Corinne Vien

We grabbed an office chair, we lifted Jake up the stairs, we sat him down on that office chair, wheeled him into the elevator, and finally made it up a few flights to Amy's office, where he then signed off on the paperwork. So obviously it would have been really easy for Jake to call it quits in this moment, right? To say, forget it, this is way too much. But that's not how he operates.

We grabbed an office chair, we lifted Jake up the stairs, we sat him down on that office chair, wheeled him into the elevator, and finally made it up a few flights to Amy's office, where he then signed off on the paperwork. So obviously it would have been really easy for Jake to call it quits in this moment, right? To say, forget it, this is way too much. But that's not how he operates.

Jake is scrappy, determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to keep moving forward. I sat down with Amy to discuss her memory of the divorce.

Jake is scrappy, determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to keep moving forward. I sat down with Amy to discuss her memory of the divorce.

After this was filed, I found an email from Ellen to attorney Amy Clifford providing her contact information and physical address. But there's something else worth noting. In the legal paperwork Ellen submitted, she requested that her address be impounded, claiming she feared for her safety, that Jake's family might pose a threat. The court denied that request.

After this was filed, I found an email from Ellen to attorney Amy Clifford providing her contact information and physical address. But there's something else worth noting. In the legal paperwork Ellen submitted, she requested that her address be impounded, claiming she feared for her safety, that Jake's family might pose a threat. The court denied that request.

Now, many involved, Jake's family, the court, felt that there was no real basis for her claim. But I can't help but pause. I've watched enough true crime documentaries to know how many victims of abuse have pleaded for protection only to be turned away for lack of evidence. And that thought lingers with me.

Now, many involved, Jake's family, the court, felt that there was no real basis for her claim. But I can't help but pause. I've watched enough true crime documentaries to know how many victims of abuse have pleaded for protection only to be turned away for lack of evidence. And that thought lingers with me.

I've tried reaching out to Ellen, but I've come up empty-handed. It does seem like she was scared, and I do want to provide some examples of why she could be. Of course, these examples are not told from her perspective, so they could be skewed, but they do provide examples, no less. Ellen had previously taken out two restraining orders, one on Derone, Jake's dad, and Max, Jake's half-brother.

I've tried reaching out to Ellen, but I've come up empty-handed. It does seem like she was scared, and I do want to provide some examples of why she could be. Of course, these examples are not told from her perspective, so they could be skewed, but they do provide examples, no less. Ellen had previously taken out two restraining orders, one on Derone, Jake's dad, and Max, Jake's half-brother.

Derone tells me about a time that Ellen and Max fought. Ellen had been living at Derone's house, which is where she and Jake had resided before his diagnosis, and where Jake received hospice care.

Derone tells me about a time that Ellen and Max fought. Ellen had been living at Derone's house, which is where she and Jake had resided before his diagnosis, and where Jake received hospice care.

Derone describes the fight a bit more based on what Max had told him. It resulted with Ellen knocked to the ground.

Derone describes the fight a bit more based on what Max had told him. It resulted with Ellen knocked to the ground.

Derone tells me about another time, and this was months later, after Derone had supposedly tried to strangle Ellen and the whole subsequent legal trial. Everyone had been shut out. And in an attempt to find Jake, Max decided to visit his dad's house.

Derone tells me about another time, and this was months later, after Derone had supposedly tried to strangle Ellen and the whole subsequent legal trial. Everyone had been shut out. And in an attempt to find Jake, Max decided to visit his dad's house.

You'll hear Daron laughing as he tells this story, but don't mistake it for amusement. Without seeing him, it's really easy to miss what's happening. As he speaks, Daron is fidgeting, shifting uncomfortably. This isn't just a story. It's a deeply complicated and uneasy memory. So while the court ultimately denied Ellen's request to keep her address private, I can understand why she wanted it.

You'll hear Daron laughing as he tells this story, but don't mistake it for amusement. Without seeing him, it's really easy to miss what's happening. As he speaks, Daron is fidgeting, shifting uncomfortably. This isn't just a story. It's a deeply complicated and uneasy memory. So while the court ultimately denied Ellen's request to keep her address private, I can understand why she wanted it.

Just because you haven't seen someone for a while, that you haven't felt threatened over the previous year or two, it doesn't guarantee safety, right?

Just because you haven't seen someone for a while, that you haven't felt threatened over the previous year or two, it doesn't guarantee safety, right?