Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 8 - Family Ties - full transcript

A DESPERATE YOUNG WOMAN...

I WISH
YOU WERE NEVER BORN.

...YEARNS FOR LOVE
AND ATTENTION.

HE WAS TALL, TAN,
REALLY SEXY.

BUT SHE'S DRIVEN DOWN
A DANGEROUS PATH.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF MY BODY
WAS IN THE CAR OR NOT.

SHE FINALLY LANDS MR. RIGHT.

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

HE SAID IT WAS LOVE
AT FIRST SIGHT.

BUT OTHERS
SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING,



I JUST FELT THERE WAS
SOMETHING OFF ABOUT HER.

THE LOVERS
CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT EACH OTHER,

NO MATTER THE COST.

I TOLD MY SON,
"I KNEW LOVE WAS BLIND,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW
IT WAS STUPID TOO."

NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

BREANNA JONES WAS BORN
IN A SMALL OREGON BEACH TOWN.

MY MOM SAID
I NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG,

THAT I WAS ACTUALLY,
LIKE, THE PERFECT BABY.

I WAS A HAPPY BABY,
HAPPY LITTLE GIRL.

...EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.
BECAUSE YOU'RE...

BUT HER WORLD
STARTS FALLING APART



WHEN HER PARENTS
BEGIN FIGHTING.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
THIS IS OVER.

THIS HAS BEEN OVER
FOR A LONG TIME.

WHEN BREANNA'S 9,
HER PARENTS DIVORCE.

HER MOTHER GETS CUSTODY.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE?

BREANNA CLAIMS THAT,
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS,

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
HER AND HER MOM IS TENSE.

I ASKED YOU
TO DO THE DISHES.

THAT'S THE ONE THING
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO ALL DAY.

AND SHE WAS JUST
IN A REAL BAD DEPRESSION

AND WOULD
LASH OUT ANGRILY AT ME

AND I COULDN'T TAKE
THE SCREAMING AND YELLING

CONSTANTLY ALL DAY LONG.

I'M WASHING THEM RIGHT NOW.
GOOD.

IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE

I JUST COULDN'T
HANDLE IT ANYMORE.

I JUST WOULD SIT AND CRY
AND CRY AND CRY.

14-YEAR-OLD BREANNA
MAKES A TOUGH DECISION.

I JUST NEED A CHANGE,
MOM.

SHE DECIDES
TO LEAVE HER MOTHER

AND GO LIVE
WITH HER FATHER.

THIS IS EVERYTHING.

SO FOR ME TO CHOOSE DAD
WAS HUGE.

BYE, MOM.

SO WHEN
YOU CHOSE YOUR DAD...

I WAS BETRAYING MY MOM.

DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

BREANNA IS FORCED
TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HER PARENTS,

AND THAT'S A DECISION

THAT NO CHILD
SHOULD EVER HAVE TO MAKE.

THIS COULD AFFECT
BREANNA'S FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS

BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO WANT
TO PLEASE EVERYONE,

EVEN IF IT MEANS SACRIFICING
WHAT SHE WANTS.

BREANNA'S FATHER
RUNS A TIGHT SHIP.

HE WAS VERY STRICT.

EVERYTHING WAS LIKE
A BOOT CAMP.

COME ON. LET'S GO.
ONE MORE MILE. LET'S GO.

IT WASN'T SET AT
8:00, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE,

OR 9:00
YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR.

I HAD TO BE HOME,
LIKE, BY 5:00.

IT'S THE PERFECT
FORMULA FOR TEENAGE REBELLION.

I GOT YOUR GUY, DUDE.

COME IN.

OH, IT'S THE CHICK.

BREANNA'S BEST FRIEND
INVITES HER TO HANG OUT

WITH SOME COLLEGE BOYS
NAMED RICKY AND JOE.

SHE JUMPS AT THE CHANCE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.
YOU BROUGHT YOUR FRIEND.

RICKY, YES.
THIS IS BREANNA.

AND YOU'RE, LIKE, 14.

YEAH.
AND THEY'RE IN COLLEGE.

YEAH, THEY THOUGHT
WE WERE, LIKE, 17.

I'M SURE
YOU LET THEM THINK THAT.

YEAH.

OH.

OH, THANKS.
YEAH.

YEAH, WE THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE FUN

TO GO HANG OUT
WITH BOYS,

AND, YOU KNOW,
I WAS REALLY NERVOUS.

SO WE WERE ONLY GONNA STAY
FOR A COUPLE HOURS.

THEY WERE HAVING A COUPLE BEERS,
SMOKING A LITTLE POT.

HEY, I'M GONNA GO OUT
AND GRAB SOME MORE BEER.

YOU SHOULD COME WITH ME.

RICKY TELLS BREANNA

HE NEEDS TO STOP
AT A FRIEND'S DORM ON THE WAY.

EVEN THOUGH SHE'S A BIT UNSURE,
SHE PLAYS IT COOL.

COME ON.

BUT WHEN THEY ARRIVE
AT THE DORM,

SHE STARTS TO FEEL UNEASY.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
HIS DEMEANOR CHANGED,

JUST STARTED
TALKING DIFFERENT.

MY BUDDY'S
JUST GONNA MAKE A FEW CALLS,

THEN WE CAN HEAD OUT.

I JUST GOT THIS REALLY
BAD FEELING WASH OVER ME.

HERE'S SOME BEERS
WHILE YOU WAIT.

THIS IS FOR YOU.

- THIS IS FOR HER.
- NICE.

THANKS, BRO.

CHEERS.
CHEERS.

BREANNA QUICKLY DOWNS
HER DRINK TO CALM HER NERVES.

AND SLOWLY AFTER THAT,

I STARTED JUST FEELING
REALLY TIRED.

I'M LIKE,
"COME ON. WE HAVE TO GO."

I DON'T FEEL GOOD.
I THINK I HAVE A HEADACHE.

- YOU THINK YOU WERE DRUGGED?
- YEAH, DEFINITELY.

I GOT REALLY TIRED
REALLY FAST.

AND I PASSED OUT.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

THE NEXT THING I
REMEMBER WAS WAKING UP,

AND I WAS BEING RAPED.

NO. NO.

STOP IT. STOP IT.
STOP IT. STOP IT.

STOP IT.

BY ONE OF THEM
OR BOTH OF THEM?

SHUT UP.

BY ONE OF THEM AT FIRST.

AND THEN,
HIS FRIEND CAME IN THE ROOM

WHEN I WAS TELLING HIM
TO STOP,

AND, YOU KNOW,
THEY TOLD ME TO SHUT UP.

I WAS REALLY,
REALLY SCARED.

I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

I FELT LIKE
IT WAS MY FAULT.

BREANNA VOWS
NEVER TO TELL A SOUL

WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

I WAS SCARED.

I DIDN'T WANT THEM
TO COME BACK AFTER ME.

I FELT
SO DIRTY AND DISGUSTING

THAT I JUST WANTED TO PRETEND
IT NEVER HAPPENED.

AFTER THE RAPE,

BREANNA'S NORMALLY
CHEERY DISPOSITION TURNS DARK.

I FEEL LIKE
I GREW UP OVER NIGHT.

I STAYED HOME A LOT.

I STARTED
SMOKING CIGARETTES.

YOU FELT
LIKE DAMAGED GOODS?

