCEPT THEM

AND YOU LOVE THEM
FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE.

Narrator: CAMERON DECIDES
TO RETURN TO PHOENIX

AND MOVE IN WITH ANNETTE.

Patterson: I FORGAVE HER
FOR WHAT SHE HAD DONE.

I WANTED TO HAVE A FAMILY
WITH HER.

I WANT TO BE
A PART OF IT.

I WANTED TO SHOW HER

THAT I COULD BE SOMEBODY
THAT SHE COULD DEPEND UPON.

Narrator:
AT CAMERON'S REQUEST,

THE D. A. REDUCES THE ASSAULT
CHARGES TO A MISDEMEANOR.

ANNETTE GETS PROBATION

AND IS ABLE TO FOCUS
ON HER PREGNANCY.

ANNETTE GOES OFF HER PRESCRIBED
MEDICATIONS WHILE PREGNANT,

AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY THING
SHE GIVES UP.

AND TALK TO ME ABOUT
HOW THE PREGNANCY CHANGED YOU.

OH, OF COURSE
I WASN'T GETTING HIGH.

I WAS PREGNANT, AND I WASN'T
DRINKING OR ANYTHING.

I WAS AFRAID TO EVEN
BE AROUND CIGARETTE SMOKE.

OKAY, I HAVE TO ASK.

LIKE THAT, YOU'RE JUST LIKE,
"I'M PREGNANT," AND IT STOPS?

YEAH.
FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR BABY?

YEAH. I DIDN'T WANT
TO HURT HER, SO I QUIT.

QUIT DOING EVERYTHING.

Narrator: ANGIE FEELS LIKE
SHE HAS HER DAUGHTER BACK AGAIN.

IT WAS LIKE THE PREGNANCY
WIPED AWAY HER MENTAL ILLNESS.

SHE WAS MY LITTLE GIRL AGAIN,
EXCEPT PREGNANT.

I KNOW.

THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME.

IT SMELLS SO GOOD!

Dr. Jordan: PREGNANCY CAN CAUSE
A HUGE FLUX IN HORMONES,

WHICH ACTUALLY AFFECT
BRAIN CHEMISTRY

AND SOMEONE'S OVERALL MOOD.

WITH ANNETTE, THE EFFECT
WAS EXTREMELY POSITIVE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME,
SHE FEELS CALM AND SECURE,

IN CHARGE OF HER LIFE,

AND PERHAPS NOW ABLE
TO DEAL WITH HER MENTAL ILLNESS.

HEY!

Narrator:
EVEN CAMERON SOBERS UP.

HE GETS A JOB AS A COOK

AND STARTS PREPARING
FOR HIS NEW ROLE AS A FATHER.

I WAS BASICALLY PREGNANT, TOO,
DURING THE WHOLE THING.

[ LAUGHS ]

THE REALIZATION THAT, YOU KNOW,

THERE'S SOMEBODY I'M GONNA BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR NOW.

GOT CLOTHES AND BIBS
AND BABY STUFF.

SOMEBODY WHO'S GONNA
LOOK UP TO YOU EVERY DAY.

GOT A BLANKET.

AND YOU REALIZE,

"OKAY, MAYBE I NEED TO START
MAKING SOME CHANGES."

Narrator:
TOGETHER, CAMERON AND ANNETTE

MEND THEIR DAMAGED
RELATIONSHIP....

SMELLS GOOD.
...AND REKINDLE THE ROMANCE.

AND THINGS WERE GOING GOOD,
AND WE WERE IN LOVE.

Narrator: AND ANNETTE IS ABOUT
TO GET HER FAIRYTALE ENDING.

Patterson:
THIS CLEAR SKY OUTSIDE -

I TOOK HER OUT IN THE BACKYARD,

I GOT DOWN ON MY KNEES
AND TOLD HER,

"LOOK, I WANT TO SPEND
THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH YOU."

YES!
YES?

YES, YES!
REALLY?

SHE SAID YES.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator:
IN APRIL 2009,

CAMERON AND ANNETTE
WELCOME A BABY GIRL NAMED ANNA

INTO THEIR LIVES.

OH, GOD. HE FELL IN LOVE
WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS BORN.

Patterson: I LOOKED AT ANNETTE
- I STILL REMEMBER THIS -

AND WAS LIKE,
"SHE CAN DO NO WRONG."

[ BABY COOS ]
HEY, BEAUTIFUL.

I'VE NEVER FELT A LOVE
LIKE THAT.

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL MOMENT
IN YOUR LIFE.

[ BABY CRYING ]

Narrator:
BUT ADDING A BABY TO THE MIX

PUTS AN UNEXPECTED STRAIN
ON THE COUPLE,

ESPECIALLY WHEN ANNETTE
EXPERIENCES A COMMON ILLNESS

IN NEW MOTHERS -
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.

