1 00:00:05,304 --> 00:00:06,238 Chad is the person 2 00:00:06,272 --> 00:00:09,275 I would be with for the rest of my life. 3 00:00:09,308 --> 00:00:10,676 [laughs] 4 00:00:10,710 --> 00:00:11,343 At some points, I felt like this was 5 00:00:11,377 --> 00:00:13,579 too good to be true. 6 00:00:13,612 --> 00:00:16,248 How can I have such a great life? 7 00:00:16,282 --> 00:00:19,152 [dramatic music] 8 00:00:19,184 --> 00:00:22,621 BROADCASTER: Chad Schipper faces felony charges. 9 00:00:22,655 --> 00:00:23,690 DONIELLE: His face popped up, 10 00:00:23,722 --> 00:00:26,326 and it was just like, that's impossible. 11 00:00:27,893 --> 00:00:30,663 - He was really in over his head 12 00:00:30,696 --> 00:00:33,633 trying to keep up with all the lies 13 00:00:33,665 --> 00:00:35,067 he was telling people. 14 00:00:35,100 --> 00:00:37,536 DONIELLE: I could see a gun pointed at me. 15 00:00:37,570 --> 00:00:39,204 The police are in my house. 16 00:00:41,975 --> 00:00:43,343 DONIELLE: He lied to me about everything. 17 00:00:48,046 --> 00:00:50,850 DONIELLE: Six children, married for 17 years. 18 00:00:50,883 --> 00:00:52,951 Did he ever even love me? 19 00:00:58,725 --> 00:01:01,194 [suspenseful upbeat music] 20 00:01:01,226 --> 00:01:09,067 ♪ ♪ 21 00:01:14,474 --> 00:01:17,075 ANDREA: I'm Andrea Gunning, and this is Betrayal, 22 00:01:17,109 --> 00:01:18,844 a show about the people we trust the most 23 00:01:18,878 --> 00:01:22,849 and the deceptions that change everything. 24 00:01:22,882 --> 00:01:25,051 On today's show, we meet Donielle, 25 00:01:25,084 --> 00:01:28,087 who had dreams of marrying a man of faith and integrity. 26 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,188 And she thought she had that with Chad. 27 00:01:30,222 --> 00:01:33,893 But after years together, a shocking truth was revealed. 28 00:01:33,926 --> 00:01:36,061 Donielle, it is so great to see you again. 29 00:01:36,094 --> 00:01:37,930 - It's good to see you again too. 30 00:01:37,963 --> 00:01:41,134 ANDREA: Tell me, what motivated you to reach out? 31 00:01:41,167 --> 00:01:44,436 DONIELLE: I was listening to the Betrayal podcast, 32 00:01:44,469 --> 00:01:48,206 and it really helped me in my journey and in my story, 33 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:49,841 where I'm actually finding out that this man 34 00:01:49,876 --> 00:01:52,378 that I was in love with wasn't even the man 35 00:01:52,412 --> 00:01:55,147 that he said he was. 36 00:01:57,849 --> 00:02:00,118 [dramatic acoustic music] 37 00:02:00,153 --> 00:02:03,756 I grew up in California in the Bay Area. 38 00:02:03,790 --> 00:02:04,356 My family is really close. 39 00:02:05,891 --> 00:02:08,794 I have one brother. He's older than me. 40 00:02:08,828 --> 00:02:10,896 And then two sisters younger than me. 41 00:02:10,930 --> 00:02:12,564 - Donielle came from a Christian, 42 00:02:12,598 --> 00:02:14,167 religious background, 43 00:02:14,199 --> 00:02:17,270 and she was homeschooled, but she was a typical teenager. 44 00:02:17,302 --> 00:02:19,337 She dated and had a boyfriend named Billy, 45 00:02:19,372 --> 00:02:20,973 but they had to break up because her dad 46 00:02:21,007 --> 00:02:24,977 was transferred and they moved out of state. 47 00:02:25,978 --> 00:02:27,947 DONIELLE: We relocated to Illinois. 48 00:02:27,979 --> 00:02:30,149 That was a really hard time for me because 49 00:02:30,182 --> 00:02:33,752 I obviously didn't know anybody in Illinois. 50 00:02:33,786 --> 00:02:35,320 At that point, I was in college. 51 00:02:35,354 --> 00:02:40,126 My next youngest sibling, she was going to Black Hawk. 52 00:02:40,158 --> 00:02:42,495 She knew I was looking to find friends, and so 53 00:02:42,527 --> 00:02:44,896 she said, "Why don't you come to the Bible study, 54 00:02:44,931 --> 00:02:46,998 see if you can find a friend?" [chuckles] 55 00:02:48,100 --> 00:02:49,335 RANDLIN: There's this thing called InterVarsity. 56 00:02:49,367 --> 00:02:51,037 It was like a Christian fellowship group. 57 00:02:51,069 --> 00:02:52,739 You would study the Bible for a little while, 58 00:02:52,771 --> 00:02:54,907 pray, and just sort of fellowship 59 00:02:54,941 --> 00:02:57,909 with people on campus that were like-minded 60 00:02:57,943 --> 00:03:00,580 religiously as we were. 61 00:03:00,612 --> 00:03:03,014 And Donielle came with me. 62 00:03:03,049 --> 00:03:05,752 - Chad was at that Black Hawk Bible study. 63 00:03:05,784 --> 00:03:08,454 [bright music] 64 00:03:08,487 --> 00:03:10,757 He was a really, really charismatic person. 65 00:03:10,789 --> 00:03:13,558 And I thought he was attractive. 66 00:03:13,592 --> 00:03:19,998 - Chad was very cool and calm and collected all the time. 67 00:03:20,032 --> 00:03:26,104 He had a reputation of being very smart, very kind. 68 00:03:26,139 --> 00:03:28,274 I have this specific memory of a conversation 69 00:03:28,306 --> 00:03:30,977 where Chad started talking about finance 70 00:03:31,009 --> 00:03:33,879 and what he was studying. 71 00:03:33,913 --> 00:03:35,848 And, of course, my 18-year-old self 72 00:03:35,882 --> 00:03:38,050 was just completely in awe. 73 00:03:38,084 --> 00:03:40,953 And I even remember having this brief thought pop 74 00:03:40,986 --> 00:03:43,489 into my head like, should I be dating Chad? 75 00:03:44,723 --> 00:03:48,161 That's how impressive he was. 76 00:03:49,328 --> 00:03:50,096 DONIELLE: Usually after the Bible study, 77 00:03:50,128 --> 00:03:53,299 we would go to a restaurant. 78 00:03:53,331 --> 00:03:57,135 ♪ ♪ 79 00:03:57,169 --> 00:03:59,472 And I remember wanting to sit next to him 80 00:03:59,504 --> 00:04:01,407 and feeling the electricity if our knees touched. 81 00:04:06,044 --> 00:04:08,281 He had the same kind of humor as me. 82 00:04:08,313 --> 00:04:12,217 I just felt comfortable and happy when I was around him. 83 00:04:13,252 --> 00:04:14,252 Our first date was a double date. 84 00:04:14,287 --> 00:04:17,223 It was actually with him and my sister 85 00:04:17,255 --> 00:04:19,959 and the guy she was interested in. 86 00:04:19,992 --> 00:04:21,593 And it was kind of not a usual date. 87 00:04:21,627 --> 00:04:25,230 It was just at our house, and we watched a couple movies. 88 00:04:25,264 --> 00:04:27,500 One was So I Married an Axe Murderer. 89 00:04:27,533 --> 00:04:29,000 [laughs] 90 00:04:29,035 --> 00:04:30,836 - How many people have you brutally murdered? 