Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 9 - Episode #3.9 - full transcript
Jamie Santos is a wild child who refuses to be tamed. She meets Jonathan and quickly becomes obsessed with him.
Narrator: A TROUBLED YOUNG
COUPLE FALLS MADLY IN LOVE.
HE COMPLETED ME.
MAYBE WE CAN GET MARRIED.
Narrator: THEY'RE DETERMINED
TO BUILD A LIFE TOGETHER
UNTIL OBSESSION
TEARS THEM APART.
SHE WAS A MONSTER.
I'M THINKING
I MARRIED A HOT MESS.
Narrator:
THE ROMANCE BECOMES A POWDER KEG
OF DRAMA AND MISTRUST.
Avi: IT WAS ALMOST LIKE
THEY WERE IN THIS HOLE
THAT THEY COULDN'T GET OUT OF.
Narrator:
AND IT'S ABOUT TO EXPLODE.
SOMEBODY
WAS GONNA GET KILLED.
I DID EVERYTHING FOR YOU!
I'M LEAVING YOU!
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
IN A SUNNY COASTAL BEACH TOWN
OUTSIDE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA,
A 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL
IS HIDING INSIDE A DARK CLOSET.
HER NAME IS JAMIE SANTOS,
AND SHE'S TERRIFIED
AS SHE LISTENS TO THE TURMOIL
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL.
YOU GO OUT AND GET A JOB!
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
I TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSE.
YOU'RE NEVER HERE!
WHY WOULD I WANT
TO BE HERE WITH YOU?!
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
I HEARD A LOT.
SHE HATES YOU.
DON'T BRING JAMIE INTO THIS.
SHE HATES YOU.
I KNOW SHE DOES.
Jamie: IT WASN'T A VERY GOOD
LIVING SITUATION.
I REMEMBER
ARGUMENTS AND FIGHTS.
IT SCARED ME
HEARING THE YELLING,
BUT I PROBABLY WAS SCARED
OF WHAT ELSE
MY FATHER WAS GONNA DO.
Narrator: THE FIGHTING GETS SO
INTENSE THAT JAMIE FINDS HERSELF
ESCAPING TO HER CLOSET
ALMOST EVERY NIGHT.
I REMEMBER DOING
A LOT OF SELF-COMFORTING,
TELLING MYSELF
IT WOULD BE OKAY.
Narrator: FIVE YEARS LATER,
JAMIE'S A TEENAGER,
AND SHE'S DEVELOPED AN OBSESSION
TO SUPPRESS THE HURT
OVER HER BROKEN FAMILY.
IT STARTED
WITH CLEANING THE HOUSE -
CHORES, OVERDOING CHORES,
REPETITIVE CLEANING
CONTINUOUSLY.
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
WHEN JAMIE HEARS
HER PARENTS FIGHTING,
SHE HAS THIS SENSE
OF POWERLESSNESS.
AND AS A CHILD, SHE CAN ONLY
CONTROL WHAT SHE CAN CONTROL.
AND IN THIS CASE,
IT MANIFESTS ITSELF THROUGH
CLEANING AND ORGANIZATION.
IT IS A VERY ADDICTIVE
COPING MECHANISM.
Narrator:
JAMIE'S PARENTS GET DIVORCED.
HER FATHER MOVES TO THE
EAST COAST TO START A NEW LIFE,
AND JAMIE STAYS WITH HER MOTHER.
UNFORTUNATELY,
ACCORDING TO JAMIE,
HER HOME LIFE BECOMES
EVEN MORE OF A NIGHTMARE.
SHE GOES FROM BYSTANDER
TO VICTIM.
WHEN THEY HAD
GOTTEN A DIVORCE,
MY MOM BECAME
VERY VERBALLY ABUSIVE,
VERY CONTROLLING.
I THINK SHE HAD AN ANGER
TOWARDS MY FATHER
BECAUSE OF THEIR MARRIAGE AND
WHAT HER LIFESTYLE LOOKED LIKE,
AND I BELIEVE
IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO ME.
DID YOU EVER TRY
TO TALK TO YOUR MOM
ABOUT HOW THIS
MADE YOU FEEL?
I WASN'T GONNA QUESTION
ANYTHING SHE DID.
SHE WAS MY MOM.
YOU'RE STUPID,
AND YOU'RE WORTHLESS.
THAT'S WHY DAD LEFT, 'CAUSE
HE DIDN'T LOVE YOU ENOUGH.
Narrator: IT'S THE BEGINNING
OF HIGH SCHOOL,
AND JAMIE IS LOOKING FORWARD
TO A FRESH START
WHEN SHE BUMPS
INTO JONATHAN RIVERA.
THE FATEFUL ENCOUNTER
WILL CHANGE BOTH
OF THEIR LIVES FOREVER.
I'VE - I'VE SEEN YOU BEFORE,
HAVEN'T I?
YEAH, I'M SURE
YOU'VE SEEN ME BEFORE.
HE WAS SWEET.
HE WAS THOUGHTFUL.
HE PLAYED BASEBALL.
I'M JAMIE.
NICE TO MEET YOU, JAMIE,
OFFICIALLY.
NICE TO MEET YOU
OFFICIALLY.
LIKE JAMIE,
JONATHAN'S HAD A HARD CHILDHOOD.
Avi: MY PARENTS' DIVORCE
AFFECTED JONATHAN GREATLY.
IT WAS UNEXPECTED.
WE WOKE UP ONE MORNING,
AND OUR DAD WAS GONE.
Narrator: BOTH JAMIE AND
JONATHAN COME FROM BROKEN HOMES.
BOTH OF THEM CRAVE
LOVE AND ATTENTION,
AND NOW DESTINY
HAS BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.
AFTER JUST A FEW WEEKS, JONATHAN
SWEEPS JAMIE OFF HER FEET,
AND IT GOES FROM PUPPY LOVE
TO SOMETHING MUCH DEEPER.
JAMIE'S CONVINCED
SHE'S FOUND HER SOUL MATE.
I NEVER HAD ANY BOYFRIENDS,
AND HERE WAS THIS BOY
WHO BOUGHT ME GIFTS AND
WANTED TO SPEND TIME WITH ME.
IT WAS NICE TO HAVE
THE AFFECTION AND THE ATTENTION
OF SOMEONE - ANYONE -
BECAUSE I NEVER HAD THAT.
Narrator: FOR THE NEXT YEAR,
JONATHAN AND JAMIE
ARE GLUED AT THE HIP,
AND IT FEELS LIKE
A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ LUZ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Samaria: THEY WOULD
TAKE PICTURES TOGETHER.
THEY WOULD GO OUT ALL THE TIME.
SHE ALWAYS WANTED
TO BE WITH HIM. THAT WAS IT.
SHE NEVER WANTED TO GO HOME.
Avi: IT WAS ALMOST AS IF
THEY FILLED EACH OTHER'S VOID
BECAUSE THEY KNEW
WHAT THEY HAD GONE THROUGH.
AND THAT MADE THEM
CLOSER TOGETHER.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH JAMIE'S HIGH
SCHOOL ROMANCE IS BLOSSOMING...
IT'S A THORNY SITUATION
BACK HOME.
HER MOTHER'S EMBRACING
SINGLE LIFE... FULLY.
AND JAMIE'S FEELING NEGLECTED.
Jamie: BY THIS TIME,
MY MOM IS EITHER DATING
OR GOING TO HAPPY HOUR,
GOING TO NIGHT CLUBS.
SHE WOULD ALWAYS SAY IF I DIDN'T
LIKE IT, THAT I CAN LEAVE.
AND I THOUGHT, "GREAT, I DON'T
LIKE IT HERE, SO I'LL LEAVE."
MOM, I'M LEAVING.
I WAS ABLE TO PACK
IN FIVE SECONDS
WHATEVER IT WAS I NEEDED.
GOOD LUCK.
"EMERGENCY BAG,"
I USED TO CALL IT.
WHERE DID YOU GO, JAMIE?
TO JONATHAN'S HOUSE.
Dr. Jordan:
WHEN JAMIE'S MOTHER TELLS HER
THAT SHE'S WORTHLESS
AND SHOULD JUST GET OUT,
JAMIE CALLS HER OUT ON IT
AND DOES EXACTLY THAT.
SHE LEAVES. AND SHE DOES THIS
AS A SHOW OF STRENGTH.
YOU CAN'T CONTROL JAMIE,
AND IF YOU TRY,
SHE WILL EXERCISE HER AUTONOMY.
Narrator: BEFORE LONG,
JAMIE IS SPENDING NEARLY
EVERY NIGHT AT JONATHAN'S,
AND THE RIVERAS
BECOME HER NEW FAMILY.
HI!
[ LUZ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
HE'S A GOOD TUTOR.
Narrator: BUT THIS PERFECT
ROMANCE STARTS TO FALL APART
WHEN JAMIE SENSES
THAT HER ONCE-DEVOTED BOYFRIEND
IS NOW PULLING AWAY.
AND THE MORE SHE CLINGS,
THE FARTHER AWAY HE SLIPS.
HANG OUT WITH...
THE - THE GUYS.
WELL, I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
BUT YOU ALWAYS INVITE ME.
I'LL SEE YOU TONIGHT.
THE INSECURITY KICKED IN.
THE THOUGHTS OF HIM TALKING
TO OTHER GIRLS KICKED IN.
SO YOU BECAME
THE JEALOUS TYPE.
I MEAN, HE'S YOUNG.
HE WAS TALKING TO OTHER GIRLS.
AND ME NOT KNOWING
HOW TO COPE WITH THAT.
SO I BECAME
VERY DEPRESSED.
Narrator: THEN ONE DAY, JAMIE'S
WORLD COMES CRASHING DOWN,
WHEN JONATHAN MAKES
WHAT SHE CONSIDERS
AN OUTRAGEOUS SUGGESTION.
WHAT?
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT I'M DOING WRONG.
WE NEED TO SEE
OTHER PEOPLE.
Jamie:
IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR HIM -
HE HAVING A LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND
AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.
WE LIVE TOGETHER, JONATHAN.
I KNOW. YEAH.
I HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
YOU CAN -
YOU'RE EVERYTHING
THAT I HAVE.
I'M SORRY.
YOU'RE SORRY!
Narrator:
JAMIE CONVINCES HERSELF
THAT JONATHAN JUST NEEDS
TO SOW HIS WILD OATS
AND THAT IN TIME,
HE'LL COME RUNNING BACK TO HER.
Jamie: IT WAS JUST A NEED
OF MAKING HIM HAPPY
OR NOT BEING A PERSON
WITHOUT HIM.
Narrator:
WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO,
JAMIE'S FORCED
TO MOVE BACK IN WITH HER MOM.
TWO WEEKS LATER, SHE DECIDES TO
PAY JONATHAN A SURPRISE VISIT,
BUT THE SURPRISE TURNS UGLY
WHEN SHE WALKS IN ON JONATHAN
HANGING OUT WITH ANOTHER GIRL.
JAMIE INSTANTLY SEES RED.
WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON HERE?
JAMIE,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
YES.
Narrator: SEEING JONATHAN
WITH SOMEONE ELSE
TRIGGERS A WILD REACTION THAT
NO ONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
GET THE HELL OFF OF ME!
WE NEED TO SEE
OTHER PEOPLE.
Narrator: 16-YEAR-OLD
JAMIE SANTOS IS DEVASTATED
WHEN HER BOYFRIEND, JONATHAN,
WANTS TO DATE OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU'RE SORRY!
SO WHEN SHE DISCOVERS HIM
WITH ANOTHER GIRL,
SHE FLIES INTO A JEALOUS RAGE.
WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
YES.
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Samaria: JAMIE PUMMELED HER
AND PUMMELED HIM.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME
I SAW ANY VIOLENCE FROM JAMIE.
Dr. Jordan:
JAMIE ERUPTS INTO VIOLENCE
BECAUSE SHE HAS PUT ALL HER EGGS
IN ONE BASKET WITH JONATHAN.
SHE RELIES ON HIM COMPLETELY
FOR ALL OF HER EMOTIONAL NEEDS,
SO WHAT SHOULD BE
A NORMAL TEENAGE BREAKUP,
IN HER MIND, IS COMPLETE
REJECTION AND ABANDONMENT.
Narrator: THE VIOLENT OUTBURST
SHOCKS JONATHAN TO THE CORE.
HE DECIDES
JAMIE'S WAY TOO POSSESSIVE,
AND THIS TIME,
HE BREAKS THINGS OFF FOR GOOD.
I'M DONE WITH THIS.
YOU'RE -
YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND,
YOU KNOW THAT?
JAMIE IS CRUSHED.
Jamie:
I JUST REMEMBER HE SAYING
THAT HE NO LONGER
WANTED TO BE WITH ME
AND JUST FEELING SO BROKEN.
I LOST MY BOYFRIEND,
THE ONE WHO COMFORTED ME
WHEN MY MOM WOULD KICK ME OUT.
THE ONLY COMFORT I KNEW.
I NO LONGER WANTED TO LIVE.
SO, I REMEMBER TAKING
A WHOLE BUNCH OF TYLENOL.
Narrator: THEN SHE MAKES
A DESPERATE CALL FOR HELP.
DID YOU REALLY WANT TO DIE?
OR WERE YOU CREATING A SCENARIO
WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE AN EXCUSE
TO CALL THE MAN
WHO HAD JUST DUMPED YOU?
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID.
I CALLED JONATHAN.
IT WAS SO HE COULD COME BACK
INTO MY LIFE,
AND MAYBE HE'LL FEEL BAD.
JONATHAN WAS KIND OF THE BOY
THAT ALWAYS CAME TO MY RESCUE.
[ Crying ] IT'S ME.
YOU HAVE TO COME HERE RIGHT NOW.
HE WAS MY COMFORT ZONE.
I NEED YOU.
YOU HAVE TO HELP ME.
I CALLED HIM.
AND HE SAID THAT HE NEEDED
TO BRING ME TO THE HOSPITAL.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
AND THEN THEY ENDED UP
MAKING ME DRINK CHARCOAL.
Narrator: ONCE THE DRUGS
ARE OUT OF HER SYSTEM,
JAMIE IS SENT TO A MENTAL
FACILITY FOR EVALUATION.
