July 2, 2026 • 50 mins
From high school sweethearts to building a family, Morgan thought she knew her husband. But as their relationship changes, she finds that she no longer recognizes the man she loved.
You can now watch Morgan's story on Betrayal: Secrets and Lies. Stream now on Hulu and Disney+.
If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal team by emailing us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. You can also find us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts.
To access our newsletter and additional content and to connect with the Betrayal community, join our Substack at betrayal.substack.com.
If you are currently in crisis, please reach out to organizations that offer immediate support. We are including a few US-based resources here:
988 Lifeline. If you or someone you know is in crisis or need to talk to someone immediately, please call or text 988 – the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available 24/7/365.
National Domestic Violence Hotline. They offer 24/7 phone and chat support to help you create a personalized safety plan and connect you with local support.
For resources on sexual violence, visit rainn.org/betrayal. You can also get free, confidential, 24/7 support through RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline. Text HOPE to 64673 or call 1-800-656-HOPE.
Every state has a domestic violence coalition. If you’re looking for help in the US, search the web for your state’s domestic violence coalition.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi everyone, I have something exciting to share with you.
Betrayal finally has merch. This is something I've been wanting
to do for a long time. Every piece has been
designed and curated for our Betrayal community. We've got mugs, shirts, stickers,
and a guided Betrayal journal filled with thoughtful prompts. Whether
(00:22):
it's for yourself or as a gift for someone you
know who loves the show, these pieces help support the
work we do. Visit Betrayal podcast dot shop to explore
the full collection. Pre Orders are open now. Hi everyone,
It's Andrea Gunning. Before we start this episode, I want
to let you know that we will be talking explicitly
(00:43):
about the realities of domestic violence, so please be mindful
with this episode.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I saw this figure standing in the doorway. He was
an all black and had a batman mask and covered
head to toe and black clothing. I kept closing and
opening my eyes, like am I really seeing this or not.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I'm Andrea Gunning and this is Betrayal, a show about
the people we trust the most and the deceptions that
change everything. This week's episode has also been adapted into
an episode of our TV show Betrayal. Secrets and lies.
You can stream it on Disney Plus or Hulu. Morgan
(01:40):
Metzer grew up in Canton, Georgia, where big stretches of
forest hug quaint neighborhoods, and the Chattahoochee River carves its
way through the town.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Growing up, I was the youngest. I have an older
brother and an older sister. My brother was in baseball
and my sister was in fast pitch, so I felt
like a lot of my weekends were following him around.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Morgan kept up with the older kids.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I was very outspoken in strong willed.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
School was challenging for Morgan.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I struggled a little bit with test taking and I
did not have the best grades.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
But her parents taught her there are a lot of
things in life that are more important than grades.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
My dad explained, in the real world, it's not the
grades in the end. They are more focused on who
you are as a person, your values, being truthful, being honest.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Morgan's school had a back patio where everyone hung out
after class. One day, when Morgan was in eighth grade,
she and her friends were out on the patio when
she saw a guy she hadn't noticed before.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I was just random. I saw on one day and
we just started talking a little bit. He was in
high school and I was in middle school.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
His name was Rodney, and soon she found out everyone
on campus knew him. He was sixteen, two years older
than her, and Morgan thought that was exciting.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I thought he was really cute and I liked him.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
The next time she saw him at school, they talked again.
The more time Morgan spent with Rodney, the more she
liked him.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
We are very close, instantly, very connected. He was very
easy going, as steady as a stream. Not much could
really rock his pote.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
He made friends easily and was kind to everyone he met.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
He was funny. He's what you would call the guy
next door that everyone just likes.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
They started hanging out after school. They never got tired
of talking to each other and realized that their connection
was more than just friendship. Rodney asked Morgan to be
his girlfriend. She said yes.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I was just a typical teenager in love.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
When she told her parents about her new boyfriend.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
As you can imagine, my dad and my mom weren't
very happy about an eighth grader dating a junior, so
my dad made it probably clear that we would not
be going on date until I was sixteen, and that
if he wanted to see me, he would have to
come to the house and hang out.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
So that's what they did. After school, Rodney would go
over to Morgan's house. They respected her parents' dating rules,
and Rodney quickly gained her parents trust.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Everyone loved him in my family. He grew up with them.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
She grew up with his family too. His parents could
afford to go on extravagant vacations. They started inviting Morgan
to come with them on their trips.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
His parents left to go to the Bahamas. They loved
to go on cruises, so we did all different kinds
of trips.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Once Morgan was in high school, she and Rodney gained
a little independence.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
He would pick me up. We would meet up with
all our friends and we all go to this one
waffle house and just hang out after school.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Morgan and Rodney always sat next to each other at
the waffle house. In fact, they almost never left each
other's side.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Everyone just knew it was always us. We came together
as one like if you hang by one, then they
knew I was coming, or vice versa.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
They were inseparable and their friends understood why.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
They all thought we were the power couple. Everyone just
loved us together.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Morgan and Rodney started planning for their future after high school.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
All I wanted to do was become a mom and
support my house and create a home, and he said
that he wanted to be a making provider. So we
kind of had our plan.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
But she knew that plan would have to wait until
Rodney made enough money to support them both. After graduating
high school, she started suing her interest in hair and makeup.
Morgan decided to go to cosmetology school and become a hairdresser.
Rodney wanted to become a car mechanic and began looking
at trade schools.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Rod decided he wanted to go to the school called Wyotech.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Wyotech is a trade school in Laramie, Wyoming, a small
town that sits high in the plains, nestled between two
stretches of the Rocky Mountains.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
He didn't want to go by himself, and they had
a cosmetology school there, so we backed up and moved
to Wyoming.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Morgan and Rodney had to get used to a new
pace of life.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
It was a big jump. I mean, Georgia's not cold
like that, and you go to Laramie, Wyoming and not
to be mean about the city, but Applebee's was the
place to be. It was definitely a change in culture Forsure.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Still, they were eager to start this new chapter.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
It was very exciting moving in together the first time,
developing our routine, our habits.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Rodney started trade school to become a car mechanic, and
Morgan started at cosmetology school.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I would ride my bike to school every day.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
As she peddled through town, she could look out and
see the stretches of mountains just beyond Laramie. She was
excited about the life she and Rodney were building. Home
was wherever Rodney was.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
We would get up through our morning routine together when
we would be in school all day, and then we'd
meet up. We'd have dinner, and then in the evenings
was likely watching a movie.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Rodney told her about everything he was learning at school.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
He loved it. He loves cars. We loved building cars.
He loved everything about it.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
At night, they would talk about their future.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
We just created a dream scenario in our head that
you know, we would get married and eventually we would
have children.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
And when they each graduated, they moved back to Georgia
and got to work making their dream life a reality.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
We bought our first house. I was working at a
hair salon in Roswell, and we developed some really good
friends that we knew since we were younger. Our friends
knew each other, and our friends knew our family.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
They had a tight knit community with deep roots. Before
Morgan knew it, six years flew by with Rodney and
they went from being high school sweethearts to mature adult partners.
They knew each other's favorite jokes, deepest fears, and biggest dreams.
And then on Christmas Day, Rodney proposed to Morgan with
(08:42):
her grandmother's wedding ring.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
I was so excited. I couldn't stop crying.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
She was so happy. A little over a year later,
they got married.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
They got married Nigazibo at dusk and the gazebo was
covered in high ranges of piannies and lily's and roses,
spinkle lights all over the place and pretty much like
a magical Cinderella type of feel.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
That magical feeling continued well after their wedding.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
We were very much a team. His mothough was happy wife,
happy life, so he just wanted to provide anything he
possibly could. He was the main provider financially. He always
took care of things around the house. Let make sure
you're a roof over our head, food on our plate,
ury in our train, very emotionally there for me.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
But not too long after their wedding, Rodney's family suffered
a horrible loss. His brother Kevin, had battled leukemia for years.
One night, he passed away in his sleep.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
He was an amazing person. I loved him a lot.
It really changed the dynamic and his family so much pain.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
It was hard for Rodney's parents to make time for
him as they struggled with Kevin's death. It felt like
when Kevin died, so did their happy, tight knit family.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Rod started feeling abandoned. And that's when I started seeing
rod changed just a tidy bit because he just felt
not as important as he used too.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Rodney's brother, Kevin had always wanted to be an uncle.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
We got pregnant shortly after his brother passed away.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
They had a son and named him Kevin to honor
Rodney's brother. But shortly after he was born, Morgan and
Rodney were given devastating news their son had a congenital
heart defect. At this point in her life, Morgan can
tell the story without much emotion, but it's still incredibly painful.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
When he was born, he was immediately shipped to Egilson
Atlanta Cardiac Unit for eighteen days. He was there had
his first heart surgery, but he couldn't recover from it.
He couldn't get off the venier later and he didn't
make it.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Their firstborn son died before he was a month old.
