Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 4 - The 26 Year War - full transcript
Single mother Laurene Rugen starts dating her neighbor Chris and enters into a decades' long cycle of terrifying abuse.She refuses to leave, thinking she can change him. When she finally gathers the courage to demand a divorce tensions explode.
Narrator:
A NAIVE YOUNG WOMAN
FALLS FOR THE FIRST MAN
SHE MEETS...
I JUST TRULY LOVED HIM.
Narrator: ...UNTIL A DEEP, DARK
SECRET RIPS THE ROMANCE APART.
IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE LIES.
Hanscom:
BECAUSE I HAD DECEIVED HER,
SHE HAD DECIDED THAT I'M
OBVIOUSLY GONNA DO IT AGAIN.
IT'S OVER.
Narrator:
THE DESPERATE SINGLE MOTHER
IS LURED INTO THE ARMS
OF ANOTHER MAN.
MY MOM TOLD ME
I SHOULD HANG ON TO HIM.
Narrator:
BUT LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW,
SHE'S WALKING STRAIGHT INTO
THE BELLY OF THE BEAST.
YOU'RE WORTHLESS!
I COULD NOT BELIEVE
SHE MARRIED HIM.
Narrator: WHEN THE MONSTER
COMES COMPLETELY UNHINGED...
Rugen:
HIS EYES WERE WICKED EVIL.
CHRIS...
AND I JUST KNEW
HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
Narrator: ...THIS WIFE
IS FORCED TO FIGHT FOR HER LIFE.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ SCREAMING ]
Narrator: NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
[ WOMAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG,
A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
LAUREEN RUGEN WAS BORN
IN A SMALL FISHING VILLAGE
IN ROCKLAND, MAINE, IN 1958.
SHE'S THE YOUNGEST
OF THREE CHILDREN,
AND HAS
A FAIRLY IDYLLIC CHILDHOOD.
SHE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME
ON THE OCEAN WITH HER FATHER.
I'LL TELL YOU WHEN,
I'LL TELL YOU WHEN.
OKAY, OPEN YOUR EYES.
Rugen:
I WAS DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL,
AND I USED TO GO DOWN TO
THE WHARF WITH HIM ALL THE TIME
AND HE TAUGHT ME
EVERYTHING ABOUT LOVE
AND THAT THERE'S
ALWAYS GOOD IN PEOPLE.
VERY NICE.
OH, MY GOSH!
THAT'S MY NAME!
Narrator: LAUREEN'S THRILLED
WHEN HER FATHER NAMES
HIS NEW BOAT AFTER HER,
BUT THEIR CLOSE RELATIONSHIP
CREATES TENSION
BETWEEN LAUREEN AND HER MOTHER.
OH, MY GOSH, IT'S -
MOM, IT'S SO PRETTY!
SHE ADMITTED
THAT SHE'D BEEN JEALOUS
OF MY DAD AND OUR RELATIONSHIP,
SO SHE WAS KIND OF MEAN
AND KIND OF COLD TO ME.
Narrator: DESPITE
THE CHALLENGING FAMILY DYNAMIC,
LAUREEN HAS A HAPPY CHILDHOOD.
SHE'S EVEN NAMED A SEA PRINCESS
AT THE MAINE LOBSTER FESTIVAL.
Dr. Jordan:
WHEN YOU GREW UP,
THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU HAD
WAS... WHAT?
IT WAS TO GET ALONG,
BE HAPPY.
IF YOU HAD ARGUMENTS,
WHICH THEY DID,
EVERYTHING WAS KEPT
IN THE HOUSE.
YOU STAYED WITH YOUR PARTNER
FOR LIFE.
THEN, IN THE SUMMER OF 1974,
A SUDDEN TRAGEDY
TURNS THE 16-YEAR-OLD'S LIFE
UPSIDE DOWN.
Rugen: MY DAD HAD A BLOOD CLOT
IN HIS LEG,
AND IT WENT UP TO HIS HEART
AND IT KILLED HIM.
INSTANTLY, WHEN HE PASSED
I FELT LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE
ANYBODY ANYMORE TO TURN TO.
Narrator: EVEN HER SIBLINGS
CAN'T COMFORT HER.
I FELT LOST.
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
Dr. Jordan: BECAUSE LAUREEN'S
FATHER DIES WHEN SHE'S ONLY 16,
SHE'S LEFT
WITH A HOLE IN HER HEART
THAT WILL MAKE HER LOOK
FOR A MAN TO FILL THAT VOID.
AND BECAUSE HER FATHER
ALWAYS TAUGHT HER
TO BELIEVE THE BEST IN PEOPLE,
SHE'S GOING TO ENTER
HER DATING YEARS
A LITTLE BIT NAIVE
AND WAY TOO TRUSTING.
Narrator: AT 21,
LAUREEN GETS A JOB
WORKING AT A PIANO STORE
TO HELP PAY FOR COLLEGE.
SHE'S SO SHY
THAT THE PRETTY COED
HASN'T EVEN STARTED DATING YET.
THAT IS,
UNTIL SHE MEETS HARRY HANSCOM -
THE FIRST MAN
TO EVER CATCH HER EYE.
YEAH, I'M HERE TO BUY
YOUR MOST EXPENSIVE PIANO.
OH, WELL,
WE COULD START RIGHT HERE.
I'M JUST KIDDING, NO.
I'M FRIENDS WITH BOB AND ANNE.
I'M HERE TO SEE THEM.
Rugen:
HARRY WAS VERY CHARMING.
HE WAS VERY NICE,
VERY GENTLEMANLY-LIKE,
AND I JUST IMMEDIATELY FELT
CONNECTED.
I'M LAUREEN.
IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU,
LAUREEN.
Hanscom: SHE WAS AN ATTRACTIVE
YOUNG LADY.
SHE WAS VERY FRIENDLY,
LIKED TO LAUGH,
HAVE A GOOD TIME.
SO WE KIND OF, LIKE,
JUST KEPT TALKING
AND BECAME CLOSER FRIENDS.
ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS,
I'M HEADING OUT TO DINNER.
OKAY.
HAVE A NICE TIME.
OKAY, THANK YOU.
Narrator: PRETTY SOON, HARRY'S
STOPPING BY THE PIANO STORE
EVERY CHANCE HE GETS.
Rugen:
WE JUST HAD A LOT IN COMMON.
WE GOT TOGETHER
AND KEPT SEEING EACH OTHER.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH
HE'S 12 YEARS OLDER THAN HER,
LAUREEN IS SMITTEN.
WE HAD A CONNECTION.
I TRULY LOVED HIM.
I REALLY LOVED HIM.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
HI, LAUREEN?
THIS IS ANNE.
Narrator:
THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM -
TURNS OUT HARRY'S
NOT ACTUALLY AVAILABLE.
BECAUSE HE'S MARRIED.
WHAT?
I THINK HE'S SEPARATED,
BUT I'M NOT SURE.
IT DEVASTATED ME.
Narrator:
LAUREEN NEEDS TO KNOW THE TRUTH.
HEY, HARRY.
CAN YOU COME IN HERE, PLEASE?
HEY, HONEY, WHAT'S UP?
THAT WAS JUST ANNE
ON THE PHONE.
SHE SAID YOU'RE MARRIED.
YEAH, WELL, TECHNICALLY -
THAT WAS THE REASON
I WAS GONNA BE LEAVING MY WIFE
WAS BECAUSE OF HER.
I MADE UP MY MIND
THAT I WAS GONNA DO THAT.
I WAS IN LOVE WITH HER.
SO YOU HAVE A WIFE
THAT YOU NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT?
I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED
SEEING HIM.
GO FIGURE IT OUT!
Narrator: A MONTH LATER,
HARRY'S BACK AS A FREE MAN.
Rugen: HE CAME TO ME
WITH DIVORCE PAPERS
AND SAID HE HAD GOTTEN DIVORCED.
AT THAT POINT,
WE MOVED IN TOGETHER.
[Sighs]
I WISH YOU WOULD STAY.
Narrator: HARRY CLAIMS HIS WORK
AS A POLICE DETECTIVE
REQUIRES HIM TO BE AWAY A LOT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S POLICE WORK.
UNDERCOVER.
AND HE WOULD LIVE WITH ME
FOR FOUR DAYS,
AND THEN HE'D BE GONE
FOR THREE DAYS.
Dr. Jordan: THIS IS A SIGN OF
LAUREEN'S UNFLAGGING BELIEF IN PEOPLE.
EVEN THOUGH
HE'S LIED TO HER ONCE
AND HE'S NOT EVEN HOME
HALF THE WEEK,
SHE JUST CAN'T IMAGINE
THAT HE WOULD HURT HER AGAIN.
THIS IS GOING TO SET HER UP
FOR A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT LATER.
WHATCHA READING?
ONE OF THOSE SPY NOVELS.
I HAVE SOME NEWS.
Narrator: WITHIN A FEW MONTHS,
THE COUPLE GETS READY
TO EMBRACE SOME BIG CHANGES.
I'M PREGNANT.
WOW.
ARE YOU EXCITED?
ARE YOU HAPPY?
THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
YOU KNOW, I GOT SOME NEWS
FOR YOU, TOO.
HOW DO YOU FEEL
ABOUT FLORIDA?
HARRY HAS A LEAD ON A JOB
AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
IN TAMPA.
WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE
AHEAD OF THEM,
THE TWO DECIDE TO MAKE THE MOVE,
EVEN THOUGH IT MEANS
QUITTING SCHOOL FOR LAUREEN.
OH, HONEY,
I'M SO EXCITED.
BUT LIFE IN FLORIDA ISN'T
AS SUNNY AS THE COUPLE HOPED.
WHEN HARRY'S DETECTIVE JOB
FALLS THROUGH,
THEY END UP
IN A LOW-RENT APARTMENT.
IT'S DOWNTOWN,
THE LOCAL MALL.
SO, LIKE,
A SECURITY GUARD?
THE JOB AT THE DADE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
DID NOT PAN OUT,
SO I WAS JUST DOING ODD JOBS
AT NIGHT
TO GET SOME CASH
TO PAY OUR BILLS, BUY OUR FOOD.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE
DIFFERENT HERE.
Narrator: THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
MONEY FOR A CAR OR EVEN A PHONE.
IT'S JUST THE WAY IT GOES.
LOOK AT THIS PLACE.
IT'S A DUMP.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT,
IT'S GONNA HAVE TO MAKE DUE
FOR RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE THIS IS ALL WE GOT.
Rugen:
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING,
BUT HE WENT OFF TO WORK
EVERY MORNING
AND MADE SURE WE HAD FOOD.
YOU KNOW,
I JUST BELIEVED IN EVERYTHING.
Narrator: TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
FIVE MONTHS LATER,
LAUREEN'S DOCTOR TELLS HER
SHE NEEDS TO BE ON BED REST
DUE TO COMPLICATIONS
WITH HER PREGNANCY.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LITTLE BIT
OF A LONELY EXISTENCE.
THAT HAD TO BE SCARY.
IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY.
THEN, LAUREEN'S SURPRISED TO
FIND HER LANDLORD AT THE DOOR.
I'M JUST DOING
SOME LAUNDRY.
Rugen: SHE HAD AN EVICTION
NOTICE AND SHE SAID THAT...
I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY RENT
IN THREE MONTHS.
I WAS DEVASTATED.
I MEAN, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
YOU MEAN HARRY HASN'T BEEN
GIVING YOU RENT CHECKS
EVERY MONTH?
NO.
MAYBE I CAN USE YOUR PHONE?
OF COURSE.
Narrator: SHE DECIDES
TO CALL HER BROTHER FOR ADVICE.
HIS RESPONSE WAS, "OH, MY GOD."
HE SAYS, "WE HAVE BEEN WONDERING
WHAT HAD HAPPENED."
Narrator: HER SIBLINGS HAD BEEN
TRYING TO TRACK HER DOWN.
Rugen: MY BROTHER AND SISTER
HAD FOUND OUT
THAT HARRY WAS STILL MARRIED
AND HAD A WIFE AND TWO KIDS.
WHAT?
Narrator:
THE NEWS SENDS LAUREEN REELING.
I GOT TO GO.
IT'S THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL
AND IT JUST MAY PUSH
THIS DESPERATE MOTHER-TO-BE
COMPLETELY OVER THE EDGE.
NO!
Narrator:
23-YEAR-OLD LAUREEN BLASTOW
IS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT.
SHE'S MOVED
FROM MAINE TO FLORIDA
WITH THE FATHER OF HER BABY.
BUT SHE'S SHOCKED
WHEN SHE LEARNS
THE MAN SHE LOVES
MAY STILL BE MARRIED.
WHAT?
SHE CONFRONTS HARRY
WHEN HE GETS HOME FROM WORK.
WHAT'S THAT LOOK FOR?
I JUST TALKED TO MY BROTHER
AND HE SAID
YOU'RE STILL MARRIED.
HARRY'S CORNERED.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO FILING
THE PAPERS YET, THAT'S ALL.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN AROUND...
I HAD ASKED FOR A DIVORCE,
BUT AS FAR AS FILING FOR
DIVORCE, I HAD NEVER DONE THAT.
I LOVE YOU,
I LOVE OUR BABY.
I WANT TO MAKE IT WORK
WITH US.
Rugen:
HE SAID HE WAS SORRY,
AND THAT THINGS WERE
SUPPOSED TO BE DIFFERENT
AND PLEASE STAY
AND I SAID, "NO, I CAN'T.
YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER FAMILY."
THAT SOUNDS LIKE LIES.
Hanscom: SHE WAS LIKE, "OKAY,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE TRUTHFUL,
AND I'M NOT STAYING
IN THIS RELATIONSHIP."
Narrator:
LAUREEN CUTS ALL TIES WITH HARRY
AND MAKES A DIFFICULT DECISION
TO MOVE BACK TO MAINE.
A MONTH LATER, IN JANUARY 1982,
SHE GIVES BIRTH A BEAUTIFUL
BABY GIRL SHE NAMES MARGARET.
LAUREEN'S HAPPY AND LIVING
WITH HER FRIENDS, ANNE AND BOB.