YEAH.

AFTER BEING RAPED,

BREANNA NEVER TELLS ANYBODY
WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT KEEPING ALL THIS SUPPRESSED

IS GOING TO AFFECT HER
EMOTIONALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY

FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.

THE QUESTION IS,

"WILL SHE EVER BE ABLE
TO TRUST ANOTHER MAN AGAIN?"

BREANNA DECIDES TO GO
BACK TO LIVING WITH HER MOTHER

AND CLAIMS HER FATHER
DOESN'T TAKE THE NEWS WELL.

I WANTED TO GET AWAY
FROM THAT PLACE

AND JUST FORGET
IT EVER HAPPENED.

SO WHEN I TOLD HIM
I WANTED TO MOVE BACK,

HE BASICALLY HE SAID,
"I CAN'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE."

WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT HE SAID.

I CAN'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE.

AND THAT JUST BROKE ME.

YOU'RE IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME.

IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING
I DO IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

BACK AT HER MOTHER'S PLACE,

BREANNA CLAIMS THINGS ARE
NO BETTER THAN WHEN SHE LEFT.

EVERYONE ELSE GETS TO GO OUT
AT 10:00 P. M.

ON A SCHOOL NIGHT?

IN FACT,
SHE SAYS THEY'RE EVEN WORSE.

I WOULD JUST SCREAM LIKE,

"WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME?
JUST HUG ME. SOMETHING,"

TO MY MOM.

OH, I'M A HORRIBLE DAUGHTER?
YES.

I HATE YOU.

I WISH
YOU WERE NEVER BORN.

MY MOM SAID
SHE WISHES I DIED.

I WOULD JUST CRY
AND PRAY AND ASK GOD

JUST TO TAKE
THE PAIN AWAY.

I HAD NO ONE
TO REACH OUT TO.

NO ONE?
NOBODY.

MAYBE I REALLY DID
DESERVE TO DIE.

I JUST WANTED LOVE,
AND I COULDN'T GET IT.

I FELT AN EMPTINESS,

AND IT JUST GOT SO BIG

THAT I JUST COULDN'T
TAKE IT ANYMORE.

AND I JUST WANTED THE PAIN
TO STOP.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE
ANYMORE.

AFTER BEING REJECTED
BY HER FATHER...

I CAN'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE.

...AND THEN HER MOTHER...

I WISH
YOU WERE NEVER BORN.

...BREANNA JONES
FEELS ALONE AND DESPERATE.

AND SHE'S ON
A DANGEROUS PATH.

I WAS WOKEN UP BY MY MOM

AROUND 3:00 OR 4:00
IN THE MORNING,

AND I WAS DRENCHED IN SWEAT

AND MY STOMACH
WAS CRAMPING REALLY BAD.

I STARTED TO VOMIT,

AND JUST COULD NOT
LEAVE THE TOILET.

I DIDN'T TELL HER
WHAT I DID

'CAUSE I JUST
WANTED TO DIE.

WE'RE TAKING YOU
TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

AT THE HOSPITAL,

BREANNA COMES CLEAN
ABOUT THE PILLS.

WHEN DID YOU FINALLY ADMIT

THAT YOU HAD OVERDOSED
ON EVERY PILL IN THE HOUSE?

I THINK IT WAS WHEN THEY TOLD ME
I WASN'T GONNA MAKE IT.

THERE HAS BEEN
SOME LIVER DAMAGE.

BUT BREANNA STILL
KEEPS THE REASON FOR HER OVERDOSE

A SECRET.

I WAS THERE
FOR ALMOST A MONTH,

AND THEY HAD
A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION.

DID YOU FINALLY
TELL THE PROFESSIONALS

THAT YOU HAD BEEN RAPED?
NO.

BUT BREANNA DOES
BREAK DOWN AND TELL HER MOTHER.

A LITTLE WHILE AGO,
JAMIE AND I WENT TO A PARTY,

AND THERE WERE
SOME OLDER GUYS THERE.

IT JUST CAME OUT.
I BLURTED IT OUT.

BREANNA SAYS SHE'S DIAGNOSED

WITH BIPOLAR AND
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERS

BEFORE BEING RELEASED
FROM THE HOSPITAL.

FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS,
BREANNA FOCUSES ON HER STUDIES.

SHE CONTROLS HER DEPRESSION
WITH PRESCRIBED MEDICATION

AND EVEN MANAGES TO GRADUATE
A YEAR EARLY, WITH HONORS.

BREANNA IS DEALING
WITH A LOT OF TRAUMA

AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

NOW, IF SHE STICKS WITH HER MEDS
AND SHE STAYS FOCUSED,

SHE CAN COME OUT
A STRONGER PERSON.

BUT IF SHE WAVERS,

SHE RUNS THE RISK
OF CATAPULTING HERSELF

INTO A SERIOUS DEPRESSION.

THAT SUMMER,

BREANNA DECIDES TO CHECK OUT
A HEAVY-METAL MUSIC FESTIVAL.

IT WAS PRETTY WILD.

THERE WASN'T YOUR TYPICAL
CAMPERS THERE.

IT WAS PRETTY FUN.

THE FUN AMPS UP

WHEN SHE MEETS
A FELLOW CAMPER NAMED J. D.

IS SHE ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS?

WE KIND OF HIT IT OFF,
STARTED FLIRTING.

HE'S TALL, TAN,
BLUE EYES...

HI.
IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

HI. I'M J. D.

...REALLY SEXY.

YOU ARE FEELING IT.
LOSING MY MIND OUT THERE.

YOUR NECK'S GONNA
HURT TOMORROW.

IT ALREADY FEELS SORE.

THERE'S INSTANT CHEMISTRY,

AND THE PRETTY, YOUNG TEEN

FINDS HERSELF BARING HER SOUL
TO THIS HANDSOME STRANGER.

THEY, LIKE, BASICALLY
MADE ME CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM.

MAN,
SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

I KIND OF OPENED UP
WITH WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH

WITH MY FAMILY,

AND WE COULD RELATE A LOT.

HE'D BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

THE TWO TEENS ARE INFATUATED
WITH EACH OTHER.

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HER LIFE,

BREANNA FEELS A TRUE CONNECTION
WITH SOMEONE.

HE WAS REALLY OUTGOING,
REALLY NICE.

WE JUST CLICKED.

HE WAS JUST
A REALLY NICE GUY.

OH, MAN.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
THE SUN'S ALREADY COMING UP.

I KNOW.

COME WITH ME TO ARIZONA.
WHAT?

I KNOW
IT SOUNDS CRAZY BUT...

ARE YOU SERIOUS?
YEAH.

I WANT YOU
TO COME WITH ME.

AND I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE
ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO.

INSTEAD OF HEADING HOME,

17-YEAR-OLD BREANNA
HEADS TO ARIZONA WITH J. D.

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,

BREANNA AND J. D. SPEND
EVERY WAKING MOMENT TOGETHER.

YOU CAN'T SEE ME.
YOU CAN'T SEE ME.

WE WERE BOTH IN LOVE
WITH EACH OTHER.

HER SPONTANEOUS NEW LIFE
MAKES HER FEEL FREE AND ALIVE.

HELLO?

Hi. Is J. D. there?

WHO'S THIS?
I'm a friend.

NO, J. D. IS NOT HOME.
WHO IS THIS?

