Editor’s note: The Lovefraud reader who posts as “Radar_On” sent the following letter.
How does one begin to tell the tale of the masquerade and the swath of destruction at the hands of liars, narcissists, sociopaths, and so on? The psychological, emotional, mental damage that has been inflicted upon us is too much for the “normal” person to comprehend. Unless someone has been through, and survived living through situations like this ”¦ average people just can’t understand, or relate!
I am a 52yr. old woman that has been through much in my life. This current situation is my 3rd. marriage. My first ex husband (my children’s father), we were married for 14 yrs. The last 18mo. we were married, he was charged and CONVICTED of aggravated rape.
She was a young girl of 22 at the time, they were “friends”. Unfortunately, not long before he raped her (about 1hr.) she had a “petit mal” epileptic seizure, and he “assisted her to her bedroom to lay down” ”¦ and that’s when he raped her. My divorce became final some months later.
My 2nd ex, we were married about 8 yrs, but that ended abruptly when he left for one of our employees (we owned a business together), and yes, I had no idea what was going on ”¦ and never saw it coming. I was shattered an devastated by that one as well, and had to start over at 42 ”¦ from the rubble of my life.
I proceeded to move on with my life, found a job and took care of myself and my youngest daughter that was still at home at the time. During those years, I remained single, (7 years) and rarely dated at all. It was safer to remain that way! In 2009, I started to attend a church, locally where I live. I thought no harm in that? I was dead wrong. That is where this “optical and psychological illusion” began!
The crosshairs
Little did I know in the few short weeks that I was attending, I was being “sized-up” and placed in the crosshairs of this monster. This predator in the pew had his eye on me from the beginning. Every time I was there, he was watching me. Sadly, he has the Pastor fooled as well, and with the aid of the Pastor, we were “fixed-up.”
For me, this is one of the most heinous aspects of my situation, that he used the “cloak” of Christianity, and God, in his agenda. To me, Church should be a safe harbor? I thought so, but was wrong. A few weeks later, there was a seminar at the church, for a class to take. There was a “sign-up” sheet in the hallway. I signed up to attend, and yes ”¦ he was there. This monster, or someone else, must’ve seen my name on the list to attend. That is where we first “met.” While there, I was getting coffee, and (I remember every detail so vividly) he came up to me and struck up a conversation. He “seemed” nice, friendly, harmless. I wasn’t attracted to him whatsoever. Several weeks went by, and he asked me out for a bite to eat. Harmless I thought, so I agreed.
Weeks went by, and we started to “date.” There was no physical attraction at all, but what did attract me, I was fooled by his fake “sincerity,” and thought he was a decent man…we “met in church”…right? WRONG! As the weeks went by, his “flattery” was a bit much, saying I was the best looking woman who came thru the doors of the church, and so on. I laughed, and said, “Oh, so you’ve never dated anyone here at church?” He said no. Oh, but little did I know, that the woman that he had a 4yr. affair with, was also a member of the church as well!
The incident
After attending this church for several months (we were still “dating”), on a Sunday June 2009 there was a luncheon after the services, and we went together. No harm, right? Innocent? Little did I know ”¦ As we stood in line, a woman came up to him and asked to have a word with him. (I didn’t pay much attention to it, thought it was innocent). They went OUTSIDE TO TALK. The spath (I’ll call him D.) came back after about 15mins, very upset and furious, but kept his “cool,” but I could tell he was pissed!
We got our food, but he wasn’t saying much. On our way back to take me back to my house, I asked him why he was so irate.? He said she (I’ll call her B.) was just some “crazy” woman chasing after him, and wouldn’t leave him alone. I asked him “key” questions, like have you ever dated her? Been out with anyone from the church, etc. He denied all of it.
This “incident” will come back and “boomerang” throughout this tale of deceit. The first of many lies he told me all started in a Church. Sad? Using the things that are most dear to us ”¦ against us? Just pure evil!