I WAS JUST REALLY UPSET
ABOUT EVERYTHING.

I WAS JUST DEPRESSED.

Angie: HER POSTPARTUM
DEPRESSION WAS REALLY BAD.

SHE DIDN'T GET PUT BACK
ON MEDICATION RIGHT AWAY

BECAUSE SHE HAD DONE SO WELL
DURING HER PREGNANCY.

AND HER SCHIZOPHRENIA
CAME BACK FULL FORCE.

Narrator: TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
CAMERON FALLS OFF THE WAGON.

I HAD STARTED TO FALTER MYSELF
AND USE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE KNEW IT,

BECAUSE I WOULDN'T COME HOME
EXACTLY RIGHT AFTER WORK.

WHERE WERE YOU?

IT STARTED TO AFFECT HER.

I WAS GETTING HIGH AGAIN.

YOU WERE GETTING HIGH?!

GIVE ME YOUR PHONE!

HERE. TAKE THE PHONE.
LET ME SEE. LET ME SEE.

LOOK AROUND.
THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE.

YOU'RE GOING NUTS,
ALL RIGHT?

LOOK - LOOK - LOOK FOR ANYONE.
LOOK FOR ANYTHING.

CALM DOWN! CALM DOWN!

NO,
I WILL NOT CALM DOWN!

Dr. Jordan: ANNETTE'S SUFFERING
FROM SEVERE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.

SHE IS NOT TAKING
HER MEDICATION.

SHE'S BEEN CLEAN, BUT NOW
HER PARTNER IS USING AGAIN,

AND IT'S GOING TO BE
A HUGE TEMPTATION

FOR HER TO DO IT, AS WELL.

IF SHE DOESN'T GET CONTROL
OF THIS SITUATION SOON,

THE OUTCOME IS GOING TO BE
VERY DANGEROUS.

Narrator: ONE NIGHT, JUST FIVE
WEEKS AFTER THEIR DAUGHTER IS BORN,

ANNETTE REACHES
A BREAKING POINT.

[ ANNETTE SCREAMS ]

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?

Angie: I GET A CALL,
AND IT'S CAMERON.

HI. WHAT'S UP?

HE SAYS, "ANGIE,
YOU NEED TO COME OVER HERE

"AND CALM HER DOWN.

SHE'S REALLY UPSET."

I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.
LISTEN. JUST DO ME A FAVOR.

I THOUGHT MY ANTICS HAD FINALLY
PUSHED HER OVER THE EDGE.

SHE'S NOT HERE.

Narrator: ANGIE PANICS WHEN SHE
HEARS ANNETTE IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

Angie:
I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HER.

I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING
TO HAPPEN TO HER,

AND CAMERON WAS THERE
TAKING CARE OF THE BABY.

I SAID, "YOU STAY HERE WITH
THE BABY. I'LL GO FIND HER."

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

Narrator: COMING UP...

ANNETTE ALMOST LOSES EVERYTHING

WHEN HER DEMONS RETURN
WITH A VENGEANCE.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: FIVE WEEKS AFTER
GIVING BIRTH TO A BABY GIRL,

ANNETTE HERNANDEZ IS SUFFERING

FROM SEVERE
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.

[ BABY CRYING ]

COUPLED WITH
HER HISTORY OF SCHIZOPHRENIA,

ANNETTE COPES WITH THE PRESSURE
THE ONLY WAY SHE CAN THINK OF -

BY RUNNING AWAY.

HER MOTHER, ANGIE, SEARCHES
EVERYWHERE FOR HER DAUGHTER.

Angie: I DROVE AROUND.
I WENT INTO ALL THE LOCAL BARS.

AND SURE ENOUGH,
I DID FIND HER IN ONE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Narrator: ANNETTE IS
DRUNK OUT OF HER MIND.

Annette: I STOPPED
BREAST-FEEDING, AND IT WAS LIKE,

"OKAY, WELL, I CAN HANDLE THIS.
I CAN HANDLE A DRINK."

AND I STARTED DRINKING.

AND SHE TURNS AROUND, SHE GOES,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

AND I'M LIKE,
"WELL, I'M JUST HERE

"TO SEE
IF YOU NEEDED A RIDE HOME.

YOU READY TO GO HOME?"

I HAVE TO FINISH MY DRINK.
I UNDERSTAND.

I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE
WITH YOU.

I GET IT, I GET IT.
BUT YOU ARE COMING WITH ME.

I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

LET'S GO.
YOU CAN'T TAKE MY PURSE!

LET'S GO, I SAID!

Narrator: ANGIE FINALLY MANAGES TO
DRAG HER DAUGHTER OUT OF THE BAR.

GOT TO GO!

COME ON. LET'S GO.