BUT ACCORDING TO BREANNA,

OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS,
THINGS START TO CHANGE.

WHERE THE HELL
HAVE YOU BEEN ALL NIGHT?

HE'LL DISAPPEAR FOR, LIKE,
A WEEKEND AT A TIME

AND FEW DAYS AT A TIME

AND MONEY THAT WE WERE

SUPPOSED TO BE SAVING
FOR AN APARTMENT...

THEN, THERE WOULD BE GIRLS
CALLING.

I WAS YAPPING THEIR EAR OFF
ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.

BUT BREANNA
DESPERATELY CLINGS TO THE FANTASY

OF HAVING
THE PERFECT RELATIONSHIP

AND LETS
J. D.'S BEHAVIOR SLIDE.

YOU KNOW
HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU?

IT'S J. D.'S 20th BIRTHDAY,

AND BREANNA HAS
A ROMANTIC EVENING PLANNED.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE,
I THINK, AROUND 5:00, 6:00.

THEN, WE WERE GONNA
GO OUT TO EAT.

BUT BY 8:00, SHE KNOWS
THOSE PLANS ARE RUINED.

Hey, Brea. It's me.
HEY.

Yeah, I'm not gonna be
able to make it home tonight.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN
YOU'RE NOT COMING HOME?"

IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DINNER.

Yeah. Sorry.
He's gonna be with me tonight.

And I'm gonna take care of him.

WAIT. WHO IS THAT?

THERE'S SOME GIRL
LAUGHING IN BACKGROUND.

AND HE WAS MESSED UP.

I WAS LIKE, "I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU'RE DOING THIS."

AND THEY WERE, LIKE,
LAUGHING AT ME.

Take care of him
for his birthday.

Don't say that.
Be quiet.

I WAS, LIKE, DEVASTATED.

YOU'RE STANDING THERE
WITH A CAKE.

WHAT DID YOU DO?

I JUST THREW IT
IN THE TRASH.

THE NEXT MORNING,

BREANNA MEETS J. D.
AWAY FROM THE HOUSE...

WOW. I'M SURPRISED
YOU EVEN SHOWED UP.

AND LET'S HIM HAVE IT.

WHAT ARE
YOU TALKING ABOUT?

OH, I'M JUST SURPRISED YOU'RE JUST
NOT OUT WITH ONE OF YOUR SLUTS.

I WAS SO HURT.
MY HEART WAS BROKEN.

ALL THE THINGS THAT I KEPT
REALIZING WAS GOING ON.

I KEPT BELIEVING
AND BELIEVING.

AND, WELL, THERE IT WAS,
RIGHT IN MY FACE,

AND THERE WAS NO DENYING IT.

WE'RE DONE. I DON'T HAVE TO BE
A PROBLEM FOR YOU ANYMORE.

OKAY.

YOU DON'T HAVE
TO BE A PROBLEM FOR ME.

FINE. WALK AWAY.
BYE.

YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING
FOR YOURSELF.

I'M THE BEST THING
THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU.

LOOK AT ME.

FINE.
OH, MY GOD.

BUT SHE SAYS J. D.
ISN'T ABOUT TO JUST LET HER GO.

I WAS WALKING BACK
TO WHERE MY CAR WAS.

WATCH OUT.

AND HE SAID,
OH, HE'LL SHOW ME.

AND I KEPT WALKING
DOWN THE STREET.

WE'RE DONE. I DON'T HAVE TO BE
A PROBLEM FOR YOU ANYMORE.

OKAY.

20-YEAR-OLD BREANNA JONES

HAS HAD ENOUGH
OF HER CHEATING BOYFRIEND J. D.

BUT SHE CLAIMS
HE'S NOT DONE WITH HER YET.

BREANNA'S NEVER SEEN
THIS SIDE OF J. D.

BEFORE SHE'S EVEN
HAD A CHANCE TO PACK,

THE DRAMA ESCALATES.

CAN I HELP YOU, OFFICER?

IS BREANNA JONES
ON THE PREMISES?

THAT'S ME.

YOUR CAR HAS BEEN IN
A BIT OF INCIDENT.

THE POLICE WERE AT THE HOUSE
AND SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW

IF MY BODY WAS IN THE CAR
OR NOT,

BUT MY CAR
WAS LIT ON FIRE.

OH, MY GOD.

THE ENTIRE HONDA
WAS LIT ON FIRE.

BY J. D.?

I KNEW IT WAS HIM.

EVEN THOUGH
BREANNA'S SURE IT WAS HIM,

J. D.'S NEVER CHARGED
WITH ANY CRIME.

BREANNA FEELS UNSAFE.

SHE FINDS A NEW JOB,

AND HER MOTHER HELPS HER OUT

WITH MONEY
FOR A NEW PLACE TO STAY.

OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELL, I DID REALLY GOOD
FOR A FEW YEARS.

I HAD MY OWN PLACE.

I WAS WORKING
A COUPLE JOBS.

EVERYTHING
WAS GOING GREAT.

NOW 26, BREANNA IS
ENTIRELY SELF-SUFFICIENT

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HER LIFE.

BREANNA IS FINALLY
ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

SHE LEFT
A DESTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP,

AND SHE'S MAKING MONEY.

THIS COULD BE THE TURNING POINT
IN HER LIFE

IF SHE STAYS FOCUSED.

BUT SHE'S ALSO
BUILDING CONFIDENCE

AND LEARNING TO RELY ON HERSELF,
INSTEAD OF OTHERS,

TO DETERMINE HER OWN FUTURE.

BREANNA'S FEELING CONTENT

AND HASN'T BEEN LOOKING
FOR A RELATIONSHIP...

...UNTIL ONE EVENING

WHEN A HANDSOME STRANGER
CATCHES HER EYE.

I'VE SEEN YOU AROUND.
DO YOU LIVE HERE?

YEAH. I DO.

OH, YOU DO?
YEAH.

I'M BREANNA.
I'M HENRY.

HI.
PEOPLE CALL ME JUNIOR.

NICE TO MEET YOU.
YEAH.

HIS BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYES,
TATTOOS, NICE BODY.

I WORK AT THE DINER
DOWN THE STREET.

YEAH. WELL, I'VE BEEN
I'VE BEEN BY THERE.

HE WAS GORGEOUS.

HIS NAME IS JUNIOR MILLER,

AND HE'S DEFINITELY
PIQUED HER INTEREST.

MAYBE I'LL SEE YOU AROUND.
YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

BREANNA HOPES TO SEE HIM AGAIN.

WHAT?
TA-DA!

WHAT IS THIS?

SHE GETS HER WISH.

BEFORE LONG,

THE PAIR ARE HANGING OUT
REGULARLY.

WE WERE FRIENDS FOR 6 MONTHS,

GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER
REALLY WELL.

I HAD A WOMAN
WHO SENT BACK HER FOOD,

LIKE, FIVE TIMES.

I KNOW.
OH, MY GOD.

HE HAD A REALLY HUGE HEART,

AND HE WAS BEAUTIFUL
INSIDE-OUT.

BREANNA REALIZES
SHE'S FALLING FOR HIM, HARD.

BREANNA IS DOING EXACTLY
WHAT SHE SHOULD BE DOING:

DEVELOPING TRUST

BEFORE JUMPING HEADFIRST
INTO A RELATIONSHIP.

