Courtney Browen

But then she made the incredibly brave decision to leave, a decision that she probably went back and forth on for years. When she finally did take that step, she knew how dangerous it could be, but she also knew how dangerous it would be to stay with this man for the rest of her life. So she did it. She left him, and in return, he showed up at her place of work.

pulled a gun on her, shattered her car window, held her against her will, threatened to kill her and threatened to kill her family. And even after this, Jessica took all the right steps. She and her family members went to the police and reported it. They got a restraining order. but somehow he was able to slip through the cracks.

pulled a gun on her, shattered her car window, held her against her will, threatened to kill her and threatened to kill her family. And even after this, Jessica took all the right steps. She and her family members went to the police and reported it. They got a restraining order. but somehow he was able to slip through the cracks.

pulled a gun on her, shattered her car window, held her against her will, threatened to kill her and threatened to kill her family. And even after this, Jessica took all the right steps. She and her family members went to the police and reported it. They got a restraining order. but somehow he was able to slip through the cracks.

And in the end, Jessica lost her family because of it, her own father and twin sister. This case is a huge example of the failures within our system. These protection orders sound like a good idea and sometimes they do work. According to Denver 7, the US Department of Justice issued a report in 2010 regarding the effectiveness of protection orders.

And in the end, Jessica lost her family because of it, her own father and twin sister. This case is a huge example of the failures within our system. These protection orders sound like a good idea and sometimes they do work. According to Denver 7, the US Department of Justice issued a report in 2010 regarding the effectiveness of protection orders.

And in the end, Jessica lost her family because of it, her own father and twin sister. This case is a huge example of the failures within our system. These protection orders sound like a good idea and sometimes they do work. According to Denver 7, the US Department of Justice issued a report in 2010 regarding the effectiveness of protection orders.

The report followed 210 women who filed protection orders and they found that half of them had no violations and half had been violated. And like I mentioned, they're just pieces of paper. And for monsters like Joseph Castorena, they mean nothing. How many true crime stories have you heard that

The report followed 210 women who filed protection orders and they found that half of them had no violations and half had been violated. And like I mentioned, they're just pieces of paper. And for monsters like Joseph Castorena, they mean nothing. How many true crime stories have you heard that

The report followed 210 women who filed protection orders and they found that half of them had no violations and half had been violated. And like I mentioned, they're just pieces of paper. And for monsters like Joseph Castorena, they mean nothing. How many true crime stories have you heard that

or just like this one, where women fear for their lives, but despite escalating behaviors and restraining orders, their partner's violence continues. I know I have heard plenty, and every time it breaks my heart. We can only hope that one day that changes.

or just like this one, where women fear for their lives, but despite escalating behaviors and restraining orders, their partner's violence continues. I know I have heard plenty, and every time it breaks my heart. We can only hope that one day that changes.

or just like this one, where women fear for their lives, but despite escalating behaviors and restraining orders, their partner's violence continues. I know I have heard plenty, and every time it breaks my heart. We can only hope that one day that changes.

But for today's episode, we will be making a donation to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an organization that works to protect women just like Jessica Serrano.

But for today's episode, we will be making a donation to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an organization that works to protect women just like Jessica Serrano.

But for today's episode, we will be making a donation to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an organization that works to protect women just like Jessica Serrano.

Trigger warnings from the stories we cover may include violence, rape, murder, and offenses against children.

Trigger warnings from the stories we cover may include violence, rape, murder, and offenses against children.

Trigger warnings from the stories we cover may include violence, rape, murder, and offenses against children.

Our story for today starts on December 29th, 1999. Just days away from the new millennium, there was excitement in the air. People across America were writing down their future goals and aspirations. Some were closing old chapters and hoping to start fresh. But in the town of Welch, Oklahoma, there were people that were wanting to get revenge on those who they felt had wronged them.