[ DOOR OPENS ]
OH, GOD.

Narrator: ONCE ANGIE GETS
HER DAUGHTER HOME SAFELY,

ANNETTE HAS A MAJOR MELTDOWN
AND TARGETS HER RAGE AT CAMERON.

SHE HAD ASSAULTED HIM,
AND HE HAD A BROKEN LIP.

AND RATHER THAN TO STAY
AND FIGHT SOME MORE,

HE TOOK THE BABY AND TOOK OFF.

I'M OUT OF HERE!
WE'RE OUT OF HERE!

LORD...
THAT WAS A HORRIBLE NIGHT.

Dr. Jordan: ANNETTE'S FITS OF
RAGE ARE NOW OFF THE SCALE,

AND THEY CANNOT
BE EXPLAINED AWAY

BY SIMPLE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.

IT'S VERY LIKELY HER SYMPTOMS
OF SCHIZOPHRENIA ARE RETURNING.

Narrator: THE STORM PASSES,
BUT TO HELP KEEP THINGS STABLE,

ANGIE INVITES ANNETTE
AND CAMERON TO LIVE WITH HER.

Angie: I THOUGHT
I WAS GONNA LIVE A DREAM LIFE

WITH MY DAUGHTER THERE,

MY BEAUTIFUL
LITTLE GRANDDAUGHTER THERE,

AND CAMERON,

AND I THOUGHT,
"WOW. WE'RE GONNA BE A FAMILY."

Narrator: BUT ANGIE'S GOT
SOME HOUSE RULES TO LIVE BY.

I DIDN'T ALLOW DRINKING
OR DRUGGING IN THE HOUSE.

Narrator:
THE HONEYMOON DOESN'T LAST LONG.

ANNETTE AND CAMERON AREN'T
EXACTLY MODEL HOUSEMATES.

THEY'RE CONSTANTLY
AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS

AND OFTEN COME TO BLOWS.

AND IT GETS EVEN WORSE.

WE STARTED TO USE...

JUST LOSING
ALL KIND OF SELF CONTROL.

WHAT I THOUGHT
WAS GONNA BE A DREAM

ACTUALLY TURNED OUT
TO BE A NIGHTMARE.

YEAH. [ CHUCKLES ]

LIKE SO MANY PARENTS,
ANGIE IS WELL-INTENTIONED

BECAUSE SHE THINKS
THAT HER UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

CAN SAVE HER DAUGHTER,

BUT SHE DOESN'T RECOGNIZE
THAT ANNETTE IS TRULY

IN THE CLUTCHES
OF DRUG ADDICTION.

THIS SITUATION IS GOING TO BE

COMPLETELY
OUT OF ANGIE'S CONTROL.

Narrator: AFTER SIX MONTHS,
ANGIE GETS FED UP

AND KICKS THE COUPLE
OUT OF THE HOUSE.

I TOLD CAMERON,
"YOU HAVE TO GET ANOTHER PLACE.

"I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE
WITH YOU GUYS. I JUST CAN'T.

BUT THE BABY IS WELCOME
IN THIS HOUSE ANY TIME."

FINE! YOU WANT ME OUT?
I'M OUT! I'M OUT! FINE!

Narrator: CAMERON AND ANNETTE
FIND A MODEST APARTMENT NEARBY.

BUT RIGHT BEFORE THEY MOVE IN,
ANNETTE HITS ROCK BOTTOM.

OH, MY GOD.

NETTIE, WAKE UP!

Narrator: ONE OF HER FRIENDS
FINDS HER PASSED OUT AT A BAR.

NETTIE!

THE AMBULANCE COMES TO GET HER,
SHE ENDS UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: THIS TIME,
IT'S A METH OVERDOSE.

Angie:
SHE WAS SELF-MEDICATING.

IF SHE WASN'T
ON HER PRESCRIBED MEDICATION,

SHE WAS ON STREET DRUGS
OR ALCOHOL.

SHE HAD TO BE ON SOMETHING

TO BLOCK OUT THE VOICES
AND THE HALLUCINATIONS,

BUT THEY JUST MADE THEM WORSE.

Narrator: THE DOCTORS TREATING HER
THEN MAKE A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

ANNETTE IS PREGNANT AGAIN.

WERE YOU SHOCKED?

I WAS IN DENIAL
ABOUT BEING PREGNANT,

AND I ALSO WAS IN DENIAL
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT

TO BE ONE OF THOSE THAT USED
WHEN THEY WERE PREGNANT.

THAT'S NOT WHO I WAS.

BECAUSE SHE O. D.'d,

THE HOSPITAL REPORTS ANNETTE
TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

THEY GRANT TEMPORARY CUSTODY
OF ANNA TO ANGIE.

I WAS UPSET.