Little did I know the woman that approached him was B., the woman (I later found out) that he had a 4yr. affair with, behind his x-wife’s back while they were married, as well. On top of that, they were also co-workers working for a school system, and both were 20+ veteran employees, both were fired from the schools. (I found the online newspaper article about it) D. lost his job, family, retirement, everything in 2007. B. lost her job, and home as well.
Looking back now, the questions that I asked him about this “crazy woman”, he denied ever knowing her, and so on…I would have never known he was lying, swindling, and GASLIGHTING, he is that accomplished! But that is their “m.o.”, right?
The door to insanity cracks open
Fast fw to April 2010 when (sad to say) we got married. Oh God, he seemed so genuine, sincere and caring! (my mind and psyche are still trying to grasp all of it!) The door to hell cracked open about 6 weeks after we got married. I was looking through some of his “documents and paperwork” in a box for health insurance items, when I happened to see a few old cancelled checkbooks from 2007. Some of the dates were before and after his divorce from his 1st wife.
Being the curious creature I am, I looked at them. Weeks before D. got divorced from his 1st wife, he gave (over a 90day period) almost $5000 to a woman. (Several of the checks were filled out by her, to her). At that moment, I had no idea who this woman was! I proceeded to find the “church directory” and look for her name. Ohhhh, you got it! There “B” was in the church directory!!!
MY MIND EXPLODED!!! My heart started to pound in my chest, weak at the knees, and lucky for him, he was working nights at the time, or else it would’ve ended that night in a fatality.
A few days later I asked him, “who that lady at the church” was. What was her name? He gave me a strange look, and said ”¦ “ugh, why? I think her name was “B.”) I turned and said to him, “I know about “B.”!
At first he acted angry, OFFENDED, then denied, denied, denied! I showed him the checks, and then he blew up, gaslighting me. He threw B. under the bus saying the money was because she was blackmailing him, that she was going to tell his 1st wife they were having an affair! Again, all LIES! OMG, we had just gotten married, and I didn’t know what to believe, and AT THAT TIME, no way of getting any confirmation from anyone.
I should’ve booted him out, (yes, he moved into my house), but got the fake tears, fake apologies, all the “I’m so sorry’s” and so on. After this happened, my mind was blown, and spinning. (I’m sure you all know what I’m saying.) Rather than fight it, I ignored my gut, and for the time being, let it go. After this happened, I did kick him out of MY bedroom. We had only had sex twice (and very pathetic sex at that!) His line was, “I’m sooo sorry I lied. I NEVER CHEATED ON MY 1ST WIFE. Don’t I deserve a second chance?”
Two years later
In the last two years, he took his 1st wife back to court over an issue with their divorce. It lasted eighteen months. Foolishly, I went to the hearings with him, stuck up for him, defended him, and so on. All this time, I was still in the dark about the rest of “his” story. In Feb. of 2012, through a series of events, I got online to check his phone calls. He NEVER stopped talking to “B.”! Ohhhh, the insanity! While D’s second wife, (me) was busy sticking up for him in court, against his 1st wife (ex), he was busy talking on the phone behind my back, to “B.”, the woman he had a 4yr. affair with, when he was married to his 1st wife!!!
After months of digging, researching, watching his behavior, talking to other people, his grown kids, I know what D. did to their mother; I’ve been able to put it all together, finally. When I realized everything ”¦ from the beginning, to now? For days, thought I was having a nervous breakdown!!! No words can describe this feeling, however all of you here can relate! My mind is having an extremely difficult time processing all of it!
Cat and mouse games
In the last two yrs. I have developed, the “hyper-vigilance” that war veterans, etc. experience with Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. I’m in the CTS- Current Traumatic Stress Syndrome. For the last several months, I have been watching his every move, mentally cataloging his every word, and action, as well as on-line activity, every time I leave or he leaves, I check my watch for the time, constantly making “mental notes.” I carry a small box-cutter in my pocket, and keep screwdrivers, hammers, box-cutters, steak knives strategically hidden throughout my house…JUST IN CASE. I have to watch what and HOW I say something to him, for I have been exposed “up-close” to his Narcissistic Rage.