MEANWHILE,
HARRY'S ALSO MOVED BACK TO MAINE
AND FINALLY GOTTEN A DIVORCE
FROM HIS WIFE.
BUT IT'S TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE
FOR LAUREEN AND THEIR BABY GIRL.
LAUREEN, IT'S HARRY.
HE TRIED TO SEE HER.
HI, HARRY.
I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO
WITH HIM
AND I TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW,
THAT HE COULDN'T SEE HER.
IT'S OVER, GOODBYE.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MEN
AT THIS POINT?
I THOUGHT THEY WERE LIARS
AND PLAYERS -
DESTROYED MY FEELINGS
FOR HAVING A RELATIONSHIP
WITH ANYBODY.
Narrator: BEING A SINGLE MOM
TO A NEWBORN IS OVERWHELMING,
BUT WHEN MARGARET
IS JUST THREE MONTHS OLD,
THE DOOR TO A NEW FUTURE
UNEXPECTEDLY SWINGS OPEN.
HI.
I LIVE UP THE STREET,
AND I'M JUST WONDERING
IF I COULD BORROW SOME TINFOIL.
TINFOIL, YEAH.
AND THAT'S WHERE I MET CHRIS.
HE WAS CHARMING AND HANDSOME.
AND WHO'S
THIS LITTLE ONE?
AWW, THIS LITTLE CRANK
IS MARGARET.
Narrator: CHRIS IS INSTANTLY
ATTRACTED TO LAUREEN,
WHO'S 11 YEARS YOUNGER THAN HIM,
BUT SHE'S STILL RECOVERING
FROM HARRY'S BETRAYAL
AND ISN'T INTERESTED
IN ANOTHER RELATIONSHIP YET.
COME ON IN.
THANKS.
BUT CHRIS IS DETERMINED,
AND HE MAKES A POINT
OF TRYING TO SEE LAUREEN
AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.
COFFEE FOR YOU,
SOMETHING FOR MARGARET.
THAT IS SO SWEET OF YOU.
COME ON IN.
HE WOULD COME OVER
TO ANNE AND BOB'S
AND HE STARTED GETTING
REALLY COZY WITH MY DAUGHTER.
YOU KNOW,
HE'D TAKE HER OUT FOR WALKS
AND HE'D BOUGHT HER A CARRIAGE.
I WON'T WAKE HER UP.
HE WAS TRYING TO GET TO ME
THROUGH HER.
HE LOVED YOUR DAUGHTER.
OH, HE DID, YES.
AS IF SHE WERE HIS OWN.
MM-HMM.
OH - OH, NO.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I THINK
IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.
YEAH, LET ME HAVE HER.
OH, I'LL HELP YOU.
YOU'RE GONNA CHANGE
A DIRTY DIAPER?
AS LONG AS YOU HAVE
RUBBER GLOVES AND A MASK...
YOU'RE OKAY.
Narrator: LAUREEN LOVES
HOW CHRIS DOTES ON MARGARET.
NICE TO MEET YOU,
CHRIS.
SLOWLY,
HE BREAKS THROUGH HER WALLS.
SHE'S GETTING SO BIG.
I STILL, AT THAT POINT,
DIDN'T REALLY WANT
A RELATIONSHIP,
BUT MY MOM TOLD ME
THAT I SHOULD HANG ONTO HIM
BECAUSE NOBODY
WOULD REALLY WANT ME -
SINGLE MOM WITH A BABY.
SO CHRIS AND ME
STARTED SEEING EACH OTHER.
Narrator:
BEING AN OLDER MAN, LIKE HARRY,
CHRIS IS
A POTENTIAL FATHER FIGURE
NOT JUST FOR MARGARET
BUT FOR LAUREEN, AS WELL.
Dr. Jordan: LAUREEN HAS NEVER
HAD A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP,
SO HER JUDGEMENT WITH MEN
IS TERRIBLE
BECAUSE SHE HAS NO CONTEXT.
AND BECAUSE SHE'S A SINGLE MOM,
SHE THINKS
NO ONE ELSE WILL WANT HER.
YOU GOT ANOTHER BEER?
YEAH, I DO.
BE RIGHT BACK.
Narrator: MICHELLE BARATTA,
ANNE AND BOB'S DAUGHTER,
THINKS LAUREEN CAN DO BETTER.
Baratta: HE NEVER SMILED,
HE NEVER SAID "HI,"
HE NEVER LOOKED YOU IN THE EYE.
YOU KNOW, HE GRUNTED A LOT,
"UGH, UGH".
LIKE, HE NEVER WOULD SPEAK.
HE WASN'T FRIENDLY,
HE WASN'T OUTGOING -
A JERK WITH NO PERSONALITY.
I DON'T KNOW
WHY SHE WAS WITH HIM.
LAUREEN,
IT'S TIME TO GO.
THANKS FOR COMING BY,
CHRIS.
TALK TO YOU LATER.
[ SIGHS ]
Chris: HEY, HON!
HEY,
I'M IN THE KITCHEN.
Narrator:
WITHIN A MATTER OF MONTHS,
CHRIS AND LAUREEN MOVE
INTO AN APARTMENT TOGETHER.
I HAVE EARNED MYSELF
A DRINK...
AT FIRST, THE COUPLE HAS FUN
PLAYING HAPPY FAMILY,
BUT LAUREEN SOON STARTS SEEING
CHRIS'S TRUE COLORS.
...OR TWO.
WHEN HE DID DRINK...
HE WAS MEAN AND UGLY
AND VIOLENT.
HEY, HON,
YOU SEEN THAT OTHER BOTTLE?
HE WAS ALWAYS
KIND OF PUTTING HER DOWN.
WHAT'S THAT SMELL,
ANYWAY?
IT'S DINNER.
THAT'S DINNER?
YEAH,
IT'S TUNA CASSEROLE.
UGH.
AWESOME. OKAY, YEAH.
I WILL TALK TO YOU LATER.
BYE.
WHERE YOU GOING?
I'M JUST GONNA GO UP THE STREET
TO SEE ANNE.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
Rugen: IT DIDN'T GET REAL BAD
RIGHT AWAY.
HE JUST STARTED CONTROLLING
WHERE I WENT, WHAT I DID,
WHO I TALKED TO,
SO I STARTED GETTING
A LITTLE SCARED.
YOU'RE GONNA MEET SOME GUY,
AREN'T YOU?
Narrator: CHRIS GROWS OBSESSED
WITH THE IDEA
THAT LAUREEN MIGHT LEAVE HIM.
CHRIS, I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
LAUREEN,
IF YOU MAKE A PROMISE...
I KEEP IT.
NO MATTER WHAT.
YEP.
Narrator:
WHEN LAUREEN LEARNS
CHRIS WAS ABANDONED AS A CHILD,
SHE FEELS SORRY FOR HIM.
SHE CLAIMS HE TELLS HER
HIS ADOPTED MOTHER
WAS INSTITUTIONALIZED
FOR MOST OF HIS CHILDHOOD.
HE HAD NOBODY
BUT HIS ADOPTED FATHER.
WELL,
IT WOULD MAKE SENSE
THAT HE MIGHT HAVE
ABANDONMENT ISSUES.
I CRIED
WHEN HE TOLD ME THE STORY.
I COULDN'T LET HIM GO
AFTER THAT.
HE HAD TRUST ISSUES.
I THOUGHT I COULD FIX IT.
Dr. Jordan:
BECAUSE HARRY LIED TO HER,
LAUREEN NEEDS HONESTY,
AND AT LEAST CHRIS
IS TELLING HER THE TRUTH.
HE NEEDS A WOMAN WHO PROMISES
SHE WILL NEVER LEAVE,
AND TO GET THAT,
HE NEEDS SOMEONE HE CAN CONTROL
AT ALL TIMES.
Narrator:
IN FEBRUARY 1984,
CHRIS AND LAUREEN HAVE BEEN
TOGETHER FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
TWO-YEAR-OLD MARGARET
IS ASLEEP IN HER ROOM
WHEN HE COMES HOME FROM WORK
ONE NIGHT IN A FOUL MOOD.
WHAT IS ALL THIS, HUH?
LOOK AT THIS MESS.
HE WAS GOING CRAZY.
YOU DIDN'T CLEAN UP,
IS THAT IT?
Narrator: LAUREEN TRIES IN VAIN
TO CALM CHRIS DOWN.
WELL, GUESS WHAT!
THEN SHE CLAIMS HE TAKES
HIS RAGE TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
THIS LITTLE CRANK
IS MARGARET.
Narrator: LAUREEN BLASTOW
AND HER DAUGHTER, MARGARET,
HAVE BEEN LIVING
WITH HER BOYFRIEND, CHRIS RUGEN,
FOR THE PAST YEAR.
BUT LAUREEN CLAIMS
THE RELATIONSHIP IS CRACKING
UNDER THE PRESSURE
OF HIS DRINKING AND LASHING OUT.
I'LL SHOW YOU
"CALM DOWN!"
[ SCREAMS ]
THE BABY'S CRYING.
ALL THE COMMOTION WAKES UP
LAUREEN'S 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER,
MARGARET.
AS LAUREEN RUSHES
TO COMFORT HER,
SHE CUTS HERSELF BADLY
ON THE BROKEN GLASS.
I THINK I NEED TO GO
TO THE HOSPITAL.
YOU AIN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
ACCORDING TO LAUREEN, CHRIS
WON'T LET HER LEAVE THE HOUSE.
HE SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO
PICK OUT THE GLASS.
PULL IT OUT.
Narrator:
HIS CALLOUS BEHAVIOR SERVES
AS AN OVERDUE WAKE-UP CALL.
THE NEXT DAY,
LAUREEN MOVES BACK IN
HER WITH HER FRIENDS,
ANNE AND BOB.
Dr. Jordan:
LAUREEN GOES BACK AND FORTH
BETWEEN STAYING STRONG
AND GIVING IN TO CHRIS.
NOW, AT THIS POINT, SHE STILL
FEELS A SENSE OF POWER.
SO WHEN SHE'S PUSHED
TO HER LIMIT,
SHE'S READY TO PULL THE PLUG,
BUT THE QUESTION IS
FOR HOW LONG.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
HELLO?
NO, CHRIS, SHE'S NOT HERE.
Narrator:
CHRIS CONSTANTLY HARASSES HER.
HE KEPT CALLING AND CALLING
AND CALLING.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
I HAD A RESTRAINING ORDER
PUT ON HIM.
CHRIS,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
LAUREEN!
HE WOULD SHOW UP.
SOUNDS LIKE
STALKING BEHAVIOR.
YES, IT WAS.
YEP, HE - AT THAT POINT,
I WAS HIS PROPERTY.
Narrator: THE HARASSMENT
CONTINUES FOR THE NEXT YEAR,
AND LAUREEN'S FRIENDS
TRY TO HELP HER MOVE ON.
PLEASE, HONEY, COME HOME.
I CAN'T DO THAT.
YOU NEED TO -
GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!
YOU'RE COMING HOME!
[ MUSIC PLAYS ]
YEAH, GOOD TIMES.
LAUREEN,
HOW DO YOU LIKE HIM?
GETTING ALONG WELL?
WE'RE HAVING A GOOD TIME.
Narrator: ONE NIGHT,
ANNE AND BOB FIX HER UP
WITH THEIR FRIEND STEVE.
EVERYONE'S HAVING A GOOD TIME
AT A LOCAL BAR,
UNTIL SUDDENLY,
CHRIS SHOWS UP DRUNK.
HEY,
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
HE WAS MAKING A WICKED SCENE.
HE GRABBED STEVE
AND STARTED FIGHTING WITH HIM.
Baratta: HE DRANK EVERY SINGLE
DAY AND HE WASN'T -
CHRIS WASN'T A SILLY DRUNK,
HE WASN'T A HAPPY DRUNK.
HE WAS A MEAN DRUNK.
Narrator:
THE BOUNCER THROWS CHRIS OUT.
Rugen:
THEY CALLED THE COPS,
AND BACK IN THOSE DAYS
IT WAS SO DIFFERENT.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
IS YOU NEED TO JUST CALL IT
A NIGHT AND GO HOME.
I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
ALL RIGHT.
JOE.
I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHY THEY DIDN'T ARREST HIM.
Narrator: WHEN LAUREEN
AND HER FRIENDS LEAVE,
CHRIS IS WAITING FOR THEM.
HE TOLD ME THAT I BETTER
COME HOME WITH HIM.
IF YOU DON'T COME HOME
WITH ME NOW...
AND HE THREATENED ANNE,
AND HE THREATENED ANNE'S KIDS.
Baratta: LAUREEN COULD NOT STAND
UP FOR HERSELF AGAINST HIM.
DO I THINK CHRIS WOULD HAVE
KILLED HER FRIENDS?
NO.
BUT I REALLY, TRULY BELIEVE
CHRIS KNEW
HE COULD TELL THAT TO LAUREEN
AND SHE'D BELIEVE HIM.
WATCH ME.
COME WITH US.
COME ON.
Narrator:
INCREDIBLY, THE THREATS WORK.
YOU GUYS GO AHEAD.
I'M FINE.
Rugen: I DON'T KNOW WHY.
I JUST WAS SCARED THAT HE WAS
GONNA HURT OTHER PEOPLE
AND I THOUGHT MAYBE
I COULD CALM HIM DOWN
AND GET THROUGH TO HIM.
I WANT YOU BACK.
Narrator: CHRIS CONVINCES
LAUREEN TO MOVE BACK IN WITH HIM.
HER 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER,
MARGARET, STILL CALLS HIM DADDY,
AND LAUREEN FANTASIZES
THEY CAN STILL BE A FAMILY.
I'LL STOP DRINKING.
I'LL DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES.
MY SELF-ESTEEM WAS SO LOW.
EVERYTHING WAS REALLY
CLOSING IN ON ME.
I WAS A SINGLE MOM
JUST BARELY MAKING ENDS MEET.
AND SO I FELT LIKE
I COULD MAKE IT WORK.
WE EVEN TALKED ABOUT
GOING TO COUNSELING.
Narrator:
THEN CHRIS DOES SOMETHING
HE HOPES WILL BIND LAUREEN
TO HIM FOREVER.
