Jess McHugh (Host/Narrator)
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Last fall, Jake and I, along with our producer Amy, went on a road trip to Rhode Island. We wanted to meet the people in Sarah's inner circle, people who were closest to her, who each knew some part of the truth. One morning, Amy and I went to meet someone named Sam. We're just going to use her first name to protect her privacy. We spoke at her boyfriend's house, sitting around the kitchen table.
Last fall, Jake and I, along with our producer Amy, went on a road trip to Rhode Island. We wanted to meet the people in Sarah's inner circle, people who were closest to her, who each knew some part of the truth. One morning, Amy and I went to meet someone named Sam. We're just going to use her first name to protect her privacy. We spoke at her boyfriend's house, sitting around the kitchen table.
Sam is in her 50s with short blonde hair. She's a physical therapist. And for years, she was Sarah's physical therapist.
Sam is in her 50s with short blonde hair. She's a physical therapist. And for years, she was Sarah's physical therapist.
What was it that drew you to her, especially in those early days?
What was it that drew you to her, especially in those early days?
Sarah and Sam first met in the fall of 2018, just a few months after Sarah's wedding to Nicole, the wedding attended by all her VFW friends. By this point, Sarah was fully immersed in this veteran role. Sam told me about the moment when Sarah first came in for a consultation.
Sarah and Sam first met in the fall of 2018, just a few months after Sarah's wedding to Nicole, the wedding attended by all her VFW friends. By this point, Sarah was fully immersed in this veteran role. Sam told me about the moment when Sarah first came in for a consultation.
This was the Sarah who, in her own words, had always been able to, quote, keep her mouth shut and be quiet and not share anything. Someone who let the silences do the talking. But Sarah did say she had been injured in Iraq.
This was the Sarah who, in her own words, had always been able to, quote, keep her mouth shut and be quiet and not share anything. Someone who let the silences do the talking. But Sarah did say she had been injured in Iraq.
Sam had worked with trauma patients before, so when Sarah didn't want to show Sam her scar, she didn't push. Plus, she already knew a little about Sarah's supposed military past because one of Sarah's gym buddies had connected them. Sarah got into a routine of twice-weekly PT with Sam. And eventually, the Wounded Warrior Project started paying for it. Sarah was part of their independence program.
Sam had worked with trauma patients before, so when Sarah didn't want to show Sam her scar, she didn't push. Plus, she already knew a little about Sarah's supposed military past because one of Sarah's gym buddies had connected them. Sarah got into a routine of twice-weekly PT with Sam. And eventually, the Wounded Warrior Project started paying for it. Sarah was part of their independence program.
It's a super selective program for the most severely wounded veterans, usually people with traumatic brain injuries, which Sarah claimed she had. Over many months of these weekly appointments, these two women became friends. They talk about nature, gardening, or books. They both love reading. They also talked about more intimate things.
It's a super selective program for the most severely wounded veterans, usually people with traumatic brain injuries, which Sarah claimed she had. Over many months of these weekly appointments, these two women became friends. They talk about nature, gardening, or books. They both love reading. They also talked about more intimate things.
Sam was recently divorced, and Sarah told her, in that way she does so well, I get it. My marriage isn't working out either. Yeah, that's right. Sarah told Sam that she was also getting divorced.
Sam was recently divorced, and Sarah told her, in that way she does so well, I get it. My marriage isn't working out either. Yeah, that's right. Sarah told Sam that she was also getting divorced.
None of this was true, at least not according to Sarah's wife, Nicole. At the time, they were still living together, still married, and not in an open marriage. That's not what she told Sam. This, by the way, is also classic Sarah, as we've learned. And it's a pattern I've seen with women scammers in general.
None of this was true, at least not according to Sarah's wife, Nicole. At the time, they were still living together, still married, and not in an open marriage. That's not what she told Sam. This, by the way, is also classic Sarah, as we've learned. And it's a pattern I've seen with women scammers in general.