91 00:04:30,870 --> 00:04:33,406 - Brutal is a very subjective word. 92 00:04:33,439 --> 00:04:36,341 I mean, what's brutal to one person might be 93 00:04:36,375 --> 00:04:40,146 totally reasonable to somebody else. 94 00:04:40,178 --> 00:04:41,781 - And then I made him lasagna, 95 00:04:41,814 --> 00:04:43,815 and he changed the oil in my car. 96 00:04:43,848 --> 00:04:46,319 Very romantic. 97 00:04:46,351 --> 00:04:47,252 - She thought that was amazing because he was showing 98 00:04:47,286 --> 00:04:51,122 that he was gonna take care of her. 99 00:04:51,156 --> 00:04:55,728 - It was very obvious that both Chad and Donielle 100 00:04:55,761 --> 00:04:58,197 were very into each other. 101 00:04:58,230 --> 00:04:59,999 RANDLIN: I actually was very excited for her 102 00:05:00,031 --> 00:05:02,000 when they got engaged. 103 00:05:02,033 --> 00:05:04,036 We were happy for her. 104 00:05:04,069 --> 00:05:06,504 - Hi, everybody. [laughs] 105 00:05:06,538 --> 00:05:09,742 Thank you for throwing me this surprise shower in a box. 106 00:05:09,774 --> 00:05:10,742 Yeah, he has to close his eyes. 107 00:05:10,776 --> 00:05:11,978 FRIEND: Close your eyes. 108 00:05:12,011 --> 00:05:13,012 - I don't think so. - FRIEND: Chad. 109 00:05:13,045 --> 00:05:15,247 Chad, close your eyes. Chad. 110 00:05:15,281 --> 00:05:16,348 GUEST: You can't see it until it's on. 111 00:05:16,382 --> 00:05:18,117 - The white lingerie that we opened, 112 00:05:18,149 --> 00:05:19,418 we didn't know who it was from. 113 00:05:19,451 --> 00:05:21,420 - I want to thank you especially very much. 114 00:05:21,454 --> 00:05:22,153 [laughter] 115 00:05:22,187 --> 00:05:25,391 [Wagner's "Bridal Chorus"] 116 00:05:25,423 --> 00:05:27,360 DONIELLE: I really enjoyed my wedding. 117 00:05:27,392 --> 00:05:29,629 I was a typical girl that thought about, okay, 118 00:05:29,661 --> 00:05:33,031 when I get married, I'm gonna have this kind of dress, 119 00:05:33,064 --> 00:05:35,300 I'm gonna have these kinds of flowers, 120 00:05:35,334 --> 00:05:36,636 these are the colors I'm gonna have. 121 00:05:47,846 --> 00:05:48,648 - Everything was perfect. 122 00:05:52,617 --> 00:05:55,288 [laughter] 123 00:06:02,495 --> 00:06:04,230 [applause] 124 00:06:04,262 --> 00:06:06,632 - It was just a fun, happy time. 125 00:06:08,767 --> 00:06:10,702 [laughter, applause] 126 00:06:10,735 --> 00:06:11,971 - I was really in love. 127 00:06:12,004 --> 00:06:15,341 [laughter, chatter] 128 00:06:16,776 --> 00:06:21,213 This was the person I would be with for the rest of my life. 129 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:22,514 [laughs] 130 00:06:30,689 --> 00:06:32,591 We were so happy. 131 00:06:32,625 --> 00:06:35,593 I could never have imagined what was on the horizon. 132 00:06:39,432 --> 00:06:41,266 RANDLIN: Donielle and Chad moved to Erie, Illinois, 133 00:06:41,300 --> 00:06:44,737 to a little small house. It was cute. 134 00:06:44,769 --> 00:06:45,838 Perfect for them. 135 00:06:45,870 --> 00:06:47,807 [upbeat piano music] 136 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:52,377 ♪ ♪ 137 00:06:52,411 --> 00:06:56,482 DONIELLE: Erie is just this little small town. 138 00:06:56,514 --> 00:06:58,684 Everybody pretty much knows everybody else. 139 00:06:58,718 --> 00:07:02,454 It's just a really beautiful, quiet place to live. 140 00:07:02,487 --> 00:07:05,658 - Chad's family was sort of like a big family 141 00:07:05,690 --> 00:07:08,127 in their church. 142 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,230 TIM: Chad grew up in that church. 143 00:07:11,262 --> 00:07:13,298 They were very much involved in doing skits 144 00:07:13,331 --> 00:07:15,867 for different occasions to help younger kids learn 145 00:07:15,901 --> 00:07:18,137 in the church through comedy. 146 00:07:18,170 --> 00:07:20,372 - Sorry. I didn't see you. 147 00:07:20,406 --> 00:07:24,944 Could I--could I not see you again, sometime? 148 00:07:24,976 --> 00:07:27,612 - Um, I guess. 149 00:07:27,646 --> 00:07:30,548 I--I'd have to ask my mom and dad, though. 150 00:07:30,583 --> 00:07:32,550 TIM: They were very much a great example 151 00:07:32,584 --> 00:07:34,487 of a Christian married couple involved in a church. 152 00:07:34,519 --> 00:07:37,589 - Well, did you find anything else at Walmart? 153 00:07:37,622 --> 00:07:38,423 - [as Arnold Schwarzenegger] No, it was too difficult. 154 00:07:38,456 --> 00:07:41,726 I had to keep looking up all the time. 155 00:07:41,761 --> 00:07:42,560 - Why was that? 156 00:07:42,595 --> 00:07:44,562 - I was watching for falling prices. 157 00:07:44,596 --> 00:07:46,966 TIM: Donielle and Chad were never separated. 158 00:07:46,999 --> 00:07:48,233 They were always lovey-dovey, 159 00:07:48,266 --> 00:07:49,869 holding hands, kissing, being together. 160 00:07:49,901 --> 00:07:53,238 ♪ ♪ 161 00:07:53,271 --> 00:07:55,374 BARBIE: He was an awesome husband to her. 162 00:07:55,408 --> 00:07:58,310 He treated her with so much respect and kindness 163 00:07:58,343 --> 00:07:59,577 and was loving towards her. 164 00:07:59,612 --> 00:08:03,581 - I gotta comb my hair. A mess. Look at this. 165 00:08:03,615 --> 00:08:06,252 - There was no question that Chad and Donielle 166 00:08:06,285 --> 00:08:07,920 were going to have a bright future. 167 00:08:07,952 --> 00:08:10,855 - So maybe later tonight, huh? 168 00:08:10,889 --> 00:08:12,490 - [laughs] Get off me. 169 00:08:12,524 --> 00:08:13,892 - After they got married, Chad decided 170 00:08:13,925 --> 00:08:17,062 to become a financial advisor and start his own business. 171 00:08:17,096 --> 00:08:18,363 And he did really well. 172 00:08:18,396 --> 00:08:21,533 The family had everything they wanted. 173 00:08:21,567 --> 00:08:24,336 - At some points, I felt like this was too good to be true. 174 00:08:24,370 --> 00:08:26,971 How can I have such a great life? 175 00:08:27,005 --> 00:08:29,175 [tense music] 176 00:08:29,208 --> 00:08:33,312 One day, Chad came home, 177 00:08:33,345 --> 00:08:36,282 and he sat me down on the couch, 178 00:08:36,315 --> 00:08:37,450 and he was like, I have to tell you something. 179 00:08:37,482 --> 00:08:39,684 - Donielle didn't know what to expect, 180 00:08:39,717 --> 00:08:45,390 but what Chad said next blew Donielle's world apart. 181 00:08:51,730 --> 00:08:55,634 [tense music] 182 00:08:55,668 --> 00:08:57,769 ANDREA: Donielle and Chad were at the beginning 183 00:08:57,802 --> 00:09:01,373 of a perfect marriage, and one day, Chad came home 184 00:09:01,407 --> 00:09:04,509 and said he needed to talk, 185 00:09:04,543 --> 00:09:07,113 and he admitted to having an encounter 186 00:09:07,145 --> 00:09:08,581 in a bathroom with a man. 187 00:09:11,649 --> 00:09:15,086 DONIELLE: At first, I was shocked. 