IT SHOWS A LOT OF MATURITY.

AND THIS ROMANCE HAS A CHANCE

AS LONG AS BREANNA CAN HOLD ON
TO HER NEW INDEPENDENCE.

THE FRIENDSHIP
EVENTUALLY BECOMES MUCH MORE.

IT WAS REALLY ROMANTIC.
IT WAS NICE.

IT WAS A VERY INTENSE
RELATIONSHIP

VERY PASSIONATE, EXCITING.

ARE YOU HUNGRY?

HE BASICALLY SAID

IT WAS LOVE
AT FIRST SIGHT.

HE WAS IN LOVE WITH ME,

AND...
OH, MY GOD.

HE WANTED TO HELP
TAKE CARE OF ME.

BUT JUNIOR'S JOB IS ENDING,

AND HE'S HEADING BACK HOME
TO NEW YORK.

UM...

WHAT'S WRONG?

I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU TOO, BABY.

UM...
OH, MY GOD.

OH, MY GOD.

YOU HAVE BIG DREAMS
WITH THIS GUY.

YEAH.

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

YES. YES.

OF COURSE I'LL MARRY YOU.

YOU'RE GONNA GET THE WEDDING,
GET THE FAMILY,

GET THE PICKET FENCE

THAT YOU'VE BEEN DREAMING OF.
YEP.

BREANNA WAS THE FIRST PERSON
THAT I'VE EVER HEARD HIM SAY

THAT HE WANTS TO MARRY
AND HAVE CHILDREN WITH.

I WAS HAPPY FOR JUNIOR

BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN SINGLE
FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

MOM, HEAVEN, HEY, MOM.

HEY, JERRY.

THE YOUNG COUPLE
DECIDE TO SETTLE DOWN

IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK

AND LIVE WITH JUNIOR'S FAMILY.

I FELT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE
LIVING AT HIS FAMILY'S HOUSE.

I WAS A LITTLE OLD

TO BE LIVING IN
SOMEBODY'S PARENTS' HOUSE.

AND THIS IS MY FIANCéE BREANNA.

AND HE JUST KEPT SAYING,

"OH, IT'S JUST TEMPORARY,
TEMPORARY."

BREANNA QUICKLY LEARNS

THAT THE MILLERS
ARE A TIGHT-KNIT CREW

AND THAT SHE'S NOT JUST
MARRYING JUNIOR

BUT HIS ENTIRE FAMILY
AS WELL.

MY BROTHER AND I HAVE BEEN
BEST FRIENDS GROWING UP.

WE'RE A YEAR APART.

I'VE BEEN THERE THROUGH EVERY
RELATIONSHIP HE'S EVER HAD.

LET'S GO GET A BEER.

WHEN I FIRST MET BREANNA,

YOU WOULDN'T ASK
FOR A BETTER GIRL.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S -

SHE'S A BEAUTIFUL GIRL
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

WELL, I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GO
MAKE SOME DINNER.

SO I'M GONNA GO WORK
ON THE DINNER.

OH, MY GOSH.
WHAT ARE YOU MAKING?

BREANNA TURNS ON THE CHARM,

HOPING TO MAKE
A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION.

I WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU WITH IT
IF YOU DON'T MIND.

WELL, AT FIRST,
I THOUGHT BREANNA WAS VERY NICE.

JUNIOR TELLS ME THAT YOU
ARE AN AMAZING COOK AS WELL.

I AM SO...

SHE WAS VERY POLITE.

AND I JUST THOUGHT,
"WELL, GREAT.

HE FINALLY FOUND A GIRL

THAT'S GONNA GIVE HIM
WHAT HE WANTS."

SHE SEEMS NICE.
YEAH. I GUESS.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING,

I JUST FELT THERE WAS
SOMETHING OFF ABOUT HER.

I JUST HAVE AN INSTINCT
ABOUT THAT WASN'T GOOD.

I FELT LIKE SHE WAS PUTTING ON
A FACADE FOR EVERYBODY.

HE'S NOT A GOOD QUARTERBACK,
DAD.

HE'S THE BEST IN THE LEAGUE.

NO. COME ON.
JUNIOR, OKAY.

BREANNA SAYS THINGS
QUICKLY GO DOWNHILL.

I DON'T HAVE A SMOKE.
NO, I RAN OUT.

SHE CLAIMS THAT
JUNIOR'S FAMILY LIKES TO DRINK.

ONE FOR MY JUNIOR.

AND IT CAN GET
OUT OF CONTROL.

HE STARTED
DRINKING MORE AND MORE.

HIS FAMILY USED TO DRINK
ALL THE TIME.

LIKE, EVERY NIGHT,
THEY'D BUY BIG CASES OF BEER.

IT WAS JUST ACCEPTABLE.

NO, I'M TIRED. I'M TIRED.
I'M GOING HOME.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING? HEY.
I'M GOING TO BED.

YOU KNOW, GET LOUD AND DRUNK
AND OBNOXIOUS.

ACCORDING TO JUNIOR'S FAMILY,

BREANNA IS THE PROBLEM
AND THE ONE WHO DRINKS TOO MUCH.

HE'S NOT
A GOOD QUARTERBACK, DAD.

SHE'D DRINK FROM THE TIME
SHE GOT UP

TILL THE TIME
SHE WENT TO BED.

AND SHE HAD TO HAVE IT.

YOU ARE NOT
GETTING TICKETS.

SHE SHOWED HER TRUE COLORS.

SHE BLAMES EVERYBODY
FOR HER MISTAKES.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
THIS IS ENOUGH.

I AM SICK OF EVERYBODY
IN THIS FAMILY GANGING UP ON ME.

SHE LIKED DRAMA.

SHE WOULD CONSTANTLY START DRAMA
WITH ANYBODY.

THIS IS BETWEEN US.

SHE CAUSED, LIKE, A REAL
TOXIC DYNAMIC IN MY FAMILY,

JUST TRYING
TO PUT A WRENCH

IN THE CLOSENESS
OF OUR FAMILY

AND BE A LITTLE MORE
CONTROLLING WITH HIM.

WHOSE MOTHER BRINGS THEM
SANDWICHES AND BEER?

SHARON CLAIMS THE FIGHTS
OFTEN LAST WELL INTO THE NIGHT.

THEY WOULD ALWAYS ARGUE,
ALWAYS YELLING.

THERE WAS MORNINGS
THAT I WOULD STAY UP

TILL 3:00 IN THE MORNING

BECAUSE THEY WERE YELLING
SO LOUD.

- PLEASE.
- WHEN ARE WE LEAVING?

IT DOESN'T MATTER.
IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY, RIGHT?

THOUGH BREANNA SEEMED TO
RUB THE MILLER WOMEN THE WRONG WAY,

SHE WAS VERY FRIENDLY
WITH THE MEN...

HEY, HENRY,
I HAVE A WORK EVENT TONIGHT.

DO YOU THINK
I SHOULD PUT MY HAIR UP OR DOWN?

WELL, LET ME SEE
FROM THE BACK.

...MAYBE A LITTLE
TOO FRIENDLY.

SHE WOULD FLIRT WITH
ANYBODY, EVEN MY OWN HUSBAND.

SHARON,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

SHE CAME OUT OF THE BEDROOM
ONE DAY STARK NAKED.