Morgan and Rodney were facing a grief no parent should
have to endure. Rodney tried to find the words to
comfort Morgan.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
He was like, even if you don't want to go
back to work after this, you don't have to. You
thought you were a mom and you were going to
get to stay home, and I don't want to make
you go back to work.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
So he was very supportive, but there were times when
Rodney couldn't handle the grief. To him, seeing Morgan sad
was a reminder of how much they had lost.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
He would tell me not to cry because they didn't
like to see me cry, and so I didn't. So
I didn't feel like I could really grieve all that much.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
They decided to try for kids again.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
We got pregnant twins. My mom says I was the
happiest pregnant person she's ever seen. I enjoyed it every
second of it, the good, the bad, the ugly. I
loved it.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
When the twins were born, Morgan and Rodney were overjoyed.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
I was just elated to have help with babies. We
were in heaven. We were just so happy. It brought
some light into our world after a really hard few years.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Rodney and Morgan made a good team.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
We were in a dynamic duo. We would tackle every
day's task. We delegated, we would support each other emotionally.
We would just conquer it together.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Rodney was working as a car mechanic and Morgan stayed
home with the twins. Juggling parenting and work meant the
two of them had less quality time together, and Rodney
had a hard time adjusting.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I think he struggled a little bit with sharing my
time with the twins.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Rodney started acting spacey at home and at the mechanics
where he worked, and one day.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Rad I got fired because he let a car fall
off the lift.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
It was a dangerous mistake. Someone could have died. Rodney
insisted that it wasn't his fault.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
And it's like Okay, well it was your fault. You
put the car on the left, you know. So that
kind of brought a strain.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Rodney needed to find a new way to support their family.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
So he started doing day trading the stock market.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
At first he was successful.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
He made great money. We owned our house pretty much
at right, I could stay home. The twins were starting
in preschool. At this time.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
They had dealt with a lot of grief, but they
were still able to grow together, and finally they had
what they always wanted. Rodney worked full time to support
their family, freeing up Morgan to raise their twins. One day,
Rodney came to Morgan in a panic and told her
(13:57):
someone had stolen money from their shared seat account. Morgan
didn't really understand what he meant. The details of their
finances had always been Rodney's domain, but when she logged
into their shared bank account, she saw that he was right.
The account was drained.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
I just knew that the money was gone, and I
was like, what is going on? This can't possibly be true.
I was just blindsided.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Morgan in her high school sweetheart, Rodney got married and
settled down near their hometown in Georgia. They were living
the life they dreamed of since they were teenagers. Rodney
worked full time and Morgan stayed home with their twins.
But one day Rodney came home in a panic. He
told Morgan someone had stolen from their savings account. It
(15:09):
was a life changing amount of money. They wouldn't be
able to afford to stay in their house, and so
they moved into a rental.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
So we no longer had any acts of some money.
And so at that time he pretty much told me,
He's like, now it's your turn to provide for the house.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Not only was the money gone, but Rodney expected her
to fix it. Morgan was shocked. This was never their plan.
Rodney had always prided himself on being a provider, and
now he was panicking and asking her to fill that role.
She had to figure something out to take care of
their kids.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And I couldn't go become a hairdresser and support this
lavish lifestyle that we had.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Then she had an idea.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
All my friends had really said that was really good
into your design and so I decided to start my
man into your design business.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Morgan named her business ship Lap and Sugar. It was
an immediate success in town. She began working with local clients,
and before long she was working full time and was
the primary provider for their family. Within a year, Ship
lap In Sugar was voted Canton's number one interior design business.
(16:26):
Rodney was in a new role too. He was staying
home with the twins and working for Morgan's Interior Design
company part time as a handyman. He helped with the
construction side of things, building bunk beds and mounting decor,
but soon he started to overstep.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Sometimes he would try to overtalk me with customers and
chime in about how he thought something should be done,
and it just didn't make us look like we're on
the same page. I didn't really like that, and I
was like, this is not your position. I am in
charge of running the consultations and speaking to my customers.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
It was frustrating to see Rodney trying to take control
and ownership of the business she had built.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
I'm sorry, like you put man charge or running a
household and providing for the household. I did this myself.
I built this from the bottom up.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
She told Rodney to stay in is lane at work
and let her manage the business.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
That's when I think it's probably really took a hit
because I was providing for the household, and you know,
he had to stay home with the kids.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
She and Rodney had always been a team. They met
when they were kids and they'd been together for more
than fifteen years. For that entire time, Rodney had been
the calm, grounded one, but that began to change.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
He was very impatience. He got very angry, very fast.
It just turned ugly and nasty, and that's when it
all just started spiraling.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Rodney became argumentative and combative with her.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Some nights, we'd be up fighting all night long and
I wouldn't get a minute of sleep, and then I
have to go work twelve hours and there was no
break from him because I worked with him too.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Morgan suggested they go to couple's therapy, but it didn't
go well, like he got.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Kick out one session because he was so aggressive, and
she diagnosed him with PTSD and he didn't believe it
and he just didn't want help.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Rodney started lashing out at Morgan.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
He'd start a fight and he would scream and yell
at me and follow me around and drive me insane
until I finally broke and I would scream and then
he'd turn it around on me and make me look
like the crazy person, like I would be the insane one.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
He became verbally abusive.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I would end up hiding in the closet because I
was like, please just shut up. I'm exhausted at hearing
you constantly at my throat. Was horrible.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Even little things would set him off. The environment in
their home shifted. She felt like she was walking on eggshells.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
I didn't want to be irritate Kem. I didn't want
to set him off. We were on tippy toes. It
was like skinning out the knife. Guys didn't want to
cause conflict.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
The Rodney she had fallen in love with was steady, loving, kind.
This new version of him was angry, impulsive, and cruel.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
His soul just turned black. It was very scary, but
it was done little by little, and when things are
done little by little, you don't really notice change it.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Morgan was working hard at building her business, and after
a year they moved out of their rental and bought
a new home. But the home she had worked so
hard to afford was unsafe for her and their twins.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
The kids were just getting older. Rod was more aggressive
and just he gained unhealthy and very toxic.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
That summer, a friend of Morgan and Rodney's rented a
houseboat for their group of friends for the night. It
was a big party.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Everyone was having a great time drinking out in the sun.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
At the end of the evening, Morgan and Rodney went
to their.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Room and we were going to go to sleep, but
then he attacked me. It was dark, it was pitch
black because there was no windows in there. All I
remember it is just getting humbled by him.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Morgan managed to get away from him and came out
of their bedroom into the main area of the boat.
A few of their friends were still awake and startled
at the sight of her. She was bleeding. Rodney was
close on her heels, but when he saw their friends,
he quickly came up with the story.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
He was like, I cannot believe you have hacked me.
My gosh, you are so drunk.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Morgan and her friends stared at him, dumbfounded.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
My friends were like, no, oh, if she attacked you,
you'd be able to hold her down. She doesn't need
to have marks on her like this and bleeding for
you to stop her.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
She called her parents to come pick her up.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
I went to their house, and I slept for the
entire day, and then rod showed up. He convinced my
parents it was me, and then I was the crazy
one and that I attacked him and that it was
all my fault.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
The more Rodney told the story of Morgan attacking him,
the more Morgan began to question her own experience.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
I was embarrassed. I was like, well, maybe it was me, because,
like I said, we had all been drinking and hanging out,
so it's not like I was completely sober. You question yourself,
you know, like, was I wrong? Am I crazy? Did
I lose it? Like? What happened?
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Morgan's memory felt fuzzy, but Rodney seemed to remember everything
in perfect detail. He sat on her parents' couch and
calmly explained how she attacked him.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
He would just sit there and lay it all out, so,
of course, naturally, then I was like, oh my gosh,
well maybe it was me. I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Rodney was physically and emotionally abusing Morgan. He always found
a way to make her take the blame for his actions.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
He was like, Okay, well I'm going to give you
a chance, and you're going to get better. You're not
going to do this again. So then I feel like
I was being given a chance, like I need to
become a better person. So I feel like I was
the one on trial.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
They went back to their routines, but now whenever they
had an argument, Rodney made Morgan believe she started it.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
He'd like, well, it was your fault. You said this,
you did this, And I was like, I don't remember that,
but okay, I'm sorry. My mind would play games in me.
It's like, no, you're at fault. No, no, he's at fault.
It was just a cluster of just so many things
running through my head.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Morgan was losing trust in herself. Rodney was gaslighting her
and his plan was working. She was starting to doubt
her own reality.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
There was a time that we were arguing and we
were walking up the stairs and he pretended I pushed
them down the stairs, and he did it in front
of the children, and it was like, look, mom pushed me
down the stairs.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
This time, Morgan did not doubt herself.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
I know I did not do this, Like that was
a situation, a scenario where he can never convince me
that I did that.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
He was trying to get their kids to stop trusting her.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
I just decided to grab the kids and go to
my mom's house.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
She knew something had to change. She tried to encourage
Rodney to seek professional help for his behavior.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
I didn't want to give up on them. I was
trying to get him help, like I wanted to get help.
He wouldn't go see a therapist. He wouldn't do anything.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
His abuse only escalated. As a note to listeners, the
next scene involves a threat of suicide.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
One time, we were fighting and I grabbed the kids
and I went to my parents' house. But as I
would leave in the driveway, he came out. Stood in
the driveway. He had a gun and he pointed it
to his head. I just dropped everything and put my
hands in my face because I didn't want to see
it happen. I drove away.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Morgan was focused on surviving his abuse and keeping her
kids safe.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
I was just trying to get by minute per minute.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
It was devastating. She still had so much love for
this person, but he was not the man she married. Eventually,
Morgan told her parents that she needed to leave her marriage.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I went to them and was like, I can't do
this anymore. They were on my side. My dad was like, Okay,
call the attorney. We're going to get the divorce. We're done.