188 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,023 I didn't really know the true Chad. 189 00:09:18,057 --> 00:09:21,159 I felt betrayed. 190 00:09:21,192 --> 00:09:22,628 Why are you telling me this? 191 00:09:22,660 --> 00:09:25,831 Why is this happening at the beginning of our marriage? 192 00:09:25,865 --> 00:09:29,235 And I never really got, like, a full answer to that. 193 00:09:29,268 --> 00:09:31,636 It was always just vagueness. 194 00:09:34,773 --> 00:09:37,475 But he seemed to me like he was really sad about it 195 00:09:37,509 --> 00:09:40,044 and that he was really distraught. 196 00:09:40,078 --> 00:09:42,648 ♪ ♪ 197 00:09:42,681 --> 00:09:45,618 And he said he wanted to make it better. 198 00:09:45,650 --> 00:09:47,785 I felt like, anything that's going on, 199 00:09:47,820 --> 00:09:50,722 I want to help him with, not just throw him away. 200 00:09:50,755 --> 00:09:53,292 - For Donielle, it was an internal struggle 201 00:09:53,325 --> 00:09:55,394 between her head and her heart. 202 00:09:55,427 --> 00:09:57,529 There was what she should do, after learning about 203 00:09:57,562 --> 00:09:59,631 Chad's infidelity, which was leave, 204 00:09:59,664 --> 00:10:01,667 and what her heart wanted, which was to stay. 205 00:10:03,836 --> 00:10:06,639 DONIELLE: We ended up going to marriage counseling. 206 00:10:06,672 --> 00:10:08,673 And in one of my sessions, I remember the counselor 207 00:10:08,706 --> 00:10:10,176 saying, you are not in any way obligated 208 00:10:10,208 --> 00:10:12,745 to stay in this marriage. 209 00:10:12,778 --> 00:10:14,846 In fact, I would advise you to not stay in this marriage. 210 00:10:14,879 --> 00:10:17,582 But I was adamant that I wanted to stay in the marriage 211 00:10:17,615 --> 00:10:21,620 because I had made a vow. I had made a promise. 212 00:10:23,721 --> 00:10:25,591 It was just a couple of months later 213 00:10:25,624 --> 00:10:27,259 when I found out I was pregnant. 214 00:10:27,293 --> 00:10:28,660 [ultrasound device whooshing] 215 00:10:35,301 --> 00:10:36,634 I was jumping for joy. 216 00:10:36,668 --> 00:10:40,839 My daughter was born, and her name is Grace. 217 00:10:40,873 --> 00:10:44,509 RANDLIN: When Doni and Chad got pregnant with Grace, 218 00:10:44,543 --> 00:10:46,312 they'd been trying for a while, 219 00:10:46,345 --> 00:10:47,846 and she'd been getting really discouraged 220 00:10:47,879 --> 00:10:49,748 because we all wanted to have kids really bad. 221 00:10:49,782 --> 00:10:53,851 And so I know it was a very big deal for her. 222 00:10:53,885 --> 00:10:55,888 DONIELLE: I found out that I was pregnant again 223 00:10:55,921 --> 00:10:59,591 with Christopher very soon after Grace was born. 224 00:10:59,625 --> 00:11:02,628 That was always my dream, to be a mom. 225 00:11:02,660 --> 00:11:03,796 Somebody told me when I was little, 226 00:11:03,828 --> 00:11:06,398 they remember me saying that when I got married, 227 00:11:06,432 --> 00:11:08,299 I wanted to have 12 kids. [laughs] 228 00:11:08,333 --> 00:11:11,470 You know, my dad is one of 12, 229 00:11:11,503 --> 00:11:13,471 so that's probably where I got it from. 230 00:11:13,504 --> 00:11:17,375 But I had six kids with Chad. 231 00:11:17,408 --> 00:11:19,244 Chad was a good dad. 232 00:11:19,278 --> 00:11:21,246 - He played with his kids. 233 00:11:21,279 --> 00:11:23,481 He held the babies all the time. 234 00:11:23,514 --> 00:11:25,484 - Tuckered out, hard day swimming. 235 00:11:25,517 --> 00:11:27,720 DONIELLE: [chuckles] She loves her daddy. 236 00:11:27,753 --> 00:11:29,754 - And you want daddy to tickle you? 237 00:11:29,788 --> 00:11:32,658 [gasps] Tickle, tickle, tickle, tickle. 238 00:11:33,325 --> 00:11:35,059 Everybody wave. 239 00:11:35,094 --> 00:11:37,395 - Yay! [laughs] 240 00:11:37,428 --> 00:11:39,764 - Okay, is that good? 241 00:11:39,798 --> 00:11:40,832 ANDREA: Donielle was a stay-at-home mom. 242 00:11:40,865 --> 00:11:43,034 That meant Chad was the sole provider 243 00:11:43,067 --> 00:11:45,770 for the family, which was fine because he was doing so well. 244 00:11:45,803 --> 00:11:48,307 DONIELLE: The house that we were living in 245 00:11:48,340 --> 00:11:49,774 at that time, it was good. 246 00:11:49,807 --> 00:11:52,378 It had the right amount of rooms for everyone. 247 00:11:52,410 --> 00:11:54,346 But Chad always liked bigger and better. 248 00:11:54,379 --> 00:11:55,581 [soft upbeat music] 249 00:11:55,614 --> 00:11:57,916 And he had his eye on a big house 250 00:11:57,950 --> 00:12:02,421 that had quite a bit of land attached to it. 251 00:12:02,453 --> 00:12:03,788 He really wanted that property. 252 00:12:18,336 --> 00:12:20,639 He had an office downstairs. 253 00:12:20,673 --> 00:12:23,509 His office was where he conducted 254 00:12:23,542 --> 00:12:24,677 his financial advising business. 255 00:12:24,710 --> 00:12:28,147 And he would work long hours to the point 256 00:12:28,179 --> 00:12:31,850 that he'd be in that office until way into the night. 257 00:12:31,884 --> 00:12:35,019 And I'd ask him, why are you in here so late? 258 00:12:35,053 --> 00:12:38,791 What he told me was that he was dealing with clients. 259 00:12:38,823 --> 00:12:40,725 I was like, how are you dealing with clients 260 00:12:40,759 --> 00:12:43,595 in the middle of the night? Aren't they sleeping? 261 00:12:43,629 --> 00:12:44,196 Shouldn't you be sleeping? [chuckles] 262 00:12:44,229 --> 00:12:46,865 [tense music] 263 00:12:46,899 --> 00:12:48,900 And so there were a lot of nights where I would be 264 00:12:48,933 --> 00:12:51,937 alone in bed, he was in his office downstairs, 265 00:12:51,970 --> 00:12:54,340 and I would be wondering why I'm not having 266 00:12:54,373 --> 00:12:56,107 a husband sleeping next to me. 267 00:12:56,140 --> 00:12:57,875 ♪ ♪ 268 00:12:57,909 --> 00:12:59,644 But when I would approach him with it, 269 00:12:59,677 --> 00:13:01,547 it almost seemed like he was annoyed 270 00:13:01,580 --> 00:13:02,880 that I was approaching him about it. 271 00:13:04,950 --> 00:13:06,918 He just said, "Well, maybe I'll just stay out longer. 272 00:13:06,951 --> 00:13:10,456 Maybe I'll just come to bed less than that." 273 00:13:10,489 --> 00:13:12,024 And it really, really hurt me 274 00:13:12,057 --> 00:13:14,525 because I felt like if you really love someone, 275 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:16,528 why in their time of crying to you, 276 00:13:16,562 --> 00:13:17,929 saying that they want you, 277 00:13:17,962 --> 00:13:20,131 would you say, well, I'm gonna do that less then? 278 00:13:20,164 --> 00:13:23,769 It didn't really make any sense to me, and it really hurt. 279 00:13:23,802 --> 00:13:25,037 ANDREA: What was more important 280 00:13:25,070 --> 00:13:28,941 than spending time in the night with Donielle? 