WHAT WAS THE DIAGNOSIS
AT THE END OF YOUR SEVEN-DAY
STAY IN THE PSYCH WARD?
I WAS SO MANIPULATIVE
THAT I DIDN'T GET A DIAGNOSIS.
IT WAS A REALLY STUPID THING
TO DO, AND I'M SORRY.
I TOLD THEM I RECOGNIZED
WHAT WAS WRONG,
AND IT WASN'T A GOOD THING
FOR ME TO DO.
I DON'T WANT TO DIE.
I LEARNED HOW TO PLAY A PART
OF TELLING PEOPLE
WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR.
BEING AT HOME,
I'LL FEEL A LOT BETTER,
'CAUSE I REALLY FEEL LIKE I HAVE
A BETTER SUPPORT SYSTEM THERE.
MM-HMM.
Narrator: THE SUICIDE ATTEMPT
IS A LAST-DITCH EFFORT
TO HOLD ON TO JONATHAN,
AND IT FAILS MISERABLY.
THE FACT THAT JAMIE
IS WILLING TO GO
TO SUCH EXTREMES
TO HANG ON TO JONATHAN
TIES DIRECTLY BACK
TO HER FEELINGS OF ABANDONMENT
WHEN HER DAD WALKED OUT.
BUT THIS IS MORE
THAN JUST A CRY FOR HELP.
IF JAMIE IS WILLING
TO HURT HERSELF,
THEN SHE COULD HAVE
THE POTENTIAL TO HURT OTHERS
TO KEEP THEM FROM LEAVING HER.
Narrator:
BROKENHEARTED AND LONELY,
JAMIE IS ONCE AGAIN
LIVING WITH HER MOTHER.
SHE STARTS DITCHING SCHOOL AND
HANGING WITH THE WRONG CROWD.
PRETTY SOON, SHE FINDS A WAY
TO TAKE HER MIND OFF JONATHAN -
SHOPLIFTING.
EXPLAIN TO ME
WHAT YOU WERE STEALING
AND WHY YOU WERE
STEALING IT.
MOST OF THE TIME,
IT WAS CLOTHES, SHOES.
IT WAS JUST NOT CARING,
NOT HAVING A CONSCIENCE
OF ANYTHING I WAS DOING,
NOT LOOKING AT HOW DESTRUCTIVE
IT WAS TO ME.
I DIDN'T HAVE THAT MONITOR
THAT I NEEDED,
A PARENT THAT I NEEDED.
IT WAS JUST FREE REIN,
WHATEVER I WANTED TO DO.
FREE REIN.
Dr. Jordan:
THE DISARRAY OF HER LIFE
HAS SIMPLY LEFT HER
FEELING LOST AND LONELY,
SO THIS GIVES HER A FALSE SENSE
OF POWER, AND IT FILLS THE VOID.
IT'S REALLY JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE
OF HER COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR.
Narrator: JAMIE AND HER PARTNER IN
CRIME BECOME EXPERT SHOPLIFTERS,
STEALING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS
OF MERCHANDISE.
UNTIL ONE DAY,
THEIR CRIMES CATCH UP TO THEM.
LADIES!
COME HERE.
YOU HAD TO KNOW THAT THE JIG
WOULD BE UP EVENTUALLY.
I MEAN, NOBODY GETS AWAY
WITH IT FOREVER.
NO, I THOUGHT
I WAS GOOD AT EVERYTHING.
I WAS GOOD AT MANIPULATING
WITH MY WORDS.
I WAS GOOD WITH STEALING.
Avi: WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT JAMIE
WAS SHOPLIFTING, I WAS SHOCKED.
THAT'S SOMETHING
I DIDN'T EXPECT OF HER.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DID.
Narrator: JAMIE ENDS UP
GETTING SIX MONTHS OF PROBATION.
Jamie: I WAS IN THE SYSTEM,
SO NOW I HAD REAL MONITOR,
SOMEBODY WATCHING ME,
MAKING SURE I'M GOING TO SCHOOL,
MAKING SURE I'M NOT DRINKING,
DOING DRUGS.
Narrator: THE PUNISHMENT DOESN'T
REIN IN THIS REBELLIOUS TEEN.
JAMIE VIOLATES HER PROBATION
MULTIPLE TIMES
BY SKIPPING SCHOOL
AND MISSING HER CURFEW.
IN THAT SIX-MONTH PERIOD,
GETTING INCARCERATED
MAYBE ABOUT THREE TIMES.
Narrator:
THE JUDGE IS FED UP WITH HER.
RIGHT BEFORE SHE TURNS 18,
HE ORDERS JAMIE TO LIVE
WITH HER FATHER IN VERMONT
AND START FRESH.
WHY ON EARTH WOULD THE COURT
SEND YOU TO YOUR FATHER?
I MEAN, YOUR MOTHER REALLY WAS
INCAPABLE OF CONTROLLING YOU?
YEAH, I GUESS
SHE ADMITTED TO THAT.
AND THEN SHE AGREED TO SENDING
ME TO MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
John: I HEARD THROUGH HER MOM
THAT SHE WAS GETTING IN TROUBLE.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW SEVERE IT WAS.
IT WASN'T BECAUSE
SHE WANTED SOMETHING
AND DIDN'T HAVE
THE MONEY FOR IT.
IT WAS MORE OF
AN ATTENTION-GETTER.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN MORE THAN FIVE
YEARS SINCE JAMIE HAS SEEN HER FATHER.
I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS.
BUT WHEN I GOT THERE,
IT WAS OPEN ARMS.
HE WAS DIFFERENT
AT THIS TIME.
YEAH. YOU LIKE IT?
YEAH.
Narrator: JAMIE'S FATHER
HAS SINCE GOTTEN REMARRIED.
HI, JAMIE! I'M BETTY.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
John: MY CURRENT WIFE AND I
HAVE TWO BOYS,
AND EVERYTHING WAS GREAT.
THINGS WERE LOOKING UP.
OH, THANK YOU.
I FELT LIKE I NEEDED
TO TAKE A STEP BACK
AND DEAL WITH THE SITUATION,
BECAUSE THIS WAS JAMIE,
MY DAUGHTER.
IT WAS DEFINITELY A SECOND
CHANCE TO BE A FATHER,
A DAD TO JAMIE,
AND I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT,
FULL FORCE.
JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT GONNA BE FREE RIDE.
Narrator:
JAMIE'S FATHER IS DETERMINED
TO GIVE HIS DAUGHTER
LOVE, SUPPORT, AND GUIDANCE,
AND THAT INCLUDES
LAYING DOWN SOME GROUND RULES.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS,
THOUGH.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU,
UM - YOU HELP AROUND THE HOUSE
'CAUSE BETTY NEEDS A LOT OF HELP
WITH THE KIDS
AND TAKING CARE OF THIS HOUSE.
OKAY.
SO, TALK TO ME
ABOUT LANDING IN VERMONT
WITH YOUR NEW,
CHANGED FATHER.
I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO LEAVE
YOUR OLD SELF BEHIND.
YEAH.
WHAT HAPPENED
ONCE YOU GOT TO VERMONT?
WELL, I GOT A JOB.
Narrator: TO SPEND MORE
QUALITY TIME WITH HIS DAUGHTER,
JAMIE'S FATHER GETS HER HIRED
AT A CATERING COMPANY
WHERE HE WORKS.
John:
I WORKED FOR A COMPANY
WHERE WE DID BANQUETS
FOR UP TO 500 PEOPLE,
AND I THOUGHT
THIS COULD HELP HER OUT.
IT COULD TEACH HER
A LITTLE BIT OF RESPONSIBILITY,
AND, YOU KNOW, LEARNING HOW
TO EARN MONEY AND TO SAVE IT.
AND SHE DID GREAT.
SHE WAS AWESOME.
SHE HAD A GREAT TIME.
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DOING
A GREAT JOB HERE.
OH, THANKS, DAD.
YEAH, DOING MY BEST.
Jamie: I WANTED
THAT FATHER FIGURE, YOU KNOW,
THROUGHOUT MY TEENAGE YEARS,
AND I FINALLY HAD IT.
I HAD MY DAD IN MY LIFE.
BUT IT DIDN'T CALM YOU DOWN.
MNH-MNH. NO.
Narrator: JAMIE STARTS
SNEAKING OUT OF THE HOUSE
AND INTO A LIFESTYLE
OF PARTYING AND DRUGS.
Jamie: I PARTIED A LOT
WITH OLDER PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, 18 YEARS OLD,
AND I HAVE FRIENDS
WHO ARE IN THEIR 30s
TAKING ME TO CLUBS AND BARS.
MY FATHER KNEW I WAS OUT
AND ABOUT, DOING BAD THINGS,
AND HE WOULD GO
SEARCH THE STREETS FOR ME.
I FELT BAD A LITTLE BIT,
BUT IT WAS SUCH
AN EMBEDDED BEHAVIOR
THAT IT WAS ABOUT ME
AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
I KNEW THAT I HAD
THESE BEHAVIORS,
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO CHANGE THEM.
Narrator: JAMIE'S FATHER FINALLY
REACHES HIS BREAKING POINT.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM HER.
SHE KNEW THAT SHE HAD TO CALL ME
AT A CERTAIN TIME. SHE DIDN'T.
AND SHE COMES WALKING IN
THAT PARTICULAR MORNING
LIKE AT 6:30
AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED.
SO, IN A VERY COMPASSIONATE,
VERY STRICT WAY,
I MADE HER AWARE THAT THAT WAS
NEVER GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN.
THAT'S IT. YOU'VE HEARD
WHAT I'VE HAD TO SAY.
YOU KNOW THE RULES.
THAT'S IT.
COME ON, DAD.
YOU'RE BEING UNREASONABLE.
ZERO TOLERANCE.
I'M DONE.
Narrator: ALL JAMIE HEARS IS
SOMEONE TRYING TO CONTROL HER,
AND THIS WILD TEEN'S
NOT ABOUT TO BE TAMED.
Jamie:
I WAS MISSING HOME.
IT WAS BECOMING TOO MUCH
FOR ME - THE LIFESTYLE.
I JUST STARTED GETTING TIRED.
Narrator: JAMIE'S LEFT
WITH ONLY ONE OPTION -
SHE CALLS HER MOTHER FOR HELP.
HER MOTHER AGREES TO BUY JAMIE
A TICKET BACK TO CALIFORNIA.
DAD IS DRIVING ME CRAZY.
Narrator: JAMIE HEADS HOME,
HOPING TO TURN HER LIFE AROUND.
SHE MOVES BACK IN WITH HER MOM,
BUT SHE'S HAUNTED BY MEMORIES
OF HER EX-BOYFRIEND, JONATHAN.
Jamie: HE STILL HAS MY HEART,
AND I STILL LOVE HIM.
HE JUST HAD PART OF ME.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN A YEAR
SINCE JAMIE LAST SAW JONATHAN,
AND SHE'S NERVOUS
ABOUT SEEING HIM AGAIN.
HEY.
YEAH.
YOU FELT INCOMPLETE
WITHOUT JONATHAN?
HE COMPLETED ME.
ONCE THEY LAY EYES
ON EACH OTHER,
IT'S CLEAR THE SPARK
STILL BURNS BRIGHT.
BUT WILL IT IGNITE A FIRE
THEY CAN'T CONTROL?
Narrator:
19-YEAR-OLD JAMIE SANTOS
IS OVERJOYED ABOUT REUNITING
WITH HER HIGH SCHOOL BOYFRIEND.
THE TROUBLED TEEN IS FINALLY
GETTING HER LIFE ON TRACK.
AND WHEN YOU SAW HIM,
WAS IT LIKE
FROM ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM...
[ IMITATES
ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
...LIKE YOU KNEW
THIS WAS THE GUY?
IT WAS, ACTUALLY,
I MEAN, MUTUALLY.
IT WAS LIKE, "OKAY,
WE'RE DONE RUNNING AROUND
AND LIVING OUR LIVES,
AND NOW WE'RE TOGETHER AGAIN."
Narrator: IT'S ALMOST LIKE
NOTHING'S CHANGED.
JUST TWO WEEKS
AFTER GETTING BACK TOGETHER,
JAMIE OFFICIALLY MOVES BACK IN
WITH JONATHAN AND HIS FAMILY.
Dr. Jordan: JAMIE WANTS TO CHANGE,
AND SHE'S CRAVING STABILITY.
SHE KNOWS THAT
WHEN LEFT TO HER OWN DEVICES,
SHE GETS IN OVER HER HEAD.
BY MOVING BACK IN WITH JONATHAN
AND HIS FAMILY,
SHE'S TRYING TO RE-ESTABLISH
THAT LIFE SHE ONCE KNEW,
BUT THIS TIME,
WITH A MORE ADULT PERSPECTIVE.
Narrator: A YEAR GOES BY,
AND THINGS ARE GOING WELL
FOR THE YOUNG COUPLE.
JAMIE CONTINUES
TO HOLD A STEADY JOB,
WHILE JONATHAN FINALLY DECIDES
TO PURSUE HIS DREAM
OF JOINING THE ARMY RESERVES.
Avi: HE ALWAYS WANTED
TO BE IN THE ARMY.
I THINK THAT JONATHAN
WAS ATTRACTED
TO THE DISCIPLINE OF THE ARMY
AND WHAT HE CAN GAIN FROM IT.
Narrator: BEFORE HE HEADS OFF
TO BOOT CAMP,
JONATHAN AND JAMIE
SEAL THEIR FATE.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH,
YOU KNOW?
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, TOO.
MAYBE WE CAN GET MARRIED.
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, WE -
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU REALLY WANT -
YEAH.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Jamie: I WAS EXCITED.
THE FACT THAT
WE CAN ACTUALLY BE TOGETHER
AND BE MARRIED,
AND THAT IT WOULDN'T END.
Narrator: JAMIE CAN'T WAIT
TO BE A MILITARY WIFE.
THE YOUNG COUPLE
THROWS AN INFORMAL CEREMONY
THE FOLLOWING MONTH.