As “punishment” for inquiring about seeing the credit card bill in June of this year, he went up to the credit union and “amputated” me off the accounts. (He is the “primary, I was added on when we got married.) He left me hanging for 10 days, before he decided to add me back on. In his mind, he was punishing me, for defying him and calling him out.
Also in these last months, I have been busy documenting everything. Have been copying everything, have copied to burned Cd’s and everything saved to a flash drive. As he has been playing his game, and playing me the fool, I have been documenting EVERYTHING! Including his online activities, as well as him calling transsexual and “she-male” escorts. Making a copy of a “screen-capture” is a wonderful thing! The sick, twisted, perverted things he looks at is horrifying to me! I will say, if I EVER see any evidence of child-pornography on this computer, I WILL immediately un-plug it, and take it to our police station!
The most dangerous aspect of this is my “proof”. If he ever finds out, I have the concrete evidence, of the sick and twisted things he has done, and IS DOING, D.s son would totally not let him near his grandchildren, EVER AGAIN!!!
Unfortunately, for now…I have to play this game as a matter of survival. I lost my job last year and at my age (52), I’m having a hard time getting hired anywhere, especially now, in these economic times! Have to be very careful in word, deed, and appearance. D. does have a ccw license, has a 9mm (with the clip in the case) on his night-stand, and a 12ga. shotgun (with the bullets lined up in a row) in a gun cabinet in his bedroom.
Yes, a few situations came up in the last two years, and he has made reference to shooting someone. I know he has another phone, he keeps hidden, so he can’t be traced by me. I can go on and on about the situations, the LIES, the GASLIGHTING, the blow-ups, the LIES, the intimidating, and so on. My children are grown, have their on families, and lives, and I don’t want to get them involved. Unfortunately, he knows where my family members live ”¦
I did contact our county DV center here. Will check out what services that are offered. They do have support groups that meet every week. For right now, trying to keep up appearances, and keep my sanity, and try to get on my feet. The place I live in is mine (manufactured home) and it is paid for, I own it outright. When this situation is “set-off,” if he tries to lay claim to my house in any way, I will leave, but leave it in a heap of ashes.
This man has just about totally destroyed me, my mind, my trust, he has raped me of my emotions, he has raped my very soul. A consolation I have gotten from this is I knew/know I wasn’t crazy! It was not just my imagination!!!! I’M NOT CRAZY! Happened upon a quote a few weeks back, “The Human heart feels things, the eyes cannot see ”¦ and knows what the mind cannot understand.” I’m not crazy.
I’ve tried to tell this tale of the dark side, as best I can, from a spinning mind. Eloquent words, I used to have, escape me now, and I tried to keep the “story time line straight.
I found Lovefraud one day, when I just googled, the words love ”¦ fraud. I try to get on the site as often as I can. My screen name is Radar_On. Thank you, Donna. Appreciate your pain, and dedication to exposing these MONSTERS! as well as everyone else on Lovefraud. I wish everyone here the best! God Bless you all!
Thanks OxD, tryin to find out as much as I can online, but my residence is in Ohio. Whiich is a comm. property state. Gna try what i can b4 i get that hate mail from his atty. Dont know if it’ll carry any weight, but gna scream spousal abuse from the rooftops! I have all the proof that he closed the accts on me last June cause I found him on some x-rated dating sites. Thank you, dear!
Good luck, be sure and read the articles here on going to court with the spaths. Also while you “scream spousal abuse” be sure that you do not sound “crazy” that is very important…heck my own therapist and lawyers thought I was crazy! LOL
Radar_On, OxD is 100% spot-on. “Joint” means either party can drain accounts down to ZERO without the permission OR knowledge of their actions. They cannot, however, prevent the other party from having access. If you can get to a local branch, walk in there and get whatever is in the account. THEN, take that money and open your OWN, private account.
Then, cancel all joint credit cards and get your own individual credit card, if you need to have one. Get ALL utilities placed in your name, only, if you intend upon keeping the house. If both of your names are on the deed, HE is going to be awarded a percentage of that property. Please, do not ruminate over this because obsessing about this is not going to change the Laws in divorce.