I WAS UPSET BECAUSE I WASN'T
NINE MONTHS PREGNANT,

HITTING THE PIPE
OR ANYTHING.

I WAS HOPING TO CLEAN THINGS UP
AND GET THINGS GOING RIGHT

AND...
YOU KNOW, TO BE THERE.

Narrator: ANNETTE AND CAMERON
ARE DETERMINED

TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO WIN BACK THEIR DAUGHTER.

THEY ENROLL IN PARENTING
AND ANGER-MANAGEMENT CLASSES

AND AGREE
TO REGULAR DRUG TESTING.

THE WHOLE TIME,
I DIDN'T USE.

I NEVER HAD A POSITIVE
DRUG TEST. I NEVER USED.

SEE,
I'M FASCINATED BY THAT -

THAT YOU CAN JUST
QUIT COLD TURKEY

WHEN YOU FIND OUT
YOU'RE PREGNANT.

THE LOGICAL QUESTION IS,

IF YOU CAN DO IT
WHEN YOU'RE PREGNANT,

WHY CAN'T YOU DO IT
WHEN YOU'RE NOT PREGNANT?

I DON'T KNOW.

I GUESS I JUST -
'CAUSE I -

JUST THE FEELING OF HURTING
A CHILD, I COULDN'T DO IT.

I COULDN'T HURT MY CHILD.
I COULDN'T DO THAT.

SIX MONTHS LATER,
THEIR DEDICATION PAYS OFF.

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
ALLOWS THEIR DAUGHTER, ANNA,

TO MOVE BACK IN WITH THEM.

CAMERON DECIDES TO CELEBRATE

AND RUINS
EVERYTHING THEY'VE WORKED FOR.

Annette: WE'RE ABOUT TO GET CPS
OUT OF OUR LIFE IN, LIKE, A WEEK,

AND THEN HE GOES AND USES.

AND HE COULDN'T BE AROUND
OUR DAUGHTER OR LIVE WITH ME

OR HELP ME OUT,
SO I WAS NINE MONTHS PREGNANT

HAVING TO TAKE CARE
OF MY DAUGHTER.

Patterson: AND THAT WAS THE
STUPIDEST IDEA I'D EVER HAD.

I FELT SHAMEFUL, YOU KNOW?

I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT I JUST
COULDN'T PUT THIS STUFF AWAY.

WHY DO I KEEP DOING STUFF

WHEN I'VE GOT
EVERYTHING TO LIVE FOR?

'CAUSE I'M AN ADDICT.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

[ BABY CRYING ]

Narrator: IN JULY 2010,

ANNETTE GIVES BIRTH
TO A BABY BOY NAMED LUCAS.

BUT JUST DAYS LATER,
HER WORLD IS RIPPED APART.

Patterson:
OH, HE WAS BREATHING FUNNY,

YOU KNOW, REAL SHORT
[PANTING] PANTING.

ANNETTE WAS FINALLY LIKE,

"I THINK HE NEEDS
TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL."

SHE WENT IN THE AMBULANCE TO
THE HOSPITAL WITH HER BABY BOY.

HIS HEART STOPPED.

HE WENT INTO
FULL CARDIAC ARREST.

SHE SAW ALL THAT.

SHE SAW
ALL THE DOCTORS AND NURSES

AROUND HER LITTLE, TINY INFANT,
TRYING TO BRING HIM BACK.

HE HAD A VIRUS
SIMILAR TO THE SWINE FLU,

AND IT HID IN HIS HEART.

HE WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT.

Narrator:
ANNETTE IS DEVASTATED.

EVERY DAY, SHE WONDERS WHETHER
HER SON WILL LIVE OR DIE.

Man on P. A.:
ICU, PLEASE. BLUE TEAM, ICU.

Narrator: SIX WEEKS LATER,
HER PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED.

ANNETTE CAN FINALLY
TAKE HER BABY BOY HOME.

BY ALL ACCOUNTS,
YOU KNOW, HE SHOULD HAVE DIED.

Narrator: CAMERON'S ALLOWED
TO MOVE BACK IN

AND HELPS ANNETTE
CARE FOR BOTH KIDS,

BUT THE EMOTIONAL ORDEAL
TAKES A HUGE TOLL ON ANNETTE.

HER FEAR OF LOSING LUCAS
TRIGGERS HER ILLNESS.

Annette: I KEPT THINKING
SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH HIM

AND THERE WASN'T,
AND I KIND OF JUST WENT CRAZY

BECAUSE I KEPT THINKING
THAT HE WAS GONNA DIE.

Patterson: SHE WAS AFRAID IF THE
WIND WOULD BLOW ON HIM THE WRONG WAY,

HE WOULD GET SICK,

OR SHE WAS REALLY AFRAID
WE'D LOSE HIM.

