All language subtitles for Episode 03 Friend Request

I felt like if I would give him
some attention,

maybe he wouldn't do this
to me.

Aah!

If I could be his friend,
maybe he wouldn't kill me.

I hear a continuous gunshot.

The witnesses
described the devil,

someone who was not going
to stop no matter what,

like he was focused and he was
determined to end ro's life.

When desire overtakes reason,

the human mind can unleash
deadly obsession.

These are true stories
told by the victims.

In the summer of 2015,
I was 39 years old,

working at a hospital
as a cook, very happy,

living alone with my daughter.

I lived in fort Wayne, Indiana.

What are you drawing?

Just like you!

I was a single mom
to my daughter, Brooklyn.

She was 9 at the time.

My sister, christa,
lives in Louisiana

and was in the air force

ro's my older sister.

We are 17 months apart
in age.

We're really more like twins.

We're super tight and close.

We had a wonderful childhood,
raised in a Christian family.

We were very close-knit.

We were always doing things
together,

whether it's going
to grandparents' house,

cousin,
aunt and uncle's houses.

She wants to take care
of everybody besides herself,

and she always seeks
the good in everyone,

and I just think that's because,
you know,

she's a Christian woman,
and that's how we were raised.

In 2016, I was stationed
at barksdale air force base

in Louisiana.

I was working in the aerospace
ground equipment

as a master sergeant in charge
of the swing shift operations.

Even though I was working away
from home,

our bond never separated.

We talked every day,
multiple times a day.

York: The summers in fort Wayne
are sometimes very hot.

That day was a hot day,

and I got a friend request
from some guy named Willie.

He was around 40 years old
at the time, big guy,

nice eyes, looked friendly,
smiled in all his pictures.

He looked like
a very friendly person.

We had a lot of mutual friends,

and people
that I went to school with.

So I thought it would be okay
to accept him as a friend.

Willie's message on Facebook
said that he thought

I was very beautiful
and would like to be my friend.

I was single for a while,
so it was very nice

to have a message
like that from a guy.

It made me feel very excited,
beautiful.

I was working at a hospital
as a cook,

and we bonded over food.

I love to cook,
and he loved to cook.

After a few weeks,
Willie asked for my phone number

so we could talk to each other.

Hey.
Is that Willie?

Yeah.

It's been killing me not knowing
what you sound like, ro.

First impression of Willie was
very friendly and very exciting

to talk to someone new.

It felt like being
a teenager again.

He wanted to open up
his own restaurant.

It used to be something I was
going to open up with my ex,

but, well,
that's over with now.

Willie had a partner.

They had broken up at the time,

but they had
a daughter together.

I decided not to ask him
about his relationships.

This was the first time
that I felt chemistry

with someone in a long time.

I'd love to
talk to you later.

I couldn't call him.
He could only call me.

I did think it was kind of weird
at the time.

Why can't I
see your number?

It's better
if I call you, ro.

Things are crazy busy.

Hey, ro.

I don't get it.

Why can't I call you?

I'm incarcerated.

On our second phone call,

Willie revealed
that he was in prison.

Willie told me that he acquired
a phone while he was in there.

So that is how he messaged me
and called me.

Okay.

Willie told me he was
in there for drugs.

He was caught dealing.

Okay.

And he told me he would be
coming home in the next year.

I'm a very free spirit,
not judgmental person.

I didn't stop talking to Willie
just because he was in prison.

Everybody deserves
a second chance.

Hey.
Is that Willie?

Hey, ro.

I haven't been truthful
about why I'm inside.

I wanted you to get
to know me first.

What are you saying?

I went to
my ex-partner's house.

There was an argument
between her cousin and me,

and I lost it.

He was really in prison
for trying to kill someone.

I -- I was 17
at the time.

I'm not
the same person now.

You should have told me.

How do I know you're not
hiding something else?

He was sentenced to 45 years,

but was serving 21 years
because at the time, Indiana,

you only had to do
60% of your time.

I try not to judge people
on their past,

and people do change.

I wish
you'd told me earlier.

And all I could judge him on was
how he was with me,

very kind,

respectful and friendly.

I was talking to Willie
in secret

until I knew
I wanted to be with him.

So what you think?

As time passed, we started
talking about US

being in a relationship,

and I wanted a loyal,
respectful friend

as a relationship.

I have to be sure.

My family comes first.

I did tell him about Brooklyn.