281 00:13:28,974 --> 00:13:31,576 Never in her wildest dreams could she imagine 282 00:13:31,610 --> 00:13:33,211 what he was actually doing. 283 00:13:42,105 --> 00:13:43,273 ANDREA: Donielle and Chad 284 00:13:43,307 --> 00:13:45,908 went through a lot in their marriage. 285 00:13:45,942 --> 00:13:47,376 First there was the infidelity, 286 00:13:47,410 --> 00:13:50,047 and now he was no longer sleeping in their bed, 287 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:51,148 and he was sleeping in his office. 288 00:13:51,181 --> 00:13:54,017 So she went to her church for comfort. 289 00:13:54,051 --> 00:13:55,751 [soft music] 290 00:13:55,785 --> 00:13:59,789 Donielle and Chad were members of the Erie Christian Church. 291 00:13:59,822 --> 00:14:01,991 Chad had been going to this church since he was a kid, 292 00:14:02,024 --> 00:14:04,427 so he knew everybody so well, 293 00:14:04,461 --> 00:14:06,330 including Larry and Connie VanOosten. 294 00:14:06,363 --> 00:14:08,465 - And we know that, in all things, 295 00:14:08,498 --> 00:14:11,268 God works for the good of those who love Him 296 00:14:11,301 --> 00:14:13,636 and who have been called according to His purpose. 297 00:14:13,669 --> 00:14:15,839 ANDREA: The VanOostens were elders in the church. 298 00:14:15,871 --> 00:14:18,475 They ran Sunday school. 299 00:14:18,508 --> 00:14:22,346 - Make sure you get a relationship with Jesus Christ. 300 00:14:22,379 --> 00:14:25,315 - They were prominent members of the community. 301 00:14:25,349 --> 00:14:27,216 They had a number of businesses, 302 00:14:27,250 --> 00:14:28,451 and they had just sold one 303 00:14:28,485 --> 00:14:30,220 and were coming into a lot of money. 304 00:14:30,253 --> 00:14:32,556 And that was of interest to Chad. 305 00:14:32,589 --> 00:14:34,256 DONIELLE: I found out that he was trying 306 00:14:34,291 --> 00:14:36,426 to get them to be his client. 307 00:14:36,460 --> 00:14:38,595 ANDREA: Chad really wanted the VanOostens as clients. 308 00:14:38,628 --> 00:14:42,264 And they met a couple times, and he made a presentation, 309 00:14:42,298 --> 00:14:44,267 but ultimately they decided to not go 310 00:14:44,301 --> 00:14:46,903 with him because he was too new 311 00:14:46,937 --> 00:14:48,404 to the financial world. 312 00:14:48,437 --> 00:14:50,240 Based on interviews with Larry and Connie, 313 00:14:50,273 --> 00:14:52,442 his plan didn't make sense. 314 00:14:53,576 --> 00:14:55,445 Having the VanOostens and their money 315 00:14:55,479 --> 00:14:56,947 would have been a great financial win 316 00:14:56,980 --> 00:14:58,280 for Chad's business. 317 00:14:58,315 --> 00:15:01,317 But since he didn't get the deal, 318 00:15:01,350 --> 00:15:01,951 he started looking for additional ways 319 00:15:01,985 --> 00:15:03,352 to generate income. 320 00:15:03,386 --> 00:15:06,123 So then Chad decided to get into real estate. 321 00:15:06,155 --> 00:15:07,857 And he took all of his money, 322 00:15:07,890 --> 00:15:08,792 started buying properties, 323 00:15:08,825 --> 00:15:10,927 renovating them, and then renting them out. 324 00:15:10,961 --> 00:15:13,663 ♪ ♪ 325 00:15:13,697 --> 00:15:16,032 DONIELLE: All of his rental properties were things 326 00:15:16,066 --> 00:15:19,035 that he purchased without me. 327 00:15:19,068 --> 00:15:20,437 He went and found them. 328 00:15:20,470 --> 00:15:22,706 He decided whether he would purchase them or not. 329 00:15:22,739 --> 00:15:26,576 And so often, I didn't, like, know anything about it, 330 00:15:26,610 --> 00:15:29,712 other than the fact that he had purchased it. 331 00:15:32,416 --> 00:15:34,583 Honestly, I didn't even need to worry about it. 332 00:15:34,618 --> 00:15:37,888 We had everything that we would ever want. 333 00:15:37,921 --> 00:15:39,389 I enjoyed life. 334 00:15:39,423 --> 00:15:41,857 I felt like I was finally living the life 335 00:15:41,892 --> 00:15:44,160 that I wanted to live. 336 00:15:44,193 --> 00:15:46,328 - I mean, they had this huge house, cars, 337 00:15:46,363 --> 00:15:50,533 lawn equipment. So they're doing very well. 338 00:15:50,567 --> 00:15:52,302 DONIELLE: That's when a lot of times, 339 00:15:52,335 --> 00:15:53,669 he would be gone longer than I had expected. 340 00:15:53,702 --> 00:15:56,373 When I would question him, where were you? 341 00:15:56,405 --> 00:15:59,442 There were several times he told me, oh, 342 00:15:59,475 --> 00:16:02,379 this rental property had a sewage problem, and so 343 00:16:02,412 --> 00:16:04,246 I had to go deal with that, or a washing machine 344 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:05,448 broke down, so I had to fix it. 345 00:16:05,481 --> 00:16:07,451 Oh, my phone must have lost its battery, 346 00:16:07,484 --> 00:16:10,553 or, you know, I forgot to plug my phone in, 347 00:16:10,586 --> 00:16:13,389 or I shut my phone off, and so I didn't hear it ringing, 348 00:16:13,423 --> 00:16:16,525 or I left it in the car. There was always a reason. 349 00:16:16,559 --> 00:16:19,361 - By this point, Chad and Donielle had been married 350 00:16:19,395 --> 00:16:21,130 for almost two decades. 351 00:16:21,163 --> 00:16:22,466 They'd been through a lot, 352 00:16:22,499 --> 00:16:25,067 but things were about to get weird. 353 00:16:25,101 --> 00:16:27,937 [suspenseful music] 354 00:16:27,971 --> 00:16:32,642 ♪ ♪ 355 00:16:32,676 --> 00:16:35,445 DONIELLE: One time, it was the middle of the night, 356 00:16:35,479 --> 00:16:38,315 and one of my kids, Christopher, 357 00:16:38,347 --> 00:16:39,416 saw a car pull up into our driveway 358 00:16:39,448 --> 00:16:41,985 that he didn't recognize. 359 00:16:42,018 --> 00:16:44,086 Said it was silver. 360 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:46,523 Christopher saw Chad briefly, 361 00:16:46,556 --> 00:16:49,058 and his reaction was one of surprise. 362 00:16:49,091 --> 00:16:51,495 Like, what are you doing up? 363 00:16:51,528 --> 00:16:55,264 And I found out later that Chad texted my daughter 364 00:16:55,298 --> 00:16:59,469 to wrap dark electrical tape 365 00:16:59,503 --> 00:17:01,671 around the handle of a sledgehammer. 366 00:17:03,340 --> 00:17:05,642 GRACE: And he asks me to wrap 367 00:17:05,674 --> 00:17:08,111 until there's no yellow showing. 