I get it. I understand.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Hearing her parents affirm her decision to leave shifted something
within Morgan.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
I don't know what it was, but a light just
came on and I was like, I'm ton I don't
have to do this. I could get out.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
After eleven years of marriage and nearly twenty years together,
Morgan filed for divorce.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
My divorce was like a month long.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
The proceedings were extremely fast.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
He gave me the house, he gave me everything. He
didn't fight it, and I think it's because he thought
he could win me back. Behind the scenes, he was like,
give me another chance. I was just constantly begging me
and begging me.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
But Morgan was done giving Rodney chances to change. Their
divorce was finalized in December of twenty twenty, and she
knew she had made the right decision.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I was feeling free. I just felt right. I didn't
have the urge to want to go back. I just
felt like the weight of the world was off my shoulders.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
It was a positive change for her kids too well.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
My kids were like Mom, it's so much happier around here.
I was like, yes, I know, I did the right thing.
I was just so elated that the house was calm
and quiet.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Rodney was the only one not adjusting well.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Rob is still asking me to get back together with them.
Let me give another chance.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Morgan tried her best to ignore him, but he was
trying everything to make her feel bad.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
It was a few days before his birthday. He's like, well,
no one's going to take me out for my birthday.
Can you please go out and make my birthday? So
that I said, okay, I'll go to dinner for your birthday.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
The dinner was uncomfortable. The entire time, Rodney was begging
her to take him back. She tried to set boundaries
between them again. Then, a few days before Christmas, Morgan
was at her friend's house when she got an email
from Rodney. He was writing to let her know that
he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He attached a
(27:00):
doctor's note to his email. The cancer had already progressed
to stage four by the time they found it. It
was a terminal diagnosis. Morgan was stunned. She rushed over
to Rodney's house right away and.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I was like, I am so sorry. I'm here for
you, your father, my children. I'm always gonna love you.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
She spent the day at his apartment, trying to support
him as he wrapped his mind around the diagnosis. When
the day he came to an end, Rodney told her
he was scared to be alone. That night, she told
him he could come to her house and sleep on
the sofa if he needed to.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
And the following morning, I said, okay, you know, I
think it's time we call your parents. He's like, I
don't want my parents to know. And I was like,
rod you got in credit cancer.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Morgan wanted to support him, but she was frustrated that
Rodney only wanted support from her and nobody else. Even
though she still cared for Rodney, they were divorced.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Now, I was feeling like, you know, oh, this isn't
really on me, Like this isn't my responsibility anymore.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
It was a tough decision, but she knew she couldn't
be Rodney's only support system for her sake and for his,
so she called his parents, told them about his diagnosis,
and then told him it was time for him to
go back home.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
I was like that's it. You're not putting all of
this on me. I didn't feel responsible for him anymore.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Morgan tried to take a step back.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
And he was still messaging me. He's like, let me
take you out for New Year's Eve. Let me let's
do the New Year's Eve together. And I was like, no,
I'm not doing it. I don't want to do it.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
So she made up an excuse. She told him she
was spending the night at her parents' house so he
wouldn't try to come over. Her kids were out of town,
so Morgan decided to go to a friend's New Year's
Eve party.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I was there for a little bit and I was like,
you know what, I don't really want to be here.
I'm tired. This is my first New Year by myself.
I don't like drinking. I just wanted it to be relaxing,
and I didn't have my kids. I was like, I
just want to go home.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Her kids were at her sister's house in Florida for
the week, and Morgan had the house to herself. She
went home, changed into her pajamas and put on a movie.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
I fell asleep on the sofa that night. I woke up.
I think it was just about a minute before midnight,
and it was a firework I heard in the neighborhood,
and it woke me up, and so I was like,
oh gosh, okay, it was just for a second. And
then I'd been down and I kissed my dog and
I was like having a year.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
She pulled herself off the couch, went to her room,
and went back to bed. As a note for listeners,
Morgan is about to describe an instance of graphic violence.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
It was like thirty minutes later or something like that.
I woke up again. There's always been a creek by
my door when you walk by it.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
She heard the floorboard creak and her eyes snow.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
It was just loud, and I saw this figure standing
in the doorway. He was all black and had a
batman mask and just covered head to toe and black clothing.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
The light in the living room was on behind the intruder.
He was silhouetted in the doorway. She didn't have a
clear view of him.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
I kept opening my eyes, like, am I really seeing
this or not. The moment that I think he realized
my eyes were opened is when he pounced at me.
I remember letting out this blood curling scream, a scream
that you never thought would possibly be able to come
out of your body.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
The intruder used zip ties to restrain her the whole time.
He had a gun in her face and he used
it to hit her. The attack felt like it lasted forever.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
When you're strangled, it is the worst feeling in the
entire world. I mean, it's so personal. You're looking up
at this person and you can't breathe. I got to
the point where I literally felt like my body was
shutting down and that was done. I was thinking in
my head he was gonna take my kids.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
He put a pillowcase over her head and he sexually
assaulted her. Then the intruder began to speak. It sounded
like he was using a voice changer. The altered voice
was deep and gravelly. It sounded just like Batman.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
That was definitely the scariest thing. The Batman voice sound.
That is what still haunts my dreams. He would just
make all these comments of like you've messed with the
wrong person. You're gonna pay for this.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
The intruder demanded that she share her phone password. Scared
for her life, she told him Morgan's mind was racing
trying to figure out who was behind the mask.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
I'm thinking in my head, like I do not have
enemies like this. What is going on? Then he makes
a comment, if you're really gonna miss your husband?
Speaker 1 (32:05):
She had to make a split second decision of how
to respond. Something in her knew what the intruder wanted
to hear, and.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
I was like, oh no, please don't hurt my husband.
I love him very much. And I think that's what
saved me because the mood the entire room changed. It
wasn't as heavy, it wasn't as dark, it wasn't as deep.
His whole persona changed.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Just seconds ago, the intruder's violence had been life threatening,
but now his focus shifted from Morgan to her valuables
and what he could steal, like he was.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
A burglary more so than they're the murder me. He's like,
where's your jewelry? And he started ripping out stuff from
my drawers and things like that.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Then the intruder lifted Morgan off of the bed.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
He kept that pillow case over my head and then
took me outside in the back patio, lay me on
my outside sofa, and he was like, don't move until
you hear three car hogs.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
She complied and listened as the intruder's footsteps faded away.
Speaker 2 (33:18):
I heard the car leave, but I didn't hear any
three car hogs.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
There was still a pillowcase over her head. She didn't
know for sure if the intruder had left or if
anyone else was watching her.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
I don't know if there's more than one person. I
couldn't see anything, and I was trying to keep myself
awake because I can feel the blood running down my faith.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Morgan was severely injured. She focused all of her energy
on coaching herself through the pain. She needed to survive this,
not only for herself, before her children.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
And I was like, you can have a concussion. Try
to stay awake. Try to stay awake. At the same time,
I'm thinking in my head, okay, where are your keys
at You're going to run to the car, like I
was planning things out in my head.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
She laid on the back patio for forty minutes waiting,
but then she heard something.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
We had river rocks in our backyard, and I heard
someone stepping on them. And then I heard footsteps going
up the back deck stairs, and I was like, somebody
else is here.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Morgan was asleep at her house on New Year's Eve
when an intruder broke into her home. He was wearing
a batman mask, black clothing, and disguising his voice with
a voice changer. He violently attacked her before leaving her
on the back porch, her head cut with a pillowcase.
He told her not to move until she heard three
(35:04):
hanks of a car's horn, but the sounds never came,
so she stayed there for forty minutes until she heard
footsteps approaching.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
And I was like, somebody else is here.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
She wasn't sure if this was help or the start
of a second attack.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
And then I heard footsteps going up the back deckstairs.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
The pillowcase was lifted off her head and Morgan looked
up to see who had arrived. It was Rodney.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
He looked very surprised.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Morgan was also surprised. How did Rodney know she needed help?
Speaker 2 (35:41):
He said, well, right, someone can tapping out my window
and saying you better go check on your wife or
something like that.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
Then Rodney began to tend to Morgan.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
I'm still naked and my hands are tied and I
was crying, and he took me inside, took me by
the fireplace. He was consulting, but also like trying to
act like he was staying in the day. He's like,
I'm going to check the house out, make sure everything's good,
and make sure everyone's gone.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
He walked around the house, opening closet doors, but.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
He still undone my handcuffs or got me my clothes
that I needed.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Then Rodney called the police. Morgan listened, still handcuffed as
he told the nine one one dispatcher.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
He's gone now and it's no big deal. We don't
need the sire into the lights or the big old
or deal or anything like that. And I'm sitting there
like what.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
The police made their way to the house at a
leisurely pace. Based on Rodney's account, they didn't think it
was that serious of a situation.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
The policeman walks in the front door and he stops
in its fracks and back right back out outside and
calling her back up.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
Rodney sounded calm on the phone, but one look at
Morgan told a different story. She had been physically salted.
