Last week, I was invited to participate in a “Women’s History Breakfast” at a local high school. The school asked six local women to speak about obstacles they’ve overcome in their lives and careers to a group of approximately 50 girls.
I used the opportunity to talk about sociopaths.
First, I briefly summarized my story: I married James Montgomery, an Australian, who told me he was a Hollywood movie producer and screenwriter, a war hero who served in Vietnam with Special Forces, and who came to Atlantic City to open an electronic theme park for adults on the Boardwalk. The only thing that was true was that he was Australian.
Montgomery took $227,000 from me, cheated with at least six different women during out two-and-a-half year marriage, had a child with one of them, and then, 10 days after I left him, married the mother of the child, committing bigamy for the second time.
I had the girls’ attention.
Then I told them that my husband began his career as a liar and a cheater in high school. One of the women that I interviewed for my upcoming book relayed to me a story that James Montgomery told her: While he was in high school, Montgomery picked up a girl for a date. As they were on their way to wherever they were going, she said she forgot something and had to go back home. The girl and James walk into the house, and sitting there were six other girls—he’d told each one that she was his girlfriend. He was busted.
Now I really had the girls’ attention.
What was this guy’s problem? James Montgomery was a sociopath. I explained what a sociopath usually wasn’t—a delusional serial killer. I explained what it was—someone with no heart, no conscience and no remorse.
Then I read a shortened version of the letter that Lovefraud posted last year from a 15-year-old girl, I didn’t want to be alone and believed that he loved me. The girl described her involvement with a guy who was two years older than her. It was mostly a phone relationship—he couldn’t be bothered to actually see her. But if she went out, he got mad because she wasn’t paying attention to him. Then I read the part of the letter where he tries to get the girl to go along with his sick sexual fantasies.
By now, the girls in my high school audience were shocked.
I concluded my presentation with points on how they could protect themselves from sociopaths: First, know they exist. Second, know the warning signs. Third, trust your intuition.
The girls asked a lot of questions: How did I recover from my marriage to my ex-husband? (Good therapy.) The guy in the letter was verbally abusive—are sociopaths violent? (Sometimes.) Is there any treatment for sociopaths? (Once they are adults, no.)
I hope that I’ve warned 50 girls to be on the lookout for sociopaths.
witsend
Anybody report the abuse yet?
kim frederick
I hate the idea of drawing it to D. A.’s attention.
NASTY. REALLY NASTY.
one/joy_step_at_a_time
Hi witty – many times over. 😉
hens
just last nite on the local news a well know physcopath in the area who tormented women and children for years was found dead, a self inflicted gun shot to the head, unfortunately he killed his wife and kidnapped his 7 year old step daughter and killed her also – they found him just a few miles from here, whats is so freakin unbelieveable is he had been in prison for attempted murder of a former wife and the rape of a young girl – the system let him out only after 3 years,,,i worked with this guy years ago and knew he was a no good scumbag…at least he can not ever hurt anyone again
one/joy_step_at_a_time
Hi cat – nice to see you!
kim and i are going to start a landscaping business, and witty and i have an auto garage…so, whatever your needs.
🙂
one/joy_step_at_a_time
hens – i am so sorry to hear this.
one/joy_step_at_a_time
i think we will have to be prepared as things get more public with the book etc. we will get a whole lot more landscaping business.
we have to protect lf and the members.
now where the hell is my ratchet set….?
kim frederick
Hens, Is this the guy who lived in an RV, and He and his wife were seperated? He asked her to bring the step-daughter over for a visit?
I think Mom must have had serious issues, too, cause I think she was aware of his past.
I’m sorry to hear it ended this way. Last I heard they were missing.
hens
he killed his wife about 3 months ago and has been hiding out with this precious little girl – i knew this would be the out come – i can only imagine the horrors this child endured – i was afraid of him long before i knew what scumbags really are
ErinBrock
Hens…..
Too bad he couldn’t have taken his own shameful life BEFORE he took the innocents!!!!!
This case is a CLASSIC case of why a tpo is NEVER to be walked over.
Not blaming the mamma……but if we apply and are granted a RESTRAINING order……follow thruogh with it…..
Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy!!!!