Narrator: ANNETTE IS NOW
A TICKING TIME BOMB,

READY TO EXPLODE.

ONE MOMENT, SHE COULD BE HAPPY,

AND THEN, YOU KNOW,
THE NEXT MOMENT,

SHE COULD BE VERY DEPRESSED.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

Narrator:
ONE MONTH LATER,

CAMERON CALLS ANGIE FROM WORK
IN A PANIC.

Angie:
CAMERON CALLS ME, AND HE SAYS,

"ANGIE, GO TO THE HOUSE
AND GET BOTH BABIES RIGHT NOW!

HURRY UP! GO, GO!
HURRY UP!"

Narrator: ANGIE RACES
TO ANNETTE'S APARTMENT,

TERRIFIED OF WHAT SHE'LL FIND.

Narrator: FALL 2010.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

AFTER WATCHING HER NEWBORN SON
SURVIVE A NEAR-FATAL ILLNESS,

ANNETTE HERNANDEZ
SUFFERS A MENTAL RELAPSE

THAT HAS PUSHED HER
OVER THE EDGE.

Annette: I HAD THOUGHTS
OF HURTING MY CHILDREN.

SOMETHING WAS TELLING ME, "HEY,
YOU GOT TO TAKE YOUR KIDS OUT.

IF YOU DON'T, THEN
THEY'RE GONNA SUFFER EVEN MORE."

Narrator: ANNETTE'S MOTHER, ANGIE,
RUSHES TO ANNETTE'S APARTMENT.

[ KNOCKING ON DOOR ]

ANNETTE!

OPEN!

I SAID, "ANNETTE,
GIVE ME THE BABIES RIGHT NOW!"

SHE WOULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR
FOR ME...

[ KNOCKING CONTINUES ]
OPEN!

...SO I CALLED 911.

[ WHIMPERING, DIALING ]

SHE STEPS OUT ONTO THE PORCH,

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME,
SHE'S THREATENING TOWARDS ME.

SHE'S VERY UPSET.
HER EYES ARE WILD.

SHE'S VERY ANGRY.

I SAID, "WHAT'S WRONG?

WHY DOES CAMERON WANT ME TO GET
THE BABIES? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

LET ME SEE THE BABIES.
LET ME HAVE THE BABIES."

"NO, THEY'RE MY BABIES!
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

THEY'RE MY BABIES.
YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM."

GET OUT OF HERE!

SO, THE POLICE GET THERE.

ANNETTE!

OPEN THE DOOR, PLEASE.

COME ON OUTSIDE.
STEP ON OUTSIDE.

WHERE ARE YOUR BABIES?

Narrator: ANNETTE OPENS THE
DOOR, LOOKING DAZED.

Angie:
AND WHAT SHE TELLS THEM IS

THAT SHE STARTED HAVING
SOME REALLY BAD THOUGHTS.

SHE STARTED FEELING SUICIDAL

AND FELT THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT
THE BABIES AROUND HER

AND WAS REALLY UPSET.

Narrator: ANNETTE AGREES TO CHECK
HERSELF INTO A MENTAL FACILITY.

Annette: I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
FOR A FEW DAYS,

AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE GONNA
LET ME GO BACK HOME

BECAUSE I WAS OKAY,
I WASN'T THINKING OF IT ANYMORE.

I WAS JUST BEING HONEST.

Narrator: BUT CHILD PROTECTIVE
SERVICES WON'T TAKE ANY CHANCES.

THEY GIVE ANGIE TEMPORARY
CUSTODY OF ANNETTE'S KIDS.

DO YOU THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE -
TOTALLY HYPOTHETICAL -

THAT YOU COULD HAVE HARMED
YOUR CHILDREN?

I BELIEVE
THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE

'CAUSE OF MY BLACKOUTS
THAT I'D HAVE.

Angie: SHE WOULD ALWAYS SAY,
"MOM, IF I EVER BECOME A MOM,

"I'M A BE A GOOD MOM,
I'M GONNA BE A GREAT MOM,

I'M GONNA BE SO GOOD
TO MY BABIES."

I DON'T BELIEVE SHE WOULD HAVE
EVER HURT HER BABIES.

[ Voice breaking ]
I WOULD JUST HOPE NOT.

NO. [ SNIFFLES ]

Dr. Jordan: NO MOTHER COULD EVER
IMAGINE ACTUALLY HURTING HER CHILDREN,

BUT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING
WITH PSYCHIATRIC ISSUES,

SUCH AS PSYCHOSIS
OR SCHIZOPHRENIA,

IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE.

IT'S REALLY A BLESSING

THAT ANNETTE RECOGNIZED
HER THOUGHTS AS HOMICIDAL

AND KNEW TO REACH OUT FOR HELP.