I want to do right by you
and Brooklyn.

Being a single mother,
it is hard sometimes,

and he was offering me
help raising her the right way.

I didn't tell my sister because
I didn't want anyone

to prejudge him
until they get to know him.

It was 8 months after
the friend request

that Willie
was released from prison.

I felt very excited and happy
to meet him

in person
for the first time.

He looked better in real life
than in the pictures.

He seemed very happy,
very relaxed.

He just would not stop smiling
and talking and hugging me.

He was released
to a halfway house.

I felt like what he did
didn't matter to me.

I was in too deep.

I knew his dad was a pastor,
and that made me at ease.

After 3 weeks of being out,
Willie got a job right away.

So I really thought he was
on the right path.

Ro and Willie together,

they were in that
early stage of love.

They were happy.

Yes, I was totally thinking,
"this is the one for her."

A month later,
Willie moved in to my house.

Ro didn't tell me
Willie had been in prison

until after I met him.

I felt very cautious.

My guard was still up,
but at the same time,

I felt comfortable
that my sister was in

a relationship with him.

I didn't really worry too much,

even being that far away
from her.

Willie and my dad's
relationship, it was very good.

I mean, my dad liked him.

He respected him,
and Willie respected my dad.

York:
My father started to get sick.

Willie said that he would
support me

and my daughter
while I took care of my dad.

Willie was extremely great
with Brooklyn.

Did you have
a good time today?

We going to get
some ice cream later?

Alright.
That's what I want to hear.

He treated Brooklyn like
his own daughter, really.

Well, you know, your mama's
going to be late.

She's looking after
your grandpa.

I really felt that my dad
genuinely loved him.

Yeah. Alright.
Give me some skin.

Boom! That's right.

I remember when ro told me that,
you know,

Willie said,
"you can quit your job."

And I just instantly thought,
"wow.

What a great person
to do this."

Willie made a huge emotional
commitment to our family,

and I felt that maybe he put
his feelings to the side

and just let ro
be devoted to my dad

which I thought
was also genuinely great.

York: He took care of Brooklyn
while I was gone.

He was everything that I needed
in a partner and more.

I started to hear some rumors
about him.

Friends would come
and tell me things

that they heard
about Willie.

They said what Willie has done

was a bit more serious
than what he told me.

Why can't you just be
open with me?

Just tell me the truth!

Okay.

I'll tell you.

Willie tells me he shot
his ex-partner's new boyfriend

nine times
while he lays in bed, asleep.

I was in the room with someone
that had the intent

to kill someone.

York: I got a friend request
from some guy named Willie.

Hey, ro.
-I don't get it.

Why can't I call you?
-I'm incarcerated.

Willie said that he would
support me and my daughter

while I took care of my dad.

Just tell me the truth!

Willie tells me he shot
his ex-partner's new boyfriend

nine times
while he lays in bed.

I was in the room with someone
that had the intent

to kill someone.

It made me sick to my stomach
to realize

that Willie was telling me
a lie this whole time...

...and that was
the first time I seen him cry.

I don't want to lose you.

I think that he lied to me

because
he wanted US to stay together

and didn't want
to lose his family.

I'm sorry.

I was his family now.

I don't want to lose you.

He was 17 when it happened,

so I didn't see him
as a danger anymore.

I wasn't afraid of him
being around Brooklyn.

I didn't think he would
hurt her.

You're not going to lose me.

After she found out,

I believe she tried to hide it
from me for a while.

She didn't want me to think
negatively on him

and his actions.

Initially, I was really kind
of mad that she lied to me

because we're very close.

I think I remember saying,
"why?

Why didn't you just
tell me the truth?"

You know?

And then that's how
the conversation came out.

She didn't want me
to judge him.

She's a very protective person,
and she was protecting him,

and I believe she was
protecting me as well,

and I wanted her
to be happy, also Brooklyn.

York: My dad passed away
April 7, 2016.

After my dad passed away,
things changed.

A week after my dad's funeral,

I was sitting
in my bedroom crying,

and Willie came in there.

I was
in mourning for my dad.

Pull yourself together.

He's gone.

He's not coming back.

Why are you
being like this?

I was seeing
a different side to him.

Deal with it!

I think that he felt like he was
the man in my life now

that my dad was gone,

and that he could
control anything

and everything that I did.

Don't you dare speak to me
like that!

Sullinger: Once our dad passed,
I felt like

Willie was really taking
control of her and her actions.