368 00:17:08,144 --> 00:17:10,413 I was like, uh, okay, 369 00:17:10,446 --> 00:17:12,414 that's a little weird, but you know what? 370 00:17:12,449 --> 00:17:13,983 I'm gonna wrap that sledgehammer the best I can. 371 00:17:14,017 --> 00:17:17,487 [chuckles] So I did. 372 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:19,689 And then I sent him a picture when I was finished. 373 00:17:19,722 --> 00:17:22,424 He told me that I did a good job 374 00:17:22,459 --> 00:17:25,362 and that I was gonna get a special treat. 375 00:17:25,394 --> 00:17:27,663 - Why would you need your 14-year-old 376 00:17:27,696 --> 00:17:32,935 to wrap a sledgehammer in black electrical tape? 377 00:17:35,571 --> 00:17:37,507 DONIELLE: Just a few days afterwards, 378 00:17:37,540 --> 00:17:39,442 in the middle of the night, 379 00:17:39,476 --> 00:17:40,509 I heard a really loud bang, bang, bang, 380 00:17:40,544 --> 00:17:43,113 and I thought I heard glass breaking too. 381 00:17:43,145 --> 00:17:44,413 [glass shatters distantly] 382 00:17:44,446 --> 00:17:48,117 Then I heard, "Police. Hands up in the air." 383 00:17:48,151 --> 00:17:50,619 [tense music] 384 00:17:50,653 --> 00:17:54,523 I had my glasses off, so I could not see very well. 385 00:17:54,557 --> 00:17:57,294 And as I walked down my hallway from my bedroom, 386 00:17:57,326 --> 00:17:58,494 I could see a gun pointed at me. 387 00:18:01,765 --> 00:18:06,169 I just remember just being so scared and so confused. 388 00:18:06,202 --> 00:18:13,276 ♪ ♪ 389 00:18:13,309 --> 00:18:14,978 So my whole body was shaking, 390 00:18:15,010 --> 00:18:17,079 and they wouldn't even let me wake up my kids. 391 00:18:17,113 --> 00:18:18,748 They had to go wake 'em up. 392 00:18:21,284 --> 00:18:23,086 GRACE: I remember the knocking. 393 00:18:23,118 --> 00:18:24,386 It was really loud. 394 00:18:24,421 --> 00:18:26,222 And then they kicked the door in, 395 00:18:26,256 --> 00:18:27,891 and I was absolutely terrified. 396 00:18:27,923 --> 00:18:32,528 ♪ ♪ 397 00:18:32,561 --> 00:18:33,762 DONIELLE: And then they said, 398 00:18:33,797 --> 00:18:34,998 "Do you know where your husband is?" 399 00:18:37,534 --> 00:18:40,236 No, I think he's sleeping downstairs. 400 00:18:40,269 --> 00:18:41,570 He's not? 401 00:18:41,605 --> 00:18:43,138 Do you have a hiding place in your house? 402 00:18:43,173 --> 00:18:45,541 Do you know the VanOostens? 403 00:18:47,644 --> 00:18:50,946 Why are you questioning me about the VanOostens? 404 00:18:50,980 --> 00:18:53,250 Why are you in my house with a gun at my head? 405 00:19:04,009 --> 00:19:06,345 [suspenseful music] 406 00:19:06,378 --> 00:19:09,080 DONIELLE: It was the middle of the night, 407 00:19:09,115 --> 00:19:11,384 and the police are in my house. 408 00:19:11,416 --> 00:19:12,817 I could see a gun pointed at me. 409 00:19:14,420 --> 00:19:18,824 I felt like I was watching or in some kind of 410 00:19:18,857 --> 00:19:20,726 awful horror movie. 411 00:19:23,828 --> 00:19:25,830 And they had started asking me lots of questions 412 00:19:25,865 --> 00:19:28,534 about the VanOostens that didn't make sense to me. 413 00:19:28,567 --> 00:19:30,336 Why would you be asking me about 414 00:19:30,368 --> 00:19:33,571 my Sunday school teachers? 415 00:19:35,673 --> 00:19:37,276 They took me over to the police station 416 00:19:37,308 --> 00:19:38,778 into a interrogation room, 417 00:19:38,810 --> 00:19:41,547 and they were asking me all kinds of weird questions like, 418 00:19:41,579 --> 00:19:43,816 do you know what kind of business your husband was in? 419 00:19:45,483 --> 00:19:48,520 I knew that he was in the financial business, 420 00:19:48,554 --> 00:19:50,288 but I didn't understand how that 421 00:19:50,321 --> 00:19:52,657 related to the VanOostens. 422 00:19:52,691 --> 00:19:54,359 And they would never give me an answer 423 00:19:54,393 --> 00:19:57,229 to any of those questions. 424 00:19:57,262 --> 00:19:58,396 ANDREA: At this point, the VanOostens 425 00:19:58,431 --> 00:20:00,365 were missing for three days. 426 00:20:00,398 --> 00:20:02,067 And the rumor around town was that they 427 00:20:02,101 --> 00:20:03,868 were victims of a crime. 428 00:20:03,903 --> 00:20:05,371 [ominous music] 429 00:20:05,403 --> 00:20:06,905 - My name is Chris Endress. 430 00:20:06,939 --> 00:20:11,143 I'm a retired captain with the Illinois State Police 431 00:20:11,176 --> 00:20:12,444 Division of Criminal Investigation, 432 00:20:12,478 --> 00:20:14,346 and I was the Lieutenant of Major Crimes 433 00:20:14,380 --> 00:20:16,382 for the State Police at the time. 434 00:20:16,414 --> 00:20:19,617 Larry and Connie VanOosten, they're certainly 435 00:20:19,652 --> 00:20:22,188 the least likely people that would ever 436 00:20:22,221 --> 00:20:23,888 be victims of a violent crime. 437 00:20:25,691 --> 00:20:29,194 However, the only thing that did elevate their risk 438 00:20:29,228 --> 00:20:30,829 was their finances. 439 00:20:33,298 --> 00:20:34,432 ANDREA: According to police, 440 00:20:34,467 --> 00:20:35,634 in the middle of the night, 441 00:20:35,667 --> 00:20:37,670 a masked intruder with a device 442 00:20:37,702 --> 00:20:39,738 to disguise their voice breaks into the VanOostens' home, 443 00:20:39,771 --> 00:20:42,807 kidnaps them, and drives them to the bank. 444 00:20:46,578 --> 00:20:48,413 MARISSA: Once the kidnapper arrived at their bank, 445 00:20:48,446 --> 00:20:49,882 he took the blindfold off of Connie 446 00:20:49,914 --> 00:20:54,920 and told her to go get a check from their bank 447 00:20:54,953 --> 00:20:56,521 for $350,000. 448 00:20:56,555 --> 00:20:59,858 And if she didn't, he threatened to kill Larry. 449 00:21:03,596 --> 00:21:04,896 ANDREA: While she's in the bank, 450 00:21:04,930 --> 00:21:08,534 Connie pulls out a church flyer from her purse. 451 00:21:08,567 --> 00:21:10,970 Despite her and her husband being in grave danger, 452 00:21:11,002 --> 00:21:15,508 Connie has the presence of mind to slip a note to the teller 453 00:21:15,540 --> 00:21:17,710 saying that she is in trouble. 454 00:21:17,742 --> 00:21:20,546 And if she doesn't give this a try, 455 00:21:20,578 --> 00:21:22,213 she doesn't know if she and Larry 456 00:21:22,248 --> 00:21:24,817 will ever live through this. 457 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,088 CHUCK: After she had safely left the bank 458 00:21:30,122 --> 00:21:31,757 with a cashier's check, 459 00:21:31,789 --> 00:21:33,759 those bank employees had called the police. 