HE PROPOSES.
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
[ Crying ] OKAY.
AND WE GOT MARRIED
ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
I WAS SO EXCITED.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA HAVE
A GOOD MARRIAGE
AND HE WOULD CHANGE?
YEP.
Dr. Jordan:
FINALLY, CHRIS HAS WON.
IT'S THE FINAL MOVE
IN HIS CHESS GAME
AND NOW THAT THEY'RE MARRIED,
HE KNOWS THAT LAUREEN
WILL NEVER LEAVE HIM
AND SHE BELONGS TO HIM.
SO...
I COULD NOT BELIEVE
SHE MARRIED HIM.
IT WAS LIKE THEN YOU KNEW
SHE WAS NEVER GONNA LEAVE HIM.
WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT?
WAS IT EVERYTHING
YOU WANTED?
WELL, A HONEYMOON IN HAWAII
WOULD'VE BEEN NICE.
Narrator:
NOT SURPRISINGLY,
THE HONEYMOON IS OVER
BEFORE IT EVEN BEGINS.
Rugen:
I THINK THAT HE FINALLY REALIZED
THAT HE HAD COMPLETE CONTROL
OVER ME.
I WAS NOW HIS WIFE.
HE COULD DO WHATEVER HE WANTED.
Narrator: SURE ENOUGH,
ACCORDING TO LAUREEN,
CHRIS'S RAGE
NOW KNOWS NO BOUNDS.
[ CRYING ]
LAUREEN,
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?
MM, OKAY.
I SEE THAT BRUISE
ON YOUR EYE.
YEAH.
WHAT HAPPENED?
OH, I JUST WALKED
INTO THE CAR DOOR.
Baratta:
I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW,
HER IN THE KITCHEN
WITH MY MOTHER,
AND LAUREEN WAS COVERED
BLACK AND BLUE ALL OVER.
ALL OVER HER FACE, HER ARMS,
AND I REMEMBER MY MOTHER
TELLING HER SHE NEEDS TO LEAVE.
YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS.
IT'S NOT ALL HIS FAULT.
Rugen:
I HAD SOME REALLY GOOD FRIENDS,
AND THEY SLOWLY WENT
BY THE WAYSIDE.
ANNE WAS, "LAUREEN,
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU TAKE THIS."
I JUST KEPT
MAKING UP EXCUSES FOR HIM.
THEY WANT TO HELP YOU,
BUT YOU WON'T ACCEPT THEIR HELP.
NO.
AND THEY GIVE UP ON YOU.
YES.
THIS IS PART OF HIS PROCESS
OF ISOLATING YOU FURTHER.
YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY,
"WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE HIM?"
I DID LEAVE HIM,
AND I KEPT GOING BACK.
YOU GET BRAINWASHED.
IT'S SO HARD TO EXPLAIN
BECAUSE IT HAPPENS
IN TINY, LITTLE STEPS.
AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
YOU CROSS OVER THIS LINE
THAT YOU CAN'T GET
BACK OVER AGAIN.
I KNOW HOW IT LOOKS,
ANNE,
BUT YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND,
OKAY?
Anne: LAUREEN -
THANKS FOR THE COFFEE,
OKAY?
Narrator:
TWO YEARS AFTER THE WEDDING,
LAUREEN UNEXPECTEDLY INHERITS
$100,000 FROM A RELATIVE.
AND WE COULD MAKE
A WHOLE NEW LIFE.
YES, WE COULD.
SINCE CHRIS HAS BEEN FORCED
INTO EARLY RETIREMENT
BECAUSE OF HIS DRINKING,
HE DECIDES THE FAMILY SHOULD
TAKE THEIR NEW-FOUND WEALTH
AND START FRESH IN FLORIDA.
LET'S MOVE SOMEWHERE
AND BUY A HOUSE.
I MEAN, AREN'T YOU TIRED
OF THIS COLD WEATHER?
I THOUGHT THAT THINGS
WERE GONNA BE PICTURE-PERFECT.
Narrator: BUT THEIR TROUBLES
MOVE WITH THEM.
AFTER BUYING THEIR HOUSE,
THE INHERITANCE IS NEARLY GONE.
THEY NEED INCOME AND CHRIS
REFUSES TO LOOK FOR WORK.
SO LAUREEN GETS A JOB
AS A PLUMBING APPRENTICE.
MAYBE IF YOU CUT DOWN
ON THE DRINKING A LITTLE BIT?
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH IT.
SHE DECIDES TO OPEN
HER OWN PLUMBING SUPPLY STORE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT OPENING MY OWN STORE.
Baratta: SHE LOVED IT.
SHE LOVED THE CUSTOMERS.
SHE TOOK A LOT OF PRIDE IN THAT.
SO, WHERE YOU FROM?
OH, BACK EAST.
AH, YEAH,
NICE AREA BACK THERE, YEAH?
Narrator: BUT CHRIS INSISTS
ON KEEPING TABS ON HER 24/7.
STICK TO THE BUSINESS AND QUIT
FLIRTING WITH THESE GUYS.
I'M NOT FLIRTING.
EXCUSE ME.
CAN I HAVE SOME HELP
OVER HERE?
HOLD YOUR HORSES,
BUDDY.
Rugen: HE WOULD SIT
IN THE STORE WITH ME
AND DRINK BEER AFTER BEER
AFTER BEER
WHILE I WAS TRYING
TO RUN THE STORE,
WATCHING EVERYTHING I DID.
Narrator:
THREE YEARS AFTER THE MOVE,
ANNE AND BOB'S DAUGHTER,
MICHELLE, IS 19 YEARS OLD
AND LOOKING
FOR A CHANGE OF PACE.
LAUREEN INVITES HER
TO LIVE WITH THEM IN FLORIDA
AND CHRIS RELUCTANTLY AGREES.
COME ON IN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR LETTING ME STAY HERE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME.
ALMOST INSTANTLY,
MICHELLE GETS A FIRST-HAND LOOK
AT THEIR DAMAGING RELATIONSHIP.
Baratta:
WHEN THEY MOVED TO FLORIDA,
IT WAS JUST
A PERFECT RECIPE FOR HIM
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY.
LAUREEN WAS BY HERSELF.
SHE WAS ON HER OWN.
YOU LOOK TIRED.
HE NEVER HAD ANY FRIENDS.
IT WAS ALWAYS JUST LAUREEN
AND CHRIS AND THE DAUGHTER.
I HAD NO IDEA
TILL I WAS LIVING WITH THEM
HOW CONTROLLING CHRIS WAS.
HI, MICHELLE.
KEEP IT DOWN,
MARGARET'S SLEEPING.
Baratta:
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
HOW HE CONTROLLED
THAT WHOLE HOUSEHOLD.
OH, MY GOD,
YOU'RE SO CUTE!
I DON'T KNOW IF "CUTE'S"
THE RIGHT WORD.
WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
I CAN'T EVEN
HEAR MYSELF THINK.
Narrator: LUCKILY,
LAUREEN'S DAUGHTER, MARGARET,
STAYS OUT OF SIGHT AND IS SPARED
CHRIS'S PHYSICAL ABUSE.
HER DAUGHTER WASN'T LIKE
A NORMAL 10-, 11-YEAR-OLD
HANGING OUT WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD GIRLS RIDING BIKES.
SHE WAS IN HER ROOM
OR OUTSIDE AT THE POOL.
WHAT IS THIS, HUH?
I DON'T LIKE IT
WHEN YOU WEAR DRESSES.
Narrator: CHRIS EVEN CONTROLS
LAUREEN'S PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.
HOW DO YOU LIKE IT NOW?
NOW, TAKE IT OFF!
Rugen: IF I PUT ON A DRESS
THAT WAS NOT WHAT HE WANTED,
HE WOULD RIP IT UP AND TEAR IT
UP AND THROW IT AWAY.
I HAD TO WEAR BROWN,
I HAD TO WEAR BLACK.
Baratta: I DON'T THINK LAUREEN
WAS A HUMAN BEING TO HIM.
I THINK SHE WAS A POSSESSION.
SHE DIDN'T FIGHT HIM
ON ANYTHING.
SHE WAS SUCH, LIKE,
A CONTROLLED, BROKEN WOMAN.
IT WAS SAD.
YOU JUST DO
WHAT I TELL YOU.
Narrator:
MICHELLE'S HAD ENOUGH.
LAUREEN, I'M SO SORRY,
BUT I CAN'T STAY HERE ANYMORE.
SHE DECIDES
TO HEAD BACK TO MAINE.
I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
Narrator: LAUREEN CLAIMS
THAT AFTER SIX YEARS IN FLORIDA,
THE ABUSE HAS GOTTEN SO BAD
THAT SHE'S TURNED TO THE BOTTLE.
YOU'RE DRINKING
FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
TO SELF-MEDICATE
BECAUSE WHEN HE'D BEAT ME
OR THREW THINGS AT ME,
THE PAIN WASN'T SO BAD.
THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY
I COULD COPE.
I GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE I DIDN'T EVEN CARE.
LAUREEN GRABS
A BOTTLE SLEEPING PILLS
PLANNING TO END HER SUFFERING
FOREVER.
FOR MORE
ON HOW LAUREEN'S DOING NOW,
WHAT IS THIS, HUH?
Narrator:
LAUREEN AND CHRIS RUGEN
HAVE BEEN MARRIED
FOR EIGHT TUMULTUOUS YEARS.
NOW, TAKE IT OFF!
SHE'S REACHED HER BREAKING POINT
AND IS CONVINCED
HER ONLY WAY OUT
IS TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE.
WHEN LAUREEN WAKES UP,
SHE'S IN THE LOCAL HOSPITAL
AND HAS A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.
THE DOCTORS SAID MY BODY
JUST GAVE OUT -
MY MIND AND MY BODY.
YOU KNOW, I JUST COULDN'T
HANDLE IT ANYMORE.
Narrator: AFTER SPENDING TWO
WEEKS IN THE PSYCHIATRIC UNIT,
LAUREEN'S READY TO BE RELEASED.
IT'S BEEN GOOD.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN REALLY GREAT.
HE WAS ALLOWED TO VISIT,
AND SO HE WOULD COME
AND BE ALL NICE AND SWEET.
THINGS ARE GONNA BE
DIFFERENT.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF SEVERING
TIES WITH HER HUSBAND,
SHE AGREES TO GO HOME WITH HIM.
Baratta: I DON'T KNOW IF SHE
KNEW HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT HIM.
I ALMOST WONDERED IF HER ABUSED
LIFE BECAME NORMAL TO HER,
LIKE THIS WAS HER REALITY.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO LAUREEN,
THE COUPLE IS NOW BROKE.
THEY'VE USED UP
ALL OF HER INHERITANCE
AND DEFAULTED ON THEIR MORTGAGE.
ALL RIGHT,
LOOKS LIKE THE GUY'S HERE
TO BUY THIS CRAPPY TABLE.
Rugen: WE LOST EVERYTHING.
HE HAD SOLD EVERYTHING
THAT WE HAD.
Narrator: CHRIS HAS DECIDED
THEY SHOULD MOVE BACK TO MAINE
AND ONCE AGAIN START OVER.
AND IT WAS HORRIBLE.
LIKE THAT.
YEAH.
BACK IN PORTLAND,
LAUREEN GETS A JOB
AT A HARDWARE STORE,
AND CHRIS GOES TO WORK
AT AN AUTO-PARTS COMPANY.
THEIR MEAGER SALARIES
ENABLE THEM TO MOVE
INTO A LOW-INCOME DUPLEX.
HOW DO THEY GO FROM A NICE,
GORGEOUS HOUSE IN FLORIDA
BACK INTO PORTLAND
IN PUBLIC HOUSING?
THEY'RE ADORABLE.
Narrator:
THE ABUSE CONTINUES,
AND WITH THE NEIGHBORS CLOSER,
IT'S GETTING
HARDER AND HARDER TO HIDE.
I GOT TO GO.
SWEET, GENTLE, FRIENDLY,
CARING -
I MEAN, SHE WAS JUST
ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE
YOU EVER WANT TO MEET.
BUT AS SOON AS HE WAS AROUND,
SHE CLAMMED UP.
YOU COULD SEE A WHOLE CHANGE
IN HER.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
THERE WAS A LOT OF YELLING
AND SCREAMING AND BANGING
AND LOUD NOISES
AND EVERYBODY BASICALLY KNEW
THAT HE WAS HITTING HER.
Narrator: THE NEIGHBORS
DON'T ONLY HEAR THINGS.
THEY SEE THINGS, TOO.
I SAW LAUREEN WITH
SEVERAL BRUISES, BLACK EYES.
[ TELEVISION IN BACKGROUND ]
Narrator:
ONE YEAR LATER,
LAUREEN AND HER
NOW-TEENAGE DAUGHTER, MARGARET,
ARE HOME WATCHING T. V.
WITHOUT CHRIS'S PERMISSION.
I TOLD YOU NEVER TO WATCH T. V.
WHEN I'M NOT HOME.
DAD -
GIVE ME THAT.
BUT WE LIKE THIS SHO-
I DON'T CARE!
DAD!
GO TO YOUR ROOM, MARGARET.
GO, GO, GO.
BUT -
ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO
TO BREAK THE CYCLE,
YOU MUST HAVE THOUGHT
ABOUT IT.
I THOUGHT ABOUT LEAVING.
THERE WERE TIMES
WHEN I WISHED
THAT HE WOULD JUST DIE
OR GO AWAY.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF HIM
EVER CHANGING OR LEAVING YOU?
THEY WERE NONE.
I HATE YOU!
I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE!
LEAVE ME ALONE!
Narrator: LAUREEN'S WORDS
BURN INTO CHRIS'S HEART.
[ SCREAMS ]
Chris:
YOU DON'T LOVE US ANYMORE.
SHE CLAIMS HE PUSHES HER FACE
INTO THE SHARDS OF GLASS.
YOU'RE DEAD.
YOU'RE DEAD.
THIS TIME, LAUREEN TAKES
HIS THREATS SERIOUSLY.
SHE CALLS THE COPS
AND HAS CHRIS ARRESTED.
I NEED THE POLICE
AT MY HOUSE.