IT'S THE HAPPIEST DAY
OF JAMIE'S LIFE.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Narrator: THEN, SEVERAL WEEKS LATER,
JAMIE FINDS OUT SHE'S PREGNANT.
THE NEW BRIDE
IS EXCITED AND TERRIFIED.
Jamie: [ Voice breaking ] I KNEW
IF I WAS GONNA HAVE A CHILD
THAT I HAD TO CHANGE
IN SOME SORT OF WAY.
AND I THINK IT WAS MORE FEAR
THAT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO,
THAT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RAISE
MY CHILD IN A LOVING HOME.
I DIDN'T WANT MY CHILD
TO GROW UP
WITH THE THINGS
THAT I GREW UP WITH.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
JAMIE IS NOW MARRIED TO THE MAN
OF HER DREAMS,
AND YOU'D THINK
THAT SHE WOULD BE SO EXCITED
ABOUT STARTING A NEW FAMILY.
BUT SHE STILL HAS
ALL OF THAT CHILDHOOD TRAUMA,
AND IT'S LEFT HER
DEEPLY INSECURE.
SO SHE NEEDS CONSTANT
REASSURANCE FROM JONATHAN
THAT NOT ONLY
IS SHE A GOOD MOTHER
BUT THAT HE IS IN IT
FOR THE LONG RUN.
[ LAUGHS ]
SO, WHAT'S UP?
I'M PREGNANT.
THAT'S -
THAT'S GREAT!
Narrator:
LUCKILY, JONATHAN IS THRILLED.
Avi:
HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A FATHER.
HE WANTED TO GIVE HIS KIDS
WHAT HE DIDN'T HAVE GROWING UP,
WHETHER IT WAS LOVE, ATTENTION,
AFFECTION - WHATEVER IT IS.
HE WANTED TO BE THE FATHER THAT
HE ALWAYS WANTED AS A CHILD.
IT'S AMAZING.
THIS IS AMAZING.
Narrator: AND HIS EXCITEMENT
IS CONTAGIOUS.
AFTER JAMIE'S FIRST SONOGRAM,
SHE CATCHES THE BUG.
Jamie:
MY DOCTOR TOLD ME IT WAS A BOY.
AND YOU SEE EVERYTHING - HIS
HEAD, HIS STOMACH, EVERYTHING.
NOW I'M BRINGING SOMEBODY
INTO THIS WORLD
THAT I'M GONNA HAVE
AN IMPACT ON.
AND I CAN CHOOSE TO ALLOW HIM TO
GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH,
OR I CAN MAKE IT DIFFERENT.
Narrator:
FOR ONCE IN HER LIFE,
JAMIE'S GOT DIRECTION
AND PURPOSE.
Jamie: SO, IT'S KIND OF
AN IDEAL SITUATION.
I'M PREGNANT WITH MY HUSBAND,
WHO'S IN THE MILITARY.
I'M LIVING WITH HIS FAMILY.
I'M GOOD FRIENDS WITH HIS MOM.
I'M NOT DRINKING.
I'M NOT STEALING.
Narrator: JAMIE AND JONATHAN
GET THEIR OWN APARTMENT
NEXT DOOR TO HIS FAMILY.
AND ON FEBRUARY 19, 2000,
THEY WELCOME A BEAUTIFUL BOY
NAMED AIDEN.
HE WAS PERFECT.
YEAH.
THE MOST PERFECT THING
YOU HAD EVER DONE?
[ Voice breaking ]
THE RIGHT THING I'VE DONE.
NOT ONLY THE GOOD DECISION
I'VE EVER MADE,
HE LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE ME.
[ CHUCKLES, SNIFFLES ]
A LITTLE BIT LIKE HIS DAD,
BUT JUST LIKE ME.
Narrator:
BUT AS JONATHAN AND JAMIE
NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES
OF PARENTHOOD,
THEY STRUGGLE
TO STAY AFLOAT FINANCIALLY.
IT PUTS A STRAIN
ON THEIR MARRIAGE.
THE ARMY RESERVE'S CHECKS COVER
JUST A FRACTION OF THEIR BILLS.
I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT -
I DON'T KNOW -
I NEED ANOTHER JOB, RIGHT?
YES, YOU DO.
IT WAS CONSISTENT MONEY
COMING IN,
BUT IT WASN'T
A RELIABLE SOURCE.
NO. WE ARE WAY BEHIND.
WE MISSED
ANOTHER PAYMENT AGAIN.
I DID RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID
FOR THE THINGS LIKE THE FORMULA.
JONATHAN IS SET
ON WORKING FULL-TIME,
SO HIS GOAL IS TO LOOK FOR A JOB
AND ME STAY HOME WITH THE BABY.
Narrator:
JONATHAN FINALLY LANDS A JOB
WORKING THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT
AS A MALL SECURITY GUARD.
IT HELPS EASE THE BURDEN.
BUT FOR JAMIE, IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
THIS ISN'T
WHAT SHE SIGNED UP FOR.
LOOK AT YOU.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
I MARRIED A SECURITY GUARD.
Dr. Jordan: IT'S SOUNDING TO ME
LIKE YOU ARE DOING TO HIM
WHAT YOUR MOTHER DID TO YOU -
WITHHOLDING LOVE
AND USING TEARDOWN TACTICS
TO HUMILIATE HIM
AND TO MAKE HIM FEEL
INSUFFICIENT,
UNWORTHY OF YOUR LOVE
UNTIL HE PROVES HIMSELF.
YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND I TURNED INTO MY MOTHER.
GO AHEAD, DRINK UP,
FATHER OF THE YEAR.
I FEEL THAT A LOT
OF MY BEHAVIORS
HAVE IMPACTED PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY HIM,
YOU KNOW, THAT HE DRANK
A LOT MORE BECAUSE OF ME.
I WAS PUTTING THAT STRESS.
I WAS DEMEANING.
I WAS HURTING HIM.
Narrator:
THEN, ACCORDING TO JAMIE,
JONATHAN COMES UP WITH A SCHEME
TO SCORE SOME EXTRA CASH.
SO, I-I HAVE...
ACCESS TO THE FRONT OFFICE.
AND THERE'S
GIFT CARDS THERE.
I KNOW HOW TO PUT MONEY ON THEM
AND ACTIVATE THEM.
BEING A SECURITY GUARD,
YOU HAVE ACCESS TO
THE BUSINESS OFFICE IN THE MALL.
AND HE IS SEEING
A STACK OF GIFT CARDS
AND INSTRUCTIONS
ON HOW TO ACTIVATE THEM.
AND SO, HE ENDED UP
ACTIVATING THEM
AND PUTTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
ON THEM.
Narrator:
BUT JONATHAN'S FAMILY CLAIMS
THAT BOTH OF THEM CAME UP
WITH THE SCHEME TOGETHER.
Avi: JONATHAN AND JAMIE
HAD PLANNED IT OUT
BECAUSE THEY WERE STRUGGLING,
AND THEY WANTED TO BUY DIAPERS
AND SOME THINGS
THAT THEY NEEDED FOR AIDEN.
IT WAS REALLY UNLIKE
HIS CHARACTER
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
YOU SHOULD GET A BUNCH,
RIGHT NOW.
WE NEED THIS. WE - WE NEED
TO TAKE CARE OF OUR BABY.
Narrator:
REGARDLESS OF WHOSE IDEA IT WAS,
JAMIE GOES OUT AND HAPPILY SHOPS
LIKE A PROPER HOUSEWIFE.
BUT THIS RISKY PLAN COULD LAND
BOTH OF THEM IN JAIL
AND SHATTER THEIR FAMILY
FOREVER.
FOR MORE ON
HOW JAMIE'S DOING NOW,
Narrator: AFTER THEIR BABY BOY IS
BORN, JONATHAN AND JAMIE RIVERA
ARE LIKE ANY YOUNG COUPLE
ADJUSTING TO PARENTHOOD...
GO AHEAD, DRINK UP,
FATHER OF THE YEAR.
...EXCEPT THAT THIS COUPLE
IS USING STOLEN GIFT CARDS
TO PAY THE BILLS,
AND THEY'RE ABOUT
TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.
I GET A KNOCK ON THE DOOR
AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING
FROM POLICE OFFICERS.
THE FIRST THING
THEY TOLD ME WAS,
"WE HAVE JONATHAN IN CUSTODY."
UH, WHAT'S GOING ON?
IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
WELL, JONATHAN'S
IN A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE.
MS. SANTOS, DO YOU MIND
IF WE JUST COME IN,
AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT?
Narrator: BASED ON THE TIME
THE GIFT CARDS WERE ACTIVATED,
OFFICERS WERE ABLE
TO PIN THE BLAME
ON THE ONLY SECURITY GUARD
ON DUTY THAT NIGHT - JONATHAN.
HE TOOK THE RAP.
HE SAID
HE WAS FULLY RESPONSIBLE.
Narrator: JONATHAN IS CHARGED
WITH GRAND LARCENY
AND IS IMMEDIATELY FIRED
FROM HIS JOB.
BUT HE ENDS UP
GETTING A LUCKY BREAK.
THE MALL TAKES PITY ON HIM
AND DOESN'T PRESS CHARGES.
Jamie: IT WAS HIS FIRST TIME
GETTING ARRESTED,
SO IT WAS JUST
A SLAP ON THE HAND.
Narrator: JONATHAN'S ALSO
ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE MILITARY
AND RECEIVES
JUST SIX MONTHS PROBATION.
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING
THROUGH ALL OF THIS?
I'M THINKING
I MARRIED A HOT MESS
WHO DECIDED
HE WANTED TO STEAL
AND RUIN HIS CHANCE
WITH THE MILITARY.
SO, I THOUGHT
I MARRIED SOMEONE
WHO WAS GONNA BE
BETTER THAN I WAS.
DO YOU THINK
JONATHAN WAS THINKING,
"I MARRIED A HOT MESS"?
OH, YEAH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I'M SURE
THE FEELINGS WERE MUTUAL.
Narrator: JAMIE GETS
A FULL-TIME RETAIL JOB,
AND JONATHAN GETS HIRED
AS A CAB DRIVER,
BUT TENSIONS STILL RUN HIGH.
JAMIE SLIPS BACK INTO OLD HABITS
AND TURNS AWAY FROM HER HUSBAND
WHEN THE MARRIAGE
BEGINS TO CRUMBLE.
WHERE YOU GOING?
I'M GOING OUT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
YOU'RE GOING OUT?
I'M GOING OUT
WITH MY GIRLFRIENDS.
I PARTIED A LOT, AND HE ENDED UP
BECOMING A BABYSITTER.
AND THE ARGUMENTS OF "YOU CAN'T
GO OUT. YOU'RE A MOM."
"YOU CAN'T GO OUT AND SPEND YOUR
MONEY AT CLUBS OR DRINKING."
AND ME SAYING, "YES, I CAN."
I'M NOT GONNA
SPEND YOUR MONEY.
I HAVE OTHER PEOPLE
WHO CAN PAY FOR MY DRINKS.
OH, REALLY?
"AND I'M GONNA DO IT.
AND WATCH ME DO IT."
AND WHEN HE TRIED
TO CONTROL ME,
I FELT LIKE I WAS BACK AT HOME
WITH MY MOM AGAIN.
AND I DIDN'T LIKE
THE WAY THAT FELT.
YOU CAN'T LEAVE, JAMIE.
BYE.
WE HAVE A CHILD!
THIS ISN'T SURPRISING AT ALL.
JAMIE IS SIMPLY MODELING
THE BEHAVIOR OF HER MOTHER
THAT SHE WITNESSED GROWING UP.
AND REMEMBER,
SHE'S STILL VERY YOUNG.
AND SHE HAD TO GROW UP FAST
ONCE THAT BABY ARRIVED.
SO NOW YOU SEE HER
TRYING TO EXERT HER INDEPENDENCE
AND RECLAIM THAT LOST FREEDOM.
Narrator: WHILE JAMIE'S
OUT PARTYING, HER HUSBAND
IS APPARENTLY FINDING
HIS OWN WAYS TO AMUSE HIMSELF.
ACCORDING TO JAMIE,
SHE DISCOVERS
THAT JONATHAN'S BEEN TROLLING
PORNOGRAPHIC WEBSITES.
I THINK THAT'S AN OPEN DOOR
FOR CHEATING.
IT EVENTUALLY
DOES NOT BECOME ENOUGH.
Narrator: JAMIE IS HORRIFIED
AND DEMANDS AN EXPLANATION.
JONATHAN!
JONATHAN, GET YOUR ASS
IN HERE RIGHT NOW!
HURRY UP!
THE BABY'S SLEEPING.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
Jamie: I WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY
IF HE HAD ADMITTED, MAYBE,
BUT HE WOULDN'T ADMIT IT.
HE WOULD HIDE IT...
YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AT PORN
ALL DAY? IS THAT WHAT YOU DO?
...WHICH DIDN'T PAINT
A GOOD PICTURE
OF THIS PERSON
THAT I THOUGHT REALLY LOVED ME,
BECAUSE IF YOU COULD LIE TO ME
ABOUT SMALL THINGS,
YOU COULD LIE TO ME
ABOUT BIG THINGS.
Narrator:
THEN THE FIGHT TURNS PHYSICAL.
JONATHAN'S FAMILY
DECIDES TO INTERVENE.
Avi: I WOULD COME OVER SOMETIMES,
AND JONATHAN WOULD HAVE SCRATCHES,
OR JAMIE WOULD HAVE SCRATCHES,
OR THE TV WOULD BE ON THE FLOOR.
AND IT'S LIKE
YOU STARTED TO NOTICE
THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING ON.
THEY LOVED EACH OTHER,
BUT THEY WERE UNHAPPY.
THEY LOVED EACH OTHER,
BUT THEY NEED TO FIGHT.
THEY LOVED AIDEN,
BUT THEY COULDN'T CHANGE.
I FELT BAD FOR JONATHAN, BECAUSE
I KNEW HE WAS GONNA STICK IT OUT
BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE THERE
FOR HIS SON.
YOU GUYS CANNOT
KEEP DOING THIS TO EACH OTHER.
I TOLD JONATHAN THE FIGHTING
HAD GOTTEN SO OUT OF CONTROL
THAT EVENTUALLY, SOMEBODY
WAS GONNA GET KILLED.