460 00:21:33,791 --> 00:21:36,662 - And that is when a whole abduction alert 461 00:21:36,694 --> 00:21:39,230 is put in place for Connie and Larry. 462 00:21:39,265 --> 00:21:42,034 [tense music] 463 00:21:42,067 --> 00:21:46,704 - When this thing kicks off, we know who our victims are. 464 00:21:46,739 --> 00:21:49,775 We have no idea who the suspect is. 465 00:21:49,807 --> 00:21:52,678 CHUCK: We found some surveillance footage 466 00:21:52,711 --> 00:21:55,713 that showed a good picture of the car that he was driving. 467 00:21:57,348 --> 00:21:58,683 It was an early '90s Chevy Caprice. 468 00:21:58,717 --> 00:22:01,386 CHRIS: We had a suspect vehicle. 469 00:22:01,420 --> 00:22:02,654 We didn't have a license plate. 470 00:22:02,688 --> 00:22:05,457 But we did have the name of the LLC 471 00:22:05,490 --> 00:22:06,892 that was put on the cashier's check. 472 00:22:08,527 --> 00:22:12,397 It was called the Store Edge. 473 00:22:12,431 --> 00:22:15,201 The registered owner of the Store Edge 474 00:22:15,233 --> 00:22:16,134 was Chad Schipper. 475 00:22:16,167 --> 00:22:19,971 ♪ ♪ 476 00:22:20,005 --> 00:22:22,508 CHUCK: So then we just ran his name through the databases 477 00:22:22,540 --> 00:22:24,643 and found out that he owned a 1992 Chevy Caprice. 478 00:22:24,676 --> 00:22:26,845 So then we knew we had our suspect. 479 00:22:28,580 --> 00:22:30,782 CHRIS: And once we had Chad identified, 480 00:22:30,816 --> 00:22:34,553 we learned that he owned several properties. 481 00:22:34,586 --> 00:22:35,354 We started deploying surveillance 482 00:22:35,386 --> 00:22:38,457 at all those properties. 483 00:22:38,490 --> 00:22:39,758 ANDREA: The police have multiple homes 484 00:22:39,791 --> 00:22:42,760 that they could search for the VanOostens, 485 00:22:42,795 --> 00:22:44,730 and they didn't know which one they were at. 486 00:22:44,762 --> 00:22:46,030 And even if they did find them, 487 00:22:46,065 --> 00:22:49,367 they didn't know if they would be dead or alive, 488 00:22:49,401 --> 00:22:51,971 because Chad already had the money. 489 00:22:53,404 --> 00:22:54,472 CHRIS: And we also have investigators 490 00:22:54,506 --> 00:22:56,875 at the VanOostens' home. 491 00:22:56,909 --> 00:22:59,912 While they're processing the crime scene, 492 00:22:59,944 --> 00:23:06,085 officers see what looks like the suspect vehicle 493 00:23:06,117 --> 00:23:08,487 drive past the property. 494 00:23:08,519 --> 00:23:12,423 [suspenseful music] 495 00:23:12,458 --> 00:23:14,359 OFFICER: Whiteside, he's taking off. 496 00:23:14,393 --> 00:23:16,729 CHRIS: They pull out after his car, 497 00:23:16,761 --> 00:23:20,965 and that leads into a multi-county pursuit. 498 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,902 [sirens blaring] 499 00:23:28,307 --> 00:23:30,541 [indistinct radio chatter] 500 00:23:30,576 --> 00:23:33,045 The pursuit ends with a pretty bad crash. 501 00:23:33,077 --> 00:23:35,446 CHUCK: After the crash, Chad Schipper was taken 502 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,950 by ambulance to the Illini Hospital. 503 00:23:37,982 --> 00:23:40,152 He had some internal injuries, broken ribs, 504 00:23:40,184 --> 00:23:41,487 a dislocated elbow. 505 00:23:41,519 --> 00:23:43,188 I didn't have to press him hard at all. 506 00:23:43,221 --> 00:23:44,490 I just basically asked him. 507 00:23:44,522 --> 00:23:46,392 I said, "What are we doing here today?" 508 00:23:46,424 --> 00:23:47,826 And he just went right into, well, 509 00:23:47,859 --> 00:23:49,560 we're here today because I kidnapped 510 00:23:49,595 --> 00:23:51,930 the VanOostens for money. 511 00:23:51,963 --> 00:23:54,633 ANDREA: If they're taking Chad at his word, 512 00:23:54,666 --> 00:23:55,768 the police know where Larry and Connie are. 513 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,636 But they don't know what shape they're in. 514 00:23:58,671 --> 00:23:59,938 They've been missing for three days. 515 00:23:59,971 --> 00:24:01,272 It's crucial to find them as soon as possible. 516 00:24:01,307 --> 00:24:04,910 [tense music] 517 00:24:04,942 --> 00:24:07,512 CHRIS: A group of FBI agents and our state police agents 518 00:24:07,546 --> 00:24:10,816 descend upon this home. 519 00:24:10,848 --> 00:24:12,785 They make entry into the house. 520 00:24:12,817 --> 00:24:14,886 They don't find Larry and Connie. 521 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,088 ♪ ♪ 522 00:24:17,122 --> 00:24:21,693 In one of the spare bedrooms is a large TV monitor. 523 00:24:24,363 --> 00:24:25,730 They're looking at the screen. 524 00:24:25,763 --> 00:24:30,336 They can see Larry and Connie inside a concrete room 525 00:24:30,368 --> 00:24:31,970 with no stairs. 526 00:24:32,003 --> 00:24:35,406 ♪ ♪ 527 00:24:35,441 --> 00:24:37,442 This monster built 528 00:24:37,476 --> 00:24:42,146 a soundproof prison cell, 529 00:24:42,181 --> 00:24:46,884 and he had Larry and Connie shackled standing up. 530 00:24:46,919 --> 00:24:49,922 The officers on scene are wondering, 531 00:24:49,954 --> 00:24:53,491 if they're under surveillance, are they here somewhere, 532 00:24:53,525 --> 00:24:54,893 or are they somewhere else? 533 00:24:54,926 --> 00:24:58,329 We have no idea where the VanOostens were. 534 00:25:05,936 --> 00:25:09,307 [tense music] 535 00:25:09,339 --> 00:25:12,343 CHRIS: The officers on scene in the house, 536 00:25:12,376 --> 00:25:15,380 they can see Larry and Connie on the TV screen. 537 00:25:17,515 --> 00:25:20,951 And they start doing another search of the home. 538 00:25:20,984 --> 00:25:23,320 They open the hallway coat closet. 539 00:25:25,222 --> 00:25:27,991 The flooring in the closet doesn't match 540 00:25:28,026 --> 00:25:30,327 the flooring in the hallway. 541 00:25:32,130 --> 00:25:34,332 They lift up that flooring, 542 00:25:34,365 --> 00:25:38,536 and they find a big, steel-plated door. 543 00:25:40,872 --> 00:25:43,441 They break this lock, 544 00:25:43,474 --> 00:25:47,311 lift the hatch that led to a soundproof 545 00:25:47,345 --> 00:25:52,115 prison cell in the basement of the house, 546 00:25:52,150 --> 00:25:55,019 and find Larry and Connie 547 00:25:55,053 --> 00:25:59,089 bound and blindfolded. 548 00:25:59,123 --> 00:26:00,424 CHUCK: They were handcuffed to the wall, 549 00:26:00,458 --> 00:26:03,027 and they were standing there for a number of hours. 550 00:26:03,060 --> 00:26:04,229 One of them was just hanging 551 00:26:04,261 --> 00:26:06,330 by their wrist from the wall there 552 00:26:06,364 --> 00:26:07,965 'cause they couldn't stand anymore. 