Narrator: ANNETTE'S DREAM
OF HAVING THE PERFECT FAMILY

IS COMPLETELY SHATTERED.

EVEN WORSE,

HER RELATIONSHIP WITH CAMERON
CONTINUES TO UNRAVEL.

SHUT UP!

Annette: WE WERE AT A BAR
AND WE'RE ARGUING,

AND I CALLED A GUY FRIEND,

A GUY THAT I DATED A WHILE BACK
IN MY TEENAGE YEARS,

AND HE GOT MAD...

AND HE DRAGGED ME
OUT OF THE BAR.

STOP IT!
GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME!

Patterson: I WAS
PRETTY INTOXICATED THAT NIGHT.

I PUT HER IN A HEADLOCK,
WALKED HER OUT OF THE BAR.

LET GO OF ME!
STOP IT!

I WAS AN ****

Narrator: WHEN THEY GET HOME,
THE FIGHT ESCALATES.

ANNETTE ENDS UP ATTACKING
CAMERON AND GETTING ARRESTED.

SHE GETS SENTENCED
TO THREE YEARS BEHIND BARS

FOR ASSAULT WITH BODILY INJURY.

THE FIGHT FINALLY SEVERS ANNETTE
AND CAMERON'S RELATIONSHIP.

IN HER EYES, THERE WAS NO REASON
FOR US TO BE TOGETHER.

IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING,
I STILL REMAINED HOPEFUL

THAT WE COULD BE ABLE TO
WORK THINGS OUT AND BE TOGETHER.

I STILL LOVE HER
WITH ALL MY HEART.

Narrator:
AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR,

ANNETTE'S RELEASED
FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR.

NEXT THING WE KNOW,
SHE'S OUT ON PAROLE,

AND ONE OF THE TERMS
OF HER PAROLE

WAS TO GO GET BACK ON HER MEDS.

WELL, SHE WAS RE-EVALUATED,
AND SHE SAID

THAT YEAR IN STATE JAIL
TAUGHT HER A LESSON.

SHE FELT BETTER.

SHE FELT
THAT SHE WAS GONNA BE OKAY NOW

'CAUSE SHE DOESN'T EVER WANT
TO GO TO JAIL AGAIN.

THERE IS NO WAY A YEAR IN JAIL
IS GONNA CURE SCHIZOPHRENIA.

AND SHE DIDN'T GET HER MEDICINE.

Narrator:
THOUGH ANGIE IS SKEPTICAL,

ANNETTE IS CONFIDENT
SHE CAN LEAD A NORMAL LIFE

WITHOUT BEING MEDICATED.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

ANNETTE'S ONLY ALLOWED
TO SEE HER CHILDREN SUPERVISED,

SO SHE MOVES IN WITH HER FATHER.

SHE STARTS WORKING
AT A NEARBY HOTEL RESTAURANT.

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG

BEFORE ANNETTE CATCHES THE EYE
OF A YOUNG COWORKER.

HE SEEMED TO BE VERY FRIENDLY.
HE WAS BEING FLIRTATIOUS.

I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT.

Narrator: TONY IS EIGHT
YEARS YOUNGER THAN ANNETTE.

SHE LIKES THE ATTENTION,
AND THEY START DATING.

Dr. Jordan:
WAS TONY LIKE CAMERON?

NO. HE WAS NOT.

HOW WAS HE DIFFERENT?

HE DIDN'T USE METH
OR ANYTHING.

HE HADN'T EXPERIENCED LIFE
A WHOLE LOT.

HE DIDN'T HAVE
TOO MANY GIRLFRIENDS.

TO ME,
HE WAS JUST PURE.

HE WAS VERY INNOCENT
TO ME.

TONY IS ONLY 19.

HE'S WIDE-EYED AND INNOCENT,
AND THIS APPEALS TO ANNETTE

BECAUSE HE HAS NO KNOWLEDGE
OF HER PAST HISTORY,

AND SO WITH TONY,
SHE CAN REGAIN CONTROL.

Narrator: ANNETTE'S FAMILY
AND FRIENDS HAVE A BAD FEELING

ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP
RIGHT FROM THE START.

Angie: I DIDN'T WANT HER TO HAVE
A RELATIONSHIP WITH MEN ANYMORE.

HERE WAS THIS YOUNG,
19-YEAR-OLD YOUNG MAN.

I WAS THINKING,
"OH, JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE

"AND LET HIM GO THROUGH LIFE,
LIKE YOU HAVE.

LET HIM GO
WITH SOMEBODY HIS OWN AGE."

I DID NOT WANT HER
TO BE WITH TONY.

Narrator: COMING UP...

WHEN ANNETTE'S NEW ROMANCE
FALLS APART,

IT LEAVES A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION
IN ITS WAKE.