AND JONATHAN WAS,
"I GOT IT UNDER CONTROL.
I GOT IT UNDER CONTROL."
AND WHAT CAN YOU DO?
IT'S FINE!
THIS IS NOT FINE.
Avi: YOU COULD TELL THEM BOTH
OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
SIT THEM BOTH DOWN,
TALK TO THEM,
LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY'RE
HEADING THE WRONG WAY,
AND YOU'RE NOT
GONNA GET NOWHERE.
IT JUST SEEMED LIKE
SHE WAS A MONSTER.
I DON'T KNOW WHY.
'CAUSE THAT WASN'T
THE JAMIE THAT I KNEW.
Narrator: TO DEAL WITH THE AWFUL
TRUTH THAT HER MARRIAGE IS COLLAPSING,
JAMIE REVERTS
TO HER CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOR -
OBSESSIVELY CLEANING
THE APARTMENT.
BUT NO MATTER
HOW HARD SHE SCRUBS,
SHE CAN'T WIPE AWAY
HER RAGE AND RESENTMENT.
Jamie:
THIS TIME, I'M NOW DEPRESSED.
I'M COMING UP
WITH THESE STORIES IN MY MIND
OF HE BEING ON THESE WEBSITES
OR HE MEETING DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
Narrator: SHE CAN'T SHAKE THE FEELING
THAT JONATHAN IS HAVING AN AFFAIR.
Jamie: I WAS OBSESSED.
I WOULD CHECK
THE COMPUTER DAILY.
IT WAS JUST CONSTANT.
WAS LEAVING EVER AN OPTION?
NO.
I WAS SO CO-DEPENDENT
AND DIDN'T HAVE
THE CONFIDENCE TO LEAVE,
EVEN IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.
LIKE, HE COULD LIE TO ME,
AND I WOULD HAVE STAYED THERE.
I DID STAY.
Narrator: ONE AFTERNOON,
JAMIE FINALLY FINDS OUT
WHAT SHE'S BEEN DREADING.
Jamie: THIS TIME, I DISCOVERED
CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER WOMEN.
I READ ONE OF THEM,
AND IT SAID THAT HE COULD
MEET HER ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT
BECAUSE I WAS GONNA
GO OUT TO A CLUB,
AND THEN THAT HE MISSED
KISSING HER.
AND THEN THAT'S WHEN
IT BECAME REAL TO ME.
I KNEW IN MY HEART THAT
HE WAS ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING.
WHY DO YOU THINK
JONATHAN WAS CHEATING?
PROBABLY TO GET THE LOVE
THAT HE WASN'T GETTING FROM ME.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH JAMIE SAYS
THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE LIKE
THIS MOTHER THAT SHE DISLIKED
SO MUCH GROWING UP,
THE TRUTH IS THAT IT'S LIKE
A TAPE INSIDE OF HER
THAT PLAYS
WHEN SHE'S UNDER STRESS.
SHE IMITATES HER MOTHER.
BUT NOW, WITH JONATHAN,
SHE HAS TO PAY THE CONSEQUENCES.
Narrator:
JAMIE'S FURY GOES FULL TILT.
[ SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
I PUSHED HIM AND TOLD HIM,
"YOU NEED TO WAKE UP NOW.
WE NEED TO TALK."
AND I TOLD HIM
I WENT ON THE COMPUTER.
WHO HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING
BEHIND MY BACK?!
I'M STARTING TO YELL AND JUST
YELLING AND RANTING AND RAVING.
AND HE GOT HIMSELF A DRINK.
AND I'M STILL YELLING.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
I'M IN SHOCK.
Narrator: JONATHAN SAYS NOTHING,
WHICH ENRAGES JAMIE EVEN MORE.
I WAS ANGRY. I WAS HURT.
YOU CHEATED ON ME.
I'M YOUR WIFE!
I HAVE PROVIDED A SON FOR YOU,
AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GIVE ME.
I FELT BETRAYED
THAT I GAVE MY LIFE
TO THIS PERSON,
THAT HE PROMISED
SOMETHING TO ME,
AND HE LIED TO ME.
I DID FEEL LIKE A VICTIM.
BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH
I CREATED THAT SITUATION.
Narrator:
FINALLY, JONATHAN SNAPS.
THIS TIME, HE DOESN'T DENY
ANYTHING, NOR DOES HE APOLOGIZE.
HUH?!
YOU'RE NEVER HERE!
I NEVER SEE YOU.
Jamie:
HE'S ARGUING BACK,
TALKING ABOUT
ALL THE YEARS HE HAS GIVEN TO ME
AND HOW LONG HE'S STAYED.
I'M TELLING HIM I WANT TO LEAVE,
AND HE'S TELLING ME
I CAN'T LEAVE,
THAT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.
THAT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING
THAT HE USED TO SAY,
AND WHICH MADE ME
FEEL CONTROLLED,
LIKE THAT CORNERED CAT.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Narrator: JAMIE IS DETERMINED
TO GET HER POWER BACK.
YOU'RE GONNA LIVE
WITH YOUR MOM,
YOUR CRAZY-ASS MOM
JUST LIKE YOU, HUH?
WHERE YOU GONNA GO?
DO NOT CALL ME CRAZY!
WELL, THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE.
LOOK AT YOU.
YOU MAKE ME CRAZY!
Narrator: THIS WILL BE THE LAST
FIGHT THEY'LL EVER HAVE.
Narrator:
MONTHS OF PHYSICAL FIGHTS
BETWEEN JAMIE SANTOS
AND HER HUSBAND, JONATHAN,
HAVE REACHED A DANGEROUS EDGE.
JAMIE'S JUST DISCOVERED THAT
JONATHAN'S BEEN CHEATING ON HER.
NOW SHE'S DETERMINED
TO TEACH HIM A LESSON.
AND I END UP GRABBING A KNIFE.
OH, NO. NOW WHAT?
DO NOT TEST ME!
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
DO NOT TEST ME!!
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, HUH?
Narrator:
JONATHAN'S MOTHER AND SISTER
HAVE BEEN LISTENING
TO THE COUPLE'S HEATED ARGUMENT
IN THEIR APARTMENT NEXT DOOR.
WHAT DO YOU HEAR?
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WERE
ARGUING, BUT WE COULD -
WE COULD, I MEAN, CLEARLY
HEAR IT THROUGH THE WALLS.
YOU HAVE NO MONEY!
YOU HAVE NO CAR!
YOU HAVE NOTHING!
YOU HAVE NOTHING!
Jamie: INITIALLY, I THOUGHT
I MEANT TO SCARE HIM.
I WANTED TO LEAVE.
I WAS SO EMOTIONALLY TIED TO HIM
THAT I FELT LIKE
I COULDN'T BREATHE OR MOVE.
[ Crying ] YOU CHEATED ON ME!
YES, I DID!
YOU CHEATED ON ME!
YES, I DID!
YOU CHEATED ON ME!
AND I STAB HIM IN THE LEG.
YOU'RE LITERALLY
CUTTING THE TIE THAT BINDS?
YEAH, WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY
GONNA HAPPEN.
WHEN I REALIZED
IT WAS IN HIS LEG,
I PULLED IT OUT,
AND I DROPPED IT.
AND I...
ALL I COULD SAY WAS LIKE, "OH,
MY GOD. WHAT DID I JUST DO?"
HE GETS UP. HE YELLS.
TELLS ME
TO CALL THE AMBULANCE.
AND I'M TELLING HIM
I'M SORRY.
[ GASPS ]
CALL 911!
AND HE WALKS
TO THE BATHROOM.
WHEN HE WALKED INTO THE
BATHROOM, HE FELL INTO THE TUB.
WHENEVER JAMIE IS CHALLENGED,
SHE ALWAYS REACTS WITH DEFIANCE.
SO WHEN JONATHAN SAYS, "YOU
WON'T LEAVE, YOU CAN'T LEAVE,"
THIS ONLY MAKES HER MORE
DETERMINED TO PROVE HIM WRONG.
SHE WANTS TO EXERT CONTROL,
SO SHE GETS A KNIFE.
MAYBE NOW HE WILL LISTEN.
AND WE HEARD THIS BIG THUD...
...WHICH JUST MADE US JUST
AUTOMATICALLY RUN OVER THERE.
WE DROPPED EVERYTHING.
MY STOMACH WAS IN MY THROAT.
I WAS, LIKE, POUNDING THE DOOR.
"OPEN THE DOOR, OPEN THE DOOR,
OPEN THE DOOR."
WHERE IS HE?!
[ LUZ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Samaria: SO, I WALK
TOWARDS THE BATHROOM,
AND JONATHAN IS IN THE TUB,
UNRESPONSIVE,
BARELY BREATHING.
THE BLOOD WAS SEEPING
IN HIS CLOTHES.
IT WAS JUST
ALL OVER THE BATHROOM.
Narrator: JONATHAN'S SISTER
FINALLY CALLS 911.
Samaria:
SO, HERE I AM SHAKING,
AND MY MOTHER IS JUST -
I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER HER.
SHE WAS JUST FROZEN.
SHE SAT ON THE COUCH, AND SHE
WAS JUST YELLING HIS NAME.
JONATHAN, NO!
NO, JONATHAN! JONATHAN!
PLEASE COME RIGHT AWAY.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Narrator: THEN, IN THE MIDST
OF ALL THE CHAOS,
JAMIE DECIDES TO LEAVE.
INSTANTLY, IN MY MIND, I ALREADY
KNEW THE COPS WERE GONNA COME,
AND THEY WERE PROBABLY
GONNA DRAW GUNS ON ME.
AND THE ONLY THING...
[ Voice breaking ] ...THAT
I COULD THINK OF WAS MY SON.
Narrator:
SHE TAKES HER SON, AIDEN,
TO A RELATIVE'S HOUSE
DOWN THE STREET.
JAMIE.
Jamie: MY PLAN WAS
TO GET HIM SOMEWHERE SAFE.
THAT'S IT.
AND I REMEMBER STOOPING DOWN
AND HUGGING MY SON
AND TELLING HIM THAT I LOVED HIM
AND THAT I HAD TO GO.
[ Crying ]
I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU.
PLEASE TAKE GOOD CARE
OF HIM.
I GOT TO GO.
WHAT?
JAMIE -
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator:
BUT RATHER THAN RUN AWAY,
JAMIE GOES BACK
TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.
WHY NOT RUN?
BECAUSE...
SOMETHING TERRIBLE
WAS DONE BY MY HANDS.
IT WAS TIME TO STOP.
I SAID, "I'M JAMIE,
AND I JUST STABBED MY HUSBAND."
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
[ LUZ SOBBING ]
Narrator: JAMIE THEN LEARNS
THE SHOCKING TRUTH.
THE STAB WOUND WAS FATAL.
JAMIE ENDED UP STRIKING
A MAIN ARTERY IN THE THIGH,
WHICH CAUSED JONATHAN
TO BLEED TO DEATH.
[ JONATHAN GROANS ]
[ JAMIE SOBBING ]
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
WERE YOU EXPECTING THAT?
NO.
AND I REMEMBER TELLING
THE OFFICER THAT HE WAS LYING -
THAT HE WAS LYING TO ME.
I WAS SCARED.
I WAS GUILTY.
THIS PERSON THAT I LOVED SO MUCH
DIED AT MY HANDS.
LOST MY BROTHER
IN THE WORST WAY.
LOST MY BROTHER TO MURDER,
BASICALLY.
[ SOBBING, SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Narrator: JAMIE IS CHARGED
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
JAMIE, DID YOU EVER THINK
YOU WOULD SEE YOUR SON AGAIN?
NO, I DIDN'T THINK
I WOULD EVER SEE HIM AGAIN.
I KNEW IN SOME SORT OF WAY THAT
I WAS GONNA DO LIFE IN PRISON.
AND I WAS OKAY WITH THAT.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE
I KILLED MY HUSBAND,
SOMEBODY THAT I LOVED,
AND I DESERVED IT.
Narrator:
BUT IN AN UNEXPECTED TWIST,
JONATHAN'S FAMILY MAKES AN
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT DECISION.
THEY TALK TO THE PROSECUTOR
ABOUT REDUCING THE CHARGE
FROM FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
TO VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER.
[ LUZ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
WE WERE ALL IN THE MODE
OF THINKING OF AIDEN.
NOTHING WAS GONNA
BRING JONATHAN BACK,
EVEN THOUGH WE WERE ALL HURTING.
BUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO AIDEN
IF HE LOSES BOTH PARENTS?
AND THAT'S WHERE
WE WERE COMING FROM.
Narrator: JAMIE SERVES
JUST 3 1/2 YEARS BEHIND BARS.
AND HOW DID YOU USE YOUR TIME
WHILE YOU WERE INCARCERATED?
I STARTED REALLY
EXAMINING MY HEART
AND EXAMINING WHAT IT WAS
THAT BROUGHT ME TO PRISON.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE SCALES
WERE REMOVED FROM MY EYES -
THAT I'M DOING SOMETHING
THAT'S AFFECTING PEOPLE
AND THAT'S HARMING MYSELF
AND HARMING PEOPLE.
Narrator: TODAY, JONATHAN'S FAMILY
HAS NO CONTACT WITH JAMIE OR HER SON,
BUT THEY HOLD OUT HOPE
THAT ONE DAY,
AIDEN WILL REACH OUT TO THEM.
Samaria: IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
TO SEE AIDEN.
HE REMINDS US OF JONATHAN A LOT.
HE KNOWS WE ALL LOVE HIM.
HE KNOWS
WE'RE A PHONE CALL AWAY.
HE KNOWS ALL THAT.
Narrator: AND AS FOR JAMIE,
SHE'S REMARRIED AND HAS REGAINED
CUSTODY OF AIDEN.
SHE'S STARTED A NEW LIFE
IN MASSACHUSETTS
WHERE HER FATHER LIVES.
RIGHT NOW,
MY FOCUS IS REALLY JUST LEARNING
HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE.
IT WAS NEVER A FOCUS FOR ME -
LEARNING HOW TO BE
A GOOD MOM TO MY SON.
