Jess McHugh (Host/Narrator)

That guy she mentions, Tom, that's Tom Schumann. He's the founder of Patrol Base Abate, the nonprofit that organized those retreats up in Montana. Tom also knew Sarah, and now he was texting with an urgent message.

That guy she mentions, Tom, that's Tom Schumann. He's the founder of Patrol Base Abate, the nonprofit that organized those retreats up in Montana. Tom also knew Sarah, and now he was texting with an urgent message.

Tom says that Sarah has been lying about a number of things, and that she may have lied about her military service. Natalie didn't know who or what to believe.

Tom says that Sarah has been lying about a number of things, and that she may have lied about her military service. Natalie didn't know who or what to believe.

But it turns out Tom had his reasons. In the weeks leading up to this moment, he'd been digging into Sarah's story and he discovered a few red flags, some things that just didn't add up. More on that after the break.

But it turns out Tom had his reasons. In the weeks leading up to this moment, he'd been digging into Sarah's story and he discovered a few red flags, some things that just didn't add up. More on that after the break.

Within a few weeks, Tom hears about Sarah's cancer, and he feels like he's got to do something.

Within a few weeks, Tom hears about Sarah's cancer, and he feels like he's got to do something.

At the time, Tom lived in Rhode Island, where Sarah also lived. So they met up for coffee and talked for hours. He learned how she'd seen combat in Afghanistan, how her convoy was blown up, and how she'd been seriously hurt in the blast. And how, despite it all, she still managed to save some of the guys in her patrol, dragging them to safety, even with her own crushed hip.

At the time, Tom lived in Rhode Island, where Sarah also lived. So they met up for coffee and talked for hours. He learned how she'd seen combat in Afghanistan, how her convoy was blown up, and how she'd been seriously hurt in the blast. And how, despite it all, she still managed to save some of the guys in her patrol, dragging them to safety, even with her own crushed hip.

How she'd gotten a bronze star for her bravery. And now, she had cancer in her lungs because of the toxic chemicals in that explosion.

How she'd gotten a bronze star for her bravery. And now, she had cancer in her lungs because of the toxic chemicals in that explosion.

She told Tom that her plan had been to get a PhD in English literature. She'd even been accepted into a program at Johns Hopkins. But then the VA delivered some shattering news. They told her that she couldn't use her GI Bill. Why? Because her life expectancy was shorter than the time it would take to finish the program. It was devastating. All of it.

She told Tom that her plan had been to get a PhD in English literature. She'd even been accepted into a program at Johns Hopkins. But then the VA delivered some shattering news. They told her that she couldn't use her GI Bill. Why? Because her life expectancy was shorter than the time it would take to finish the program. It was devastating. All of it.

Tom, being a guy of action, was like, maybe I can create a salaried position for you at Patrol Base Abate. At the time, the organization was run entirely by volunteers. There were no paid positions. But the organization did have donors, some with deep pockets. And Tom thought, maybe one of them would be willing to pay for this.

Tom, being a guy of action, was like, maybe I can create a salaried position for you at Patrol Base Abate. At the time, the organization was run entirely by volunteers. There were no paid positions. But the organization did have donors, some with deep pockets. And Tom thought, maybe one of them would be willing to pay for this.

Tom even had a particular donor in mind, a woman who lived up in New Hampshire.

Tom even had a particular donor in mind, a woman who lived up in New Hampshire.

Around this same time, something else very important happens. Remember how Dex, the friend from the Montana retreat, tried to help Sarah with her medical bills? How she contacted a charity called Hunter 7? Well, that charity had also started digging into Sarah's backstory. And what they discovered prompted them to alert both Tom and the FBI.

Around this same time, something else very important happens. Remember how Dex, the friend from the Montana retreat, tried to help Sarah with her medical bills? How she contacted a charity called Hunter 7? Well, that charity had also started digging into Sarah's backstory. And what they discovered prompted them to alert both Tom and the FBI.