She was bleeding from a head wound, her face was
swelling and starting to turn purple.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
I mean, I can't even see out of like one eye.
The cop was kind of like, what do you mean?
This is not this big of a deal.
Speaker 1 (37:16):
The pleae took Rodney aside for questioning. In the meantime,
they searched the house. Occasionally someone came over to talk
to Morgan, but all of their words faded into one
loud hum.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
I just felt like I was medicated or something. I
was all a blur. My brain was just going, you know,
a thousand miles a minute, and I couldn't even keep
up with what detectives were saying.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
But then one of the detectives said something that cut
through the noise. He told her they were arresting Rodney.
Morgan's head was spinning. She remembered the look on Rodney's
face when he first saw her injuries. He had looked surprised,
but they had been together since they were teenagers, and
(38:04):
Morgan knew Rodney's expressions.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Intimately, it was a genuine shock. But I think it
was a genuine shock of like, holy wrap, what did
I do to have.
Speaker 1 (38:18):
Her thoughts were racing. Could Rodney really have done this?
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Maybe it said, Maybe it wasn't. I don't know. I
didn't know if he'd hired anybody else.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
Morgan was taken to the hospital. Luckily, her kids were
still out of town staying with her sister. Rodney was
the prime suspect, but authorities needed solid proof if they
were going to charge him with the crime, so they
got a warrant to search Rodney's apartment. That's when the
picture began to come together. Detectives found a book in
(38:51):
Rodney's apartment, Seven Ways to Be Her Hero, a self
help book for men, and Rodney's search history told a
disc disturbing story.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
They took his computer and they found searches of how
to strangle somebody and writing a suicide letter.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
He also searched for how to change the sound of
your voice, how to get sympathy from your ex, and
how long to choke someone unconscious. Then they found physical
evidence zip ties that looked just like the ones used
to restrain Morgan.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
And they took the zip ties to forensics to see
if it was a match.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
Forensics came back quickly it was a match. The evidence
was overwhelming. Rodney was the intruder.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
I just dropped to the ground and just started crying.
Finally someone saw that it wasn't my fault.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
For years, Rodney had been gaslighting Morgan, telling her she
was to blame for his violence. Now it was finally.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
I was just throwing back, like, oh my gosh, I
can't believe he was honestly just stupid to look it
all up online.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
In the weeks before the attack, Rodney told Morgan he
had terminal cancer, but in their investigation, police discovered a
forged doctor's note proof that Rodney's story was a lie.
Speaker 2 (40:23):
It was just so mind boggling. I guess I never
really truly thought he would go that far.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
Rodney had been desperate to regain control of Morgan's life
and to get her back. He started by trying to
gain her sympathy. When he first told Morgan about his cancer,
she was distraught, but even though she was worried for him,
she still didn't want to get back together with him.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
That is when I think he finally made a decision, Okay,
he's going to go through with what his end game was.
Speaker 1 (40:55):
Morgan had let Rodney sleep on her couch. He said
he was scared about his terminal diagnosis, but in reality,
he had ulterior motives.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
During that time I was sleeping, he went downstairs in
the basement and took a window sensor off the window,
so he was a planning his next esth.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
With the window sensor removed, Rodney had an easy way
to enter Morgan's house without activating the alarm system. On
the night of the attack, he'd asked for Morgan's phone
password and gone through her phone. Police discovered he'd been
deleting security footage. Rodney Metzer was charged with fourteen counts
(41:40):
related to the attack, including kidnapping, home invasion, armed robbery,
aggravated assault, and sexual battery. But one question remained, why
would Rodney do this to her? Why take it this far?
Morgan thinks it's because he wanted to create a villain
so that he could be the.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
Hero, because he wanted to gain back that guy next
door type of vibe everyone like the penny of the
perfect person.
Speaker 1 (42:12):
But the assistant district attorney who prosecuted a case believes
Rodney's motivations were even more sinister. In a press release
about Morgan's case, she gave this quote, which we've had
read by a voice actor. This man is a master manipulator.
Speaker 3 (42:29):
In the days leading up to the attack, he faked
a cancer diagnosis in an attempt to gain sympathy from
his ex wife. When that didn't work, he created a
convoluted plan that the investigators in this case and our
office truly believe involved a plot to kill her and
then himself. When he couldn't go through with that plan,
(42:50):
he instead devised a new plan to rescue her.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
In the weeks following the attack, Morgan's sister agreed to
take care of her kids while she focused on recovering.
She checked herself into an impatient rehab for PTSD recovery,
but even with professional help, she found herself struggling to
return to the life she had before.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
I didn't want to be left alone in the house,
but I didn't want to leave my house because I
worked very hard to pay for that house. At that time,
I was too afraid to work because I didn't want
to go to random people's houses.
Speaker 1 (43:26):
I was scared nights for the hardest. She didn't feel
safe letting her guard down in her own home.
Speaker 2 (43:34):
There was a month that I would sleep in my
son's room and just sit in the corner of the
room and stare at the door. I just wouldn't sleep.
I couldn't find comfort in it. But I refused to
let him.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
Beat me Meanwhile, the state built their case against Rodney
and prepared for trial.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
I was just talking to the DA constantly, just constant questions.
They came to get server my house, they went through
his phone. It was just reliving that moment every second
for like eight months.
Speaker 1 (44:10):
Rodney pled guilty to fourteen counts related to the attack.
On August fourth, twenty twenty one. Rodney was sentenced to
twenty five years in prison and forty five years of probation.
Morgan wanted to go to his sentencing hearing. She prepared
a victim impact statement, which she read in the courtroom.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
And my last statement to him, I said, do you
know rod the pain you'd given me is turned into
so much power. I walked off that stand feeling like
weight was lifted off my shoulders. I just felt like
I could breathe a little bit more. I feel like
some things that were at peace.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
In that same press release about the case, the prosecutor
wrote a line that stood out to our team. Here's
what she wrote.
Speaker 3 (45:00):
This is a classic example of how the most dangerous
time for a domestic violence victim is when she decides
to leave an abusive relationship.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
Morgan had to find a way to explain to her
kids why they couldn't see their father anymore.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
I told them, do you guys know when you get
in trouble there's a consequence for your actions and they
said yes. I said, well that is something very bad,
and he has to have a punishment and he's going
to be away for twenty to twenty five years.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
She did everything she could to process her trauma and
heal for herself and for her kids. It took months,
but slowly I.
Speaker 2 (45:40):
Felt like I was more myself, letting the kids go
to school. More, Okay, we're going back into a routine.
Speaker 1 (45:46):
Rodney was a defining figure in Morgan's life since she
was fourteen years old. Without him around, even the smallest
things felt new.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
I was trapped by him for so long that I
was getting to know my real self too. I had
to reintroduce myself. I feel like I had to relearn
how to walk and talk and do the base. Eventually
I started learning to get up every day and learn
who the new me was going to be.
Speaker 1 (46:19):
In her victim impact statement, she told Rodney she would
turn the pain he inflicted into power, and she did
that power.
Speaker 2 (46:28):
It's gotten me through figuring out how to provide for
my children how to figure out how to do daily life.
Speaker 1 (46:36):
Today, Morgan's interior design business is thriving. She reclaimed the
house where she was attacked and turned it into a
loving home, and as for her twins, she's proud of
the people they're becoming. We end every weekly episode with
the same question, why do you want to share your story?
Speaker 2 (46:55):
I'm very lucky. Unfortunately a lot of women in my
situation get at a lot, and I just want women
to know that it's important to speak to each other
and to be open and to talk about things. I
never said anything out loud. I never really went to
a lot of my friends because I wanted to paint
(47:16):
this beautiful picture of my family and nothing was wrong.
And we as women are each other's biggest supporters, and
if we say what's going on, maybe would have been
able to get help earlier.
Speaker 1 (47:37):
On the next episode of Betrayal Weekly, suddenly the knock
is on my door.
Speaker 2 (47:42):
I opened the door. These two men in street clothes
are claiming to be us marshals. My whole body is hot.
I feel like my stomach is dropped.
Speaker 1 (47:52):
And they showed me a picture.
Speaker 2 (47:55):
Yeah, that is my fiance.
Speaker 1 (48:07):
If you'd like to share your story on Betrayal, please
email Betrayalpod at gmail dot com. That is Betrayalpod at
gmail dot com. Please note that we are not a
mental health organization. If you are in crisis or currently
experiencing domestic violence, we encourage you to seek local help
(48:28):
or dial nine to one one. Please contact organizations that
offer immediate support. In our show notes, we've included a
list of US based resources. You can follow us on
Instagram at betrayal Pod or find me at It's Andrea Gunning.
To access our newsletter and additional content, and to connect
(48:49):
with the Betrayal community, join our substack at Betrayal dot
substack dot com. We're grateful for your support. One way
to show support is by subscribing to our show on
applepopts and don't forget to rate and review Betrayal. Five
star reviews go a long way. Big thank you to
all of our listeners. Betrayal is a production of Glass Podcasts,
(49:11):
a division of Glass Entertainment Group, in partnership with iHeart Podcasts.
The show is executive produced by Nancy Glass and Jennifer Fason,
posted and produced by me Andrea Gunning. Written and produced
by Olivia Hewitt. Our story editor is Monique Lebord, also
produced by Ben Fetterman. Our associate producer is Leah Jablo.
