Peter McDonald
speaker
265 appearances
5 recordings
1 series
first heard Nov 2024
last heard Mar 2025
Peter McDonald’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.
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Appearances
The Matheny's dream came true. But after they got home, settled in, they said they felt guilty. Even though they'd been through hell to adopt their son, they got him. But one couple didn't. Teresa told me the name of a couple besides the Graniths who she believes Tara Lee might have matched with Stephanie. The couple who didn't get the baby. I reached out to them and have not heard back.
So I'm not going to share their names. For many of the couples, the painful experience of working with Tara Lee remains private. In November 2018, while the Mathenys were still in Detroit, FBI agent Matt Sluss was uncovering a trove of evidence of wire fraud, enough to get a search warrant for Tara Lee's house. And Courtney's Facebook group now included the Mathenys and over 100 other couples.
But one couple wouldn't reply to Courtney's messages because they firmly believed that Tara Lee was innocent. They believed that her side of the story was the truth.
Next time on Baby Broker.
Baby Broker is an original production of Sony Music Entertainment and Perfect Cadence. It was hosted and reported by me, Peter McDonald. I'm the executive. Don't want to wait for that next episode? You don't have to. Unlock all episodes of Baby Broker ad-free right now by subscribing to the Binge Podcast channel. Search for The Binge on Apple Podcasts and hit subscribe at the top of the page.
Not on Apple? Head to getthebinge.com to get access wherever you listen. As a subscriber, you'll get binge access to new stories on the first of every month. Check out the Binge channel page on Apple Podcasts or getthebinge.com to learn more. Producer, along with Catherine St. Louis and Jonathan Hirsch of Sony Music Entertainment.
Stephen George recorded the narration at the Invisible Studios, West Hollywood. We used music from Audio Network and a few tracks from Epidemic Sound. News clips are courtesy of WXYZ 7 in Detroit, Michigan. Our production managers are Tamika Balance-Kolosny and Sammy Allison. Our lawyers are Allison Sherry and Kathleen Farley. Special thanks to Steve Ackerman, Emily Rasek, and Jamie Myers.
Listen to all episodes of Baby Broker ad-free right now by subscribing to The Binge. Visit The Binge channel on Apple Podcasts and hit subscribe at the top of the page. Or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you listen. The Binge. Feed your true crime obsession. For many people, having a baby is the most profound and transformative event in their life.
But imagine if, right as that dream of becoming a parent was about to come true, someone ripped it away from you, and there was nothing you could do about it. There are places we expect to find criminals. At seedy bus stations, in dark alleys, and in neighborhoods with gangs. but were outraged when they infiltrate places that are supposed to be safe, like schools, hospitals, and places of worship.
I've written about a lot of major crime cases, but this vile scheme really surprised me. And I believe the criminal at the cold heart of it knew that no one would expect it or even imagine it. And that's part of what made it possible. In this story, there's no gun. No knife, no zip ties, but there's a large and dangerous web where you wouldn't expect to find one.
I'll show you who spun it and how, and find out why so many couples got caught in it. Because this crime couldn't have happened to nicer people. Last October, I flew to Atlanta to meet one of the couples who got caught in this web of lies, Teresa and Mike Matheny. It was a warm and sunny Saturday morning, but the remnants of Hurricane Helene were still visible on the streets.
Downed trees, standing water, caution signs. We met at a loading dock behind a warehouse that was converted into a recording studio. Teresa has brown hair, a generous smile, and gave me a big hug. She apologized for being nervous and chalked it up to being type A. Mike, on the other hand, is laid back and unflappable. Type B, I guess. I apologized for mispronouncing their last name.
And it's Matheny. Okay, got it.
Yeah.
Teresa and Mike, where does this story begin for you?
Teresa reached for a tissue.
When IVF didn't work, they changed course.
The reason was supply and demand. There are no precise figures, but it's estimated that over a million U.S. couples are waiting to adopt a baby each year, all vying for fewer than 20,000 babies. That lopsided ratio means most couples will never realize their dream. Their nursery will sit empty. No goodnight moon, no first steps, no spontaneous hugs.
Desperate for a match, the Mathinis switched agencies. Then the new one told them about a social worker named Tara Lee. Tara Lee ran an adoption company in Detroit called Always Hope.
Days later, Tara Lee presented Mike and Teresa's profile book to an expectant mom in Detroit.
Showing 181–200 of 265 · page 10 of 14
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