IT'S LIKE, "GO PUT
SOME FREAKING CLOTHES ON!"

I THINK YOU NEED TO GO
UPSTAIRS

AND GET SOME CLOTHES ON.
FINE.

THANKS, HENRY.

SHE'S GOT TO BE
THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.

CAN YOU BELIEVE
THAT GIRL?

AND IT DIDN'T MATTER
WHO SHE GOT IT FROM.

AS LONG AS SHE WAS
THE CENTER OF ATTENTION,

SHE WAS HAPPY.

IF SHE WASN'T, LOOK OUT.

SEEMS LIKE
A NICE ENOUGH GIRL TO ME.

HIS DAD LIKED ME
A LOT MORE.

I THINK HIS MOM
WAS KIND OF JEALOUS

AND DIDN'T REALLY LIKE

A YOUNG, PRETTY GIRL
BEING THERE.

HEY, BREANNA.

BREANNA.
SHARON.

AFTER 2 YEARS
OF LIVING UNDER THE SAME ROOF,

JUNIOR'S MOTHER
REACHES HER BREAKING POINT.

YOU KNOW,
BOTH HENRY AND I

THINK YOU'VE REALLY
OUTSTAYED YOUR WELCOME HERE.

SO APRIL OF 2012,
I GAVE HER AN EVICTION NOTICE.

I HAD A JOB
AND I GOT MY OWN APARTMENT.

LET HIM, YOU KNOW,
COME WITH

AS LONG AS
THERE WAS NO FIGHTING.

BUT JUNIOR CHOOSES
TO STAY WITH HIS FAMILY,

EVEN THOUGH HE AND BREANNA
ARE STILL ENGAGED.

WAS HE A MAMA'S BOY?
BIG TIME.

BIG TIME MOMMA'S BOY.

JUNIOR LOVES HIS FAMILY
AND BREANNA.

EVEN THOUGH HIS MOM'S BANNED
HIS FIANCé FROM THE HOUSE,

HE COMES UP
WITH A LOOPHOLE.

STAY RIGHT THERE.

OKAY.

TA-DA!

WHAT THE HELL
DO YOU NEED A TENT FOR?

MY SON WANTED
TO BRING HER TO THE HOUSE,

AND I TOLD HIM NO.

MOM SAID YOU COULDN'T COME
IN THE HOUSE, RIGHT?

SO NOW, WE DON'T HAVE
TO GO IN THE HOUSE.

WE GOT OUR OWN LITTLE SPACE
RIGHT HERE.

CHECK IT OUT.

CHECK IT OUT.
OH, MY GOSH. IT'S HUGE.

I DON'T WANT HER IN MY HOUSE.

I DO NOT WANT
BREANNA IN MY HOUSE.

WHAT THE HELL
IS SHE DOING HERE?

MOM. MOM.
WHAT?

YOU SAID SHE COULDN'T BE
IN THE HOUSE.

SHE'S NOT IN THE HOUSE,
ALL RIGHT?

HE'S GOT A POINT, SHARON.
I'M NOT IN THE HOUSE.

WELL, I PROCEEDED TO BEAT
THE CRAP OUT OF HER.

HEY. WHOA.

AND, JUNIOR,
IF THIS IS A JOKE,

IT AIN'T FUNNY!

YEAH, I'M CALLING THE COPS
ON YOU, YOU BITCH.

I ENDED UP IN JAIL.

IT WAS WORTH EVERY PUNCH
I COULD GET IN.

HIS FAMILY IS REALLY KNOWN
FOR BEING

THE "BADASS" FAMILY
IN TOWN.

EVEN THOUGH JUNIOR IS
STILL LIVING AT HIS PARENTS' HOUSE,

HE STAYS AT BREANNA'S PLACE
ALMOST EVERY NIGHT.

SHE HOPES SOME DISTANCE
FROM HIS FAMILY

WILL BE GOOD
FOR THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

WHY ARE YOU EVEN
CLEANING UP?

I'M CLEANING UP
AFTER YOUR DRUNK ASS.

BUT, ACCORDING TO BREANNA,
JUNIOR'S A NASTY DRUNK

WITH A JEALOUS STREAK
A MILE WIDE.

ARE YOU HAVING SOMEBODY
OVER HERE DURING THE DAY?

HE WOULD GET DRUNK
AFTER WORK

AND THEN COME HOME
REALLY, REALLY DRUNK.

THERE WAS CONSTANT ARGUING.

HE THOUGHT I WAS TRYING
TO LEAVE HIM.

OH, YEAH, JUNIOR.

I'M HAVING THE WHOLE BLOCK OVER
WHILE YOU'RE GONE.

YOU'RE CHEATING ON ME,
HUH?

JUNIOR, YOU'RE DRUNK.

THAT'S WHY
YOU GOT YOUR OWN PLACE.

I REMEMBER
HE WAS UP IN MY FACE,

AND I PUSHED HIM
AWAY FROM ME.

YOUR OWN PLACE.
JUNIOR, STOP IT.

AND HE HAULED OFF
AND PUNCHED ME.

PUNCHED YOU?
YEAH.

HE PUNCHED ME RIGHT HERE,
WHERE THE SCAR IS.

OHH! JUNIOR! STOP IT!

STOP IT, JUNIOR!
YOU'RE HURTING ME!

BREANNA SAYS
SHE COMES FACT-TO-FACE

WITH JUNIOR'S TERRIFYING TEMPER,

AND IT'S NOT OVER YET.

TO SEE MORE
"WIVES WITH KNIVES,"

GO TO
investigationdiscovery. com.

UM...

WHEN BREANNA JONES
MET JUNIOR MILLER...

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

SHE WAS SURE SHE FOUND

HER KNIGHT
IN SHINING ARMOR.

BUT SHE GETS THE SHOCK
OF HER LIFE

WHEN SHE CLAIMS HIS RAGE
IGNITES LIKE FIREWORKS.

YOU'RE HURTING ME.

STUPID LITTLE - AAH!

THERE'S A DINNER TV TRAY,
THE WOODEN TV TRAY.

HE BEAT ME WITH IT
TILL IT BROKE.

I KNOW
YOU'RE CHEATING ON ME.

BREANNA IS BEATEN
UNTIL SHE'S BARELY CONSCIOUS.

BREANNA?

HE LEFT ME
WITH THE DOORS OPEN,

AND ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS

ACTUALLY FOUND ME
CHOKING ON BLOOD

AND CALLED THE AMBULANCE.

BREANNA.

IS IT ALL RIGHT
IF I ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS.

HI, BREANNA JONES.

AT THE HOSPITAL,

BREANNA LEARNS
THAT JUNIOR'S BEEN ARRESTED

FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE.

NOW, I NEED TO GET A STATEMENT
FROM YOU.

WELL, WE GOT IN A FIGHT.

BUT IT WAS -
IT WAS MOSTLY MY FAULT.

SHE SAYS SHE'S AFRAID
TO PRESS CHARGES.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LAWS TO
PROTECT YOU IN THIS SITUATION.

HE TOLD ME
THAT HE'D KILL ME.

AND YOU BELIEVED HIM?
YEAH.

EVEN THOUGH SHE'S
TREATED FOR MULTIPLE INJURIES,

JUNIOR'S FAMILY
DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS.