All she needed
was just some space.

She really needed time
to grieve

and just kind of decompress
from what just happened.

I mean, our dad was one

of the most important
people in our lives.

Willie was trying to take
control of every situation

and every aspect
of ro's life at the time.

And I decided at that time,
it's time for me to end it.

I couldn't go on with him being
this aggressive towards me.

Ro called me and said,
"hey, I'm done with Willie."

You know, "it's over. I don't
want anything to do with him.

He won't leave me alone."

I think that I just saw
how angry he was.

In his eyes, he just looked
like a monster...

...and I think that
he's going to hit me.

He gets in my face.

Don't do this.

I'm sorry.

I'm done at this point.
I couldn't do anymore.

Sullinger:
I think ro was trying to be
a protective mother.

You know, she didn't want

Brooklyn to hear all these
things, like,

"you can't grieve over,
you know, your dad."

Once Willie and ro broke up,

I really thought
that was the last time

I was ever going to hear
about him or ever see him,

but little did I know things
were going to get much worse.

York:
It's about 10:30 at night.

I'm getting ready for bed.

Brooklyn is at my mother's
because I have to be at work

the next day early.

I told her that Willie
has moved out.

I've told Brooklyn to not
talk to him, not contact him.

I just was scared of him.

He's called me 20-plus times,

begging me to let him
come back home.

Sullinger: Once they broke up,
it was probably about a week

after our dad passed.

I had already gone back home
to Louisiana,

and ro would call me
and tell me that, you know,

Willie can't accept no
for an answer.

He won't leave her alone.

He continues to call,

and she really
just wished that he would stop.

She was starting to get
stressed out at the time.

I opened the door,
and Willie is standing there

very angry-looking.

Going to get the rest
of my stuff.

Not now.
You need to leave.

I'm thinking it's just an excuse
for him to come around.

I ain't going nowhere!

I call the police because
I'm very scared at that time

that he's going
to do something to hurt me.

While the police were there,
they let him get his things.

I'm going to kill you.

Did you hear him
say that?

There's no need to talk
to her, sir.

York: At that point, I did think
I was a little safe

because they heard me
tell them what he said.

I asked the police officer
about a protective order,

and they tell me
that I need to go downtown

and where I need
to file it at.

I didn't think it was
the end of it.

Over 3 weeks,
I seen him constantly.

He was driving around my home.

The neighbors had him
on their camera at least

20 times a day
circling my home.

He would stand outside my
bathroom window

and yell my name.

He would try to talk to me
through the door.

He would follow me everywhere
I went.

Everywhere I go, I'm looking
over my shoulder

because I'm worried about
what's going to happen to me

or my daughter.

When she calls me and tells me
about the stalking, in my gut

I'm really afraid for my sister
and Brooklyn's life.

York: He could have did
something to my daughter

while I wasn't around her.

That day, I wake up at 4:00
in the morning for work.

I look out the bathroom window

and see Willie parked
with his hazards on the street.

I get ready for work.
I leave, and he follows me.

I pull in to my work.

I know he's been following me
the whole time.

I sit in my car for a moment

wondering what's going
to happen next.

As soon as I got out of the car,
he's right up in my face.

He pulls his head back.

I think he's going
to headbutt me.

I think he wanted to let me know

that he could get me
at any moment.

I run inside and tell security,
and he takes off.

When he spit in her face,
I just knew in my heart

that things
were going to get much worse.

York: For a few days,
Willie went quiet,

and I felt like maybe he got
the idea to leave me alone.

I'm taking a nap.

Brooklyn's at
her friend's house.

I was glad Brooklyn
wasn't there that day.

At that moment,
I was scared for my life.

I wasn't sure if he would
hurt me or possibly kill me.

It's time for me to end it.

Don't do this.

As soon as I got out of the car,
he's right up in my face.

Aah!

At that moment,
I was scared for my life.

I think Willie had a key made
to the bottom lock,

and that's how I thought
he got in.

I had a restraining order
against him.

I find out that
the restraining order

is not filed against him yet.

It's been approved
and in the system,

but they haven't found him
to serve him

with the restraining order.

The police officer take pictures
of my face and my chest.

For the next 2 to 4 days,

I stayed the night
at a friend's house,

and Brooklyn stayed
at my mom's house

just to be
on the safe side.

She couldn't go outside
by herself.

She couldn't hang out
at the parks

or with her friends
without me or my mom.