A FEW DAYS LATER,
HE'S ALLOWED TO GO HOME,
BUT HE'S PUT ON PROBATION
FOR A YEAR
AND SENT
TO ANGER-MANAGEMENT CLASSES.
SO HOW'S IT GOING
IN SCHOOL?
YOU KNOW, MATH SUCKS,
BUT I'M GOOD AT ENGLISH.
ACCORDING TO MARGARET,
THE CLASSES MAKE CHRIS
A NEW MAN.
I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE.
LAUREEN'S DAUGHTER TOLD US
THAT THE ABUSE BY CHRIS
AGAINST LAUREEN ENDED.
YOU GOT SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND,
SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ASK ME?
Dr. Jordan: IT'S UNCLEAR AS TO
WHETHER ANGER-MANAGEMENT CLASSES
BY THEMSELVES COULD CAUSE
A RADICAL CHANGE IN CHRIS.
FOR MANY BATTERERS,
BEING PROCESSED FORMALLY
THROUGH
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
MAKES THEM TUNE UP
THEIR BEHAVIOR
BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN PUT
ON NOTICE
AND THEY DON'T WANT
TO GO TO JAIL.
THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT CHANGE
REAL AND LONG-LASTING?
MOM'S BEEN DIFFERENT.
Narrator:
THAT SAME YEAR,
LAUREEN'S DIAGNOSED
WITH MYOCLONIC DYSTONIA,
A MOVEMENT DISORDER MARKED BY
INVOLUNTARY MUSCLE JERKING,
ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION.
LAUREEN'S CONTINUED DRINKING
EVER SINCE THEY LEFT FLORIDA
AND THE MEDICATION SHE TAKES
TO MANAGE HER CONDITION
DOESN'T MIX WELL WITH ALCOHOL.
DON'T YOU THINK
IT'S A LITTLE EARLY FOR THAT?
I'M THIRSTY.
AND ACCORDING TO HER DAUGHTER,
THE DANGEROUS COMBO
TURNS LAUREEN INTO A MONSTER.
YOU SHOULDN'T BE TAKING
THESE PILLS AND DRINKING.
Marchese:
IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT SHE THREW A BOTTLE AT HIM
AT ONE POINT.
SHE WAS EMOTIONALLY ABUSIVE.
AND I HATE YOU.
LAUREEN'S DAUGHTER DECIDED
THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN
HER MOM'S FAULT
BECAUSE SHE FELT THAT CHRIS
HAD STOPPED ABUSING HER MOM.
THAT'S THE WAY SHE FELT,
BUT IT WASN'T TRUE.
Marchese:
THERE WERE WITNESSES
THAT DISAGREED
WITH LAUREEN'S DAUGHTER.
YOU WANT TO THROW THINGS?
I'M GONNA THROW YOU
OUT A DAMN WINDOW.
LAUREEN HAD
A NUMBER OF CO-WORKERS
AND THEY WOULD SEE LAUREEN
WITH BRUISES ON HER ARMS,
AND THEIR PERCEPTION OF LAUREEN
WAS THAT SHE WAS
A BATTERED WOMAN.
YOU HAD
TWO CONFLICTING OPINIONS,
BUT I THINK THERE WAS MUTUAL
ABUSE GOING ON AT THIS TIME.
Dr. Jordan:
EVEN IF CHRIS IS REALLY TRYING,
IF YOU TOSS IN THE TRIGGERS
OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
AND LAUREEN'S
AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR,
IT'S VERY LIKELY
THAT CHRIS COULD REGRESS
TO HIS OLD VIOLENT WAYS.
Narrator:
FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS,
CHRIS AND LAUREEN
KEEP DRINKING AND FIGHTING.
I COULD KEEP THE PLACE CLEAN
IF YOU WEREN'T SUCH A SLOB.
DON'T TALK BACK TO ME.
STOP IT!
Narrator:
ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS,
MARGARET ACTS AS A BUFFER
TO HER PARENTS' BATTLING.
STOP IT.
WHY CAN'T YOU JUST STOP?
Marchese: SHE KEPT THE HOUSEHOLD
IN EQUILIBRIUM,
AS I UNDERSTOOD IT,
AND THAT SHE HAD A CALMING
INFLUENCE OVER BOTH OF THEM.
SHE WAS A CONSTANT MEDIATOR
BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.
Narrator: BUT ALL OF THAT
CHANGES IN APRIL 2008.
MARGARET'S NOW 26
AND MOVING OUT ON HER OWN.
THE BUFFER THAT HAS KEPT THIS
MARRIAGE FROM IMPLODING IS GONE.
LOVE YOU, HONEY.
LOVE YOU, TOO.
BYE, SWEETIE.
BYE, GUYS.
GOOD LUCK.
Narrator: LESS THAN A WEEK
AFTER MARGARET LEAVES,
LAUREEN CLAIMS SHE HAS THE FLU
AND DOESN'T FEEL MUCH
LIKE DRINKING.
WAKE UP.
Rugen: HE WAS BEING SO BAD -
NOT LETTING ME REST,
NOT LETTING ME DO ANYTHING,
YOU KNOW,
JUST NEEDED TO BE LEFT ALONE
AND GET BETTER.
WHY DON'T YOU GET UP
AND START ON DINNER?
Baratta: SHE WAS ROUGH.
IT WASN'T THE SAME LAUREEN.
HER BODY SEEMED LIKE,
I DON'T KNOW, BROKEN.
I MEAN, AT THAT POINT, SHE WAS
ONLY, YOU KNOW, IN HER 40s,
YET YOU WOULD ASSUME
SHE WAS LIKE, 60.
[ GROANS ]
Narrator:
AFTER A WEEKEND OF NOT DRINKING,
LAUREEN CLAIMS THE CLARITY
GIVES HER THE STRENGTH
TO ASK CHRIS FOR A DIVORCE.
SHE DOES IT THROUGH A NOTE.
IT JUST SAID THAT
"I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
I'M GONNA GET A DIVORCE,
FOR REAL THIS TIME,"
AND THAT IT WAS OVER.
Baratta: I DON'T THINK HE EVER
WOULD HAVE LET LAUREEN LEAVE ALIVE
BECAUSE SHE WAS HIS REASON
FOR EXISTENCE.
Narrator: LAUREEN SAYS
THAT LATER THAT AFTERNOON,
CHRIS WALKS INTO THE HOUSE
DRUNK.
LAUREEN!
I KNEW. I JUST KNEW
IT WAS GONNA BE A BAD NIGHT.
SOMETHING INSIDE ME
WAS GROWING COLD
AND I KNEW
THAT HE WAS REALLY HURT.
Narrator: NEIGHBORS CAN HEAR
LAUREEN AND CHRIS FIGHTING,
BUT IT'S NOTHING NEW.
HE JUST THREW ME
EVERYWHERE.
IT WAS HORRIBLE.
YOU'VE BEEN WAITING
FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP
FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.
AND IT DID.
IT DID.
LAUREEN STARTS DRINKING
AND ACCORDING TO
COURT DOCUMENTS,
CHRIS CALLS MARGARET.
MARGARET,
PLEASE COME HOME.
CHRIS BEGAN TO BEG HER
TO COME BACK TO THE HOUSE.
SHE'S GONE CRAZY.
YOU HAVE TO HELP ME
CALM HER DOWN.
"I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED
TO DO SOMETHING WITH HER.
SHE'S OUT OF CONTROL."
HE SAID TO LAUREEN'S DAUGHTER,
"SHE'S GOING TO KILL ME."
AND ALSO AT THAT TIME, LAUREEN
STEPPED OUTSIDE AND SAID...
IF YOU HIT ME AGAIN,
I'LL KILL YOU.
Narrator:
LAUREEN SAYS SHE'S PETRIFIED
AND DECIDES TO AVOID HIM
AT ALL COSTS.
LAUREEN!
Rugen:
SO HE WENT TO BED WITHOUT ME
AND HE WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE
UP THERE.
SO I LEFT THE HOUSE
AND JUST PRAYED
THAT HE WOULD PASS OUT.
Narrator: LAUREEN SAYS SHE TAKES
A WALK AROUND THE CUL-DE-SAC,
COMES HOME AN HOUR LATER,
AND HEADS UPSTAIRS TO BED.
SO I WALKED INTO THE ROOM.
AND HE WAS STANDING THERE -
HIS EYES WERE WICKED EVIL.
CHRIS.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE HAD
THE KNIFE.
Narrator:
LAUREEN IS CONVINCED
THIS IS THE NIGHT
SHE'S GOING TO DIE.
PLEASE PUT DOWN THE KNIFE,
CHRIS.
Narrator:
LAUREEN AND CHRIS RUGEN
HAVE ENDURED A BITTER
AND CONTENTIOUS MARRIAGE
FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES.
AFTER ASKING HER HUSBAND
FOR A DIVORCE,
LAUREEN IS NOW AFRAID
FOR HER LIFE.
SHE CLAIMS WHEN SHE GOES
INTO THE BEDROOM,
CHRIS IS WAITING FOR HER
WITH A KNIFE.
PLEASE PUT DOWN THE KNIFE,
CHRIS.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE SAID
HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
SO I STARTED FIGHTING.
I JUST FOUGHT FOR MY LIFE.
AND I JUST KNEW
HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
Narrator:
THE KNIFE FALLS TO THE FLOOR.
Rugen: I GRABBED THE KNIFE
AND HE WAS TRYING TO GET ME.
WE JUST - WE FOUGHT.
I KNEW THAT IF I GAVE IN,
IF I GAVE UP
EVEN JUST ONE SECOND,
THAT HE WOULD KILL ME.
CAN YOU REMEMBER
WHAT YOU WERE THINKING
AS YOU WERE FLINGING YOUR ARM
BEHIND YOU WITH THE KNIFE?
THIS IS THE NIGHT
I WAS GONNA DIE.
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: AFTER STABBING CHRIS
OVER AND OVER,
LAUREEN REALIZES WHAT SHE'S
DONE, AND SHE'S HORRIFIED.
EVEN THOUGH CHRIS HURT HER,
SHE DOESN'T WANT HIM TO DIE.
I TRIED TO GET HIM DOWNSTAIRS.
Narrator: LAUREEN CLAIMS
CHRIS HAD HIDDEN THE PHONE
AND THE CAR KEYS.
I FINALLY FOUND THE TELEPHONE
DOWNSTAIRS
AND I GOT IT AND I CALLED 911.
Narrator:
BUT BASED ON THE EVIDENCE,
LAW ENFORCEMENT BELIEVES
THE ATTACK HAPPENED
VERY DIFFERENTLY.
THERE'S SO MUCH BLOOD!
I THINK HE WENT UP AND HE WENT
TO BED TO GET AWAY FROM HER.
I SUSPECT SHE PROBABLY
CONTINUED TO DRINK
AND GOT ANGRIER AND ANGRIER,
PERHAPS ANGRIER
OVER THE YEARS OF ABUSE.
AND SHE GOT A KNIFE
AND I THINK HE WOKE UP
TO BEING STABBED
AND THERE WERE STAB MARKS
THROUGH THE COMFORTER
AND THROUGH THE TOP SHEET.
SO HE WAS STABBED
MULTIPLE TIMES IN BED
AND THEN HE GOT UP
AND TRIED TO ESCAPE HER.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: REGARDLESS OF HOW
THE STABBING HAPPENED,
WHEN POLICE ARRIVE,
CHRIS IS DEAD
AND LAUREEN
IS IN A COMPLETE DAZE.
I JUST TOLD THEM
THAT HE WAS SO UGLY,
HE CAME AT ME,
AND I STABBED HIM.
HE STARTED TO ATTACK ME!
Narrator:
AUTHORITIES DON'T BUY IT.
Marchese: 25 STAB WOUNDS
IS A LOT OF STAB WOUNDS
AND THAT WOULD NOT
EXACTLY SUGGEST
THAT SHE WAS DEFENDING HERSELF.
Dr. Jordan:
IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
CHRIS'S HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
WAS VERY REAL
AND IT JUSTIFIED LAUREEN'S FEAR.
SHE WAS A BATTERED WOMAN
AND THERE IS A TRACK RECORD
OF ABUSE.
BUT WHAT'S UNCLEAR
IS WHETHER OR NOT LAUREEN
REALLY FEARED FOR HER LIFE
AT THE EXACT MOMENT SHE PLUNGED
THAT KNIFE INTO HER HUSBAND.
MA'AM I'M PLACING YOU
UNDER ARREST.
WILL YOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON
THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD, PLEASE?
Narrator: LAUREEN'S CHARGED WITH
MURDER AND HELD WITHOUT BAIL.
SHE FACES 25 YEARS TO LIFE
IN PRISON.
CHRIS IS DEAD, MA'AM.
NO! NO!
WHEN PROSECUTORS DISCOVER
CHRIS'S LONG HISTORY OF ABUSE,
THEY OFFER LAUREEN A PLEA DEAL.
Marchese: WE REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED
AND SOMETIMES
IT'S WHAT WE DON'T KNOW
THAT KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT.
[ GAVEL BANGS ]
LAUREEN -
Narrator: LAUREEN PLEADS GUILTY
TO MANSLAUGHTER
AND FACES EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON.
A JUDGE FEELS THAT 25 YEARS
OF ABUSE IS PUNISHMENT ENOUGH
AND SENTENCES HER TO TIME SERVED
AND THREE YEARS OF PROBATION.
Marchese: UNLESS ABUSE IS
IMMINENT AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME,
YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT
TO TAKE SOMEBODY'S LIFE.
IN MY VIEW, SHE DIDN'T MEET
THE LAW OF SELF-DEFENSE
FOR THAT NIGHT.
SO THE SENTENCE OF TIME-SERVED
DOES NOT SEEM JUST TO ME.
Narrator:
LAUREEN RUGEN IS NOW SOBER
AND TRYING TO REBUILD HER LIFE
AND HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH HER DAUGHTER.
SHE'S ALSO WORKING WITH OTHER
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO YOUR GREATEST REGRET
WAS NOT LEAVING?
YES.
I MADE SOME BAD CHOICES.
I STAYED UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE,
AND THEN I LOST MYSELF.