Separate everything that you can into private, individual accounts for yourself, ONLY.
And, finally, OxD is 100% spot-on, again, about maintaining your cool. Save the emotion for your counselor and this site. Avoid speaking ill of the spath to other people, especially “mutual” friends and acquaintances. They aren’t going to believe you, EVEN if you were to hand them a stack of documentation ten inches thick like MINE was!
FEEL the emotions, Radar, but acknowledge that they are emotions and express them in journaling, therapy sessions, and on this site. The spath is going to do everything that he can to make you appear to be crazy, vindictive, bitter, and vengeful. DIGNITY, girl. Gather up your adamant and stare this down with dignity. Do NOT give him that control, anymore.
If I could make it through my divorce, you can make it through yours. You are going to be FINE, Radar. You won’t be “the same,” but you are going to be a different person that you will respect.
((((HUGS)))) and brightest blessings
EDIT ADD: You know, I also agree with keeping cash, Radar. At some point in the divorce, you will have to submit financial information and maintaining a checking account that has the BARE minimum would be a really wise option. Of course, as OxD mentioned, State laws with regard to divorce vary from one State to the next, so seek an attorney that is bull-dog. Your local domestic violence hotline can give you a list of recommended attorneys.
Sooo, The plot thickens. Over the weekend I talked to the spath’s daughter in law. It seems that the spath’s son wants to see the file i have on his father. Let me say here, his son and his family, are my children’s age, with kids of their own. I have met all of them, and they are very wonderful, beautiful people. The spath put his children and his first wife through hell. Until he married me, and me finding out everything I have about him, NOBODY New just what a monster he really is! The daughter in law told me her husband, (spaths son) is having a extremely difficult time processing all of this. But I really think, the son wants to see my file on him, to solidify it in his mind. I cannot remain silent any longer. It breaks my heart, knowing that this evidence will forever change their lives. I do not want to remain silent, because this monster will continue to see his grandchildren… doesn’t his son have a right to know what kind of monster is around his kids? Just omg, this is so hard! Honestly, a part of me wants to give him some evidence of this, just in case the spath does succeed in killing me. Yes, he has weapons, a 9mm, and his CCW license. Fortunately, I took 3 pictures of his hand gun before he left the house . Over all of this, I really do believe he will want me dead. Just ughhhhhh, what do i do? Thanks for any input…
Radar on, I would be wary of giving the son information at THIS TIME because once that information leaves your hands you do NOT know for sure what the son will do. He may confront his father with it and then your soonn to be X will know what evidence you have.
Remember, I warned you to “play your cards close to your vest”?
I would tell the son, “When this is settled, I will share with you every thing I have in the way of evidence and information about your dad, but at THIS TIME I can’t share it with you, please be patient with me.”
That way your evidence is still secret and protected. And believe me I know from EXPERIENCE —KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!!!
Ox Drover,
That is good advice to Radar_On.
Radar_On, OxD is 100% completely, totally, and in all ways SPOT-ON.
First of all, unless you have children in common with the spath, HIS family are out. “Wonderful people” is not a phrase allowed, at this point and time. You don’t “know” these people well enough and you are in the beginnings of a battle that is going to test your emotions and boundaries. NOBODY has any right or reason to question you about anything regarding your situation, least of all, his offspring. Whether or not they are “wonderful people” has nothing to do with it – don’t allow your emotions to do your decision-making where this is concerned.
If it were me, I would tell his son that I am not discussing my matters with anyone other than my attorney and that would be THAT. I’m a mean old bat, anymore – I do not give a fart in a windstorm WHOM is asking, it’s none of their business.
Yes, OxD is right: keep your mouth shut. As harsh as it might seem, it’s practical and appropriate. Anyone who is nosing into your business is behaving in an INAPPROPRIATE way, whether it’s an intentional Trojan Horse, or not.