Sullinger: She feels like she's
doing everything

that's possible
for her to be protected,

but at the same time,
the police cannot serve

Willie the protective order
because he keeps moving around.

My mental state at the time
was not good.

I mean,
we'd just lost our dad.

Now this violence is going on
with my sister.

I'm not there to protect her.

I feel helpless.

After he came to my house,
I changed all the locks.

My daughter had a sleepover
with two of her friends.

They were asleep
in the living room.

I was in my bedroom.

I did not hear anyone
come in the home.

The next morning when I woke up,

I had a text message and
a picture of me sleeping in bed.

It was very scary
knowing that he could come in

to my room or home
at any time.

I felt like he meant he was
going to kill me in my sleep

if the kids weren't there.

I woke the kids up.

Baby. Baby. Baby, wake up.
We have to go.

I think maybe deep down
she might have felt some guilt.

Like, "how could I let this
ex-felon and person

who already shot somebody
nine times into my life?"

And maybe she did feel
some guilt towards that.

Honey. Sorry.
You have to wake up.

And I expressed to them
that we need to get out

of the house
as soon as possible.

We got ready and left.

It was a month since Willie
came to my house

and took a picture
of me sleeping.

But throughout that whole month,
he continuously called, text me,

and followed me
everywhere I went.

Since I wasn't answering his
phone calls or text messages,

he was feeling rejected.

Come on, ro.
It's your boy, Willie.

Why ain't you
answering the calls?

Ro communicates to me
that she's fearful for her life.

Ro!
Answer the phone!

She can't go anywhere.

You cheated on me?

Can't do anything.
She can't sleep.

What's going on?

I'm waiting for you,
girl.

Her anxiety is out the roof.

You cheated on me?!
-She can't be normal.

Why are you not
picking up my calls?

She's not sleeping more
than 2 to 3 hours a night.

You do not want to mess
with me, girl,

because I'm going
to mess you up!

That's taking a toll on her
emotionally and physically.

Don't ignore my calls,
ro!

Don't ignore my calls!

Call me back right now!

My faith in the system was --
it was positive.

You know, you can't blame
the police department

for not knowing
his whereabouts.

I felt like they were really
trying to help Rosita,

you know, get
this protective order served.

They didn't want to see
her get hurt.

York:
He was very good at hiding.

They didn't know where he lived
or where he was staying.

So he kind of
fell through the cracks.

He did get in my head
sometimes

because he would bring up
the past

and what he did
and how we were together

and how he treated me
and when he treated me well.

He took care of me and Brooklyn.

He took care of US and all
the bills when my dad was sick

and I had to leave and help him.

I wasn't in love with him.

I had love for him
for the things

that he did for me
and my daughter.

I did feel helpless.

I could be nice to him,

and he would still
be mean to me,

and we just went
back and forth.

I worked at 5:00 in the morning
to 2:00 in the afternoon.

I would leave work early or I
would go in late to work

so he didn't know
when I would come to work

or when I would leave work.

Hi. Rosita.
It's for you.

Thanks.

Hello.
How can I help?

It's me.

I just want to talk.

I want to work this out
and come back home.

His voice is very scary,
very deep.

You know my answer.

I've given you
every chance.

Today,
I'm going to kill you,

then me.

Hello.
How can I help?

It's me.

I've given you
every chance.

Today,
I'm going to kill you,

then me.

My body was frozen,
but I felt

that I had to move
as soon as I could to get out.

I tell my boss as soon
as possible,

and they contact security,

and security escorts me
out the building

and told me
to go straight home.

I get home from picking Brooklyn
up from school.

Just pack enough for tonight.

Hello?
I get a phone call.

His cousin said, "get out
the house as fast as possible.

Willie is on his way."

Look at the nightstand
where my gun normally is,

and it's gone.

I knew at that time I couldn't
save or protect me and her.

We need to leave the house.
Now.

Now I'm very scared and know
that he could actually

kill me
with my own gun.

Willie is capable of taking
another person's life.

Not just trying,
he's going to want to do it.

In his past, he had shot
someone nine times

while they were in bed.

I felt a cold shiver
over my body.

It felt like
I was frozen in time.

He couldn't function
without me.

I believe he wanted to kill me
and himself.

It felt like an eerie,
different kind of feeling,

didn't know what was going
to happen next.

My plan was to drop Brooklyn
off at my best friend's house

and for me to go somewhere else
so we weren't together.