JUNIOR WOULD HAVE NEVER
LAID A HAND ON HER

UNLESS SHE WAS
PHYSICALLY HURTING HIM.

I'VE NEVER EVER SEEN HIM
PHYSICALLY HIT ANY WOMAN.

JUNIOR'S EVENTUALLY RELEASED.

DID JUNIOR REALLY
BEAT BREANNA WITH THE TV TRAY

OR IS SHE EXAGGERATING?

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS
SHE HAS PHOTOS AND SCARS.

AND EVEN THOUGH
HIS FAMILY INSISTS

THEY NEVER SAW HIM BE ABUSIVE,

MOST PHYSICAL VIOLENCE
HAPPENS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,

WITHOUT ANY WITNESSES.

- HEY, CHARLES. HEY.
- OH, HEY.

WHEN BREANNA IS
RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL,

SHE LEARNS THAT SHE'S BEING
EVICTED FROM HER APARTMENT.

THIS IS MY FRIEND,
BREANNA, I TOLD YOU ABOUT.

HELLO.
HI. I'M BREANNA.

HER NEIGHBOR MELODY

INTRODUCES HER TO A MAN
NAMED CHARLES McINTYRE,

WHO HAS AN EXTRA ROOM
FOR RENT.

JUST TEMPORARILY.

SHE BASICALLY WAS HOMELESS.

SHE NEEDED A PLACE TO STAY

SO I ALLOWED HER
TO STAY IN MY HOUSE.

OKAY. NO PROBLEM.

I FELT SAFE THERE.

DO YOU WANT TO SEE IT?
YEAH.

YEAH? OKAY.

HE'S MORE THAN
30 YEARS HER SENIOR,

BUT SEEMS KIND.

SHE'S VERY BEAUTIFUL.

THAT CHICKEN PARMESAN
WAS AMAZING.

CHARLES IS MORE THAN HAPPY
TO HELP THE DESPERATE YOUNG WOMAN.

I JUST HAD FEELINGS FOR HER
WHEN I FIRST MET HER.

OH, MY GOSH. WAIT.

CHARLES LETS BREANNA
STAY FOR FREE,

AND, IN EXCHANGE,
SHE COOKS AND CLEANS.

OKAY. CHARLES,
YOU HAVE TO DANCE WITH ME.

AN UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP

QUICKLY BLOSSOMS
BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

WE TALKED,

WE DANCED TOGETHER,
PLAYED MUSIC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME
STAY HERE, CHARLES.

I'M REALLY GRATEFUL.

OH, WELL,
YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

YOU CAN STAY AS LONG
AS YOU LIKE.

WHEN WE WERE DANCING
IN THE KITCHEN,

I WAS JUST IN LOVE WITH HER.

I WANTED TO BE WITH HER
24 HOURS A DAY.

OH. HOLD ON.

I GOT TO GET THIS.

IT WAS A HEALTHY,
GOOD FRIENDSHIP.

YEAH.

IS IT NICE
TO HAVE A PROTECTOR?

YEAH.

HE STARTED TO LOVE ME
VERY DEARLY.

YEAH.

OH, I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T THINK COMING OVER
IS A GOOD IDEA.

BUT SHE CLAIMS JUNIOR'S
DESPERATE TO WIN HER BACK.

I THINK ABOUT THAT SOMETIMES,
TOO.

JUNIOR WAS A VERY LIKABLE GUY,
A BELIEVABLE GUY,

ALWAYS BEING REALLY NICE.

AND I WAS LONELY.

AND YOU GET SUCKED BACK IN.
SUCKED BACK IN, YES.

LISTEN. WE'RE JUST TALKING.
THERE'S NO WAY IN...

BREANNA AGREES
TO SEE JUNIOR AGAIN,

MUCH TO CHARLES' DISMAY.

I WOULD TELL HER
TO STAY AWAY FROM JUNIOR,

BUT SHE WANTED TO BE WITH HIM.

AND I LEFT IT AT THAT.

OKAY. I - I JUST DON'T THINK
IT'S A GOOD...

I LOVED HER VERY MUCH,

EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T
WANT TO BE WITH ME.

I JUST BIDED MY TIME.

I JUST HAVE TO GO.
I'LL BE - I'LL BE BACK.

BREANNA HAS CRAVED
LOVE AND ATTENTION HER ENTIRE LIFE.

IF JUNIOR CONTINUES TO SHOW

JUST AN OUNCE OF RESPECT
AND AFFECTION FOR HER,

SHE'S GOING TO CONTINUE
TO GO BACK TO HIM.

IT'S A VICIOUS CYCLE.

BY THE FALL OF 2012,

BREANNA AND JUNIOR

HAVE BEEN SEEING EACH OTHER
AGAIN FOR 2 MONTHS.

HEY, BABE.
I GOT YOU A BEER.

I DON'T WANT A BEER, JUNIOR.
I HAVE WORK IN THE MORNING.

BUT THE COUPLE'S RELATIONSHIP
IS FAR FROM PERFECT.

I DON'T WANT TO PARTY WITH YOU,
JUNIOR.

I TOLD HIM
HE HAD TO GO HOME

'CAUSE I HAD TO WORK
THE NEXT DAY,

AND HE DIDN'T
WANT TO LEAVE.

'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA PROBABLY
HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE COME OVER.

I'M NOT GONNA
HAVE ANYBODY OVER.

WHEN HE DIDN'T DRINK,
HE WAS A NICE GUY.

BUT WHEN HE STARTED DRINKING,
HE WAS DIFFERENT PERSON.

ACCORDING TO BREANNA,
JUNIOR LOSES IT.

OR ANYTHING WOULD BE BETTER
THAN YOUR DRUNK ASS.

AAH!

DON'T YOU EVER TALK TO ME
LIKE THAT.

HE HAD A KNIFE
TO MY THROAT.

NOBODY TALKS TO ME
LIKE THAT.

AND THEN HE STARTED
CHOKING ME.

NOBODY TALKS TO ME LIKE THAT!

AND IT GOT TO THE POINT
I COULDN'T BREATHE,

AND I JUST WAS TRYING
TO GET HIM OFF OF ME.

AND THAT'S
WHEN IT CLICKED.

IT WASN'T
THAT HE WAS JUST DRUNK.

HE WAS REALLY
TRYING TO KILL ME.

BREANNA STRIKES BACK.

AAH!

YOU STABBED HIM IN THE BACK?

NICKED HIM. AND I WAS JUST
TRYING TO GET HIM OFF ME.

I COULDN'T BREATHE.

I FELT LIKE
I WAS GONNA DIE

AND I WAS BACKED
IN A CORNER.

BUT JUNIOR'S FAMILY
TELLS A VERY DIFFERENT STORY.

BABY, I GOT YOU A BEER.

NO, BABE, I DON'T WANT
TO DRINK TONIGHT.

MY BROTHER TOLD ME
HE WAS GOING BACK TO WORK

AND HE NEEDED TO GET SOME REST.

SHE WAS DRINKING.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST
HAVE A BEER WITH ME?

IT'S JUST ONE BEER.

AND SHE WANTED
TO CONTINUE DRINKING.

AND SHE WANTED HIM
TO DRINK WITH HER.

HE WOULDN'T.

AND HE WAS GONNA
GO TO MY PARENTS',

AND HE WAS GONNA
GET SOME REST.

YOU LITTLE MAMA'S BOY.