Brightest blessings
EDIT ADD: Radar, I don’t want you to interpret my response as belittling or mean, so I want to clarify. When we are emerging and in the beginnings of legal actions, our emotions are running on jet-fuel, and we let those feelings and emotions run rampant unless we practice some very serious boundary construction and maintenance. The motivation to “share” the file with the son is well-intended, but will serve you no good purpose, especially if the contents of the file would ALIENATE his children from him. This is a legal term and recognized in most Family Courts – “alienation of affection” can include adult children who cut their parents off when they are forced to choose “sides” in a divorce matter. PLEASE, do not take offense, but his children need to do their own hunting and pecking. His children need to take care of their OWN recovery. You are NOT responsible for their personal epiphanies or healing. Okay?
(((HUGS)))
Appreciate the insight, OxD, TS. TS, no offence taken! I need brutal honesty, and honest insite, because I know as sure as I am typing on this phone, I am in a brutal situation, that could very well and up in a fatality. I never even realized about the alienation of affection, and yes that is probably what’s going to end up happening anyway. I worry about my adult children, because he knows where my daughter, and my other family members live. It could very well be a case of, if you take my family away for me, I will take out yours! I am absolutely positive that is what he will think! Thank you for your advice X- Infinity! Because of You, Because of this website, I could have very well made a deadly mistake! Don’t ever want to come across as some kind of drama queen looking for attention, But in all brutal honesty, I am scared to death. I should be hearing from his attorney over that money this week, And will update, As the hurricane rolls in. From the bottom of my heart, Thank You!
Radar on, Truthy put it a bit more forcefully than I diid, but totally agree with her take on this. YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR relationship with their father.
AT THIS TIME…if your information were to leak out, it might very much hurt your case, after the case is over, if you want to share your information with his son or anyone else, I don’t see a problem with it, but NOT NOW, not with ANYONE except your attorney, a counselor, on LF and possibly a friend if it is someone you have known and trusted well for years….but even then I would be careful. Believe me when I say people I trusted, loved and had known all my life turned on me, so keeping your mouth shut never hurts any of us but opening it sure does put us in some BAD SPOTS.
Radar_On, I identify with the fear-factor, I really do. Fear-based thinking is one of the seriously unfortunate facets of the spath carnage. That’s what removing emotion means: taking what is running hot, heavy, and immediate off the table to be processed elsewhere. It doen’t mean to “stop feeling,” at all – quite the contrary, But, the “feelings” cannot be the driving force behind my actions and decisions, or I’ll make regrettable errors in judgement.
As OxD has said, “not now.” Now is not the time for disclosures, discussions, sharing, or “caring.” When I type, “caring,” I do NOT mean that in a literal sense – we do care about others, but our OWN care needs to be first, and foremost. Whatever we perceive to be a “caring gesture” could impede our own healing and recovery AND, worst of all, damage us and our case beyond the point of return.
So, the details, concerns, fears, and FACTS about your legal matters go no further than your attorney, your counselor, on LoveFraud, and a “trusted” friend. And, I agree with OxD that even trusted, long-time friends should be a LAST resort. For whatever reason, even the closest friends respond to spath collateral damages in very shocking manners. Keep those cards close to your vest, Radar. You don’t want ANYONE to know whether you’re holding an inside straight, or if you’ve only got a pair of three’s. Information travels once that cat is out of the bag.
BRIGHTEST blessings
EDIT ADD: Radar, about the fear-factor, it’s based on many things, but one of them is an attempt to PREDICT. You do not – NOT – “know” what his attorney is doing, right now, about the money that you took. You do not – do not – “know” that you’ll be receiving a notice in the mail. If you get a notice, then you get a notice. But, this attempt to preempt what his attorney is going to do, is doing, and has already done is feeding that fear with both hands. I know it’s easy to type, “Stop worrying about what he’s doing,” but that’s the only way that you can attend to your own immediate obligations: PO Box, auto insurance, individual checking / credit card, etc. If you are focusing on predictions, you cannot focus on your immediate needs. ((Hugs))