JAMIE,
DO YOU THINK YOU'RE CAPABLE
OF DOING THIS EVER AGAIN?
NO.
COUPLE FALLS MADLY IN LOVE.
HE COMPLETED ME.
MAYBE WE CAN GET MARRIED.
Narrator: THEY'RE DETERMINED
TO BUILD A LIFE TOGETHER
UNTIL OBSESSION
TEARS THEM APART.
SHE WAS A MONSTER.
I'M THINKING
I MARRIED A HOT MESS.
Narrator:
THE ROMANCE BECOMES A POWDER KEG
OF DRAMA AND MISTRUST.
Avi: IT WAS ALMOST LIKE
THEY WERE IN THIS HOLE
THAT THEY COULDN'T GET OUT OF.
Narrator:
AND IT'S ABOUT TO EXPLODE.
SOMEBODY
WAS GONNA GET KILLED.
I DID EVERYTHING FOR YOU!
I'M LEAVING YOU!
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
IN A SUNNY COASTAL BEACH TOWN
OUTSIDE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA,
A 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL
IS HIDING INSIDE A DARK CLOSET.
HER NAME IS JAMIE SANTOS,
AND SHE'S TERRIFIED
AS SHE LISTENS TO THE TURMOIL
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL.
YOU GO OUT AND GET A JOB!
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
I TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSE.
YOU'RE NEVER HERE!
WHY WOULD I WANT
TO BE HERE WITH YOU?!
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
I HEARD A LOT.
SHE HATES YOU.
DON'T BRING JAMIE INTO THIS.
SHE HATES YOU.
I KNOW SHE DOES.
Jamie: IT WASN'T A VERY GOOD
LIVING SITUATION.
I REMEMBER
ARGUMENTS AND FIGHTS.
IT SCARED ME
HEARING THE YELLING,
BUT I PROBABLY WAS SCARED
OF WHAT ELSE
MY FATHER WAS GONNA DO.
Narrator: THE FIGHTING GETS SO
INTENSE THAT JAMIE FINDS HERSELF
ESCAPING TO HER CLOSET
ALMOST EVERY NIGHT.
I REMEMBER DOING
A LOT OF SELF-COMFORTING,
TELLING MYSELF
IT WOULD BE OKAY.
Narrator: FIVE YEARS LATER,
JAMIE'S A TEENAGER,
AND SHE'S DEVELOPED AN OBSESSION
TO SUPPRESS THE HURT
OVER HER BROKEN FAMILY.
IT STARTED
WITH CLEANING THE HOUSE -
CHORES, OVERDOING CHORES,
REPETITIVE CLEANING
CONTINUOUSLY.
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
WHEN JAMIE HEARS
HER PARENTS FIGHTING,
SHE HAS THIS SENSE
OF POWERLESSNESS.
AND AS A CHILD, SHE CAN ONLY
CONTROL WHAT SHE CAN CONTROL.
AND IN THIS CASE,
IT MANIFESTS ITSELF THROUGH
CLEANING AND ORGANIZATION.
IT IS A VERY ADDICTIVE
COPING MECHANISM.
Narrator:
JAMIE'S PARENTS GET DIVORCED.
HER FATHER MOVES TO THE
EAST COAST TO START A NEW LIFE,
AND JAMIE STAYS WITH HER MOTHER.
UNFORTUNATELY,
ACCORDING TO JAMIE,
HER HOME LIFE BECOMES
EVEN MORE OF A NIGHTMARE.
SHE GOES FROM BYSTANDER
TO VICTIM.
WHEN THEY HAD
GOTTEN A DIVORCE,
MY MOM BECAME
VERY VERBALLY ABUSIVE,
VERY CONTROLLING.
I THINK SHE HAD AN ANGER
TOWARDS MY FATHER
BECAUSE OF THEIR MARRIAGE AND
WHAT HER LIFESTYLE LOOKED LIKE,
AND I BELIEVE
IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO ME.
DID YOU EVER TRY
TO TALK TO YOUR MOM
ABOUT HOW THIS
MADE YOU FEEL?
I WASN'T GONNA QUESTION
ANYTHING SHE DID.
SHE WAS MY MOM.
YOU'RE STUPID,
AND YOU'RE WORTHLESS.
THAT'S WHY DAD LEFT, 'CAUSE
HE DIDN'T LOVE YOU ENOUGH.
Narrator: IT'S THE BEGINNING
OF HIGH SCHOOL,
AND JAMIE IS LOOKING FORWARD
TO A FRESH START
WHEN SHE BUMPS
INTO JONATHAN RIVERA.
THE FATEFUL ENCOUNTER
WILL CHANGE BOTH
OF THEIR LIVES FOREVER.
I'VE - I'VE SEEN YOU BEFORE,
HAVEN'T I?
YEAH, I'M SURE
YOU'VE SEEN ME BEFORE.
HE WAS SWEET.
HE WAS THOUGHTFUL.
HE PLAYED BASEBALL.
I'M JAMIE.
NICE TO MEET YOU, JAMIE,
OFFICIALLY.
NICE TO MEET YOU
OFFICIALLY.
LIKE JAMIE,
JONATHAN'S HAD A HARD CHILDHOOD.
Avi: MY PARENTS' DIVORCE
AFFECTED JONATHAN GREATLY.
IT WAS UNEXPECTED.
WE WOKE UP ONE MORNING,
AND OUR DAD WAS GONE.
Narrator: BOTH JAMIE AND
JONATHAN COME FROM BROKEN HOMES.
BOTH OF THEM CRAVE
LOVE AND ATTENTION,
AND NOW DESTINY
HAS BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.
AFTER JUST A FEW WEEKS, JONATHAN
SWEEPS JAMIE OFF HER FEET,
AND IT GOES FROM PUPPY LOVE
TO SOMETHING MUCH DEEPER.
JAMIE'S CONVINCED
SHE'S FOUND HER SOUL MATE.
I NEVER HAD ANY BOYFRIENDS,
AND HERE WAS THIS BOY
WHO BOUGHT ME GIFTS AND
WANTED TO SPEND TIME WITH ME.
IT WAS NICE TO HAVE
THE AFFECTION AND THE ATTENTION
OF SOMEONE - ANYONE -
BECAUSE I NEVER HAD THAT.
Narrator: FOR THE NEXT YEAR,
JONATHAN AND JAMIE
ARE GLUED AT THE HIP,
AND IT FEELS LIKE
A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ LUZ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Samaria: THEY WOULD
TAKE PICTURES TOGETHER.
THEY WOULD GO OUT ALL THE TIME.
SHE ALWAYS WANTED
TO BE WITH HIM. THAT WAS IT.
SHE NEVER WANTED TO GO HOME.
Avi: IT WAS ALMOST AS IF
THEY FILLED EACH OTHER'S VOID
BECAUSE THEY KNEW
WHAT THEY HAD GONE THROUGH.
AND THAT MADE THEM
CLOSER TOGETHER.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH JAMIE'S HIGH
SCHOOL ROMANCE IS BLOSSOMING...
IT'S A THORNY SITUATION
BACK HOME.
HER MOTHER'S EMBRACING
SINGLE LIFE... FULLY.
AND JAMIE'S FEELING NEGLECTED.
Jamie: BY THIS TIME,
MY MOM IS EITHER DATING
OR GOING TO HAPPY HOUR,
GOING TO NIGHT CLUBS.
SHE WOULD ALWAYS SAY IF I DIDN'T
LIKE IT, THAT I CAN LEAVE.
AND I THOUGHT, "GREAT, I DON'T
LIKE IT HERE, SO I'LL LEAVE."
MOM, I'M LEAVING.
I WAS ABLE TO PACK
IN FIVE SECONDS
WHATEVER IT WAS I NEEDED.
GOOD LUCK.
"EMERGENCY BAG,"
I USED TO CALL IT.
WHERE DID YOU GO, JAMIE?
TO JONATHAN'S HOUSE.
Dr. Jordan:
WHEN JAMIE'S MOTHER TELLS HER
THAT SHE'S WORTHLESS
AND SHOULD JUST GET OUT,
JAMIE CALLS HER OUT ON IT
AND DOES EXACTLY THAT.
SHE LEAVES. AND SHE DOES THIS
AS A SHOW OF STRENGTH.
YOU CAN'T CONTROL JAMIE,
AND IF YOU TRY,
SHE WILL EXERCISE HER AUTONOMY.
Narrator: BEFORE LONG,
JAMIE IS SPENDING NEARLY
EVERY NIGHT AT JONATHAN'S,
AND THE RIVERAS
BECOME HER NEW FAMILY.
HI!
[ LUZ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
HE'S A GOOD TUTOR.
Narrator: BUT THIS PERFECT
ROMANCE STARTS TO FALL APART
WHEN JAMIE SENSES
THAT HER ONCE-DEVOTED BOYFRIEND
IS NOW PULLING AWAY.
AND THE MORE SHE CLINGS,
THE FARTHER AWAY HE SLIPS.
HANG OUT WITH...
THE - THE GUYS.
WELL, I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
BUT YOU ALWAYS INVITE ME.
I'LL SEE YOU TONIGHT.
THE INSECURITY KICKED IN.
THE THOUGHTS OF HIM TALKING
TO OTHER GIRLS KICKED IN.
SO YOU BECAME
THE JEALOUS TYPE.
I MEAN, HE'S YOUNG.
HE WAS TALKING TO OTHER GIRLS.
AND ME NOT KNOWING
HOW TO COPE WITH THAT.
SO I BECAME
VERY DEPRESSED.
Narrator: THEN ONE DAY, JAMIE'S
WORLD COMES CRASHING DOWN,
WHEN JONATHAN MAKES
WHAT SHE CONSIDERS
AN OUTRAGEOUS SUGGESTION.
WHAT?
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT I'M DOING WRONG.
WE NEED TO SEE
OTHER PEOPLE.
Jamie:
IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR HIM -
HE HAVING A LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND
AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.
WE LIVE TOGETHER, JONATHAN.
I KNOW. YEAH.
I HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
YOU CAN -
YOU'RE EVERYTHING
THAT I HAVE.
I'M SORRY.
YOU'RE SORRY!
Narrator:
JAMIE CONVINCES HERSELF
THAT JONATHAN JUST NEEDS
TO SOW HIS WILD OATS
AND THAT IN TIME,
HE'LL COME RUNNING BACK TO HER.
Jamie: IT WAS JUST A NEED
OF MAKING HIM HAPPY
OR NOT BEING A PERSON
WITHOUT HIM.
Narrator:
WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO,
JAMIE'S FORCED
TO MOVE BACK IN WITH HER MOM.
TWO WEEKS LATER, SHE DECIDES TO
PAY JONATHAN A SURPRISE VISIT,
BUT THE SURPRISE TURNS UGLY
WHEN SHE WALKS IN ON JONATHAN
HANGING OUT WITH ANOTHER GIRL.
JAMIE INSTANTLY SEES RED.
WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON HERE?
JAMIE,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
YES.
Narrator: SEEING JONATHAN
WITH SOMEONE ELSE
TRIGGERS A WILD REACTION THAT
NO ONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
GET THE HELL OFF OF ME!
WE NEED TO SEE
OTHER PEOPLE.
Narrator: 16-YEAR-OLD
JAMIE SANTOS IS DEVASTATED
WHEN HER BOYFRIEND, JONATHAN,
WANTS TO DATE OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU'RE SORRY!
SO WHEN SHE DISCOVERS HIM
WITH ANOTHER GIRL,
SHE FLIES INTO A JEALOUS RAGE.
WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
YES.
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Samaria: JAMIE PUMMELED HER
AND PUMMELED HIM.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME
I SAW ANY VIOLENCE FROM JAMIE.
Dr. Jordan:
JAMIE ERUPTS INTO VIOLENCE
BECAUSE SHE HAS PUT ALL HER EGGS
IN ONE BASKET WITH JONATHAN.
SHE RELIES ON HIM COMPLETELY
FOR ALL OF HER EMOTIONAL NEEDS,
SO WHAT SHOULD BE
A NORMAL TEENAGE BREAKUP,
IN HER MIND, IS COMPLETE
REJECTION AND ABANDONMENT.
Narrator: THE VIOLENT OUTBURST
SHOCKS JONATHAN TO THE CORE.
HE DECIDES
JAMIE'S WAY TOO POSSESSIVE,
AND THIS TIME,
HE BREAKS THINGS OFF FOR GOOD.
I'M DONE WITH THIS.
YOU'RE -
YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND,
YOU KNOW THAT?
JAMIE IS CRUSHED.
Jamie:
I JUST REMEMBER HE SAYING
THAT HE NO LONGER
WANTED TO BE WITH ME
AND JUST FEELING SO BROKEN.
I LOST MY BOYFRIEND,
THE ONE WHO COMFORTED ME
WHEN MY MOM WOULD KICK ME OUT.
THE ONLY COMFORT I KNEW.
I NO LONGER WANTED TO LIVE.
SO, I REMEMBER TAKING
A WHOLE BUNCH OF TYLENOL.
Narrator: THEN SHE MAKES
A DESPERATE CALL FOR HELP.
DID YOU REALLY WANT TO DIE?
OR WERE YOU CREATING A SCENARIO
WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE AN EXCUSE
TO CALL THE MAN
WHO HAD JUST DUMPED YOU?
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID.
I CALLED JONATHAN.
IT WAS SO HE COULD COME BACK
INTO MY LIFE,
AND MAYBE HE'LL FEEL BAD.
JONATHAN WAS KIND OF THE BOY
THAT ALWAYS CAME TO MY RESCUE.
[ Crying ] IT'S ME.
YOU HAVE TO COME HERE RIGHT NOW.
HE WAS MY COMFORT ZONE.
I NEED YOU.
YOU HAVE TO HELP ME.
I CALLED HIM.
AND HE SAID THAT HE NEEDED
TO BRING ME TO THE HOSPITAL.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
AND THEN THEY ENDED UP
MAKING ME DRINK CHARCOAL.
Narrator: ONCE THE DRUGS
ARE OUT OF HER SYSTEM,
JAMIE IS SENT TO A MENTAL
FACILITY FOR EVALUATION.