LISTEN TO ME. YOU'RE DRUNK.
ALL RIGHT.

KNOCK IT OFF.
I'M GOING, ALL RIGHT?

OH, DON'T YOU WALK AWAY
FROM ME, JUNIOR.

DON'T YOU WALK AWAY
FROM ME.

AAH!

AND SHE STABBED HIM
IN THE BACK.

GOD.

I WAS IN THE BEDROOM SLEEPING.

AND I HEARD THIS COMMOTION.

I WENT OUT
INTO THE LIVING ROOM.

WHAT'S WRONG?

THAT CRAZY BITCH,
SHE STABBED ME.

WHAT? SIT DOWN.
I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

NO. NO.

YOU CAN HAVE HER.

SO HE WENT OUT THE BACK DOOR
AND WENT HOME.

BREANNA.

ARE YOU OKAY?

WHEN HE GOT TO THE HOUSE,

THAT'S WHEN WE NOTICED THAT SHE
HAD STABBED HIM IN THE BACK.

AND, OF COURSE,
WE CALLED 911.

BREANNA IS ARRESTED.

SHE POSTS BAIL
AND, ULTIMATELY, PLEADS GUILTY

TO A THIRD-DEGREE ASSAULT
CHARGE.

- OH, GOD.
- HE'S OKAY.

THE WOUND REQUIRES
SIX STITCHES TO CLOSE.

JUNIOR'S FAMILY HOPES
THIS IS THE FINAL STRAW

THAT WILL END
THIS TOXIC RELATIONSHIP.

HE HAD REALLY BROKEN TIES
WITH HER.

I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA
MAKE A CLEAN START

AND LET HER GO.

AND WE WERE GONNA BE ABLE

TO GET THAT FAMILY DYNAMIC
BACK TOGETHER

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING
WAS GONNA GO BACK TO NORMAL.

THIS TIME IT'S OVER.

JUNIOR GETS A
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER

AGAINST BREANNA.

THE HOTHEADED COUPLE STAYS AWAY
FROM EACH OTHER FOR 8 MONTHS.

Hey. Hi.
BREANNA.

UNTIL, BREANNA CLAIMS,
JUNIOR BREAKS DOWN.

LISTEN. I'M SO SORRY.

HE SAID WAS TOO IN LOVE WITH ME
AND WOULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT ME.

AND NO ONE ELSE
WOULD HAVE ME EVER.

BUT THE MILLERS INSIST
THAT BREANNA IS THE ONE

THAT REFUSED TO LOOSEN HER GRIP
ON JUNIOR.

THIS IS GETTING
RIDICULOUS.

SHE PROCEEDED TO CALL THE HOUSE,

PROCEEDED TO CALL THE HOUSE
AND PROCEEDED TO CALL THE HOUSE.

LET ME JUST -
LET ME JUST TAKE IT.

AND THEN,
HE STARTED TALKING TO HER AGAIN.

Breanna.
JUNIOR.

BREANNA DECIDED, YOU KNOW,
SHE WANTED HIM BACK

SO SHE TOLD HIM
WHATEVER SHE NEEDED TO TELL HIM

TO GET HIM TO COME BACK.

I DON'T WANT TO DISRESPECT
YOUR FAMILY EVER AGAIN.

JUNIOR'S PERSONALITY IS

HE ALWAYS GIVES EVERYBODY
A SECOND CHANCE.

JUST LET IT GO, JUNIOR.

I TRIED MY BEST
TO TALK HIM OUT OF IT.

TRIED. I TRIED EVERYTHING.

LIKE, WE'D GET IN ARGUMENTS
OVER IT.

I'D TELL JUNIOR, I SAYS,

"YOU'RE A FOOL
TO GO BACK WITH HER."

I THINK IT WAS
BECAUSE IT WAS HER COURT TIME,

AND SHE WANTED HIM
TO REDUCE THE CHARGES.

ACCORDING TO BREANNA,

JUNIOR ENDS UP WRITING A LETTER
TO THE JUDGE

THAT GETS HER ASSAULT CHARGE
REDUCED TO A MISDEMEANOR.

HE FELT HORRIBLE.

HE ACTUALLY WENT
AND TOLD THE JUDGE

THAT IT WASN'T MY FAULT.

SHE GETS 3 YEARS PROBATION.

HE SAID, "I'M GONNA CHANGE
AND I'M GONNA GO COUNSELING."

THEY DROPPED THE RESTRAINING
ORDER AND EVERYTHING.

AND I THOUGHT, "WOW.
HE'S REALLY, REALLY GONNA MAKE AN EFFORT."

EIGHT MONTHS AFTER BREANNA
STABBED JUNIOR IN THE BACK,

THE COUPLE
IS OFFICIALLY BACK TOGETHER.

HE STILL WANTED TO MARRY
BREANNA.

THEY EVEN SET A DATE.

WHAT DO YOU GOT HERE?

THEY MOVE INTO
THEIR OWN APARTMENT,

AND BREANNA STARTS
PLANNING HER DREAM WEDDING.

I'M SO EXCITED.

I TOLD MY SON,
"I KNEW LOVE WAS BLIND,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS STUPID,
TOO."

MARK MATHEWS.

HE'S MY FRIEND.

HE'S YOUR EX-BOYFRIEND.

BUT WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS,

BREANNA AND JUNIOR
CAN'T ESCAPE THEIR OLD HABITS.

AND THE BICKERING BEGINS.

OH, PLEASE.
GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK.

YOU HAVE NO CLASS.
YOU KNOW THAT?

I COULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE.

I WASN'T GONNA FIGHT,
WASN'T GONNA ARGUE.

AND MAYBE IT WAS JUST BETTER
WE GO OUR SEPARATE WAYS.

AND I WAS JUST TELLING HIM
I LOVED HIM,

BUT IT'S JUST OBVIOUSLY
NOT GONNA WORK.

THIS WAS A MISTAKE.

AND HE WASN'T HAVING IT.

OH, YOU'RE BREAKING UP
WITH ME, HUH?

I WENT TO GATHER MY THINGS
IN THE BEDROOM,

AND HE CAME IN BEHIND ME

AND CLOSED
AND LOCKED THE DOOR.

WHERE DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING, HUH?

JUNIOR, CALM DOWN.

YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
BABY...

HE STARTED
SWINGING THE KNIFE AT ME,

WAS CUTTING ME UP.

AAH! WHAT?

OH, NO! OHH!

ACCORDING TO BREANNA,

JUNIOR HAS NO INTENTION
OF LETTING HER GO.

AND I WAS BEGGING HIM
JUST STOP, STOP, PLEASE.

I LOVE YOU. STOP.

STOP!

HE HAD DROPPED THE KNIFE.

HE STAGGERED BACK.

HE WAS SO DRUNK.

I GRABBED THE KNIFE.

I'M NOT INVITING
MY EX-BOYFRIEND.

BREANNA JONES HAS DECIDED TO END

AN ABUSIVE 3-YEAR RELATIONSHIP
WITH JUNIOR MILLER.

BUT SHE CLAIMS
THAT WHEN JUNIOR RETALIATES,

SHE MANAGES
TO GET THE UPPER HAND

AND GRABS THE KNIFE.

HE STAGGERED
AND FELL AGAINST ME,

STAGGERED AND FELL
INTO THE KNIFE.