I AM NOW A SURVIVOR,
AND I'M NOT A VICTIM.
I AM NOT A VICTIM ANYMORE.
A NAIVE YOUNG WOMAN
FALLS FOR THE FIRST MAN
SHE MEETS...
I JUST TRULY LOVED HIM.
Narrator: ...UNTIL A DEEP, DARK
SECRET RIPS THE ROMANCE APART.
IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE LIES.
Hanscom:
BECAUSE I HAD DECEIVED HER,
SHE HAD DECIDED THAT I'M
OBVIOUSLY GONNA DO IT AGAIN.
IT'S OVER.
Narrator:
THE DESPERATE SINGLE MOTHER
IS LURED INTO THE ARMS
OF ANOTHER MAN.
MY MOM TOLD ME
I SHOULD HANG ON TO HIM.
Narrator:
BUT LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW,
SHE'S WALKING STRAIGHT INTO
THE BELLY OF THE BEAST.
YOU'RE WORTHLESS!
I COULD NOT BELIEVE
SHE MARRIED HIM.
Narrator: WHEN THE MONSTER
COMES COMPLETELY UNHINGED...
Rugen:
HIS EYES WERE WICKED EVIL.
CHRIS...
AND I JUST KNEW
HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
Narrator: ...THIS WIFE
IS FORCED TO FIGHT FOR HER LIFE.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ SCREAMING ]
Narrator: NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
[ WOMAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG,
A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
LAUREEN RUGEN WAS BORN
IN A SMALL FISHING VILLAGE
IN ROCKLAND, MAINE, IN 1958.
SHE'S THE YOUNGEST
OF THREE CHILDREN,
AND HAS
A FAIRLY IDYLLIC CHILDHOOD.
SHE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME
ON THE OCEAN WITH HER FATHER.
I'LL TELL YOU WHEN,
I'LL TELL YOU WHEN.
OKAY, OPEN YOUR EYES.
Rugen:
I WAS DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL,
AND I USED TO GO DOWN TO
THE WHARF WITH HIM ALL THE TIME
AND HE TAUGHT ME
EVERYTHING ABOUT LOVE
AND THAT THERE'S
ALWAYS GOOD IN PEOPLE.
VERY NICE.
OH, MY GOSH!
THAT'S MY NAME!
Narrator: LAUREEN'S THRILLED
WHEN HER FATHER NAMES
HIS NEW BOAT AFTER HER,
BUT THEIR CLOSE RELATIONSHIP
CREATES TENSION
BETWEEN LAUREEN AND HER MOTHER.
OH, MY GOSH, IT'S -
MOM, IT'S SO PRETTY!
SHE ADMITTED
THAT SHE'D BEEN JEALOUS
OF MY DAD AND OUR RELATIONSHIP,
SO SHE WAS KIND OF MEAN
AND KIND OF COLD TO ME.
Narrator: DESPITE
THE CHALLENGING FAMILY DYNAMIC,
LAUREEN HAS A HAPPY CHILDHOOD.
SHE'S EVEN NAMED A SEA PRINCESS
AT THE MAINE LOBSTER FESTIVAL.
Dr. Jordan:
WHEN YOU GREW UP,
THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU HAD
WAS... WHAT?
IT WAS TO GET ALONG,
BE HAPPY.
IF YOU HAD ARGUMENTS,
WHICH THEY DID,
EVERYTHING WAS KEPT
IN THE HOUSE.
YOU STAYED WITH YOUR PARTNER
FOR LIFE.
THEN, IN THE SUMMER OF 1974,
A SUDDEN TRAGEDY
TURNS THE 16-YEAR-OLD'S LIFE
UPSIDE DOWN.
Rugen: MY DAD HAD A BLOOD CLOT
IN HIS LEG,
AND IT WENT UP TO HIS HEART
AND IT KILLED HIM.
INSTANTLY, WHEN HE PASSED
I FELT LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE
ANYBODY ANYMORE TO TURN TO.
Narrator: EVEN HER SIBLINGS
CAN'T COMFORT HER.
I FELT LOST.
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
Dr. Jordan: BECAUSE LAUREEN'S
FATHER DIES WHEN SHE'S ONLY 16,
SHE'S LEFT
WITH A HOLE IN HER HEART
THAT WILL MAKE HER LOOK
FOR A MAN TO FILL THAT VOID.
AND BECAUSE HER FATHER
ALWAYS TAUGHT HER
TO BELIEVE THE BEST IN PEOPLE,
SHE'S GOING TO ENTER
HER DATING YEARS
A LITTLE BIT NAIVE
AND WAY TOO TRUSTING.
Narrator: AT 21,
LAUREEN GETS A JOB
WORKING AT A PIANO STORE
TO HELP PAY FOR COLLEGE.
SHE'S SO SHY
THAT THE PRETTY COED
HASN'T EVEN STARTED DATING YET.
THAT IS,
UNTIL SHE MEETS HARRY HANSCOM -
THE FIRST MAN
TO EVER CATCH HER EYE.
YEAH, I'M HERE TO BUY
YOUR MOST EXPENSIVE PIANO.
OH, WELL,
WE COULD START RIGHT HERE.
I'M JUST KIDDING, NO.
I'M FRIENDS WITH BOB AND ANNE.
I'M HERE TO SEE THEM.
Rugen:
HARRY WAS VERY CHARMING.
HE WAS VERY NICE,
VERY GENTLEMANLY-LIKE,
AND I JUST IMMEDIATELY FELT
CONNECTED.
I'M LAUREEN.
IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU,
LAUREEN.
Hanscom: SHE WAS AN ATTRACTIVE
YOUNG LADY.
SHE WAS VERY FRIENDLY,
LIKED TO LAUGH,
HAVE A GOOD TIME.
SO WE KIND OF, LIKE,
JUST KEPT TALKING
AND BECAME CLOSER FRIENDS.
ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS,
I'M HEADING OUT TO DINNER.
OKAY.
HAVE A NICE TIME.
OKAY, THANK YOU.
Narrator: PRETTY SOON, HARRY'S
STOPPING BY THE PIANO STORE
EVERY CHANCE HE GETS.
Rugen:
WE JUST HAD A LOT IN COMMON.
WE GOT TOGETHER
AND KEPT SEEING EACH OTHER.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH
HE'S 12 YEARS OLDER THAN HER,
LAUREEN IS SMITTEN.
WE HAD A CONNECTION.
I TRULY LOVED HIM.
I REALLY LOVED HIM.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
HI, LAUREEN?
THIS IS ANNE.
Narrator:
THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM -
TURNS OUT HARRY'S
NOT ACTUALLY AVAILABLE.
BECAUSE HE'S MARRIED.
WHAT?
I THINK HE'S SEPARATED,
BUT I'M NOT SURE.
IT DEVASTATED ME.
Narrator:
LAUREEN NEEDS TO KNOW THE TRUTH.
HEY, HARRY.
CAN YOU COME IN HERE, PLEASE?
HEY, HONEY, WHAT'S UP?
THAT WAS JUST ANNE
ON THE PHONE.
SHE SAID YOU'RE MARRIED.
YEAH, WELL, TECHNICALLY -
THAT WAS THE REASON
I WAS GONNA BE LEAVING MY WIFE
WAS BECAUSE OF HER.
I MADE UP MY MIND
THAT I WAS GONNA DO THAT.
I WAS IN LOVE WITH HER.
SO YOU HAVE A WIFE
THAT YOU NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT?
I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED
SEEING HIM.
GO FIGURE IT OUT!
Narrator: A MONTH LATER,
HARRY'S BACK AS A FREE MAN.
Rugen: HE CAME TO ME
WITH DIVORCE PAPERS
AND SAID HE HAD GOTTEN DIVORCED.
AT THAT POINT,
WE MOVED IN TOGETHER.
[Sighs]
I WISH YOU WOULD STAY.
Narrator: HARRY CLAIMS HIS WORK
AS A POLICE DETECTIVE
REQUIRES HIM TO BE AWAY A LOT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S POLICE WORK.
UNDERCOVER.
AND HE WOULD LIVE WITH ME
FOR FOUR DAYS,
AND THEN HE'D BE GONE
FOR THREE DAYS.
Dr. Jordan: THIS IS A SIGN OF
LAUREEN'S UNFLAGGING BELIEF IN PEOPLE.
EVEN THOUGH
HE'S LIED TO HER ONCE
AND HE'S NOT EVEN HOME
HALF THE WEEK,
SHE JUST CAN'T IMAGINE
THAT HE WOULD HURT HER AGAIN.
THIS IS GOING TO SET HER UP
FOR A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT LATER.
WHATCHA READING?
ONE OF THOSE SPY NOVELS.
I HAVE SOME NEWS.
Narrator: WITHIN A FEW MONTHS,
THE COUPLE GETS READY
TO EMBRACE SOME BIG CHANGES.
I'M PREGNANT.
WOW.
ARE YOU EXCITED?
ARE YOU HAPPY?
THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
YOU KNOW, I GOT SOME NEWS
FOR YOU, TOO.
HOW DO YOU FEEL
ABOUT FLORIDA?
HARRY HAS A LEAD ON A JOB
AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
IN TAMPA.
WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE
AHEAD OF THEM,
THE TWO DECIDE TO MAKE THE MOVE,
EVEN THOUGH IT MEANS
QUITTING SCHOOL FOR LAUREEN.
OH, HONEY,
I'M SO EXCITED.
BUT LIFE IN FLORIDA ISN'T
AS SUNNY AS THE COUPLE HOPED.
WHEN HARRY'S DETECTIVE JOB
FALLS THROUGH,
THEY END UP
IN A LOW-RENT APARTMENT.
IT'S DOWNTOWN,
THE LOCAL MALL.
SO, LIKE,
A SECURITY GUARD?
THE JOB AT THE DADE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
DID NOT PAN OUT,
SO I WAS JUST DOING ODD JOBS
AT NIGHT
TO GET SOME CASH
TO PAY OUR BILLS, BUY OUR FOOD.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE
DIFFERENT HERE.
Narrator: THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
MONEY FOR A CAR OR EVEN A PHONE.
IT'S JUST THE WAY IT GOES.
LOOK AT THIS PLACE.
IT'S A DUMP.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT,
IT'S GONNA HAVE TO MAKE DUE
FOR RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE THIS IS ALL WE GOT.
Rugen:
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING,
BUT HE WENT OFF TO WORK
EVERY MORNING
AND MADE SURE WE HAD FOOD.
YOU KNOW,
I JUST BELIEVED IN EVERYTHING.
Narrator: TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
FIVE MONTHS LATER,
LAUREEN'S DOCTOR TELLS HER
SHE NEEDS TO BE ON BED REST
DUE TO COMPLICATIONS
WITH HER PREGNANCY.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LITTLE BIT
OF A LONELY EXISTENCE.
THAT HAD TO BE SCARY.
IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY.
THEN, LAUREEN'S SURPRISED TO
FIND HER LANDLORD AT THE DOOR.
I'M JUST DOING
SOME LAUNDRY.
Rugen: SHE HAD AN EVICTION
NOTICE AND SHE SAID THAT...
I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY RENT
IN THREE MONTHS.
I WAS DEVASTATED.
I MEAN, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
YOU MEAN HARRY HASN'T BEEN
GIVING YOU RENT CHECKS
EVERY MONTH?
NO.
MAYBE I CAN USE YOUR PHONE?
OF COURSE.
Narrator: SHE DECIDES
TO CALL HER BROTHER FOR ADVICE.
HIS RESPONSE WAS, "OH, MY GOD."
HE SAYS, "WE HAVE BEEN WONDERING
WHAT HAD HAPPENED."
Narrator: HER SIBLINGS HAD BEEN
TRYING TO TRACK HER DOWN.
Rugen: MY BROTHER AND SISTER
HAD FOUND OUT
THAT HARRY WAS STILL MARRIED
AND HAD A WIFE AND TWO KIDS.
WHAT?
Narrator:
THE NEWS SENDS LAUREEN REELING.
I GOT TO GO.
IT'S THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL
AND IT JUST MAY PUSH
THIS DESPERATE MOTHER-TO-BE
COMPLETELY OVER THE EDGE.
NO!
Narrator:
23-YEAR-OLD LAUREEN BLASTOW
IS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT.
SHE'S MOVED
FROM MAINE TO FLORIDA
WITH THE FATHER OF HER BABY.
BUT SHE'S SHOCKED
WHEN SHE LEARNS
THE MAN SHE LOVES
MAY STILL BE MARRIED.
WHAT?
SHE CONFRONTS HARRY
WHEN HE GETS HOME FROM WORK.
WHAT'S THAT LOOK FOR?
I JUST TALKED TO MY BROTHER
AND HE SAID
YOU'RE STILL MARRIED.
HARRY'S CORNERED.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO FILING
THE PAPERS YET, THAT'S ALL.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN AROUND...
I HAD ASKED FOR A DIVORCE,
BUT AS FAR AS FILING FOR
DIVORCE, I HAD NEVER DONE THAT.
I LOVE YOU,
I LOVE OUR BABY.
I WANT TO MAKE IT WORK
WITH US.
Rugen:
HE SAID HE WAS SORRY,
AND THAT THINGS WERE
SUPPOSED TO BE DIFFERENT
AND PLEASE STAY
AND I SAID, "NO, I CAN'T.
YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER FAMILY."
THAT SOUNDS LIKE LIES.
Hanscom: SHE WAS LIKE, "OKAY,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE TRUTHFUL,
AND I'M NOT STAYING
IN THIS RELATIONSHIP."
Narrator:
LAUREEN CUTS ALL TIES WITH HARRY
AND MAKES A DIFFICULT DECISION
TO MOVE BACK TO MAINE.
A MONTH LATER, IN JANUARY 1982,
SHE GIVES BIRTH A BEAUTIFUL
BABY GIRL SHE NAMES MARGARET.
LAUREEN'S HAPPY AND LIVING
WITH HER FRIENDS, ANNE AND BOB.
MEANWHILE,
HARRY'S ALSO MOVED BACK TO MAINE
AND FINALLY GOTTEN A DIVORCE
FROM HIS WIFE.