553 00:26:07,999 --> 00:26:09,200 CHRIS: There was cameras 554 00:26:09,233 --> 00:26:13,938 in every corner and a microphone 555 00:26:13,971 --> 00:26:15,606 so that he could listen to them, 556 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:16,607 and he could see them, 557 00:26:16,641 --> 00:26:19,176 and he could speak to them in a creepy, cryptic 558 00:26:19,210 --> 00:26:20,778 voice modulator that he had. 559 00:26:20,811 --> 00:26:23,981 ♪ ♪ 560 00:26:24,015 --> 00:26:25,682 This is my opinion. 561 00:26:25,717 --> 00:26:27,352 I don't think there's any way he's gonna let them go. 562 00:26:30,153 --> 00:26:33,423 What's the benefit in releasing them? 563 00:26:57,347 --> 00:26:59,951 CHRIS: They were never gonna get let go. 564 00:26:59,983 --> 00:27:01,719 And I'll always believe that. 565 00:27:01,752 --> 00:27:07,392 But what was important to me was that our victims are safe. 566 00:27:07,424 --> 00:27:10,494 They're alive. We have our suspect in custody. 567 00:27:10,528 --> 00:27:12,997 Now we can start putting the puzzle together. 568 00:27:13,030 --> 00:27:15,432 How did this happen? 569 00:27:15,465 --> 00:27:17,101 ANDREA: As detectives interview him, 570 00:27:17,134 --> 00:27:19,202 they learn step-by-step 571 00:27:19,237 --> 00:27:22,574 how disturbing this crime actually was. 572 00:27:22,606 --> 00:27:25,910 - Chad entered the VanOostens' home using a sledgehammer. 573 00:27:25,943 --> 00:27:27,979 [suspenseful music] 574 00:27:28,011 --> 00:27:29,646 He broke into a basement window, 575 00:27:29,681 --> 00:27:34,384 walked inside, and sat at the kitchen table for hours. 576 00:27:35,519 --> 00:27:38,388 Chad enters a bedroom that Larry's sleeping in. 577 00:27:40,458 --> 00:27:44,028 CHRIS: He wakes up Larry, deploys his Taser. 578 00:27:44,061 --> 00:27:46,463 [electricity crackling] 579 00:27:46,497 --> 00:27:49,099 He takes steps to control Larry first. 580 00:27:49,133 --> 00:27:53,104 - He then grabs Connie, 581 00:27:53,136 --> 00:27:55,506 has her handcuff Larry, 582 00:27:55,539 --> 00:28:00,444 puts duct tape on their mouth, duct tape on their eyes, 583 00:28:00,478 --> 00:28:04,548 uses his voice box and says, "Where is your God now?" 584 00:28:04,582 --> 00:28:06,784 INTRUDER: [distorted] Where is your God now? 585 00:28:06,817 --> 00:28:13,458 ♪ ♪ 586 00:28:13,490 --> 00:28:17,394 - And that's when Chad drives Connie to her bank. 587 00:28:18,796 --> 00:28:21,598 - Detectives learn Chad had been envisioning this crime 588 00:28:21,633 --> 00:28:24,501 for a long time, and he had planned every detail, 589 00:28:24,535 --> 00:28:28,439 down to his own daughter wrapping the sledgehammer. 590 00:28:29,807 --> 00:28:33,611 GRACE: When I heard our dad had used the sledgehammer 591 00:28:33,644 --> 00:28:36,146 that he asked me to wrap to commit this crime... 592 00:28:36,180 --> 00:28:39,584 [sighs] My whole world crumbled. 593 00:28:42,153 --> 00:28:43,820 That really hurt me. 594 00:28:43,855 --> 00:28:46,758 [tense music] 595 00:28:46,790 --> 00:28:49,227 ♪ ♪ 596 00:28:49,259 --> 00:28:50,127 - My husband has all of a sudden 597 00:28:50,161 --> 00:28:52,563 been arrested for kidnapping. 598 00:28:54,798 --> 00:28:57,535 It was his arrest that was the first thing on the news. 599 00:28:57,567 --> 00:28:59,336 BROADCASTER: A Geneseo man accused of kidnapping 600 00:28:59,369 --> 00:29:01,405 a Whiteside County couple. 601 00:29:01,439 --> 00:29:03,207 Schipper took the couple to their bank 602 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:04,675 and forced them to get a cashier's check. 603 00:29:04,709 --> 00:29:06,778 They were later taken to a soundproof shelter 604 00:29:06,810 --> 00:29:10,280 in the basement of one of Schipper's rental homes. 605 00:29:10,315 --> 00:29:12,282 DONIELLE: I was thinking, no, 606 00:29:12,316 --> 00:29:14,018 they've got the wrong Chad Schipper. 607 00:29:14,051 --> 00:29:15,952 That's impossible. 608 00:29:15,987 --> 00:29:19,490 My life is upside-down. 609 00:29:20,557 --> 00:29:23,928 RANDLIN: When she said he kidnapped someone, 610 00:29:23,961 --> 00:29:24,961 we were just shocked. 611 00:29:24,996 --> 00:29:28,066 None of us had any clue that he would be capable 612 00:29:28,098 --> 00:29:30,034 of doing anything like that. 613 00:29:30,067 --> 00:29:35,306 ♪ ♪ 614 00:29:35,338 --> 00:29:36,641 DONIELLE: It was really difficult 615 00:29:36,673 --> 00:29:41,311 because it was like everything that I had known 616 00:29:41,345 --> 00:29:44,449 and thought I'd known of this person 617 00:29:44,481 --> 00:29:49,519 that I loved with all my heart was not that person. 618 00:29:51,388 --> 00:29:54,459 Six children. Married for 17 years. 619 00:29:56,126 --> 00:29:59,063 Did he ever even love me? 620 00:29:59,096 --> 00:30:01,164 I had a really hard time 621 00:30:01,199 --> 00:30:03,500 figuring out what reality was, 622 00:30:03,534 --> 00:30:06,703 as opposed to what I thought reality was. 623 00:30:10,441 --> 00:30:15,445 - Chad was living a life that his spouse 624 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:18,516 and children knew nothing about. 625 00:30:43,641 --> 00:30:46,711 DONIELLE: From the point where my kids were taken 626 00:30:46,743 --> 00:30:49,646 out of the house and I was interrogated, 627 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:51,715 my kids never stepped into that house again. 628 00:30:51,749 --> 00:30:54,652 I didn't want them to go back into the house. 629 00:30:54,684 --> 00:30:57,454 I had to go in the house and get things cleaned up. 630 00:30:57,488 --> 00:31:00,590 ANDREA: Finally, after all these years, 631 00:31:00,625 --> 00:31:03,294 Donielle could go into Chad's office 632 00:31:03,326 --> 00:31:05,229 where he had been isolating himself 633 00:31:05,262 --> 00:31:06,864 and dig through his secrets. 634 00:31:08,465 --> 00:31:12,403 - We learned how seriously bad 635 00:31:12,436 --> 00:31:15,640 he was at managing people's finances. 636 00:31:15,673 --> 00:31:19,277 Chad was sort of a failed businessman. 637 00:31:19,309 --> 00:31:21,345 He wasn't doing well. 638 00:31:21,378 --> 00:31:22,547 And he had borrowed a lot of money 639 00:31:22,579 --> 00:31:25,016 and taken on a lot of credit card debt. 640 00:31:25,048 --> 00:31:28,553 - Chad wasn't just lying to Donielle about their finances. 641 00:31:28,586 --> 00:31:31,388 He was embezzling money from his clients. 