(49:32):
Production management by Kristen Melchiorre. Booking support by Curry Richmond.
Voice acting by Theresa Christine Brabson. Our iHeart team is
Ali Perry and Tresica Crincheck. Audio editing by Tanner Robbins,
with additional editing and mixing by Matt Delbecchio. Betrayal's theme
composed by Oliver Baines. Music library provided by my Music
(49:55):
And For more podcasts from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app
Apple Podcasts, but wherever you get your podcasts
Hi everyone, I have something exciting to share with you.
Betrayal finally has merch. This is something I've been wanting
to do for a long time. Every piece has been
designed and curated for our Betrayal community. We've got mugs, shirts, stickers,
and a guided Betrayal journal filled with thoughtful prompts. Whether
(00:22):
it's for yourself or as a gift for someone you
know who loves the show, these pieces help support the
work we do. Visit Betrayal podcast dot shop to explore
the full collection. Pre Orders are open now. Hi everyone,
It's Andrea Gunning. Before we start this episode, I want
to let you know that we will be talking explicitly
(00:43):
about the realities of domestic violence, so please be mindful
with this episode.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I saw this figure standing in the doorway. He was
an all black and had a batman mask and covered
head to toe and black clothing. I kept closing and
opening my eyes, like am I really seeing this or not.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I'm Andrea Gunning and this is Betrayal, a show about
the people we trust the most and the deceptions that
change everything. This week's episode has also been adapted into
an episode of our TV show Betrayal. Secrets and lies.
You can stream it on Disney Plus or Hulu. Morgan
(01:40):
Metzer grew up in Canton, Georgia, where big stretches of
forest hug quaint neighborhoods, and the Chattahoochee River carves its
way through the town.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Growing up, I was the youngest. I have an older
brother and an older sister. My brother was in baseball
and my sister was in fast pitch, so I felt
like a lot of my weekends were following him around.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Morgan kept up with the older kids.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I was very outspoken in strong willed.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
School was challenging for Morgan.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I struggled a little bit with test taking and I
did not have the best grades.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
But her parents taught her there are a lot of
things in life that are more important than grades.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
My dad explained, in the real world, it's not the
grades in the end. They are more focused on who
you are as a person, your values, being truthful, being honest.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Morgan's school had a back patio where everyone hung out
after class. One day, when Morgan was in eighth grade,
she and her friends were out on the patio when
she saw a guy she hadn't noticed before.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I was just random. I saw on one day and
we just started talking a little bit. He was in
high school and I was in middle school.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
His name was Rodney, and soon she found out everyone
on campus knew him. He was sixteen, two years older
than her, and Morgan thought that was exciting.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I thought he was really cute and I liked him.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
The next time she saw him at school, they talked again.
The more time Morgan spent with Rodney, the more she
liked him.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
We are very close, instantly, very connected. He was very
easy going, as steady as a stream. Not much could
really rock his pote.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
He made friends easily and was kind to everyone he met.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
He was funny. He's what you would call the guy
next door that everyone just likes.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
They started hanging out after school. They never got tired
of talking to each other and realized that their connection
was more than just friendship. Rodney asked Morgan to be
his girlfriend. She said yes.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I was just a typical teenager in love.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
When she told her parents about her new boyfriend.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
As you can imagine, my dad and my mom weren't
very happy about an eighth grader dating a junior, so
my dad made it probably clear that we would not
be going on date until I was sixteen, and that
if he wanted to see me, he would have to
come to the house and hang out.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
So that's what they did. After school, Rodney would go
over to Morgan's house. They respected her parents' dating rules,
and Rodney quickly gained her parents trust.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Everyone loved him in my family. He grew up with them.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
She grew up with his family too. His parents could
afford to go on extravagant vacations. They started inviting Morgan
to come with them on their trips.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
His parents left to go to the Bahamas. They loved
to go on cruises, so we did all different kinds
of trips.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Once Morgan was in high school, she and Rodney gained
a little independence.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
He would pick me up. We would meet up with
all our friends and we all go to this one
waffle house and just hang out after school.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Morgan and Rodney always sat next to each other at
the waffle house. In fact, they almost never left each
other's side.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Everyone just knew it was always us. We came together
as one like if you hang by one, then they
knew I was coming, or vice versa.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
They were inseparable and their friends understood why.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
They all thought we were the power couple. Everyone just
loved us together.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Morgan and Rodney started planning for their future after high school.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
All I wanted to do was become a mom and
support my house and create a home, and he said
that he wanted to be a making provider. So we
kind of had our plan.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
But she knew that plan would have to wait until
Rodney made enough money to support them both. After graduating
high school, she started suing her interest in hair and makeup.
Morgan decided to go to cosmetology school and become a hairdresser.
Rodney wanted to become a car mechanic and began looking
at trade schools.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Rod decided he wanted to go to the school called Wyotech.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Wyotech is a trade school in Laramie, Wyoming, a small
town that sits high in the plains, nestled between two
stretches of the Rocky Mountains.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
He didn't want to go by himself, and they had
a cosmetology school there, so we backed up and moved
to Wyoming.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Morgan and Rodney had to get used to a new
pace of life.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
It was a big jump. I mean, Georgia's not cold
like that, and you go to Laramie, Wyoming and not
to be mean about the city, but Applebee's was the
place to be. It was definitely a change in culture Forsure.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Still, they were eager to start this new chapter.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
It was very exciting moving in together the first time,
developing our routine, our habits.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Rodney started trade school to become a car mechanic, and
Morgan started at cosmetology school.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I would ride my bike to school every day.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
As she peddled through town, she could look out and
see the stretches of mountains just beyond Laramie. She was
excited about the life she and Rodney were building. Home
was wherever Rodney was.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
We would get up through our morning routine together when
we would be in school all day, and then we'd
meet up. We'd have dinner, and then in the evenings
was likely watching a movie.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Rodney told her about everything he was learning at school.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
He loved it. He loves cars. We loved building cars.
He loved everything about it.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
At night, they would talk about their future.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
We just created a dream scenario in our head that
you know, we would get married and eventually we would
have children.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
And when they each graduated, they moved back to Georgia
and got to work making their dream life a reality.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
We bought our first house. I was working at a
hair salon in Roswell, and we developed some really good
friends that we knew since we were younger. Our friends
knew each other, and our friends knew our family.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
They had a tight knit community with deep roots. Before
Morgan knew it, six years flew by with Rodney and
they went from being high school sweethearts to mature adult partners.
They knew each other's favorite jokes, deepest fears, and biggest dreams.
And then on Christmas Day, Rodney proposed to Morgan with
(08:42):
her grandmother's wedding ring.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
I was so excited. I couldn't stop crying.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
She was so happy. A little over a year later,
they got married.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
They got married Nigazibo at dusk and the gazebo was
covered in high ranges of piannies and lily's and roses,
spinkle lights all over the place and pretty much like
a magical Cinderella type of feel.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
That magical feeling continued well after their wedding.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
We were very much a team. His mothough was happy wife,
happy life, so he just wanted to provide anything he
possibly could. He was the main provider financially. He always
took care of things around the house. Let make sure
you're a roof over our head, food on our plate,
ury in our train, very emotionally there for me.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
But not too long after their wedding, Rodney's family suffered
a horrible loss. His brother Kevin, had battled leukemia for years.
One night, he passed away in his sleep.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
He was an amazing person. I loved him a lot.
It really changed the dynamic and his family so much pain.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
It was hard for Rodney's parents to make time for
him as they struggled with Kevin's death. It felt like
when Kevin died, so did their happy, tight knit family.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Rod started feeling abandoned. And that's when I started seeing
rod changed just a tidy bit because he just felt
not as important as he used too.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Rodney's brother, Kevin had always wanted to be an uncle.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
We got pregnant shortly after his brother passed away.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
They had a son and named him Kevin to honor
Rodney's brother. But shortly after he was born, Morgan and
Rodney were given devastating news their son had a congenital
heart defect. At this point in her life, Morgan can
tell the story without much emotion, but it's still incredibly painful.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
When he was born, he was immediately shipped to Egilson
Atlanta Cardiac Unit for eighteen days. He was there had
his first heart surgery, but he couldn't recover from it.
He couldn't get off the venier later and he didn't
make it.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Their firstborn son died before he was a month old.
Morgan and Rodney were facing a grief no parent should
have to endure. Rodney tried to find the words to
comfort Morgan.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
He was like, even if you don't want to go
back to work after this, you don't have to. You
thought you were a mom and you were going to
get to stay home, and I don't want to make
you go back to work.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
So he was very supportive, but there were times when
Rodney couldn't handle the grief. To him, seeing Morgan sad
was a reminder of how much they had lost.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
He would tell me not to cry because they didn't
like to see me cry, and so I didn't. So
I didn't feel like I could really grieve all that much.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
They decided to try for kids again.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
We got pregnant twins. My mom says I was the
happiest pregnant person she's ever seen. I enjoyed it every
second of it, the good, the bad, the ugly. I
loved it.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
When the twins were born, Morgan and Rodney were overjoyed.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
I was just elated to have help with babies. We
were in heaven. We were just so happy. It brought
some light into our world after a really hard few years.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Rodney and Morgan made a good team.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
We were in a dynamic duo. We would tackle every
day's task. We delegated, we would support each other emotionally.