BUT IT'S TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE
FOR LAUREEN AND THEIR BABY GIRL.
LAUREEN, IT'S HARRY.
HE TRIED TO SEE HER.
HI, HARRY.
I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO
WITH HIM
AND I TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW,
THAT HE COULDN'T SEE HER.
IT'S OVER, GOODBYE.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MEN
AT THIS POINT?
I THOUGHT THEY WERE LIARS
AND PLAYERS -
DESTROYED MY FEELINGS
FOR HAVING A RELATIONSHIP
WITH ANYBODY.
Narrator: BEING A SINGLE MOM
TO A NEWBORN IS OVERWHELMING,
BUT WHEN MARGARET
IS JUST THREE MONTHS OLD,
THE DOOR TO A NEW FUTURE
UNEXPECTEDLY SWINGS OPEN.
HI.
I LIVE UP THE STREET,
AND I'M JUST WONDERING
IF I COULD BORROW SOME TINFOIL.
TINFOIL, YEAH.
AND THAT'S WHERE I MET CHRIS.
HE WAS CHARMING AND HANDSOME.
AND WHO'S
THIS LITTLE ONE?
AWW, THIS LITTLE CRANK
IS MARGARET.
Narrator: CHRIS IS INSTANTLY
ATTRACTED TO LAUREEN,
WHO'S 11 YEARS YOUNGER THAN HIM,
BUT SHE'S STILL RECOVERING
FROM HARRY'S BETRAYAL
AND ISN'T INTERESTED
IN ANOTHER RELATIONSHIP YET.
COME ON IN.
THANKS.
BUT CHRIS IS DETERMINED,
AND HE MAKES A POINT
OF TRYING TO SEE LAUREEN
AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.
COFFEE FOR YOU,
SOMETHING FOR MARGARET.
THAT IS SO SWEET OF YOU.
COME ON IN.
HE WOULD COME OVER
TO ANNE AND BOB'S
AND HE STARTED GETTING
REALLY COZY WITH MY DAUGHTER.
YOU KNOW,
HE'D TAKE HER OUT FOR WALKS
AND HE'D BOUGHT HER A CARRIAGE.
I WON'T WAKE HER UP.
HE WAS TRYING TO GET TO ME
THROUGH HER.
HE LOVED YOUR DAUGHTER.
OH, HE DID, YES.
AS IF SHE WERE HIS OWN.
MM-HMM.
OH - OH, NO.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I THINK
IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.
YEAH, LET ME HAVE HER.
OH, I'LL HELP YOU.
YOU'RE GONNA CHANGE
A DIRTY DIAPER?
AS LONG AS YOU HAVE
RUBBER GLOVES AND A MASK...
YOU'RE OKAY.
Narrator: LAUREEN LOVES
HOW CHRIS DOTES ON MARGARET.
NICE TO MEET YOU,
CHRIS.
SLOWLY,
HE BREAKS THROUGH HER WALLS.
SHE'S GETTING SO BIG.
I STILL, AT THAT POINT,
DIDN'T REALLY WANT
A RELATIONSHIP,
BUT MY MOM TOLD ME
THAT I SHOULD HANG ONTO HIM
BECAUSE NOBODY
WOULD REALLY WANT ME -
SINGLE MOM WITH A BABY.
SO CHRIS AND ME
STARTED SEEING EACH OTHER.
Narrator:
BEING AN OLDER MAN, LIKE HARRY,
CHRIS IS
A POTENTIAL FATHER FIGURE
NOT JUST FOR MARGARET
BUT FOR LAUREEN, AS WELL.
Dr. Jordan: LAUREEN HAS NEVER
HAD A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP,
SO HER JUDGEMENT WITH MEN
IS TERRIBLE
BECAUSE SHE HAS NO CONTEXT.
AND BECAUSE SHE'S A SINGLE MOM,
SHE THINKS
NO ONE ELSE WILL WANT HER.
YOU GOT ANOTHER BEER?
YEAH, I DO.
BE RIGHT BACK.
Narrator: MICHELLE BARATTA,
ANNE AND BOB'S DAUGHTER,
THINKS LAUREEN CAN DO BETTER.
Baratta: HE NEVER SMILED,
HE NEVER SAID "HI,"
HE NEVER LOOKED YOU IN THE EYE.
YOU KNOW, HE GRUNTED A LOT,
"UGH, UGH".
LIKE, HE NEVER WOULD SPEAK.
HE WASN'T FRIENDLY,
HE WASN'T OUTGOING -
A JERK WITH NO PERSONALITY.
I DON'T KNOW
WHY SHE WAS WITH HIM.
LAUREEN,
IT'S TIME TO GO.
THANKS FOR COMING BY,
CHRIS.
TALK TO YOU LATER.
[ SIGHS ]
Chris: HEY, HON!
HEY,
I'M IN THE KITCHEN.
Narrator:
WITHIN A MATTER OF MONTHS,
CHRIS AND LAUREEN MOVE
INTO AN APARTMENT TOGETHER.
I HAVE EARNED MYSELF
A DRINK...
AT FIRST, THE COUPLE HAS FUN
PLAYING HAPPY FAMILY,
BUT LAUREEN SOON STARTS SEEING
CHRIS'S TRUE COLORS.
...OR TWO.
WHEN HE DID DRINK...
HE WAS MEAN AND UGLY
AND VIOLENT.
HEY, HON,
YOU SEEN THAT OTHER BOTTLE?
HE WAS ALWAYS
KIND OF PUTTING HER DOWN.
WHAT'S THAT SMELL,
ANYWAY?
IT'S DINNER.
THAT'S DINNER?
YEAH,
IT'S TUNA CASSEROLE.
UGH.
AWESOME. OKAY, YEAH.
I WILL TALK TO YOU LATER.
BYE.
WHERE YOU GOING?
I'M JUST GONNA GO UP THE STREET
TO SEE ANNE.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
Rugen: IT DIDN'T GET REAL BAD
RIGHT AWAY.
HE JUST STARTED CONTROLLING
WHERE I WENT, WHAT I DID,
WHO I TALKED TO,
SO I STARTED GETTING
A LITTLE SCARED.
YOU'RE GONNA MEET SOME GUY,
AREN'T YOU?
Narrator: CHRIS GROWS OBSESSED
WITH THE IDEA
THAT LAUREEN MIGHT LEAVE HIM.
CHRIS, I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
LAUREEN,
IF YOU MAKE A PROMISE...
I KEEP IT.
NO MATTER WHAT.
YEP.
Narrator:
WHEN LAUREEN LEARNS
CHRIS WAS ABANDONED AS A CHILD,
SHE FEELS SORRY FOR HIM.
SHE CLAIMS HE TELLS HER
HIS ADOPTED MOTHER
WAS INSTITUTIONALIZED
FOR MOST OF HIS CHILDHOOD.
HE HAD NOBODY
BUT HIS ADOPTED FATHER.
WELL,
IT WOULD MAKE SENSE
THAT HE MIGHT HAVE
ABANDONMENT ISSUES.
I CRIED
WHEN HE TOLD ME THE STORY.
I COULDN'T LET HIM GO
AFTER THAT.
HE HAD TRUST ISSUES.
I THOUGHT I COULD FIX IT.
Dr. Jordan:
BECAUSE HARRY LIED TO HER,
LAUREEN NEEDS HONESTY,
AND AT LEAST CHRIS
IS TELLING HER THE TRUTH.
HE NEEDS A WOMAN WHO PROMISES
SHE WILL NEVER LEAVE,
AND TO GET THAT,
HE NEEDS SOMEONE HE CAN CONTROL
AT ALL TIMES.
Narrator:
IN FEBRUARY 1984,
CHRIS AND LAUREEN HAVE BEEN
TOGETHER FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
TWO-YEAR-OLD MARGARET
IS ASLEEP IN HER ROOM
WHEN HE COMES HOME FROM WORK
ONE NIGHT IN A FOUL MOOD.
WHAT IS ALL THIS, HUH?
LOOK AT THIS MESS.
HE WAS GOING CRAZY.
YOU DIDN'T CLEAN UP,
IS THAT IT?
Narrator: LAUREEN TRIES IN VAIN
TO CALM CHRIS DOWN.
WELL, GUESS WHAT!
THEN SHE CLAIMS HE TAKES
HIS RAGE TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
THIS LITTLE CRANK
IS MARGARET.
Narrator: LAUREEN BLASTOW
AND HER DAUGHTER, MARGARET,
HAVE BEEN LIVING
WITH HER BOYFRIEND, CHRIS RUGEN,
FOR THE PAST YEAR.
BUT LAUREEN CLAIMS
THE RELATIONSHIP IS CRACKING
UNDER THE PRESSURE
OF HIS DRINKING AND LASHING OUT.
I'LL SHOW YOU
"CALM DOWN!"
[ SCREAMS ]
THE BABY'S CRYING.
ALL THE COMMOTION WAKES UP
LAUREEN'S 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER,
MARGARET.
AS LAUREEN RUSHES
TO COMFORT HER,
SHE CUTS HERSELF BADLY
ON THE BROKEN GLASS.
I THINK I NEED TO GO
TO THE HOSPITAL.
YOU AIN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
ACCORDING TO LAUREEN, CHRIS
WON'T LET HER LEAVE THE HOUSE.
HE SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO
PICK OUT THE GLASS.
PULL IT OUT.
Narrator:
HIS CALLOUS BEHAVIOR SERVES
AS AN OVERDUE WAKE-UP CALL.
THE NEXT DAY,
LAUREEN MOVES BACK IN
HER WITH HER FRIENDS,
ANNE AND BOB.
Dr. Jordan:
LAUREEN GOES BACK AND FORTH
BETWEEN STAYING STRONG
AND GIVING IN TO CHRIS.
NOW, AT THIS POINT, SHE STILL
FEELS A SENSE OF POWER.
SO WHEN SHE'S PUSHED
TO HER LIMIT,
SHE'S READY TO PULL THE PLUG,
BUT THE QUESTION IS
FOR HOW LONG.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
HELLO?
NO, CHRIS, SHE'S NOT HERE.
Narrator:
CHRIS CONSTANTLY HARASSES HER.
HE KEPT CALLING AND CALLING
AND CALLING.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
I HAD A RESTRAINING ORDER
PUT ON HIM.
CHRIS,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
LAUREEN!
HE WOULD SHOW UP.
SOUNDS LIKE
STALKING BEHAVIOR.
YES, IT WAS.
YEP, HE - AT THAT POINT,
I WAS HIS PROPERTY.
Narrator: THE HARASSMENT
CONTINUES FOR THE NEXT YEAR,
AND LAUREEN'S FRIENDS
TRY TO HELP HER MOVE ON.
PLEASE, HONEY, COME HOME.
I CAN'T DO THAT.
YOU NEED TO -
GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!
YOU'RE COMING HOME!
[ MUSIC PLAYS ]
YEAH, GOOD TIMES.
LAUREEN,
HOW DO YOU LIKE HIM?
GETTING ALONG WELL?
WE'RE HAVING A GOOD TIME.
Narrator: ONE NIGHT,
ANNE AND BOB FIX HER UP
WITH THEIR FRIEND STEVE.
EVERYONE'S HAVING A GOOD TIME
AT A LOCAL BAR,
UNTIL SUDDENLY,
CHRIS SHOWS UP DRUNK.
HEY,
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
HE WAS MAKING A WICKED SCENE.
HE GRABBED STEVE
AND STARTED FIGHTING WITH HIM.
Baratta: HE DRANK EVERY SINGLE
DAY AND HE WASN'T -
CHRIS WASN'T A SILLY DRUNK,
HE WASN'T A HAPPY DRUNK.
HE WAS A MEAN DRUNK.
Narrator:
THE BOUNCER THROWS CHRIS OUT.
Rugen:
THEY CALLED THE COPS,
AND BACK IN THOSE DAYS
IT WAS SO DIFFERENT.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
IS YOU NEED TO JUST CALL IT
A NIGHT AND GO HOME.
I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
ALL RIGHT.
JOE.
I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHY THEY DIDN'T ARREST HIM.
Narrator: WHEN LAUREEN
AND HER FRIENDS LEAVE,
CHRIS IS WAITING FOR THEM.
HE TOLD ME THAT I BETTER
COME HOME WITH HIM.
IF YOU DON'T COME HOME
WITH ME NOW...
AND HE THREATENED ANNE,
AND HE THREATENED ANNE'S KIDS.
Baratta: LAUREEN COULD NOT STAND
UP FOR HERSELF AGAINST HIM.
DO I THINK CHRIS WOULD HAVE
KILLED HER FRIENDS?
NO.
BUT I REALLY, TRULY BELIEVE
CHRIS KNEW
HE COULD TELL THAT TO LAUREEN
AND SHE'D BELIEVE HIM.
WATCH ME.
COME WITH US.
COME ON.
Narrator:
INCREDIBLY, THE THREATS WORK.
YOU GUYS GO AHEAD.
I'M FINE.
Rugen: I DON'T KNOW WHY.
I JUST WAS SCARED THAT HE WAS
GONNA HURT OTHER PEOPLE
AND I THOUGHT MAYBE
I COULD CALM HIM DOWN
AND GET THROUGH TO HIM.
I WANT YOU BACK.
Narrator: CHRIS CONVINCES
LAUREEN TO MOVE BACK IN WITH HIM.
HER 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER,
MARGARET, STILL CALLS HIM DADDY,
AND LAUREEN FANTASIZES
THEY CAN STILL BE A FAMILY.
I'LL STOP DRINKING.
I'LL DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES.
MY SELF-ESTEEM WAS SO LOW.
EVERYTHING WAS REALLY
CLOSING IN ON ME.
I WAS A SINGLE MOM
JUST BARELY MAKING ENDS MEET.
AND SO I FELT LIKE
I COULD MAKE IT WORK.
WE EVEN TALKED ABOUT
GOING TO COUNSELING.
Narrator:
THEN CHRIS DOES SOMETHING
HE HOPES WILL BIND LAUREEN
TO HIM FOREVER.
HE PROPOSES.
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
[ Crying ] OKAY.