WHAT WAS THE DIAGNOSIS
AT THE END OF YOUR SEVEN-DAY
STAY IN THE PSYCH WARD?
I WAS SO MANIPULATIVE
THAT I DIDN'T GET A DIAGNOSIS.
IT WAS A REALLY STUPID THING
TO DO, AND I'M SORRY.
I TOLD THEM I RECOGNIZED
WHAT WAS WRONG,
AND IT WASN'T A GOOD THING
FOR ME TO DO.
I DON'T WANT TO DIE.
I LEARNED HOW TO PLAY A PART
OF TELLING PEOPLE
WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR.
BEING AT HOME,
I'LL FEEL A LOT BETTER,
'CAUSE I REALLY FEEL LIKE I HAVE
A BETTER SUPPORT SYSTEM THERE.
MM-HMM.
Narrator: THE SUICIDE ATTEMPT
IS A LAST-DITCH EFFORT
TO HOLD ON TO JONATHAN,
AND IT FAILS MISERABLY.
THE FACT THAT JAMIE
IS WILLING TO GO
TO SUCH EXTREMES
TO HANG ON TO JONATHAN
TIES DIRECTLY BACK
TO HER FEELINGS OF ABANDONMENT
WHEN HER DAD WALKED OUT.
BUT THIS IS MORE
THAN JUST A CRY FOR HELP.
IF JAMIE IS WILLING
TO HURT HERSELF,
THEN SHE COULD HAVE
THE POTENTIAL TO HURT OTHERS
TO KEEP THEM FROM LEAVING HER.
Narrator:
BROKENHEARTED AND LONELY,
JAMIE IS ONCE AGAIN
LIVING WITH HER MOTHER.
SHE STARTS DITCHING SCHOOL AND
HANGING WITH THE WRONG CROWD.
PRETTY SOON, SHE FINDS A WAY
TO TAKE HER MIND OFF JONATHAN -
SHOPLIFTING.
EXPLAIN TO ME
WHAT YOU WERE STEALING
AND WHY YOU WERE
STEALING IT.
MOST OF THE TIME,
IT WAS CLOTHES, SHOES.
IT WAS JUST NOT CARING,
NOT HAVING A CONSCIENCE
OF ANYTHING I WAS DOING,
NOT LOOKING AT HOW DESTRUCTIVE
IT WAS TO ME.
I DIDN'T HAVE THAT MONITOR
THAT I NEEDED,
A PARENT THAT I NEEDED.
IT WAS JUST FREE REIN,
WHATEVER I WANTED TO DO.
FREE REIN.
Dr. Jordan:
THE DISARRAY OF HER LIFE
HAS SIMPLY LEFT HER
FEELING LOST AND LONELY,
SO THIS GIVES HER A FALSE SENSE
OF POWER, AND IT FILLS THE VOID.
IT'S REALLY JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE
OF HER COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR.
Narrator: JAMIE AND HER PARTNER IN
CRIME BECOME EXPERT SHOPLIFTERS,
STEALING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS
OF MERCHANDISE.
UNTIL ONE DAY,
THEIR CRIMES CATCH UP TO THEM.
LADIES!
COME HERE.
YOU HAD TO KNOW THAT THE JIG
WOULD BE UP EVENTUALLY.
I MEAN, NOBODY GETS AWAY
WITH IT FOREVER.
NO, I THOUGHT
I WAS GOOD AT EVERYTHING.
I WAS GOOD AT MANIPULATING
WITH MY WORDS.
I WAS GOOD WITH STEALING.
Avi: WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT JAMIE
WAS SHOPLIFTING, I WAS SHOCKED.
THAT'S SOMETHING
I DIDN'T EXPECT OF HER.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DID.
Narrator: JAMIE ENDS UP
GETTING SIX MONTHS OF PROBATION.
Jamie: I WAS IN THE SYSTEM,
SO NOW I HAD REAL MONITOR,
SOMEBODY WATCHING ME,
MAKING SURE I'M GOING TO SCHOOL,
MAKING SURE I'M NOT DRINKING,
DOING DRUGS.
Narrator: THE PUNISHMENT DOESN'T
REIN IN THIS REBELLIOUS TEEN.
JAMIE VIOLATES HER PROBATION
MULTIPLE TIMES
BY SKIPPING SCHOOL
AND MISSING HER CURFEW.
IN THAT SIX-MONTH PERIOD,
GETTING INCARCERATED
MAYBE ABOUT THREE TIMES.
Narrator:
THE JUDGE IS FED UP WITH HER.
RIGHT BEFORE SHE TURNS 18,
HE ORDERS JAMIE TO LIVE
WITH HER FATHER IN VERMONT
AND START FRESH.
WHY ON EARTH WOULD THE COURT
SEND YOU TO YOUR FATHER?
I MEAN, YOUR MOTHER REALLY WAS
INCAPABLE OF CONTROLLING YOU?
YEAH, I GUESS
SHE ADMITTED TO THAT.
AND THEN SHE AGREED TO SENDING
ME TO MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
John: I HEARD THROUGH HER MOM
THAT SHE WAS GETTING IN TROUBLE.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW SEVERE IT WAS.
IT WASN'T BECAUSE
SHE WANTED SOMETHING
AND DIDN'T HAVE
THE MONEY FOR IT.
IT WAS MORE OF
AN ATTENTION-GETTER.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN MORE THAN FIVE
YEARS SINCE JAMIE HAS SEEN HER FATHER.
I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS.
BUT WHEN I GOT THERE,
IT WAS OPEN ARMS.
HE WAS DIFFERENT
AT THIS TIME.
YEAH. YOU LIKE IT?
YEAH.
Narrator: JAMIE'S FATHER
HAS SINCE GOTTEN REMARRIED.
HI, JAMIE! I'M BETTY.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
John: MY CURRENT WIFE AND I
HAVE TWO BOYS,
AND EVERYTHING WAS GREAT.
THINGS WERE LOOKING UP.
OH, THANK YOU.
I FELT LIKE I NEEDED
TO TAKE A STEP BACK
AND DEAL WITH THE SITUATION,
BECAUSE THIS WAS JAMIE,
MY DAUGHTER.
IT WAS DEFINITELY A SECOND
CHANCE TO BE A FATHER,
A DAD TO JAMIE,
AND I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT,
FULL FORCE.
JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT GONNA BE FREE RIDE.
Narrator:
JAMIE'S FATHER IS DETERMINED
TO GIVE HIS DAUGHTER
LOVE, SUPPORT, AND GUIDANCE,
AND THAT INCLUDES
LAYING DOWN SOME GROUND RULES.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS,
THOUGH.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU,
UM - YOU HELP AROUND THE HOUSE
'CAUSE BETTY NEEDS A LOT OF HELP
WITH THE KIDS
AND TAKING CARE OF THIS HOUSE.
OKAY.
SO, TALK TO ME
ABOUT LANDING IN VERMONT
WITH YOUR NEW,
CHANGED FATHER.
I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO LEAVE
YOUR OLD SELF BEHIND.
YEAH.
WHAT HAPPENED
ONCE YOU GOT TO VERMONT?
WELL, I GOT A JOB.
Narrator: TO SPEND MORE
QUALITY TIME WITH HIS DAUGHTER,
JAMIE'S FATHER GETS HER HIRED
AT A CATERING COMPANY
WHERE HE WORKS.
John:
I WORKED FOR A COMPANY
WHERE WE DID BANQUETS
FOR UP TO 500 PEOPLE,
AND I THOUGHT
THIS COULD HELP HER OUT.
IT COULD TEACH HER
A LITTLE BIT OF RESPONSIBILITY,
AND, YOU KNOW, LEARNING HOW
TO EARN MONEY AND TO SAVE IT.
AND SHE DID GREAT.
SHE WAS AWESOME.
SHE HAD A GREAT TIME.
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DOING
A GREAT JOB HERE.
OH, THANKS, DAD.
YEAH, DOING MY BEST.
Jamie: I WANTED
THAT FATHER FIGURE, YOU KNOW,
THROUGHOUT MY TEENAGE YEARS,
AND I FINALLY HAD IT.
I HAD MY DAD IN MY LIFE.
BUT IT DIDN'T CALM YOU DOWN.
MNH-MNH. NO.
Narrator: JAMIE STARTS
SNEAKING OUT OF THE HOUSE
AND INTO A LIFESTYLE
OF PARTYING AND DRUGS.
Jamie: I PARTIED A LOT
WITH OLDER PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, 18 YEARS OLD,
AND I HAVE FRIENDS
WHO ARE IN THEIR 30s
TAKING ME TO CLUBS AND BARS.
MY FATHER KNEW I WAS OUT
AND ABOUT, DOING BAD THINGS,
AND HE WOULD GO
SEARCH THE STREETS FOR ME.
I FELT BAD A LITTLE BIT,
BUT IT WAS SUCH
AN EMBEDDED BEHAVIOR
THAT IT WAS ABOUT ME
AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
I KNEW THAT I HAD
THESE BEHAVIORS,
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO CHANGE THEM.
Narrator: JAMIE'S FATHER FINALLY
REACHES HIS BREAKING POINT.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM HER.
SHE KNEW THAT SHE HAD TO CALL ME
AT A CERTAIN TIME. SHE DIDN'T.
AND SHE COMES WALKING IN
THAT PARTICULAR MORNING
LIKE AT 6:30
AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED.
SO, IN A VERY COMPASSIONATE,
VERY STRICT WAY,
I MADE HER AWARE THAT THAT WAS
NEVER GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN.
THAT'S IT. YOU'VE HEARD
WHAT I'VE HAD TO SAY.
YOU KNOW THE RULES.
THAT'S IT.
COME ON, DAD.
YOU'RE BEING UNREASONABLE.
ZERO TOLERANCE.
I'M DONE.
Narrator: ALL JAMIE HEARS IS
SOMEONE TRYING TO CONTROL HER,
AND THIS WILD TEEN'S
NOT ABOUT TO BE TAMED.
Jamie:
I WAS MISSING HOME.
IT WAS BECOMING TOO MUCH
FOR ME - THE LIFESTYLE.
I JUST STARTED GETTING TIRED.
Narrator: JAMIE'S LEFT
WITH ONLY ONE OPTION -
SHE CALLS HER MOTHER FOR HELP.
HER MOTHER AGREES TO BUY JAMIE
A TICKET BACK TO CALIFORNIA.
DAD IS DRIVING ME CRAZY.
Narrator: JAMIE HEADS HOME,
HOPING TO TURN HER LIFE AROUND.
SHE MOVES BACK IN WITH HER MOM,
BUT SHE'S HAUNTED BY MEMORIES
OF HER EX-BOYFRIEND, JONATHAN.
Jamie: HE STILL HAS MY HEART,
AND I STILL LOVE HIM.
HE JUST HAD PART OF ME.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN A YEAR
SINCE JAMIE LAST SAW JONATHAN,
AND SHE'S NERVOUS
ABOUT SEEING HIM AGAIN.
HEY.
YEAH.
YOU FELT INCOMPLETE
WITHOUT JONATHAN?
HE COMPLETED ME.
ONCE THEY LAY EYES
ON EACH OTHER,
IT'S CLEAR THE SPARK
STILL BURNS BRIGHT.
BUT WILL IT IGNITE A FIRE
THEY CAN'T CONTROL?
Narrator:
19-YEAR-OLD JAMIE SANTOS
IS OVERJOYED ABOUT REUNITING
WITH HER HIGH SCHOOL BOYFRIEND.
THE TROUBLED TEEN IS FINALLY
GETTING HER LIFE ON TRACK.
AND WHEN YOU SAW HIM,
WAS IT LIKE
FROM ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM...
[ IMITATES
ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
...LIKE YOU KNEW
THIS WAS THE GUY?
IT WAS, ACTUALLY,
I MEAN, MUTUALLY.
IT WAS LIKE, "OKAY,
WE'RE DONE RUNNING AROUND
AND LIVING OUR LIVES,
AND NOW WE'RE TOGETHER AGAIN."
Narrator: IT'S ALMOST LIKE
NOTHING'S CHANGED.
JUST TWO WEEKS
AFTER GETTING BACK TOGETHER,
JAMIE OFFICIALLY MOVES BACK IN
WITH JONATHAN AND HIS FAMILY.
Dr. Jordan: JAMIE WANTS TO CHANGE,
AND SHE'S CRAVING STABILITY.
SHE KNOWS THAT
WHEN LEFT TO HER OWN DEVICES,
SHE GETS IN OVER HER HEAD.
BY MOVING BACK IN WITH JONATHAN
AND HIS FAMILY,
SHE'S TRYING TO RE-ESTABLISH
THAT LIFE SHE ONCE KNEW,
BUT THIS TIME,
WITH A MORE ADULT PERSPECTIVE.
Narrator: A YEAR GOES BY,
AND THINGS ARE GOING WELL
FOR THE YOUNG COUPLE.
JAMIE CONTINUES
TO HOLD A STEADY JOB,
WHILE JONATHAN FINALLY DECIDES
TO PURSUE HIS DREAM
OF JOINING THE ARMY RESERVES.
Avi: HE ALWAYS WANTED
TO BE IN THE ARMY.
I THINK THAT JONATHAN
WAS ATTRACTED
TO THE DISCIPLINE OF THE ARMY
AND WHAT HE CAN GAIN FROM IT.
Narrator: BEFORE HE HEADS OFF
TO BOOT CAMP,
JONATHAN AND JAMIE
SEAL THEIR FATE.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH,
YOU KNOW?
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, TOO.
MAYBE WE CAN GET MARRIED.
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, WE -
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU REALLY WANT -
YEAH.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Jamie: I WAS EXCITED.
THE FACT THAT
WE CAN ACTUALLY BE TOGETHER
AND BE MARRIED,
AND THAT IT WOULDN'T END.
Narrator: JAMIE CAN'T WAIT
TO BE A MILITARY WIFE.
THE YOUNG COUPLE
THROWS AN INFORMAL CEREMONY
THE FOLLOWING MONTH.
IT'S THE HAPPIEST DAY
OF JAMIE'S LIFE.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Narrator: THEN, SEVERAL WEEKS LATER,
JAMIE FINDS OUT SHE'S PREGNANT.