I just knew that Brooklyn
would be safe there

until my mom came
and picked her up.

I felt like it didn't matter
if anything happened to me,

but I didn't want her to get
hurt because she's my life.

The next day, on the 24th,

I picked Brooklyn
up from school,

and then we went to my house
to get her clothes.

I had a weird feeling that came
over me, felt heavy.

I couldn't breathe,
like something was wrong.

Stay in the car,
honey.

I couldn't put my finger on it,

but I knew something
was going to happen.

I called the police to have them
meet me there

so they could search
the house before I went in.

Hey, ma'am.
What's the problem?

Hi, officer.

I was just coming back with my
daughter, and the door was open.

The cops arrived.

He searched the whole house,

made sure that it was safe
for US to go in.

He stayed with US until we got
our belongings, and we left.

I'm afraid that it could be
my ex-boyfriend.

Okay.

I told the police that
I've put a protective order

against Willie,
but it has not been served.

Someone needs to get
through to him.

I go to my mother's to drop
Brooklyn off for the evening.

While sitting in front
of my house on my phone,

I get a phone call
from Willie's dad

asking me
if I've seen him today,

and I said, "no.
It's kind of weird.

He hasn't called
my phone all day."

Well,
speak of the devil.

I tell Willie's dad
he just pulled up.

Willie's dad said,
"baby, just drive. Just drive."

He just hit my car!

He's speeding up as fast
as he could behind me,

almost bumper-to-bumper.

When he rams me from behind,
it's the loudest bang I've hear.

I continue to drive, and he
continues to hit me from behind.

I hear a continuous gunshot.

The window smashes,
and I hear the bullet

hit the roof of my car.

I drive as fast as I can,
and I turn left.

I hit a really big tree.

After Willie hits my car
and I hit the tree,

his car spins off
and hits a fence

at a church
across the street.

Please!
Please don't kill me.

Please don't kill me!

Please!

I knew he was going to kill me.

Please.
Please don't!

Don't kill me,
please!

Aah!

My leg collapsed.

I didn't know I was shot.
I didn't feel it.

I pretend like I was dead.

I laid there, didn't move.

Didn't make a sound.

I wanted him to think
that I was dead.

I felt something heavy
come over me.

It was my dad's presence,
I felt,

on top of me,
trying to save me.

It was strength

to know that he was there
with me.

Willie put the gun
to my back and shot me.

Stop it! Stop it!
Stop it! Stop!

Get off me!

I looked up to my right,
and I see a lady

telling him to stop,
don't do it, don't do it.

Woman: I don't know!

Thank you.

York: When I come to,

I was in hospital

waiting to have surgery.

Sullinger: I thought, "you know,
he won. He won.

He got what he wanted.
He wouldn't let her be.

He couldn't take no
for an answer."

York: I got shot twice
in the right leg,

and I was shot
in my upper back

which came through
underneath my breast.

I had to have seven
different surgeries on my leg.

I had a skin graft, and I have
a metal rod in my leg,

two pins in my ankle
and three pins in my knee.

I had such supportive family
and friends.

They never left my side.

I love you.

I'm trying to eat a little bit
of something, not too much,

but I did eat my...

I did drink
my chocolate shake...

Got to love that.
-...And my cottage cheese.

I love you.

I was told that they caught him
right after he shot me.

Willie was charged
with attempted murder

for what he had done
to me that day

and serious violent felony
with a handgun.

Throughout
this whole experience,

it made me realize
that life is so fragile

and to never take anything
or a person

who you love for granted

and always tell them
that you love them.

York: I'm in
a constant state of fear.

I'm always looking
behind my back.

My back needs to be
against the wall at all times.

My anxiety level
is extremely high,

and I still have nightmares

and don't sleep well.

You have to forgive people
to move forward in your life,

and I felt that
if I didn't forgive him,

I would never get over this.

I would say that I forgive you
for what you did to me,

but I'll never forget.

You made me a stronger person

for what you put me through.

Willie killed the old me.

The old me is not here...

...and, yeah, Willie
could never touch me again.

I've became a lot stronger
from this.

So I've learned a lot.

I'm still learning things
from my experience.

I want someone else to learn
that it's okay

to leave someone that has,

and tries to abuse you,
verbally,

physically, emotionally.

It's okay.

It's okay to leave
that person and move on.

You don't have to stay
in that situation.