AND WE GOT MARRIED
ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
I WAS SO EXCITED.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA HAVE
A GOOD MARRIAGE
AND HE WOULD CHANGE?
YEP.
Dr. Jordan:
FINALLY, CHRIS HAS WON.
IT'S THE FINAL MOVE
IN HIS CHESS GAME
AND NOW THAT THEY'RE MARRIED,
HE KNOWS THAT LAUREEN
WILL NEVER LEAVE HIM
AND SHE BELONGS TO HIM.
SO...
I COULD NOT BELIEVE
SHE MARRIED HIM.
IT WAS LIKE THEN YOU KNEW
SHE WAS NEVER GONNA LEAVE HIM.
WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT?
WAS IT EVERYTHING
YOU WANTED?
WELL, A HONEYMOON IN HAWAII
WOULD'VE BEEN NICE.
Narrator:
NOT SURPRISINGLY,
THE HONEYMOON IS OVER
BEFORE IT EVEN BEGINS.
Rugen:
I THINK THAT HE FINALLY REALIZED
THAT HE HAD COMPLETE CONTROL
OVER ME.
I WAS NOW HIS WIFE.
HE COULD DO WHATEVER HE WANTED.
Narrator: SURE ENOUGH,
ACCORDING TO LAUREEN,
CHRIS'S RAGE
NOW KNOWS NO BOUNDS.
[ CRYING ]
LAUREEN,
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?
MM, OKAY.
I SEE THAT BRUISE
ON YOUR EYE.
YEAH.
WHAT HAPPENED?
OH, I JUST WALKED
INTO THE CAR DOOR.
Baratta:
I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW,
HER IN THE KITCHEN
WITH MY MOTHER,
AND LAUREEN WAS COVERED
BLACK AND BLUE ALL OVER.
ALL OVER HER FACE, HER ARMS,
AND I REMEMBER MY MOTHER
TELLING HER SHE NEEDS TO LEAVE.
YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS.
IT'S NOT ALL HIS FAULT.
Rugen:
I HAD SOME REALLY GOOD FRIENDS,
AND THEY SLOWLY WENT
BY THE WAYSIDE.
ANNE WAS, "LAUREEN,
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU TAKE THIS."
I JUST KEPT
MAKING UP EXCUSES FOR HIM.
THEY WANT TO HELP YOU,
BUT YOU WON'T ACCEPT THEIR HELP.
NO.
AND THEY GIVE UP ON YOU.
YES.
THIS IS PART OF HIS PROCESS
OF ISOLATING YOU FURTHER.
YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY,
"WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE HIM?"
I DID LEAVE HIM,
AND I KEPT GOING BACK.
YOU GET BRAINWASHED.
IT'S SO HARD TO EXPLAIN
BECAUSE IT HAPPENS
IN TINY, LITTLE STEPS.
AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
YOU CROSS OVER THIS LINE
THAT YOU CAN'T GET
BACK OVER AGAIN.
I KNOW HOW IT LOOKS,
ANNE,
BUT YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND,
OKAY?
Anne: LAUREEN -
THANKS FOR THE COFFEE,
OKAY?
Narrator:
TWO YEARS AFTER THE WEDDING,
LAUREEN UNEXPECTEDLY INHERITS
$100,000 FROM A RELATIVE.
AND WE COULD MAKE
A WHOLE NEW LIFE.
YES, WE COULD.
SINCE CHRIS HAS BEEN FORCED
INTO EARLY RETIREMENT
BECAUSE OF HIS DRINKING,
HE DECIDES THE FAMILY SHOULD
TAKE THEIR NEW-FOUND WEALTH
AND START FRESH IN FLORIDA.
LET'S MOVE SOMEWHERE
AND BUY A HOUSE.
I MEAN, AREN'T YOU TIRED
OF THIS COLD WEATHER?
I THOUGHT THAT THINGS
WERE GONNA BE PICTURE-PERFECT.
Narrator: BUT THEIR TROUBLES
MOVE WITH THEM.
AFTER BUYING THEIR HOUSE,
THE INHERITANCE IS NEARLY GONE.
THEY NEED INCOME AND CHRIS
REFUSES TO LOOK FOR WORK.
SO LAUREEN GETS A JOB
AS A PLUMBING APPRENTICE.
MAYBE IF YOU CUT DOWN
ON THE DRINKING A LITTLE BIT?
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH IT.
SHE DECIDES TO OPEN
HER OWN PLUMBING SUPPLY STORE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT OPENING MY OWN STORE.
Baratta: SHE LOVED IT.
SHE LOVED THE CUSTOMERS.
SHE TOOK A LOT OF PRIDE IN THAT.
SO, WHERE YOU FROM?
OH, BACK EAST.
AH, YEAH,
NICE AREA BACK THERE, YEAH?
Narrator: BUT CHRIS INSISTS
ON KEEPING TABS ON HER 24/7.
STICK TO THE BUSINESS AND QUIT
FLIRTING WITH THESE GUYS.
I'M NOT FLIRTING.
EXCUSE ME.
CAN I HAVE SOME HELP
OVER HERE?
HOLD YOUR HORSES,
BUDDY.
Rugen: HE WOULD SIT
IN THE STORE WITH ME
AND DRINK BEER AFTER BEER
AFTER BEER
WHILE I WAS TRYING
TO RUN THE STORE,
WATCHING EVERYTHING I DID.
Narrator:
THREE YEARS AFTER THE MOVE,
ANNE AND BOB'S DAUGHTER,
MICHELLE, IS 19 YEARS OLD
AND LOOKING
FOR A CHANGE OF PACE.
LAUREEN INVITES HER
TO LIVE WITH THEM IN FLORIDA
AND CHRIS RELUCTANTLY AGREES.
COME ON IN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR LETTING ME STAY HERE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME.
ALMOST INSTANTLY,
MICHELLE GETS A FIRST-HAND LOOK
AT THEIR DAMAGING RELATIONSHIP.
Baratta:
WHEN THEY MOVED TO FLORIDA,
IT WAS JUST
A PERFECT RECIPE FOR HIM
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY.
LAUREEN WAS BY HERSELF.
SHE WAS ON HER OWN.
YOU LOOK TIRED.
HE NEVER HAD ANY FRIENDS.
IT WAS ALWAYS JUST LAUREEN
AND CHRIS AND THE DAUGHTER.
I HAD NO IDEA
TILL I WAS LIVING WITH THEM
HOW CONTROLLING CHRIS WAS.
HI, MICHELLE.
KEEP IT DOWN,
MARGARET'S SLEEPING.
Baratta:
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
HOW HE CONTROLLED
THAT WHOLE HOUSEHOLD.
OH, MY GOD,
YOU'RE SO CUTE!
I DON'T KNOW IF "CUTE'S"
THE RIGHT WORD.
WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
I CAN'T EVEN
HEAR MYSELF THINK.
Narrator: LUCKILY,
LAUREEN'S DAUGHTER, MARGARET,
STAYS OUT OF SIGHT AND IS SPARED
CHRIS'S PHYSICAL ABUSE.
HER DAUGHTER WASN'T LIKE
A NORMAL 10-, 11-YEAR-OLD
HANGING OUT WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD GIRLS RIDING BIKES.
SHE WAS IN HER ROOM
OR OUTSIDE AT THE POOL.
WHAT IS THIS, HUH?
I DON'T LIKE IT
WHEN YOU WEAR DRESSES.
Narrator: CHRIS EVEN CONTROLS
LAUREEN'S PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.
HOW DO YOU LIKE IT NOW?
NOW, TAKE IT OFF!
Rugen: IF I PUT ON A DRESS
THAT WAS NOT WHAT HE WANTED,
HE WOULD RIP IT UP AND TEAR IT
UP AND THROW IT AWAY.
I HAD TO WEAR BROWN,
I HAD TO WEAR BLACK.
Baratta: I DON'T THINK LAUREEN
WAS A HUMAN BEING TO HIM.
I THINK SHE WAS A POSSESSION.
SHE DIDN'T FIGHT HIM
ON ANYTHING.
SHE WAS SUCH, LIKE,
A CONTROLLED, BROKEN WOMAN.
IT WAS SAD.
YOU JUST DO
WHAT I TELL YOU.
Narrator:
MICHELLE'S HAD ENOUGH.
LAUREEN, I'M SO SORRY,
BUT I CAN'T STAY HERE ANYMORE.
SHE DECIDES
TO HEAD BACK TO MAINE.
I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
Narrator: LAUREEN CLAIMS
THAT AFTER SIX YEARS IN FLORIDA,
THE ABUSE HAS GOTTEN SO BAD
THAT SHE'S TURNED TO THE BOTTLE.
YOU'RE DRINKING
FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
TO SELF-MEDICATE
BECAUSE WHEN HE'D BEAT ME
OR THREW THINGS AT ME,
THE PAIN WASN'T SO BAD.
THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY
I COULD COPE.
I GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE I DIDN'T EVEN CARE.
LAUREEN GRABS
A BOTTLE SLEEPING PILLS
PLANNING TO END HER SUFFERING
FOREVER.
FOR MORE
ON HOW LAUREEN'S DOING NOW,
WHAT IS THIS, HUH?
Narrator:
LAUREEN AND CHRIS RUGEN
HAVE BEEN MARRIED
FOR EIGHT TUMULTUOUS YEARS.
NOW, TAKE IT OFF!
SHE'S REACHED HER BREAKING POINT
AND IS CONVINCED
HER ONLY WAY OUT
IS TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE.
WHEN LAUREEN WAKES UP,
SHE'S IN THE LOCAL HOSPITAL
AND HAS A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.
THE DOCTORS SAID MY BODY
JUST GAVE OUT -
MY MIND AND MY BODY.
YOU KNOW, I JUST COULDN'T
HANDLE IT ANYMORE.
Narrator: AFTER SPENDING TWO
WEEKS IN THE PSYCHIATRIC UNIT,
LAUREEN'S READY TO BE RELEASED.
IT'S BEEN GOOD.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN REALLY GREAT.
HE WAS ALLOWED TO VISIT,
AND SO HE WOULD COME
AND BE ALL NICE AND SWEET.
THINGS ARE GONNA BE
DIFFERENT.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF SEVERING
TIES WITH HER HUSBAND,
SHE AGREES TO GO HOME WITH HIM.
Baratta: I DON'T KNOW IF SHE
KNEW HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT HIM.
I ALMOST WONDERED IF HER ABUSED
LIFE BECAME NORMAL TO HER,
LIKE THIS WAS HER REALITY.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO LAUREEN,
THE COUPLE IS NOW BROKE.
THEY'VE USED UP
ALL OF HER INHERITANCE
AND DEFAULTED ON THEIR MORTGAGE.
ALL RIGHT,
LOOKS LIKE THE GUY'S HERE
TO BUY THIS CRAPPY TABLE.
Rugen: WE LOST EVERYTHING.
HE HAD SOLD EVERYTHING
THAT WE HAD.
Narrator: CHRIS HAS DECIDED
THEY SHOULD MOVE BACK TO MAINE
AND ONCE AGAIN START OVER.
AND IT WAS HORRIBLE.
LIKE THAT.
YEAH.
BACK IN PORTLAND,
LAUREEN GETS A JOB
AT A HARDWARE STORE,
AND CHRIS GOES TO WORK
AT AN AUTO-PARTS COMPANY.
THEIR MEAGER SALARIES
ENABLE THEM TO MOVE
INTO A LOW-INCOME DUPLEX.
HOW DO THEY GO FROM A NICE,
GORGEOUS HOUSE IN FLORIDA
BACK INTO PORTLAND
IN PUBLIC HOUSING?
THEY'RE ADORABLE.
Narrator:
THE ABUSE CONTINUES,
AND WITH THE NEIGHBORS CLOSER,
IT'S GETTING
HARDER AND HARDER TO HIDE.
I GOT TO GO.
SWEET, GENTLE, FRIENDLY,
CARING -
I MEAN, SHE WAS JUST
ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE
YOU EVER WANT TO MEET.
BUT AS SOON AS HE WAS AROUND,
SHE CLAMMED UP.
YOU COULD SEE A WHOLE CHANGE
IN HER.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
THERE WAS A LOT OF YELLING
AND SCREAMING AND BANGING
AND LOUD NOISES
AND EVERYBODY BASICALLY KNEW
THAT HE WAS HITTING HER.
Narrator: THE NEIGHBORS
DON'T ONLY HEAR THINGS.
THEY SEE THINGS, TOO.
I SAW LAUREEN WITH
SEVERAL BRUISES, BLACK EYES.
[ TELEVISION IN BACKGROUND ]
Narrator:
ONE YEAR LATER,
LAUREEN AND HER
NOW-TEENAGE DAUGHTER, MARGARET,
ARE HOME WATCHING T. V.
WITHOUT CHRIS'S PERMISSION.
I TOLD YOU NEVER TO WATCH T. V.
WHEN I'M NOT HOME.
DAD -
GIVE ME THAT.
BUT WE LIKE THIS SHO-
I DON'T CARE!
DAD!
GO TO YOUR ROOM, MARGARET.
GO, GO, GO.
BUT -
ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO
TO BREAK THE CYCLE,
YOU MUST HAVE THOUGHT
ABOUT IT.
I THOUGHT ABOUT LEAVING.
THERE WERE TIMES
WHEN I WISHED
THAT HE WOULD JUST DIE
OR GO AWAY.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF HIM
EVER CHANGING OR LEAVING YOU?
THEY WERE NONE.
I HATE YOU!
I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE!
LEAVE ME ALONE!
Narrator: LAUREEN'S WORDS
BURN INTO CHRIS'S HEART.
[ SCREAMS ]
Chris:
YOU DON'T LOVE US ANYMORE.
SHE CLAIMS HE PUSHES HER FACE
INTO THE SHARDS OF GLASS.
YOU'RE DEAD.
YOU'RE DEAD.
THIS TIME, LAUREEN TAKES
HIS THREATS SERIOUSLY.
SHE CALLS THE COPS
AND HAS CHRIS ARRESTED.
I NEED THE POLICE
AT MY HOUSE.
A FEW DAYS LATER,
HE'S ALLOWED TO GO HOME,
BUT HE'S PUT ON PROBATION
FOR A YEAR
AND SENT
TO ANGER-MANAGEMENT CLASSES.