Narrator: JULY 2012.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

ANNETTE HERNANDEZ HAS BEEN
TRYING TO GET HER TROUBLED LIFE

BACK ON TRACK
AFTER BATTLING MENTAL ILLNESS.

SHE THINKS SHE'S CURED

AFTER SPENDING ALMOST A YEAR
IN JAIL FOR ASSAULT.

WHEN SHE MEETS
A YOUNG MAN NAMED TONY,

SHE THINKS
HER TURBULENT DAYS ARE OVER.

SHE'S DEAD WRONG.

AFTER JUST A MONTH OF DATING,

ANNETTE AND TONY
MOVE IN TOGETHER.

BUT ANNETTE'S BACK TO USING
AND HIDING IT FROM TONY -

OR SO SHE THINKS.

NO, I WILL NOT
CALM DOWN!

I WILL NOT CALM DOWN,
OKAY?!

WHY?
'CAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS HIGH?

TAKE THAT BACK!
I AM NOT!

WHAT HAVE I BEEN LYING ABOUT?
EVERYTHING!

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
FOR THE RELATIONSHIP TO SOUR.

Dr. Jordan: WITH HER HISTORY
OF VIOLENCE AND THE DEVASTATION

OF JUST HAVING LOST CUSTODY
OF HER TWO CHILDREN,

SHE REALLY HAS NOTHING
TO OFFER TONY

EXCEPT FOR MORE PAIN AND DANGER.

I NEVER HEARD HER HAVING FIGHTS
WITH HER GIRLFRIENDS.

I NEVER HEARD HER HAVING FIGHTS
WITH HER COUSINS, WITH FEMALES.

IT WAS JUST THE MEN
IN HER LIFE - ALWAYS.

Narrator: AFTER TWO MONTHS
OF CONSTANT FIGHTING,

ANNETTE AND TONY CALL IT QUITS,
AND TONY MOVES OUT.

WE STILL CALL EACH OTHER
AND TALK OR WHATEVER,

BUT THERE'S
SOME BITTERNESS THERE.

Narrator: ANNETTE TAKES
THE BREAKUP PRETTY HARD.

I WENT THROUGH A DRUG BINGE -
LIKE, A BAD, BAD DRUG BINGE.

I MEAN, IT WAS BAD.

I WAS GETTING HIGH A LOT.
I WAS USING METH.

Narrator: TWO WEEKS LATER,
ON OCTOBER 2, 2012,

TONY INVITES ANNETTE TO
HIS HOUSE TO TALK THINGS OVER.

ANNETTE SHOWS UP SLEEP-DEPRIVED
AND ON EDGE.

TONY IS IMMEDIATELY SUSPICIOUS.

YOU'RE SWEATING.

Annette: AND HE LOOKED AT ME
AND HE SAID, "YOU KNOW,

YOU'VE LOST ABOUT 15 POUNDS
SINCE I SAW YOU."

HE GOES,
"HOW DID YOU LOSE THAT?"

I SAID, "YOU KNOW,
I'VE BEEN STRESSED OUT."

I DIDN'T WANT TO ADMIT THAT I'D BEEN USING.
I DID NOT WANT TO ADMIT.

BUT HE KNEW.
YEAH, HE KNEW.

Narrator: SUDDENLY,
ANNETTE GETS A FLOOD OF TEXTS.

SO, HE GRABS MY PHONE.

HE'S LIKE, "LOOK.
SOMEBODY'S TEXTING YOU."

AND HE GETS UPSET,
AND I GRAB HIS PHONE.

IT WAS JUST A STUPID,
LITTLE, IMMATURE ARGUMENT.

I WASN'T HIGH ON METH
AT THAT TIME. I WAS STRUNG OUT.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I REMEMBER
BEING MAD AT EVERYTHING,

JUST BEING MAD
AT THE WORLD.

DO YOU HAVE
SOMETHING TO SAY?

IT'S THE CULMINATION
OF DAYS AND DAYS OF DRUG USE,

GETTING HIGH, GOING LOW,
FIGHTING OFF WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

AND FEELING CHRONICALLY AGITATED
FROM LACK OF SLEEP.

ANNETTE WAS READY TO GO OFF
LIKE A POWDER KEG.

Narrator: ANNETTE CLAIMS SHE HAS
ALMOST NO MEMORY OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

YOU'RE **** NUTS!

IT'S LIKE I COULDN'T STOP MYSELF
NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED.

I HAD OPENED UP
THE DRAWER BY THE OVEN.

TURN AROUND
AND SAY SOMETHING!

AND I REMEMBER
LOOKING AT THE KNIVES

AND I REMEMBER
LOOKING AT THE SKINNIEST KNIFE

AND PICKING IT UP

AND I REMEMBER GRIPPING IT
AS TIGHT AS I COULD IN MY HAND.