AND I TRIED TO DROP IT
RIGHT WHEN HE HIT ME.

OKAY.
AAH!

WHAT?

BREANNA, DID YOU STAB HIM?

NO, I DID NOT.

MNH-MNH.

YOU SAY HE FELL
INTO THE KNIFE?

MM-HMM.

AND I PANICKED,
AND I RAN TO HIM.

ARE YOU OKAY?

LET'S GET YOU
TO THE BATHROOM.

IN THE BATHROOM, WE WERE LOOKING
AND HE LIFTED UP HIS ARM.

AND WHEN
HE LIFTED UP HIS ARM,

IT, LIKE,
TORE IT OPEN A LITTLE.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.

BUT BREANNA DOESN'T CALL 911.

CHARLES,
IT'S ME, BREANNA.

HEY, BREANNA.
WHAT'S GOING ON?

CHARLES ONLY LIVED
A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY.

I NEED BAND-AIDS.

I NEED YOU TO GET HERE
REALLY FAST.

I SAID, "WHAT HAPPENED?"
SHE SAID, "OH, I CUT MY KNEE."

BREATHE, BABY. BREATHE.
STAY WITH ME.

COME ON.

BREANNA.

CHARLES.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
CHARLES. CHARLES.

THE WAY SHE WAS ACTING,

I HAD A FEELING
THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG.

WHERE'S JUNIOR?

HE'S -
HE'S IN THE BEDROOM.

HE'S ON THE FLOOR.

I NOTICED THERE WAS A STAB WOUND
UNDER HIS ARM.

WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

I DON'T - I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T - I DON'T REMEMBER.

CHARLES CALLS 911.

OKAY,
I CALLED AN AMBULANCE.

BREANNA CLAIMS SHE STAYS
BY JUNIOR'S SIDE

UNTIL HELP ARRIVES,

WHICH SHE SAYS
TAKES 15 MINUTES.

I WAS TRYING TO PUT PRESSURE
ON THE WOUND.

AND SO I SAID, "YOU'LL BE FINE.
YOU'LL FEEL FINE."

AND I WAS HOLDING IT.

BUT BASED ON WHAT
THEY LATER LEARNED,

THE MILLER FAMILY BELIEVES

THINGS HAPPENED
VERY DIFFERENTLY.

HE WAS GETTING READY TO GO
BACK TO WORK AGAIN THAT NEXT DAY.

I KNOW THAT HE WAS COMING OUT OF
THE BATHROOM WHEN IT HAPPENED.

SHE DECIDED
THAT HE WASN'T GONNA LEAVE.

AND SHE ATTACKED HIM
WHEN HE CAME OUT.

SHE CALLED CHARLES UP

AND TOLD CHARLES
THAT SHE NEEDED SOME BAND-AIDS.

SO IT TOOK CHARLES
A GOOD 15 MINUTES

JUST TO GET OVER TO HER HOUSE.

AND, NO, SHE DIDN'T
PUT PRESSURE ON IT.

SHE WAS TRYING TO CLEAN UP
THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.

FROM SOME OF
THE CRIME SCENE PHOTOS,

YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY WERE TRYING
TO WIPE UP SOME OF THE BLOOD

BECAUSE THEY FOUND THE KNIFE
THAT SHE STABBED HIM WITH

IN THE KITCHEN DRAWER.

SO, NO, SHE DIDN'T TRY
AND SAVE MY SON'S LIFE.

SHE TRIED TO SAVE HER OWN.

HELLO.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE POLICE ARRIVE FIRST.

A MAN'S BEEN STABBED.

STAY WITH ME, JUNIOR.
STAY WITH ME.

JUNIOR, COME ON, BABY.

AN OFFICER
IMMEDIATELY CHECKS JUNIOR.

TELL ME HE'S GONNA BE OKAY.

HE PRONOUNCES JUNIOR DEAD
AT THE SCENE.

MA'AM, I'M GONNA NEED YOU
TO COME OUT HERE WITH ME.

NO, I -
I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HIM.

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HIM.
NO!

WHEN THEY TOLD ME HE WAS DEAD,
I LITERALLY -

LIKE, I WAS STILL IN SHOCK
BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED.

I COULDN'T REALLY
REMEMBER ALL OF EVERYTHING.

I DIDN'T REALLY
BELIEVE IT.

I DIDN'T BELIEVE
HE WAS GONE.

IT JUST HIT ME.
LIKE, I FELT HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE.

WOW. DON'T YOU GIRLS

JUMP UP AND GET THE PHONE.

I'LL GET IT FOR YOU.
OKAY.

HELLO.

WE ALL SAID THAT SHE
WOULD TAKE IT TOO FAR ONE DAY.

- WHAT?
- WHAT IS IT?

NO. NO.
WHO'S ON THE PHONE, HONEY?

WHAT? IT'S JUNIOR.

WHAT'S WRONG?

THAT WAS THE WORST DAY
OF OUR LIFE.

NO! NO!
MOM! MOM!

NO, NO, NO.
MOM, TELL US!

EVEN THOUGH I FEARED
FOR HIS LIFE,

I JUST COULDN'T STOP IT.

- JUNIOR'S DEAD! NO.
- NO.

OH, GOD.

I TOLD JUNIOR

THAT IF HE MOVED IN WITH HER,

SHE WAS GONNA
EVENTUALLY KILL HIM.

I LOST A PIECE OF ME.

IT'S FUNNY HOW
YOU'RE LIFE CHANGES IN ONE MOMENT.

I MEAN, HE'S THERE
AND THEN JUST GONE THE NEXT.

I LOOK AT HIM,
MY SON'S PICTURES ALL THE TIME.

AND I SAY TO MYSELF, "WHY?"

I TREATED HER LIKE A DAUGHTER.

BREANNA IS CHARGED
WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED.

AT NO POINT IN MY MIND

DID I THINK THAT
I WAS GOING TO GO TO JAIL.

BREANNA MAINTAINS THAT SHE NEVER
WANTED TO HURT JUNIOR.

WAS IT AN ACCIDENT
OR SELF-DEFENSE?

IT WAS AN ACCIDENT
IN SELF-DEFENSE.

I LOVED HIM
WITH ALL MY HEART.

WHEN SOMEONE LIKE BREANNA

HAS SUFFERED VIOLENCE
FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE,

THEY GROW UP WITH A
HYPERVIGILANCE FOR FUTURE ATTACKS.

THE LAW SAYS THAT WE NEED TO PUT
OURSELVES IN BREANNA'S SHOES

TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT
THE STABBING WAS JUSTIFIABLE.

THE FACT IS,

BECAUSE SHE DID NOT CALL 911
AFTER JUNIOR WAS STABBED,

IT MAKES HER LOOK VERY GUILTY.

IN THE END,

BREANNA IS FOUND GUILTY
OF MANSLAUGHTER.

THE JUDGE GIVES HER
THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE -

25 YEARS BEHIND BARS.

TODAY, BREANNA IS INCARCERATED

AT BEDFORD HILLS CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY IN NEW YORK.

I JUST WISH
THAT HE HAD GOTTEN HELP

OR I HAD WALKED AWAY
FROM THAT RELATIONSHIP SOONER.

THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT,
AT ONE POINT IN MY LIFE,

THAT I LOVED VERY MUCH.