We would just conquer it together.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Rodney was working as a car mechanic and Morgan stayed
home with the twins. Juggling parenting and work meant the
two of them had less quality time together, and Rodney
had a hard time adjusting.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I think he struggled a little bit with sharing my
time with the twins.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Rodney started acting spacey at home and at the mechanics
where he worked, and one day.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Rad I got fired because he let a car fall
off the lift.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
It was a dangerous mistake. Someone could have died. Rodney
insisted that it wasn't his fault.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
And it's like Okay, well it was your fault. You
put the car on the left, you know. So that
kind of brought a strain.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Rodney needed to find a new way to support their family.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
So he started doing day trading the stock market.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
At first he was successful.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
He made great money. We owned our house pretty much
at right, I could stay home. The twins were starting
in preschool. At this time.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
They had dealt with a lot of grief, but they
were still able to grow together, and finally they had
what they always wanted. Rodney worked full time to support
their family, freeing up Morgan to raise their twins. One day,
Rodney came to Morgan in a panic and told her
(13:57):
someone had stolen money from their shared seat account. Morgan
didn't really understand what he meant. The details of their
finances had always been Rodney's domain, but when she logged
into their shared bank account, she saw that he was right.
The account was drained.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
I just knew that the money was gone, and I
was like, what is going on? This can't possibly be true.
I was just blindsided.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Morgan in her high school sweetheart, Rodney got married and
settled down near their hometown in Georgia. They were living
the life they dreamed of since they were teenagers. Rodney
worked full time and Morgan stayed home with their twins.
But one day Rodney came home in a panic. He
told Morgan someone had stolen from their savings account. It
(15:09):
was a life changing amount of money. They wouldn't be
able to afford to stay in their house, and so
they moved into a rental.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
So we no longer had any acts of some money.
And so at that time he pretty much told me,
He's like, now it's your turn to provide for the house.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Not only was the money gone, but Rodney expected her
to fix it. Morgan was shocked. This was never their plan.
Rodney had always prided himself on being a provider, and
now he was panicking and asking her to fill that role.
She had to figure something out to take care of
their kids.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And I couldn't go become a hairdresser and support this
lavish lifestyle that we had.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Then she had an idea.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
All my friends had really said that was really good
into your design and so I decided to start my
man into your design business.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Morgan named her business ship Lap and Sugar. It was
an immediate success in town. She began working with local clients,
and before long she was working full time and was
the primary provider for their family. Within a year, Ship
lap In Sugar was voted Canton's number one interior design business.
(16:26):
Rodney was in a new role too. He was staying
home with the twins and working for Morgan's Interior Design
company part time as a handyman. He helped with the
construction side of things, building bunk beds and mounting decor,
but soon he started to overstep.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Sometimes he would try to overtalk me with customers and
chime in about how he thought something should be done,
and it just didn't make us look like we're on
the same page. I didn't really like that, and I
was like, this is not your position. I am in
charge of running the consultations and speaking to my customers.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
It was frustrating to see Rodney trying to take control
and ownership of the business she had built.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
I'm sorry, like you put man charge or running a
household and providing for the household. I did this myself.
I built this from the bottom up.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
She told Rodney to stay in is lane at work
and let her manage the business.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
That's when I think it's probably really took a hit
because I was providing for the household, and you know,
he had to stay home with the kids.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
She and Rodney had always been a team. They met
when they were kids and they'd been together for more
than fifteen years. For that entire time, Rodney had been
the calm, grounded one, but that began to change.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
He was very impatience. He got very angry, very fast.
It just turned ugly and nasty, and that's when it
all just started spiraling.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Rodney became argumentative and combative with her.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Some nights, we'd be up fighting all night long and
I wouldn't get a minute of sleep, and then I
have to go work twelve hours and there was no
break from him because I worked with him too.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Morgan suggested they go to couple's therapy, but it didn't
go well, like he got.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Kick out one session because he was so aggressive, and
she diagnosed him with PTSD and he didn't believe it
and he just didn't want help.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Rodney started lashing out at Morgan.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
He'd start a fight and he would scream and yell
at me and follow me around and drive me insane
until I finally broke and I would scream and then
he'd turn it around on me and make me look
like the crazy person, like I would be the insane one.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
He became verbally abusive.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I would end up hiding in the closet because I
was like, please just shut up. I'm exhausted at hearing
you constantly at my throat. Was horrible.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Even little things would set him off. The environment in
their home shifted. She felt like she was walking on eggshells.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
I didn't want to be irritate Kem. I didn't want
to set him off. We were on tippy toes. It
was like skinning out the knife. Guys didn't want to
cause conflict.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
The Rodney she had fallen in love with was steady, loving, kind.
This new version of him was angry, impulsive, and cruel.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
His soul just turned black. It was very scary, but
it was done little by little, and when things are
done little by little, you don't really notice change it.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Morgan was working hard at building her business, and after
a year they moved out of their rental and bought
a new home. But the home she had worked so
hard to afford was unsafe for her and their twins.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
The kids were just getting older. Rod was more aggressive
and just he gained unhealthy and very toxic.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
That summer, a friend of Morgan and Rodney's rented a
houseboat for their group of friends for the night. It
was a big party.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Everyone was having a great time drinking out in the sun.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
At the end of the evening, Morgan and Rodney went
to their.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Room and we were going to go to sleep, but
then he attacked me. It was dark, it was pitch
black because there was no windows in there. All I
remember it is just getting humbled by him.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Morgan managed to get away from him and came out
of their bedroom into the main area of the boat.
A few of their friends were still awake and startled
at the sight of her. She was bleeding. Rodney was
close on her heels, but when he saw their friends,
he quickly came up with the story.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
He was like, I cannot believe you have hacked me.
My gosh, you are so drunk.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Morgan and her friends stared at him, dumbfounded.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
My friends were like, no, oh, if she attacked you,
you'd be able to hold her down. She doesn't need
to have marks on her like this and bleeding for
you to stop her.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
She called her parents to come pick her up.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
I went to their house, and I slept for the
entire day, and then rod showed up. He convinced my
parents it was me, and then I was the crazy
one and that I attacked him and that it was
all my fault.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
The more Rodney told the story of Morgan attacking him,
the more Morgan began to question her own experience.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
I was embarrassed. I was like, well, maybe it was me, because,
like I said, we had all been drinking and hanging out,
so it's not like I was completely sober. You question yourself,
you know, like, was I wrong? Am I crazy? Did
I lose it? Like? What happened?
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Morgan's memory felt fuzzy, but Rodney seemed to remember everything
in perfect detail. He sat on her parents' couch and
calmly explained how she attacked him.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
He would just sit there and lay it all out, so,
of course, naturally, then I was like, oh my gosh,
well maybe it was me. I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Rodney was physically and emotionally abusing Morgan. He always found
a way to make her take the blame for his actions.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
He was like, Okay, well I'm going to give you
a chance, and you're going to get better. You're not
going to do this again. So then I feel like
I was being given a chance, like I need to
become a better person. So I feel like I was
the one on trial.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
They went back to their routines, but now whenever they
had an argument, Rodney made Morgan believe she started it.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
He'd like, well, it was your fault. You said this,
you did this, And I was like, I don't remember that,
but okay, I'm sorry. My mind would play games in me.
It's like, no, you're at fault. No, no, he's at fault.
It was just a cluster of just so many things
running through my head.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Morgan was losing trust in herself. Rodney was gaslighting her
and his plan was working. She was starting to doubt
her own reality.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
There was a time that we were arguing and we
were walking up the stairs and he pretended I pushed
them down the stairs, and he did it in front
of the children, and it was like, look, mom pushed me
down the stairs.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
This time, Morgan did not doubt herself.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
I know I did not do this, Like that was
a situation, a scenario where he can never convince me
that I did that.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
He was trying to get their kids to stop trusting her.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
I just decided to grab the kids and go to
my mom's house.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
She knew something had to change. She tried to encourage
Rodney to seek professional help for his behavior.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
I didn't want to give up on them. I was
trying to get him help, like I wanted to get help.
He wouldn't go see a therapist. He wouldn't do anything.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
His abuse only escalated. As a note to listeners, the
next scene involves a threat of suicide.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
One time, we were fighting and I grabbed the kids
and I went to my parents' house. But as I
would leave in the driveway, he came out. Stood in
the driveway. He had a gun and he pointed it
to his head. I just dropped everything and put my
hands in my face because I didn't want to see
it happen. I drove away.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Morgan was focused on surviving his abuse and keeping her
kids safe.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
I was just trying to get by minute per minute.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
It was devastating. She still had so much love for
this person, but he was not the man she married. Eventually,
Morgan told her parents that she needed to leave her marriage.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I went to them and was like, I can't do
this anymore. They were on my side. My dad was like, Okay,
call the attorney. We're going to get the divorce. We're done.