AND I SWEAR,
IT'S LIKE I BLANKED.

I REMEMBER NOTHING.

I JUST REMEMBER OPENING MY EYES,
AND I JUST SAW -

IT WAS A LOT OF BLOOD.

I SAW A LOT OF BLOOD.

I'M JUST FREAKING OUT.
I DIDN'T REMEMBER WHAT I DID.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT I DID THAT.

YOU DON'T REMEMBER
STABBING TONY?

NO. I DON'T.

WAS IT A BLACKOUT?
WAS IT A FUGUE? WAS IT DEMONS?

WAS IT YOUR MENTAL ILLNESS
COMING OVER YOU?

I WASN'T FEELING WELL
THAT DAY.

IT'S LIKE, YOU COULD'VE TOLD ME
I STABBED HIM ONE TIME,

AND I WOULD'VE
BELIEVED YOU.

YOU COULD'VE TOLD ME
I STABBED HIM 100 TIMES -

I WOULD'VE BELIEVED YOU.

ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS,
HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU STAB HIM?

TWICE.

YOU STABBED HIM TWICE?
YEAH.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ GROANS ]

[ GROANS ]

IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN FUELED
BY LOTS OF ALCOHOL,

LOTS OF METH,
AND HER MENTAL ILLNESS.

IT WAS ALL THOSE COMBINED.
IT WAS EVERYTHING COMBINED.

Narrator:
A NEIGHBOR CALLS 911.

Man: IS HE AWAKE?

Woman: YEAH, HE'S AWAKE.
HE'S TALKING.

IS HE BREATHING?
HE'S TALKING.

WE HAVE PARAMEDICS ON THE WAY.
STAY ON THE LINE FOR ME, OKAY?

SHE IS IN THE BUILDING,

SO THERE NEEDS TO BE PEOPLE
HERE IMMEDIATELY.

WHO IS IN THE BUILDING?

HIS GIRLFRIEND STABBED HIM,
AND SHE'S IN THE BUILDING.

HIS GIRLFRIEND STABBED HIM,
AND SHE'S IN THE BUILDING?

I SAW HER, YES. I DIDN'T SEE HER DO
IT, BUT I SAW HER IN THE BUILDING.

I JUST CAME OUT HERE.

WHILE WAITING
FOR POLICE TO ARRIVE,

ANNETTE APPEARS,
DAZED AND COVERED IN BLOOD.

SHE'S STANDING
RIGHT HERE.

WHO'S STANDING
RIGHT THERE?

SIT DOWN!

YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN!
RIGHT NOW!

SIT DOWN!

I'M NOT KIDDING!

SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET HERE
REALLY QUICKLY!

MA'AM, WE ARE COMING
AS FAST AS WE CAN.

I'M PUTTING THE PHONE
DOWN.

PUT IT DOWN
IF YOU HAVE TO PUT IT DOWN,

BUT I NEED YOU
TO STAY NEXT TO IT.

TONY DIDN'T SURVIVE,
DID HE?

NO.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

MA'AM, GET DOWN!

ON THE GROUND!
GET DOWN!

GET DOWN!

GET DOWN!

ANNETTE IS ARRESTED
ON THE SCENE.

HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK!

Angie: [ Voice breaking ] IT
ALMOST SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT REAL.

IT CAN'T BE REAL...

THAT A...

THAT A CHILD
THAT I BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD

TOOK SOMEBODY OUT OF IT.

MY OWN DAUGHTER.

[ SNIFFLES ]

[ HANDCUFFS CLICK ]

Dr. Jordan: WITH THE EARLY
CHILDHOOD DIAGNOSIS

OF PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA,
IT REALLY SEEMS

THAT THE DECK WAS STACKED
AGAINST ANNETTE FROM THE OUTSET.

WHAT IF SHE HAD GOTTEN
THE HELP THAT SHE NEEDED

FROM AN EARLY AGE
AND NOT GONE DOWN THE PATH

OF SELF-MEDICATING
WITH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL?

COULD SHE HAVE AVOIDED

THE LIFE THAT ENDED
WITH PRISON AND DEATH?

Narrator: IN MARCH 2013,
ANNETTE PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER

AND IS SENTENCED
TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON.

Annette: I TOOK SOMEBODY'S LIFE
THAT DESERVES TO BE HERE.

I DON'T CARE
IF I DO THE WHOLE 40 YEARS.

THAT DOES NOT BOTHER ME

BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF LIFE
I HAD OUT THERE -

[ Voice breaking ] IT'S JUST THE
EXTENT OF PAIN THAT I CAUSED,

THAT I COULDN'T IMAGINE
ANYBODY DOING THAT TO MY KIDS.

AND I DON'T KNOW
IF I COULD FORGIVE SOMEBODY.