THE NEW BRIDE
IS EXCITED AND TERRIFIED.
Jamie: [ Voice breaking ] I KNEW
IF I WAS GONNA HAVE A CHILD
THAT I HAD TO CHANGE
IN SOME SORT OF WAY.
AND I THINK IT WAS MORE FEAR
THAT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO,
THAT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RAISE
MY CHILD IN A LOVING HOME.
I DIDN'T WANT MY CHILD
TO GROW UP
WITH THE THINGS
THAT I GREW UP WITH.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
JAMIE IS NOW MARRIED TO THE MAN
OF HER DREAMS,
AND YOU'D THINK
THAT SHE WOULD BE SO EXCITED
ABOUT STARTING A NEW FAMILY.
BUT SHE STILL HAS
ALL OF THAT CHILDHOOD TRAUMA,
AND IT'S LEFT HER
DEEPLY INSECURE.
SO SHE NEEDS CONSTANT
REASSURANCE FROM JONATHAN
THAT NOT ONLY
IS SHE A GOOD MOTHER
BUT THAT HE IS IN IT
FOR THE LONG RUN.
[ LAUGHS ]
SO, WHAT'S UP?
I'M PREGNANT.
THAT'S -
THAT'S GREAT!
Narrator:
LUCKILY, JONATHAN IS THRILLED.
Avi:
HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A FATHER.
HE WANTED TO GIVE HIS KIDS
WHAT HE DIDN'T HAVE GROWING UP,
WHETHER IT WAS LOVE, ATTENTION,
AFFECTION - WHATEVER IT IS.
HE WANTED TO BE THE FATHER THAT
HE ALWAYS WANTED AS A CHILD.
IT'S AMAZING.
THIS IS AMAZING.
Narrator: AND HIS EXCITEMENT
IS CONTAGIOUS.
AFTER JAMIE'S FIRST SONOGRAM,
SHE CATCHES THE BUG.
Jamie:
MY DOCTOR TOLD ME IT WAS A BOY.
AND YOU SEE EVERYTHING - HIS
HEAD, HIS STOMACH, EVERYTHING.
NOW I'M BRINGING SOMEBODY
INTO THIS WORLD
THAT I'M GONNA HAVE
AN IMPACT ON.
AND I CAN CHOOSE TO ALLOW HIM TO
GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH,
OR I CAN MAKE IT DIFFERENT.
Narrator:
FOR ONCE IN HER LIFE,
JAMIE'S GOT DIRECTION
AND PURPOSE.
Jamie: SO, IT'S KIND OF
AN IDEAL SITUATION.
I'M PREGNANT WITH MY HUSBAND,
WHO'S IN THE MILITARY.
I'M LIVING WITH HIS FAMILY.
I'M GOOD FRIENDS WITH HIS MOM.
I'M NOT DRINKING.
I'M NOT STEALING.
Narrator: JAMIE AND JONATHAN
GET THEIR OWN APARTMENT
NEXT DOOR TO HIS FAMILY.
AND ON FEBRUARY 19, 2000,
THEY WELCOME A BEAUTIFUL BOY
NAMED AIDEN.
HE WAS PERFECT.
YEAH.
THE MOST PERFECT THING
YOU HAD EVER DONE?
[ Voice breaking ]
THE RIGHT THING I'VE DONE.
NOT ONLY THE GOOD DECISION
I'VE EVER MADE,
HE LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE ME.
[ CHUCKLES, SNIFFLES ]
A LITTLE BIT LIKE HIS DAD,
BUT JUST LIKE ME.
Narrator:
BUT AS JONATHAN AND JAMIE
NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES
OF PARENTHOOD,
THEY STRUGGLE
TO STAY AFLOAT FINANCIALLY.
IT PUTS A STRAIN
ON THEIR MARRIAGE.
THE ARMY RESERVE'S CHECKS COVER
JUST A FRACTION OF THEIR BILLS.
I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT -
I DON'T KNOW -
I NEED ANOTHER JOB, RIGHT?
YES, YOU DO.
IT WAS CONSISTENT MONEY
COMING IN,
BUT IT WASN'T
A RELIABLE SOURCE.
NO. WE ARE WAY BEHIND.
WE MISSED
ANOTHER PAYMENT AGAIN.
I DID RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID
FOR THE THINGS LIKE THE FORMULA.
JONATHAN IS SET
ON WORKING FULL-TIME,
SO HIS GOAL IS TO LOOK FOR A JOB
AND ME STAY HOME WITH THE BABY.
Narrator:
JONATHAN FINALLY LANDS A JOB
WORKING THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT
AS A MALL SECURITY GUARD.
IT HELPS EASE THE BURDEN.
BUT FOR JAMIE, IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
THIS ISN'T
WHAT SHE SIGNED UP FOR.
LOOK AT YOU.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
I MARRIED A SECURITY GUARD.
Dr. Jordan: IT'S SOUNDING TO ME
LIKE YOU ARE DOING TO HIM
WHAT YOUR MOTHER DID TO YOU -
WITHHOLDING LOVE
AND USING TEARDOWN TACTICS
TO HUMILIATE HIM
AND TO MAKE HIM FEEL
INSUFFICIENT,
UNWORTHY OF YOUR LOVE
UNTIL HE PROVES HIMSELF.
YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND I TURNED INTO MY MOTHER.
GO AHEAD, DRINK UP,
FATHER OF THE YEAR.
I FEEL THAT A LOT
OF MY BEHAVIORS
HAVE IMPACTED PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY HIM,
YOU KNOW, THAT HE DRANK
A LOT MORE BECAUSE OF ME.
I WAS PUTTING THAT STRESS.
I WAS DEMEANING.
I WAS HURTING HIM.
Narrator:
THEN, ACCORDING TO JAMIE,
JONATHAN COMES UP WITH A SCHEME
TO SCORE SOME EXTRA CASH.
SO, I-I HAVE...
ACCESS TO THE FRONT OFFICE.
AND THERE'S
GIFT CARDS THERE.
I KNOW HOW TO PUT MONEY ON THEM
AND ACTIVATE THEM.
BEING A SECURITY GUARD,
YOU HAVE ACCESS TO
THE BUSINESS OFFICE IN THE MALL.
AND HE IS SEEING
A STACK OF GIFT CARDS
AND INSTRUCTIONS
ON HOW TO ACTIVATE THEM.
AND SO, HE ENDED UP
ACTIVATING THEM
AND PUTTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
ON THEM.
Narrator:
BUT JONATHAN'S FAMILY CLAIMS
THAT BOTH OF THEM CAME UP
WITH THE SCHEME TOGETHER.
Avi: JONATHAN AND JAMIE
HAD PLANNED IT OUT
BECAUSE THEY WERE STRUGGLING,
AND THEY WANTED TO BUY DIAPERS
AND SOME THINGS
THAT THEY NEEDED FOR AIDEN.
IT WAS REALLY UNLIKE
HIS CHARACTER
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
YOU SHOULD GET A BUNCH,
RIGHT NOW.
WE NEED THIS. WE - WE NEED
TO TAKE CARE OF OUR BABY.
Narrator:
REGARDLESS OF WHOSE IDEA IT WAS,
JAMIE GOES OUT AND HAPPILY SHOPS
LIKE A PROPER HOUSEWIFE.
BUT THIS RISKY PLAN COULD LAND
BOTH OF THEM IN JAIL
AND SHATTER THEIR FAMILY
FOREVER.
FOR MORE ON
HOW JAMIE'S DOING NOW,
Narrator: AFTER THEIR BABY BOY IS
BORN, JONATHAN AND JAMIE RIVERA
ARE LIKE ANY YOUNG COUPLE
ADJUSTING TO PARENTHOOD...
GO AHEAD, DRINK UP,
FATHER OF THE YEAR.
...EXCEPT THAT THIS COUPLE
IS USING STOLEN GIFT CARDS
TO PAY THE BILLS,
AND THEY'RE ABOUT
TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.
I GET A KNOCK ON THE DOOR
AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING
FROM POLICE OFFICERS.
THE FIRST THING
THEY TOLD ME WAS,
"WE HAVE JONATHAN IN CUSTODY."
UH, WHAT'S GOING ON?
IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
WELL, JONATHAN'S
IN A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE.
MS. SANTOS, DO YOU MIND
IF WE JUST COME IN,
AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT?
Narrator: BASED ON THE TIME
THE GIFT CARDS WERE ACTIVATED,
OFFICERS WERE ABLE
TO PIN THE BLAME
ON THE ONLY SECURITY GUARD
ON DUTY THAT NIGHT - JONATHAN.
HE TOOK THE RAP.
HE SAID
HE WAS FULLY RESPONSIBLE.
Narrator: JONATHAN IS CHARGED
WITH GRAND LARCENY
AND IS IMMEDIATELY FIRED
FROM HIS JOB.
BUT HE ENDS UP
GETTING A LUCKY BREAK.
THE MALL TAKES PITY ON HIM
AND DOESN'T PRESS CHARGES.
Jamie: IT WAS HIS FIRST TIME
GETTING ARRESTED,
SO IT WAS JUST
A SLAP ON THE HAND.
Narrator: JONATHAN'S ALSO
ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE MILITARY
AND RECEIVES
JUST SIX MONTHS PROBATION.
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING
THROUGH ALL OF THIS?
I'M THINKING
I MARRIED A HOT MESS
WHO DECIDED
HE WANTED TO STEAL
AND RUIN HIS CHANCE
WITH THE MILITARY.
SO, I THOUGHT
I MARRIED SOMEONE
WHO WAS GONNA BE
BETTER THAN I WAS.
DO YOU THINK
JONATHAN WAS THINKING,
"I MARRIED A HOT MESS"?
OH, YEAH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I'M SURE
THE FEELINGS WERE MUTUAL.
Narrator: JAMIE GETS
A FULL-TIME RETAIL JOB,
AND JONATHAN GETS HIRED
AS A CAB DRIVER,
BUT TENSIONS STILL RUN HIGH.
JAMIE SLIPS BACK INTO OLD HABITS
AND TURNS AWAY FROM HER HUSBAND
WHEN THE MARRIAGE
BEGINS TO CRUMBLE.
WHERE YOU GOING?
I'M GOING OUT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
YOU'RE GOING OUT?
I'M GOING OUT
WITH MY GIRLFRIENDS.
I PARTIED A LOT, AND HE ENDED UP
BECOMING A BABYSITTER.
AND THE ARGUMENTS OF "YOU CAN'T
GO OUT. YOU'RE A MOM."
"YOU CAN'T GO OUT AND SPEND YOUR
MONEY AT CLUBS OR DRINKING."
AND ME SAYING, "YES, I CAN."
I'M NOT GONNA
SPEND YOUR MONEY.
I HAVE OTHER PEOPLE
WHO CAN PAY FOR MY DRINKS.
OH, REALLY?
"AND I'M GONNA DO IT.
AND WATCH ME DO IT."
AND WHEN HE TRIED
TO CONTROL ME,
I FELT LIKE I WAS BACK AT HOME
WITH MY MOM AGAIN.
AND I DIDN'T LIKE
THE WAY THAT FELT.
YOU CAN'T LEAVE, JAMIE.
BYE.
WE HAVE A CHILD!
THIS ISN'T SURPRISING AT ALL.
JAMIE IS SIMPLY MODELING
THE BEHAVIOR OF HER MOTHER
THAT SHE WITNESSED GROWING UP.
AND REMEMBER,
SHE'S STILL VERY YOUNG.
AND SHE HAD TO GROW UP FAST
ONCE THAT BABY ARRIVED.
SO NOW YOU SEE HER
TRYING TO EXERT HER INDEPENDENCE
AND RECLAIM THAT LOST FREEDOM.
Narrator: WHILE JAMIE'S
OUT PARTYING, HER HUSBAND
IS APPARENTLY FINDING
HIS OWN WAYS TO AMUSE HIMSELF.
ACCORDING TO JAMIE,
SHE DISCOVERS
THAT JONATHAN'S BEEN TROLLING
PORNOGRAPHIC WEBSITES.
I THINK THAT'S AN OPEN DOOR
FOR CHEATING.
IT EVENTUALLY
DOES NOT BECOME ENOUGH.
Narrator: JAMIE IS HORRIFIED
AND DEMANDS AN EXPLANATION.
JONATHAN!
JONATHAN, GET YOUR ASS
IN HERE RIGHT NOW!
HURRY UP!
THE BABY'S SLEEPING.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
Jamie: I WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY
IF HE HAD ADMITTED, MAYBE,
BUT HE WOULDN'T ADMIT IT.
HE WOULD HIDE IT...
YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AT PORN
ALL DAY? IS THAT WHAT YOU DO?
...WHICH DIDN'T PAINT
A GOOD PICTURE
OF THIS PERSON
THAT I THOUGHT REALLY LOVED ME,
BECAUSE IF YOU COULD LIE TO ME
ABOUT SMALL THINGS,
YOU COULD LIE TO ME
ABOUT BIG THINGS.
Narrator:
THEN THE FIGHT TURNS PHYSICAL.
JONATHAN'S FAMILY
DECIDES TO INTERVENE.
Avi: I WOULD COME OVER SOMETIMES,
AND JONATHAN WOULD HAVE SCRATCHES,
OR JAMIE WOULD HAVE SCRATCHES,
OR THE TV WOULD BE ON THE FLOOR.
AND IT'S LIKE
YOU STARTED TO NOTICE
THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING ON.
THEY LOVED EACH OTHER,
BUT THEY WERE UNHAPPY.
THEY LOVED EACH OTHER,
BUT THEY NEED TO FIGHT.
THEY LOVED AIDEN,
BUT THEY COULDN'T CHANGE.
I FELT BAD FOR JONATHAN, BECAUSE
I KNEW HE WAS GONNA STICK IT OUT
BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE THERE
FOR HIS SON.
YOU GUYS CANNOT
KEEP DOING THIS TO EACH OTHER.
I TOLD JONATHAN THE FIGHTING
HAD GOTTEN SO OUT OF CONTROL
THAT EVENTUALLY, SOMEBODY
WAS GONNA GET KILLED.
