Jess McHugh (Host/Narrator)

on deep cover.

on deep cover.

Sarah says... that she's gonna have to have her leg amputated. And I was blown away.

Sarah says... that she's gonna have to have her leg amputated. And I was blown away.

Sarah passed herself off as a veteran, specifically a former U.S. Marine who'd served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who'd been injured, a decorated war hero. But none of this was true. was a story she told about herself. A sprawling lie she lived for six whole years. You might think that to pull this off, she'd play it safe.

Sarah passed herself off as a veteran, specifically a former U.S. Marine who'd served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who'd been injured, a decorated war hero. But none of this was true. was a story she told about herself. A sprawling lie she lived for six whole years. You might think that to pull this off, she'd play it safe.

Avoid attention, like not advertise the lie because that'd be a great way to get caught. Seems logical, right? Instead, she did this.

Avoid attention, like not advertise the lie because that'd be a great way to get caught. Seems logical, right? Instead, she did this.

This is Sarah giving an interview on the local news. She's speaking about the state's new Purple Heart Trail, a network of roads dedicated to veterans who were injured or killed in service.

This is Sarah giving an interview on the local news. She's speaking about the state's new Purple Heart Trail, a network of roads dedicated to veterans who were injured or killed in service.

So, yes, Sarah really did this. She stood next to the governor and talked about the meaning of the Purple Heart. A Purple Heart, by the way, that she bought online. Part of me wonders, if you're Sarah, why agree to do this? Because Sarah grew up in Rhode Island and still had family there, classmates from high school, people who knew full well that she was no war hero.

So, yes, Sarah really did this. She stood next to the governor and talked about the meaning of the Purple Heart. A Purple Heart, by the way, that she bought online. Part of me wonders, if you're Sarah, why agree to do this? Because Sarah grew up in Rhode Island and still had family there, classmates from high school, people who knew full well that she was no war hero.

And if any of them had seen her making this speech or watched her on the local news, they could have started asking questions. And Sarah's lies could have unraveled so easily.

And if any of them had seen her making this speech or watched her on the local news, they could have started asking questions. And Sarah's lies could have unraveled so easily.

And I'm Jess McHugh.

And I'm Jess McHugh.

VFW, by the way, stands for Veterans of Foreign Wars. It's kind of like a club for veterans where they can kick back, swap stories, and support each other. Dave was the commander of this post, and his ongoing goal was to modernize the place. He says when he first arrived in 2010, the vibe was kind of like what you might expect. As he put it, smoky bar, bunch of old guys.

VFW, by the way, stands for Veterans of Foreign Wars. It's kind of like a club for veterans where they can kick back, swap stories, and support each other. Dave was the commander of this post, and his ongoing goal was to modernize the place. He says when he first arrived in 2010, the vibe was kind of like what you might expect. As he put it, smoky bar, bunch of old guys.

Dave loved those old guys, but he also wanted to open up the doors, create an environment where any and all veterans would feel welcome, especially the younger generation. So he upped their game on social media. He focused on doing community service, and he set the tone with his welcoming personality. Then, in 2016, he meets Sarah Kavanaugh, and apparently, she was struggling.

Dave loved those old guys, but he also wanted to open up the doors, create an environment where any and all veterans would feel welcome, especially the younger generation. So he upped their game on social media. He focused on doing community service, and he set the tone with his welcoming personality. Then, in 2016, he meets Sarah Kavanaugh, and apparently, she was struggling.