SO HOW'S IT GOING
IN SCHOOL?
YOU KNOW, MATH SUCKS,
BUT I'M GOOD AT ENGLISH.
ACCORDING TO MARGARET,
THE CLASSES MAKE CHRIS
A NEW MAN.
I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE.
LAUREEN'S DAUGHTER TOLD US
THAT THE ABUSE BY CHRIS
AGAINST LAUREEN ENDED.
YOU GOT SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND,
SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ASK ME?
Dr. Jordan: IT'S UNCLEAR AS TO
WHETHER ANGER-MANAGEMENT CLASSES
BY THEMSELVES COULD CAUSE
A RADICAL CHANGE IN CHRIS.
FOR MANY BATTERERS,
BEING PROCESSED FORMALLY
THROUGH
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
MAKES THEM TUNE UP
THEIR BEHAVIOR
BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN PUT
ON NOTICE
AND THEY DON'T WANT
TO GO TO JAIL.
THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT CHANGE
REAL AND LONG-LASTING?
MOM'S BEEN DIFFERENT.
Narrator:
THAT SAME YEAR,
LAUREEN'S DIAGNOSED
WITH MYOCLONIC DYSTONIA,
A MOVEMENT DISORDER MARKED BY
INVOLUNTARY MUSCLE JERKING,
ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION.
LAUREEN'S CONTINUED DRINKING
EVER SINCE THEY LEFT FLORIDA
AND THE MEDICATION SHE TAKES
TO MANAGE HER CONDITION
DOESN'T MIX WELL WITH ALCOHOL.
DON'T YOU THINK
IT'S A LITTLE EARLY FOR THAT?
I'M THIRSTY.
AND ACCORDING TO HER DAUGHTER,
THE DANGEROUS COMBO
TURNS LAUREEN INTO A MONSTER.
YOU SHOULDN'T BE TAKING
THESE PILLS AND DRINKING.
Marchese:
IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT SHE THREW A BOTTLE AT HIM
AT ONE POINT.
SHE WAS EMOTIONALLY ABUSIVE.
AND I HATE YOU.
LAUREEN'S DAUGHTER DECIDED
THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN
HER MOM'S FAULT
BECAUSE SHE FELT THAT CHRIS
HAD STOPPED ABUSING HER MOM.
THAT'S THE WAY SHE FELT,
BUT IT WASN'T TRUE.
Marchese:
THERE WERE WITNESSES
THAT DISAGREED
WITH LAUREEN'S DAUGHTER.
YOU WANT TO THROW THINGS?
I'M GONNA THROW YOU
OUT A DAMN WINDOW.
LAUREEN HAD
A NUMBER OF CO-WORKERS
AND THEY WOULD SEE LAUREEN
WITH BRUISES ON HER ARMS,
AND THEIR PERCEPTION OF LAUREEN
WAS THAT SHE WAS
A BATTERED WOMAN.
YOU HAD
TWO CONFLICTING OPINIONS,
BUT I THINK THERE WAS MUTUAL
ABUSE GOING ON AT THIS TIME.
Dr. Jordan:
EVEN IF CHRIS IS REALLY TRYING,
IF YOU TOSS IN THE TRIGGERS
OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
AND LAUREEN'S
AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR,
IT'S VERY LIKELY
THAT CHRIS COULD REGRESS
TO HIS OLD VIOLENT WAYS.
Narrator:
FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS,
CHRIS AND LAUREEN
KEEP DRINKING AND FIGHTING.
I COULD KEEP THE PLACE CLEAN
IF YOU WEREN'T SUCH A SLOB.
DON'T TALK BACK TO ME.
STOP IT!
Narrator:
ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS,
MARGARET ACTS AS A BUFFER
TO HER PARENTS' BATTLING.
STOP IT.
WHY CAN'T YOU JUST STOP?
Marchese: SHE KEPT THE HOUSEHOLD
IN EQUILIBRIUM,
AS I UNDERSTOOD IT,
AND THAT SHE HAD A CALMING
INFLUENCE OVER BOTH OF THEM.
SHE WAS A CONSTANT MEDIATOR
BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.
Narrator: BUT ALL OF THAT
CHANGES IN APRIL 2008.
MARGARET'S NOW 26
AND MOVING OUT ON HER OWN.
THE BUFFER THAT HAS KEPT THIS
MARRIAGE FROM IMPLODING IS GONE.
LOVE YOU, HONEY.
LOVE YOU, TOO.
BYE, SWEETIE.
BYE, GUYS.
GOOD LUCK.
Narrator: LESS THAN A WEEK
AFTER MARGARET LEAVES,
LAUREEN CLAIMS SHE HAS THE FLU
AND DOESN'T FEEL MUCH
LIKE DRINKING.
WAKE UP.
Rugen: HE WAS BEING SO BAD -
NOT LETTING ME REST,
NOT LETTING ME DO ANYTHING,
YOU KNOW,
JUST NEEDED TO BE LEFT ALONE
AND GET BETTER.
WHY DON'T YOU GET UP
AND START ON DINNER?
Baratta: SHE WAS ROUGH.
IT WASN'T THE SAME LAUREEN.
HER BODY SEEMED LIKE,
I DON'T KNOW, BROKEN.
I MEAN, AT THAT POINT, SHE WAS
ONLY, YOU KNOW, IN HER 40s,
YET YOU WOULD ASSUME
SHE WAS LIKE, 60.
[ GROANS ]
Narrator:
AFTER A WEEKEND OF NOT DRINKING,
LAUREEN CLAIMS THE CLARITY
GIVES HER THE STRENGTH
TO ASK CHRIS FOR A DIVORCE.
SHE DOES IT THROUGH A NOTE.
IT JUST SAID THAT
"I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
I'M GONNA GET A DIVORCE,
FOR REAL THIS TIME,"
AND THAT IT WAS OVER.
Baratta: I DON'T THINK HE EVER
WOULD HAVE LET LAUREEN LEAVE ALIVE
BECAUSE SHE WAS HIS REASON
FOR EXISTENCE.
Narrator: LAUREEN SAYS
THAT LATER THAT AFTERNOON,
CHRIS WALKS INTO THE HOUSE
DRUNK.
LAUREEN!
I KNEW. I JUST KNEW
IT WAS GONNA BE A BAD NIGHT.
SOMETHING INSIDE ME
WAS GROWING COLD
AND I KNEW
THAT HE WAS REALLY HURT.
Narrator: NEIGHBORS CAN HEAR
LAUREEN AND CHRIS FIGHTING,
BUT IT'S NOTHING NEW.
HE JUST THREW ME
EVERYWHERE.
IT WAS HORRIBLE.
YOU'VE BEEN WAITING
FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP
FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.
AND IT DID.
IT DID.
LAUREEN STARTS DRINKING
AND ACCORDING TO
COURT DOCUMENTS,
CHRIS CALLS MARGARET.
MARGARET,
PLEASE COME HOME.
CHRIS BEGAN TO BEG HER
TO COME BACK TO THE HOUSE.
SHE'S GONE CRAZY.
YOU HAVE TO HELP ME
CALM HER DOWN.
"I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED
TO DO SOMETHING WITH HER.
SHE'S OUT OF CONTROL."
HE SAID TO LAUREEN'S DAUGHTER,
"SHE'S GOING TO KILL ME."
AND ALSO AT THAT TIME, LAUREEN
STEPPED OUTSIDE AND SAID...
IF YOU HIT ME AGAIN,
I'LL KILL YOU.
Narrator:
LAUREEN SAYS SHE'S PETRIFIED
AND DECIDES TO AVOID HIM
AT ALL COSTS.
LAUREEN!
Rugen:
SO HE WENT TO BED WITHOUT ME
AND HE WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE
UP THERE.
SO I LEFT THE HOUSE
AND JUST PRAYED
THAT HE WOULD PASS OUT.
Narrator: LAUREEN SAYS SHE TAKES
A WALK AROUND THE CUL-DE-SAC,
COMES HOME AN HOUR LATER,
AND HEADS UPSTAIRS TO BED.
SO I WALKED INTO THE ROOM.
AND HE WAS STANDING THERE -
HIS EYES WERE WICKED EVIL.
CHRIS.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE HAD
THE KNIFE.
Narrator:
LAUREEN IS CONVINCED
THIS IS THE NIGHT
SHE'S GOING TO DIE.
PLEASE PUT DOWN THE KNIFE,
CHRIS.
Narrator:
LAUREEN AND CHRIS RUGEN
HAVE ENDURED A BITTER
AND CONTENTIOUS MARRIAGE
FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES.
AFTER ASKING HER HUSBAND
FOR A DIVORCE,
LAUREEN IS NOW AFRAID
FOR HER LIFE.
SHE CLAIMS WHEN SHE GOES
INTO THE BEDROOM,
CHRIS IS WAITING FOR HER
WITH A KNIFE.
PLEASE PUT DOWN THE KNIFE,
CHRIS.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE SAID
HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
SO I STARTED FIGHTING.
I JUST FOUGHT FOR MY LIFE.
AND I JUST KNEW
HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
Narrator:
THE KNIFE FALLS TO THE FLOOR.
Rugen: I GRABBED THE KNIFE
AND HE WAS TRYING TO GET ME.
WE JUST - WE FOUGHT.
I KNEW THAT IF I GAVE IN,
IF I GAVE UP
EVEN JUST ONE SECOND,
THAT HE WOULD KILL ME.
CAN YOU REMEMBER
WHAT YOU WERE THINKING
AS YOU WERE FLINGING YOUR ARM
BEHIND YOU WITH THE KNIFE?
THIS IS THE NIGHT
I WAS GONNA DIE.
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator: AFTER STABBING CHRIS
OVER AND OVER,
LAUREEN REALIZES WHAT SHE'S
DONE, AND SHE'S HORRIFIED.
EVEN THOUGH CHRIS HURT HER,
SHE DOESN'T WANT HIM TO DIE.
I TRIED TO GET HIM DOWNSTAIRS.
Narrator: LAUREEN CLAIMS
CHRIS HAD HIDDEN THE PHONE
AND THE CAR KEYS.
I FINALLY FOUND THE TELEPHONE
DOWNSTAIRS
AND I GOT IT AND I CALLED 911.
Narrator:
BUT BASED ON THE EVIDENCE,
LAW ENFORCEMENT BELIEVES
THE ATTACK HAPPENED
VERY DIFFERENTLY.
THERE'S SO MUCH BLOOD!
I THINK HE WENT UP AND HE WENT
TO BED TO GET AWAY FROM HER.
I SUSPECT SHE PROBABLY
CONTINUED TO DRINK
AND GOT ANGRIER AND ANGRIER,
PERHAPS ANGRIER
OVER THE YEARS OF ABUSE.
AND SHE GOT A KNIFE
AND I THINK HE WOKE UP
TO BEING STABBED
AND THERE WERE STAB MARKS
THROUGH THE COMFORTER
AND THROUGH THE TOP SHEET.
SO HE WAS STABBED
MULTIPLE TIMES IN BED
AND THEN HE GOT UP
AND TRIED TO ESCAPE HER.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: REGARDLESS OF HOW
THE STABBING HAPPENED,
WHEN POLICE ARRIVE,
CHRIS IS DEAD
AND LAUREEN
IS IN A COMPLETE DAZE.
I JUST TOLD THEM
THAT HE WAS SO UGLY,
HE CAME AT ME,
AND I STABBED HIM.
HE STARTED TO ATTACK ME!
Narrator:
AUTHORITIES DON'T BUY IT.
Marchese: 25 STAB WOUNDS
IS A LOT OF STAB WOUNDS
AND THAT WOULD NOT
EXACTLY SUGGEST
THAT SHE WAS DEFENDING HERSELF.
Dr. Jordan:
IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
CHRIS'S HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
WAS VERY REAL
AND IT JUSTIFIED LAUREEN'S FEAR.
SHE WAS A BATTERED WOMAN
AND THERE IS A TRACK RECORD
OF ABUSE.
BUT WHAT'S UNCLEAR
IS WHETHER OR NOT LAUREEN
REALLY FEARED FOR HER LIFE
AT THE EXACT MOMENT SHE PLUNGED
THAT KNIFE INTO HER HUSBAND.
MA'AM I'M PLACING YOU
UNDER ARREST.
WILL YOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON
THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD, PLEASE?
Narrator: LAUREEN'S CHARGED WITH
MURDER AND HELD WITHOUT BAIL.
SHE FACES 25 YEARS TO LIFE
IN PRISON.
CHRIS IS DEAD, MA'AM.
NO! NO!
WHEN PROSECUTORS DISCOVER
CHRIS'S LONG HISTORY OF ABUSE,
THEY OFFER LAUREEN A PLEA DEAL.
Marchese: WE REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED
AND SOMETIMES
IT'S WHAT WE DON'T KNOW
THAT KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT.
[ GAVEL BANGS ]
LAUREEN -
Narrator: LAUREEN PLEADS GUILTY
TO MANSLAUGHTER
AND FACES EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON.
A JUDGE FEELS THAT 25 YEARS
OF ABUSE IS PUNISHMENT ENOUGH
AND SENTENCES HER TO TIME SERVED
AND THREE YEARS OF PROBATION.
Marchese: UNLESS ABUSE IS
IMMINENT AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME,
YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT
TO TAKE SOMEBODY'S LIFE.
IN MY VIEW, SHE DIDN'T MEET
THE LAW OF SELF-DEFENSE
FOR THAT NIGHT.
SO THE SENTENCE OF TIME-SERVED
DOES NOT SEEM JUST TO ME.
Narrator:
LAUREEN RUGEN IS NOW SOBER
AND TRYING TO REBUILD HER LIFE
AND HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH HER DAUGHTER.
SHE'S ALSO WORKING WITH OTHER
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO YOUR GREATEST REGRET
WAS NOT LEAVING?
YES.
I MADE SOME BAD CHOICES.
I STAYED UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE,
AND THEN I LOST MYSELF.
I AM NOW A SURVIVOR,
AND I'M NOT A VICTIM.
I AM NOT A VICTIM ANYMORE.