I get it. I understand.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Hearing her parents affirm her decision to leave shifted something
within Morgan.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
I don't know what it was, but a light just
came on and I was like, I'm ton I don't
have to do this. I could get out.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
After eleven years of marriage and nearly twenty years together,
Morgan filed for divorce.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
My divorce was like a month long.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
The proceedings were extremely fast.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
He gave me the house, he gave me everything. He
didn't fight it, and I think it's because he thought
he could win me back. Behind the scenes, he was like,
give me another chance. I was just constantly begging me
and begging me.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
But Morgan was done giving Rodney chances to change. Their
divorce was finalized in December of twenty twenty, and she
knew she had made the right decision.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I was feeling free. I just felt right. I didn't
have the urge to want to go back. I just
felt like the weight of the world was off my shoulders.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
It was a positive change for her kids too well.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
My kids were like Mom, it's so much happier around here.
I was like, yes, I know, I did the right thing.
I was just so elated that the house was calm
and quiet.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Rodney was the only one not adjusting well.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Rob is still asking me to get back together with them.
Let me give another chance.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Morgan tried her best to ignore him, but he was
trying everything to make her feel bad.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
It was a few days before his birthday. He's like, well,
no one's going to take me out for my birthday.
Can you please go out and make my birthday? So
that I said, okay, I'll go to dinner for your birthday.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
The dinner was uncomfortable. The entire time, Rodney was begging
her to take him back. She tried to set boundaries
between them again. Then, a few days before Christmas, Morgan
was at her friend's house when she got an email
from Rodney. He was writing to let her know that
he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He attached a
(27:00):
doctor's note to his email. The cancer had already progressed
to stage four by the time they found it. It
was a terminal diagnosis. Morgan was stunned. She rushed over
to Rodney's house right away and.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I was like, I am so sorry. I'm here for
you, your father, my children. I'm always gonna love you.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
She spent the day at his apartment, trying to support
him as he wrapped his mind around the diagnosis. When
the day he came to an end, Rodney told her
he was scared to be alone. That night, she told
him he could come to her house and sleep on
the sofa if he needed to.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
And the following morning, I said, okay, you know, I
think it's time we call your parents. He's like, I
don't want my parents to know. And I was like,
rod you got in credit cancer.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Morgan wanted to support him, but she was frustrated that
Rodney only wanted support from her and nobody else. Even
though she still cared for Rodney, they were divorced.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Now, I was feeling like, you know, oh, this isn't
really on me, Like this isn't my responsibility anymore.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
It was a tough decision, but she knew she couldn't
be Rodney's only support system for her sake and for his,
so she called his parents, told them about his diagnosis,
and then told him it was time for him to
go back home.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
I was like that's it. You're not putting all of
this on me. I didn't feel responsible for him anymore.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Morgan tried to take a step back.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
And he was still messaging me. He's like, let me
take you out for New Year's Eve. Let me let's
do the New Year's Eve together. And I was like, no,
I'm not doing it. I don't want to do it.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
So she made up an excuse. She told him she
was spending the night at her parents' house so he
wouldn't try to come over. Her kids were out of town,
so Morgan decided to go to a friend's New Year's
Eve party.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I was there for a little bit and I was like,
you know what, I don't really want to be here.
I'm tired. This is my first New Year by myself.
I don't like drinking. I just wanted it to be relaxing,
and I didn't have my kids. I was like, I
just want to go home.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Her kids were at her sister's house in Florida for
the week, and Morgan had the house to herself. She
went home, changed into her pajamas and put on a movie.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
I fell asleep on the sofa that night. I woke up.
I think it was just about a minute before midnight,
and it was a firework I heard in the neighborhood,
and it woke me up, and so I was like,
oh gosh, okay, it was just for a second. And
then I'd been down and I kissed my dog and
I was like having a year.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
She pulled herself off the couch, went to her room,
and went back to bed. As a note for listeners,
Morgan is about to describe an instance of graphic violence.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
It was like thirty minutes later or something like that.
I woke up again. There's always been a creek by
my door when you walk by it.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
She heard the floorboard creak and her eyes snow.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
It was just loud, and I saw this figure standing
in the doorway. He was all black and had a
batman mask and just covered head to toe and black clothing.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
The light in the living room was on behind the intruder.
He was silhouetted in the doorway. She didn't have a
clear view of him.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
I kept opening my eyes, like, am I really seeing
this or not. The moment that I think he realized
my eyes were opened is when he pounced at me.
I remember letting out this blood curling scream, a scream
that you never thought would possibly be able to come
out of your body.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
The intruder used zip ties to restrain her the whole time.
He had a gun in her face and he used
it to hit her. The attack felt like it lasted forever.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
When you're strangled, it is the worst feeling in the
entire world. I mean, it's so personal. You're looking up
at this person and you can't breathe. I got to
the point where I literally felt like my body was
shutting down and that was done. I was thinking in
my head he was gonna take my kids.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
He put a pillowcase over her head and he sexually
assaulted her. Then the intruder began to speak. It sounded
like he was using a voice changer. The altered voice
was deep and gravelly. It sounded just like Batman.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
That was definitely the scariest thing. The Batman voice sound.
That is what still haunts my dreams. He would just
make all these comments of like you've messed with the
wrong person. You're gonna pay for this.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
The intruder demanded that she share her phone password. Scared
for her life, she told him Morgan's mind was racing
trying to figure out who was behind the mask.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
I'm thinking in my head, like I do not have
enemies like this. What is going on? Then he makes
a comment, if you're really gonna miss your husband?
Speaker 1 (32:05):
She had to make a split second decision of how
to respond. Something in her knew what the intruder wanted
to hear, and.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
I was like, oh no, please don't hurt my husband.
I love him very much. And I think that's what
saved me because the mood the entire room changed. It
wasn't as heavy, it wasn't as dark, it wasn't as deep.
His whole persona changed.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Just seconds ago, the intruder's violence had been life threatening,
but now his focus shifted from Morgan to her valuables
and what he could steal, like he was.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
A burglary more so than they're the murder me. He's like,
where's your jewelry? And he started ripping out stuff from
my drawers and things like that.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Then the intruder lifted Morgan off of the bed.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
He kept that pillow case over my head and then
took me outside in the back patio, lay me on
my outside sofa, and he was like, don't move until
you hear three car hogs.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
She complied and listened as the intruder's footsteps faded away.
Speaker 2 (33:18):
I heard the car leave, but I didn't hear any
three car hogs.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
There was still a pillowcase over her head. She didn't
know for sure if the intruder had left or if
anyone else was watching her.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
I don't know if there's more than one person. I
couldn't see anything, and I was trying to keep myself
awake because I can feel the blood running down my faith.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Morgan was severely injured. She focused all of her energy
on coaching herself through the pain. She needed to survive this,
not only for herself, before her children.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
And I was like, you can have a concussion. Try
to stay awake. Try to stay awake. At the same time,
I'm thinking in my head, okay, where are your keys
at You're going to run to the car, like I
was planning things out in my head.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
She laid on the back patio for forty minutes waiting,
but then she heard something.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
We had river rocks in our backyard, and I heard
someone stepping on them. And then I heard footsteps going
up the back deck stairs, and I was like, somebody
else is here.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Morgan was asleep at her house on New Year's Eve
when an intruder broke into her home. He was wearing
a batman mask, black clothing, and disguising his voice with
a voice changer. He violently attacked her before leaving her
on the back porch, her head cut with a pillowcase.
He told her not to move until she heard three
(35:04):
hanks of a car's horn, but the sounds never came,
so she stayed there for forty minutes until she heard
footsteps approaching.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
And I was like, somebody else is here.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
She wasn't sure if this was help or the start
of a second attack.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
And then I heard footsteps going up the back deckstairs.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
The pillowcase was lifted off her head and Morgan looked
up to see who had arrived. It was Rodney.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
He looked very surprised.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Morgan was also surprised. How did Rodney know she needed help?
Speaker 2 (35:41):
He said, well, right, someone can tapping out my window
and saying you better go check on your wife or
something like that.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
Then Rodney began to tend to Morgan.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
I'm still naked and my hands are tied and I
was crying, and he took me inside, took me by
the fireplace. He was consulting, but also like trying to
act like he was staying in the day. He's like,
I'm going to check the house out, make sure everything's good,
and make sure everyone's gone.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
He walked around the house, opening closet doors, but.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
He still undone my handcuffs or got me my clothes
that I needed.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Then Rodney called the police. Morgan listened, still handcuffed as
he told the nine one one dispatcher.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
He's gone now and it's no big deal. We don't
need the sire into the lights or the big old
or deal or anything like that. And I'm sitting there
like what.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
The police made their way to the house at a
leisurely pace. Based on Rodney's account, they didn't think it
was that serious of a situation.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
The policeman walks in the front door and he stops
in its fracks and back right back out outside and
calling her back up.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
Rodney sounded calm on the phone, but one look at
Morgan told a different story. She had been physically salted.
She was bleeding from a head wound, her face was
swelling and starting to turn purple.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
I mean, I can't even see out of like one eye.
The cop was kind of like, what do you mean?
This is not this big of a deal.
Speaker 1 (37:16):
The pleae took Rodney aside for questioning. In the meantime,
they searched the house. Occasionally someone came over to talk
to Morgan, but all of their words faded into one
loud hum.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
I just felt like I was medicated or something. I
was all a blur. My brain was just going, you know,
a thousand miles a minute, and I couldn't even keep
up with what detectives were saying.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
But then one of the detectives said something that cut
through the noise. He told her they were arresting Rodney.