AND JONATHAN WAS,
"I GOT IT UNDER CONTROL.
I GOT IT UNDER CONTROL."
AND WHAT CAN YOU DO?
IT'S FINE!
THIS IS NOT FINE.
Avi: YOU COULD TELL THEM BOTH
OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
SIT THEM BOTH DOWN,
TALK TO THEM,
LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY'RE
HEADING THE WRONG WAY,
AND YOU'RE NOT
GONNA GET NOWHERE.
IT JUST SEEMED LIKE
SHE WAS A MONSTER.
I DON'T KNOW WHY.
'CAUSE THAT WASN'T
THE JAMIE THAT I KNEW.
Narrator: TO DEAL WITH THE AWFUL
TRUTH THAT HER MARRIAGE IS COLLAPSING,
JAMIE REVERTS
TO HER CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOR -
OBSESSIVELY CLEANING
THE APARTMENT.
BUT NO MATTER
HOW HARD SHE SCRUBS,
SHE CAN'T WIPE AWAY
HER RAGE AND RESENTMENT.
Jamie:
THIS TIME, I'M NOW DEPRESSED.
I'M COMING UP
WITH THESE STORIES IN MY MIND
OF HE BEING ON THESE WEBSITES
OR HE MEETING DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
Narrator: SHE CAN'T SHAKE THE FEELING
THAT JONATHAN IS HAVING AN AFFAIR.
Jamie: I WAS OBSESSED.
I WOULD CHECK
THE COMPUTER DAILY.
IT WAS JUST CONSTANT.
WAS LEAVING EVER AN OPTION?
NO.
I WAS SO CO-DEPENDENT
AND DIDN'T HAVE
THE CONFIDENCE TO LEAVE,
EVEN IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.
LIKE, HE COULD LIE TO ME,
AND I WOULD HAVE STAYED THERE.
I DID STAY.
Narrator: ONE AFTERNOON,
JAMIE FINALLY FINDS OUT
WHAT SHE'S BEEN DREADING.
Jamie: THIS TIME, I DISCOVERED
CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER WOMEN.
I READ ONE OF THEM,
AND IT SAID THAT HE COULD
MEET HER ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT
BECAUSE I WAS GONNA
GO OUT TO A CLUB,
AND THEN THAT HE MISSED
KISSING HER.
AND THEN THAT'S WHEN
IT BECAME REAL TO ME.
I KNEW IN MY HEART THAT
HE WAS ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING.
WHY DO YOU THINK
JONATHAN WAS CHEATING?
PROBABLY TO GET THE LOVE
THAT HE WASN'T GETTING FROM ME.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH JAMIE SAYS
THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE LIKE
THIS MOTHER THAT SHE DISLIKED
SO MUCH GROWING UP,
THE TRUTH IS THAT IT'S LIKE
A TAPE INSIDE OF HER
THAT PLAYS
WHEN SHE'S UNDER STRESS.
SHE IMITATES HER MOTHER.
BUT NOW, WITH JONATHAN,
SHE HAS TO PAY THE CONSEQUENCES.
Narrator:
JAMIE'S FURY GOES FULL TILT.
[ SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
I PUSHED HIM AND TOLD HIM,
"YOU NEED TO WAKE UP NOW.
WE NEED TO TALK."
AND I TOLD HIM
I WENT ON THE COMPUTER.
WHO HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING
BEHIND MY BACK?!
I'M STARTING TO YELL AND JUST
YELLING AND RANTING AND RAVING.
AND HE GOT HIMSELF A DRINK.
AND I'M STILL YELLING.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
I'M IN SHOCK.
Narrator: JONATHAN SAYS NOTHING,
WHICH ENRAGES JAMIE EVEN MORE.
I WAS ANGRY. I WAS HURT.
YOU CHEATED ON ME.
I'M YOUR WIFE!
I HAVE PROVIDED A SON FOR YOU,
AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GIVE ME.
I FELT BETRAYED
THAT I GAVE MY LIFE
TO THIS PERSON,
THAT HE PROMISED
SOMETHING TO ME,
AND HE LIED TO ME.
I DID FEEL LIKE A VICTIM.
BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH
I CREATED THAT SITUATION.
Narrator:
FINALLY, JONATHAN SNAPS.
THIS TIME, HE DOESN'T DENY
ANYTHING, NOR DOES HE APOLOGIZE.
HUH?!
YOU'RE NEVER HERE!
I NEVER SEE YOU.
Jamie:
HE'S ARGUING BACK,
TALKING ABOUT
ALL THE YEARS HE HAS GIVEN TO ME
AND HOW LONG HE'S STAYED.
I'M TELLING HIM I WANT TO LEAVE,
AND HE'S TELLING ME
I CAN'T LEAVE,
THAT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.
THAT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING
THAT HE USED TO SAY,
AND WHICH MADE ME
FEEL CONTROLLED,
LIKE THAT CORNERED CAT.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Narrator: JAMIE IS DETERMINED
TO GET HER POWER BACK.
YOU'RE GONNA LIVE
WITH YOUR MOM,
YOUR CRAZY-ASS MOM
JUST LIKE YOU, HUH?
WHERE YOU GONNA GO?
DO NOT CALL ME CRAZY!
WELL, THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE.
LOOK AT YOU.
YOU MAKE ME CRAZY!
Narrator: THIS WILL BE THE LAST
FIGHT THEY'LL EVER HAVE.
Narrator:
MONTHS OF PHYSICAL FIGHTS
BETWEEN JAMIE SANTOS
AND HER HUSBAND, JONATHAN,
HAVE REACHED A DANGEROUS EDGE.
JAMIE'S JUST DISCOVERED THAT
JONATHAN'S BEEN CHEATING ON HER.
NOW SHE'S DETERMINED
TO TEACH HIM A LESSON.
AND I END UP GRABBING A KNIFE.
OH, NO. NOW WHAT?
DO NOT TEST ME!
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
DO NOT TEST ME!!
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, HUH?
Narrator:
JONATHAN'S MOTHER AND SISTER
HAVE BEEN LISTENING
TO THE COUPLE'S HEATED ARGUMENT
IN THEIR APARTMENT NEXT DOOR.
WHAT DO YOU HEAR?
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WERE
ARGUING, BUT WE COULD -
WE COULD, I MEAN, CLEARLY
HEAR IT THROUGH THE WALLS.
YOU HAVE NO MONEY!
YOU HAVE NO CAR!
YOU HAVE NOTHING!
YOU HAVE NOTHING!
Jamie: INITIALLY, I THOUGHT
I MEANT TO SCARE HIM.
I WANTED TO LEAVE.
I WAS SO EMOTIONALLY TIED TO HIM
THAT I FELT LIKE
I COULDN'T BREATHE OR MOVE.
[ Crying ] YOU CHEATED ON ME!
YES, I DID!
YOU CHEATED ON ME!
YES, I DID!
YOU CHEATED ON ME!
AND I STAB HIM IN THE LEG.
YOU'RE LITERALLY
CUTTING THE TIE THAT BINDS?
YEAH, WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY
GONNA HAPPEN.
WHEN I REALIZED
IT WAS IN HIS LEG,
I PULLED IT OUT,
AND I DROPPED IT.
AND I...
ALL I COULD SAY WAS LIKE, "OH,
MY GOD. WHAT DID I JUST DO?"
HE GETS UP. HE YELLS.
TELLS ME
TO CALL THE AMBULANCE.
AND I'M TELLING HIM
I'M SORRY.
[ GASPS ]
CALL 911!
AND HE WALKS
TO THE BATHROOM.
WHEN HE WALKED INTO THE
BATHROOM, HE FELL INTO THE TUB.
WHENEVER JAMIE IS CHALLENGED,
SHE ALWAYS REACTS WITH DEFIANCE.
SO WHEN JONATHAN SAYS, "YOU
WON'T LEAVE, YOU CAN'T LEAVE,"
THIS ONLY MAKES HER MORE
DETERMINED TO PROVE HIM WRONG.
SHE WANTS TO EXERT CONTROL,
SO SHE GETS A KNIFE.
MAYBE NOW HE WILL LISTEN.
AND WE HEARD THIS BIG THUD...
...WHICH JUST MADE US JUST
AUTOMATICALLY RUN OVER THERE.
WE DROPPED EVERYTHING.
MY STOMACH WAS IN MY THROAT.
I WAS, LIKE, POUNDING THE DOOR.
"OPEN THE DOOR, OPEN THE DOOR,
OPEN THE DOOR."
WHERE IS HE?!
[ LUZ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Samaria: SO, I WALK
TOWARDS THE BATHROOM,
AND JONATHAN IS IN THE TUB,
UNRESPONSIVE,
BARELY BREATHING.
THE BLOOD WAS SEEPING
IN HIS CLOTHES.
IT WAS JUST
ALL OVER THE BATHROOM.
Narrator: JONATHAN'S SISTER
FINALLY CALLS 911.
Samaria:
SO, HERE I AM SHAKING,
AND MY MOTHER IS JUST -
I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER HER.
SHE WAS JUST FROZEN.
SHE SAT ON THE COUCH, AND SHE
WAS JUST YELLING HIS NAME.
JONATHAN, NO!
NO, JONATHAN! JONATHAN!
PLEASE COME RIGHT AWAY.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Narrator: THEN, IN THE MIDST
OF ALL THE CHAOS,
JAMIE DECIDES TO LEAVE.
INSTANTLY, IN MY MIND, I ALREADY
KNEW THE COPS WERE GONNA COME,
AND THEY WERE PROBABLY
GONNA DRAW GUNS ON ME.
AND THE ONLY THING...
[ Voice breaking ] ...THAT
I COULD THINK OF WAS MY SON.
Narrator:
SHE TAKES HER SON, AIDEN,
TO A RELATIVE'S HOUSE
DOWN THE STREET.
JAMIE.
Jamie: MY PLAN WAS
TO GET HIM SOMEWHERE SAFE.
THAT'S IT.
AND I REMEMBER STOOPING DOWN
AND HUGGING MY SON
AND TELLING HIM THAT I LOVED HIM
AND THAT I HAD TO GO.
[ Crying ]
I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU.
PLEASE TAKE GOOD CARE
OF HIM.
I GOT TO GO.
WHAT?
JAMIE -
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator:
BUT RATHER THAN RUN AWAY,
JAMIE GOES BACK
TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.
WHY NOT RUN?
BECAUSE...
SOMETHING TERRIBLE
WAS DONE BY MY HANDS.
IT WAS TIME TO STOP.
I SAID, "I'M JAMIE,
AND I JUST STABBED MY HUSBAND."
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
[ LUZ SOBBING ]
Narrator: JAMIE THEN LEARNS
THE SHOCKING TRUTH.
THE STAB WOUND WAS FATAL.
JAMIE ENDED UP STRIKING
A MAIN ARTERY IN THE THIGH,
WHICH CAUSED JONATHAN
TO BLEED TO DEATH.
[ JONATHAN GROANS ]
[ JAMIE SOBBING ]
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
WERE YOU EXPECTING THAT?
NO.
AND I REMEMBER TELLING
THE OFFICER THAT HE WAS LYING -
THAT HE WAS LYING TO ME.
I WAS SCARED.
I WAS GUILTY.
THIS PERSON THAT I LOVED SO MUCH
DIED AT MY HANDS.
LOST MY BROTHER
IN THE WORST WAY.
LOST MY BROTHER TO MURDER,
BASICALLY.
[ SOBBING, SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Narrator: JAMIE IS CHARGED
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
JAMIE, DID YOU EVER THINK
YOU WOULD SEE YOUR SON AGAIN?
NO, I DIDN'T THINK
I WOULD EVER SEE HIM AGAIN.
I KNEW IN SOME SORT OF WAY THAT
I WAS GONNA DO LIFE IN PRISON.
AND I WAS OKAY WITH THAT.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE
I KILLED MY HUSBAND,
SOMEBODY THAT I LOVED,
AND I DESERVED IT.
Narrator:
BUT IN AN UNEXPECTED TWIST,
JONATHAN'S FAMILY MAKES AN
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT DECISION.
THEY TALK TO THE PROSECUTOR
ABOUT REDUCING THE CHARGE
FROM FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
TO VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER.
[ LUZ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
WE WERE ALL IN THE MODE
OF THINKING OF AIDEN.
NOTHING WAS GONNA
BRING JONATHAN BACK,
EVEN THOUGH WE WERE ALL HURTING.
BUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO AIDEN
IF HE LOSES BOTH PARENTS?
AND THAT'S WHERE
WE WERE COMING FROM.
Narrator: JAMIE SERVES
JUST 3 1/2 YEARS BEHIND BARS.
AND HOW DID YOU USE YOUR TIME
WHILE YOU WERE INCARCERATED?
I STARTED REALLY
EXAMINING MY HEART
AND EXAMINING WHAT IT WAS
THAT BROUGHT ME TO PRISON.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE SCALES
WERE REMOVED FROM MY EYES -
THAT I'M DOING SOMETHING
THAT'S AFFECTING PEOPLE
AND THAT'S HARMING MYSELF
AND HARMING PEOPLE.
Narrator: TODAY, JONATHAN'S FAMILY
HAS NO CONTACT WITH JAMIE OR HER SON,
BUT THEY HOLD OUT HOPE
THAT ONE DAY,
AIDEN WILL REACH OUT TO THEM.
Samaria: IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
TO SEE AIDEN.
HE REMINDS US OF JONATHAN A LOT.
HE KNOWS WE ALL LOVE HIM.
HE KNOWS
WE'RE A PHONE CALL AWAY.
HE KNOWS ALL THAT.
Narrator: AND AS FOR JAMIE,
SHE'S REMARRIED AND HAS REGAINED
CUSTODY OF AIDEN.
SHE'S STARTED A NEW LIFE
IN MASSACHUSETTS
WHERE HER FATHER LIVES.
RIGHT NOW,
MY FOCUS IS REALLY JUST LEARNING
HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE.
IT WAS NEVER A FOCUS FOR ME -
LEARNING HOW TO BE
A GOOD MOM TO MY SON.
JAMIE,
DO YOU THINK YOU'RE CAPABLE
OF DOING THIS EVER AGAIN?
NO.