Morgan's head was spinning. She remembered the look on Rodney's
face when he first saw her injuries. He had looked surprised,
but they had been together since they were teenagers, and
(38:04):
Morgan knew Rodney's expressions.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Intimately, it was a genuine shock. But I think it
was a genuine shock of like, holy wrap, what did
I do to have.
Speaker 1 (38:18):
Her thoughts were racing. Could Rodney really have done this?
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Maybe it said, Maybe it wasn't. I don't know. I
didn't know if he'd hired anybody else.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
Morgan was taken to the hospital. Luckily, her kids were
still out of town staying with her sister. Rodney was
the prime suspect, but authorities needed solid proof if they
were going to charge him with the crime, so they
got a warrant to search Rodney's apartment. That's when the
picture began to come together. Detectives found a book in
(38:51):
Rodney's apartment, Seven Ways to Be Her Hero, a self
help book for men, and Rodney's search history told a
disc disturbing story.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
They took his computer and they found searches of how
to strangle somebody and writing a suicide letter.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
He also searched for how to change the sound of
your voice, how to get sympathy from your ex, and
how long to choke someone unconscious. Then they found physical
evidence zip ties that looked just like the ones used
to restrain Morgan.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
And they took the zip ties to forensics to see
if it was a match.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
Forensics came back quickly it was a match. The evidence
was overwhelming. Rodney was the intruder.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
I just dropped to the ground and just started crying.
Finally someone saw that it wasn't my fault.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
For years, Rodney had been gaslighting Morgan, telling her she
was to blame for his violence. Now it was finally.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
I was just throwing back, like, oh my gosh, I
can't believe he was honestly just stupid to look it
all up online.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
In the weeks before the attack, Rodney told Morgan he
had terminal cancer, but in their investigation, police discovered a
forged doctor's note proof that Rodney's story was a lie.
Speaker 2 (40:23):
It was just so mind boggling. I guess I never
really truly thought he would go that far.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
Rodney had been desperate to regain control of Morgan's life
and to get her back. He started by trying to
gain her sympathy. When he first told Morgan about his cancer,
she was distraught, but even though she was worried for him,
she still didn't want to get back together with him.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
That is when I think he finally made a decision, Okay,
he's going to go through with what his end game was.
Speaker 1 (40:55):
Morgan had let Rodney sleep on her couch. He said
he was scared about his terminal diagnosis, but in reality,
he had ulterior motives.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
During that time I was sleeping, he went downstairs in
the basement and took a window sensor off the window,
so he was a planning his next esth.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
With the window sensor removed, Rodney had an easy way
to enter Morgan's house without activating the alarm system. On
the night of the attack, he'd asked for Morgan's phone
password and gone through her phone. Police discovered he'd been
deleting security footage. Rodney Metzer was charged with fourteen counts
(41:40):
related to the attack, including kidnapping, home invasion, armed robbery,
aggravated assault, and sexual battery. But one question remained, why
would Rodney do this to her? Why take it this far?
Morgan thinks it's because he wanted to create a villain
so that he could be the.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
Hero, because he wanted to gain back that guy next
door type of vibe everyone like the penny of the
perfect person.
Speaker 1 (42:12):
But the assistant district attorney who prosecuted a case believes
Rodney's motivations were even more sinister. In a press release
about Morgan's case, she gave this quote, which we've had
read by a voice actor. This man is a master manipulator.
Speaker 3 (42:29):
In the days leading up to the attack, he faked
a cancer diagnosis in an attempt to gain sympathy from
his ex wife. When that didn't work, he created a
convoluted plan that the investigators in this case and our
office truly believe involved a plot to kill her and
then himself. When he couldn't go through with that plan,
(42:50):
he instead devised a new plan to rescue her.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
In the weeks following the attack, Morgan's sister agreed to
take care of her kids while she focused on recovering.
She checked herself into an impatient rehab for PTSD recovery,
but even with professional help, she found herself struggling to
return to the life she had before.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
I didn't want to be left alone in the house,
but I didn't want to leave my house because I
worked very hard to pay for that house. At that time,
I was too afraid to work because I didn't want
to go to random people's houses.
Speaker 1 (43:26):
I was scared nights for the hardest. She didn't feel
safe letting her guard down in her own home.
Speaker 2 (43:34):
There was a month that I would sleep in my
son's room and just sit in the corner of the
room and stare at the door. I just wouldn't sleep.
I couldn't find comfort in it. But I refused to
let him.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
Beat me Meanwhile, the state built their case against Rodney
and prepared for trial.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
I was just talking to the DA constantly, just constant questions.
They came to get server my house, they went through
his phone. It was just reliving that moment every second
for like eight months.
Speaker 1 (44:10):
Rodney pled guilty to fourteen counts related to the attack.
On August fourth, twenty twenty one. Rodney was sentenced to
twenty five years in prison and forty five years of probation.
Morgan wanted to go to his sentencing hearing. She prepared
a victim impact statement, which she read in the courtroom.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
And my last statement to him, I said, do you
know rod the pain you'd given me is turned into
so much power. I walked off that stand feeling like
weight was lifted off my shoulders. I just felt like
I could breathe a little bit more. I feel like
some things that were at peace.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
In that same press release about the case, the prosecutor
wrote a line that stood out to our team. Here's
what she wrote.
Speaker 3 (45:00):
This is a classic example of how the most dangerous
time for a domestic violence victim is when she decides
to leave an abusive relationship.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
Morgan had to find a way to explain to her
kids why they couldn't see their father anymore.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
I told them, do you guys know when you get
in trouble there's a consequence for your actions and they
said yes. I said, well that is something very bad,
and he has to have a punishment and he's going
to be away for twenty to twenty five years.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
She did everything she could to process her trauma and
heal for herself and for her kids. It took months,
but slowly I.
Speaker 2 (45:40):
Felt like I was more myself, letting the kids go
to school. More, Okay, we're going back into a routine.
Speaker 1 (45:46):
Rodney was a defining figure in Morgan's life since she
was fourteen years old. Without him around, even the smallest
things felt new.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
I was trapped by him for so long that I
was getting to know my real self too. I had
to reintroduce myself. I feel like I had to relearn
how to walk and talk and do the base. Eventually
I started learning to get up every day and learn
who the new me was going to be.
Speaker 1 (46:19):
In her victim impact statement, she told Rodney she would
turn the pain he inflicted into power, and she did
that power.
Speaker 2 (46:28):
It's gotten me through figuring out how to provide for
my children how to figure out how to do daily life.
Speaker 1 (46:36):
Today, Morgan's interior design business is thriving. She reclaimed the
house where she was attacked and turned it into a
loving home, and as for her twins, she's proud of
the people they're becoming. We end every weekly episode with
the same question, why do you want to share your story?
Speaker 2 (46:55):
I'm very lucky. Unfortunately a lot of women in my
situation get at a lot, and I just want women
to know that it's important to speak to each other
and to be open and to talk about things. I
never said anything out loud. I never really went to
a lot of my friends because I wanted to paint
(47:16):
this beautiful picture of my family and nothing was wrong.
And we as women are each other's biggest supporters, and
if we say what's going on, maybe would have been
able to get help earlier.
Speaker 1 (47:37):
On the next episode of Betrayal Weekly, suddenly the knock
is on my door.
Speaker 2 (47:42):
I opened the door. These two men in street clothes
are claiming to be us marshals. My whole body is hot.
I feel like my stomach is dropped.
Speaker 1 (47:52):
And they showed me a picture.
Speaker 2 (47:55):
Yeah, that is my fiance.
Speaker 1 (48:07):
If you'd like to share your story on Betrayal, please
email Betrayalpod at gmail dot com. That is Betrayalpod at
gmail dot com. Please note that we are not a
mental health organization. If you are in crisis or currently
experiencing domestic violence, we encourage you to seek local help
(48:28):
or dial nine to one one. Please contact organizations that
offer immediate support. In our show notes, we've included a
list of US based resources. You can follow us on
Instagram at betrayal Pod or find me at It's Andrea Gunning.
To access our newsletter and additional content, and to connect
(48:49):
with the Betrayal community, join our substack at Betrayal dot
substack dot com. We're grateful for your support. One way
to show support is by subscribing to our show on
applepopts and don't forget to rate and review Betrayal. Five
star reviews go a long way. Big thank you to
all of our listeners. Betrayal is a production of Glass Podcasts,
(49:11):
a division of Glass Entertainment Group, in partnership with iHeart Podcasts.
The show is executive produced by Nancy Glass and Jennifer Fason,
posted and produced by me Andrea Gunning. Written and produced
by Olivia Hewitt. Our story editor is Monique Lebord, also
produced by Ben Fetterman. Our associate producer is Leah Jablo.
(49:32):
Production management by Kristen Melchiorre. Booking support by Curry Richmond.
Voice acting by Theresa Christine Brabson. Our iHeart team is
Ali Perry and Tresica Crincheck. Audio editing by Tanner Robbins,
with additional editing and mixing by Matt Delbecchio. Betrayal's theme
composed by Oliver Baines. Music library provided by my Music
(49:55):
And For more podcasts from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app
Apple Podcasts, but wherever you get your podcasts
Host
Andrea Gunning
Popular Podcasts
Hey Jonas!
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.