642 00:31:31,422 --> 00:31:34,125 And over time, the theft grew and grew. 643 00:31:34,157 --> 00:31:35,960 [suspenseful music] 644 00:31:35,992 --> 00:31:38,596 TIM: When we went through everything in his office, 645 00:31:38,628 --> 00:31:40,431 he had credit cards from more people 646 00:31:40,463 --> 00:31:42,599 than you can shake a stick at. 647 00:31:42,633 --> 00:31:44,535 DONIELLE: We had found a credit card 648 00:31:44,568 --> 00:31:46,369 that he had fraudulently gotten 649 00:31:46,403 --> 00:31:48,239 from his parents, like signed his name 650 00:31:48,271 --> 00:31:50,708 on his parents' credit card. 651 00:31:50,740 --> 00:31:53,877 TIM: His parents had paid their house off. 652 00:31:53,911 --> 00:32:00,183 He forged paperwork to borrow money against that house, 653 00:32:00,218 --> 00:32:01,919 a lot of money. 654 00:32:04,588 --> 00:32:08,593 - His parents ended up suing him for almost $400,000. 655 00:32:08,625 --> 00:32:12,529 - He stole money from his parents, 656 00:32:12,563 --> 00:32:17,134 from his grandma, his uncle, my brother, 657 00:32:17,167 --> 00:32:18,702 from somebody in the church. 658 00:32:18,736 --> 00:32:21,439 - Chad had stolen so much money from his clients, 659 00:32:21,471 --> 00:32:23,607 and they wanted to see returns. 660 00:32:23,641 --> 00:32:26,711 And so that's where the VanOostens come into play. 661 00:32:26,743 --> 00:32:29,547 Because according to Chad's interview with police, 662 00:32:29,579 --> 00:32:32,916 he needed $350,000 to pay back his clients. 663 00:32:32,950 --> 00:32:36,319 When they decided not to work with him, he got desperate 664 00:32:36,354 --> 00:32:37,622 and decided to kidnap them. 665 00:32:40,223 --> 00:32:43,661 - We found notes at the house. 666 00:32:43,693 --> 00:32:47,198 He had been planning this, writing out every detail 667 00:32:47,230 --> 00:32:48,699 for a very long time. 668 00:32:50,567 --> 00:32:52,569 DONIELLE: Turns out, there was planning 669 00:32:52,603 --> 00:32:54,905 for that dungeon that he built. 670 00:32:54,939 --> 00:32:59,309 There was just some weird notes on there about, you know, 671 00:32:59,343 --> 00:33:03,614 soundproofing and different items 672 00:33:03,647 --> 00:33:05,816 to shop for that didn't make sense. 673 00:33:07,585 --> 00:33:09,519 Everything that we had found in the office 674 00:33:09,554 --> 00:33:13,758 was just a complete betrayal. 675 00:33:13,790 --> 00:33:16,126 CHRIS: We've dealt with a lot of violent crime, 676 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:19,730 but this one was bizarre. 677 00:33:19,763 --> 00:33:22,532 It was almost like an episode of Criminal Minds, 678 00:33:22,566 --> 00:33:25,670 where it's like, it's taken up a notch, 679 00:33:25,702 --> 00:33:27,471 you know to make it extreme, 680 00:33:27,505 --> 00:33:30,407 that it seemed like it was a movie, 681 00:33:30,441 --> 00:33:34,679 but it was real. 682 00:33:34,711 --> 00:33:37,480 - Chad not only betrayed his wife, his family. 683 00:33:37,515 --> 00:33:39,450 He betrayed the entire community of Erie. 684 00:33:39,482 --> 00:33:41,818 People thought they knew who he was, 685 00:33:41,852 --> 00:33:44,721 and he was someone completely different in the end. 686 00:33:44,755 --> 00:33:47,424 DONIELLE: I remember pulling off my wedding ring 687 00:33:47,458 --> 00:33:49,894 and throwing it. That's it. 688 00:33:49,926 --> 00:33:50,627 I'm done. 689 00:33:58,068 --> 00:34:00,738 [tense music] 690 00:34:00,770 --> 00:34:02,740 ♪ ♪ 691 00:34:02,772 --> 00:34:04,642 DONIELLE: Being married to somebody like that, 692 00:34:04,674 --> 00:34:08,445 obviously, my whole life has been turned upside-down. 693 00:34:08,478 --> 00:34:10,380 Life isn't what you thought it was. 694 00:34:10,414 --> 00:34:14,318 I had a really hard time trusting people. 695 00:34:14,351 --> 00:34:15,585 Going through the process of divorce 696 00:34:15,619 --> 00:34:18,856 was very difficult for me because of my strong faith 697 00:34:18,889 --> 00:34:22,693 and because when I made those vows, that was it. 698 00:34:27,931 --> 00:34:31,601 [somber music] 699 00:34:31,635 --> 00:34:35,873 - But I knew that it was the only way I could move forward, 700 00:34:35,905 --> 00:34:39,510 and it was the only safe option for me and for my kids. 701 00:34:42,445 --> 00:34:45,382 During one of our divorce proceedings, 702 00:34:45,416 --> 00:34:46,751 Chad actually wanted custody of the kids. 703 00:34:46,784 --> 00:34:49,954 How would that work with him in jail? 704 00:34:49,987 --> 00:34:51,422 But I don't know. 705 00:34:51,454 --> 00:34:54,858 Typical narcissist, like textbook. 706 00:34:54,891 --> 00:34:58,596 - Chad was charged with felony home invasion, 707 00:34:58,628 --> 00:35:01,431 aggravated kidnapping, and unlawful restraint. 708 00:35:01,465 --> 00:35:04,702 - The evidence was overwhelming against Chad. 709 00:35:04,735 --> 00:35:07,505 It would be difficult for him to go to trial. 710 00:35:07,538 --> 00:35:08,639 REPORTER: It was an emotional day 711 00:35:08,672 --> 00:35:10,407 for the VanOostens, but in the end, 712 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:12,643 they got the justice they were looking for. 713 00:35:12,675 --> 00:35:15,646 42-year-old Chad Schipper sentenced to 60 years, 714 00:35:15,679 --> 00:35:17,715 the rest of his life in prison. 715 00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:24,722 TIM: We couldn't cheer. It was in a courtroom. 716 00:35:24,755 --> 00:35:28,125 But when we got outside the courtroom, we did. 717 00:35:28,159 --> 00:35:30,327 [soft piano music] 718 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:32,396 It was glorious. 719 00:35:32,429 --> 00:35:35,032 He was 42 at the time. 720 00:35:35,065 --> 00:35:36,000 He ain't coming home. 721 00:35:38,135 --> 00:35:42,840 GRACE: When I heard that his sentence was 60 years... 722 00:35:45,076 --> 00:35:46,577 I was glad 723 00:35:46,610 --> 00:35:50,447 because that meant that if he was angry 724 00:35:50,481 --> 00:35:52,516 about being in jail, if he was angry about 725 00:35:52,550 --> 00:35:55,952 my mom divorcing him, he wouldn't be able 726 00:35:55,985 --> 00:35:57,554 to act on it. 727 00:35:58,621 --> 00:36:01,391 DONIELLE: I specifically do remember being 728 00:36:01,425 --> 00:36:03,561 in the courtroom with him. 729 00:36:03,594 --> 00:36:05,496 And I remember at one point, he was looking over 730 00:36:05,528 --> 00:36:07,697 at me and mouthing the words, "I love you." 731 00:36:07,731 --> 00:36:11,434 And I remember thinking, no, you don't love me. 732 00:36:11,469 --> 00:36:13,436 It's just another lie. 733 00:36:13,471 --> 00:36:15,271 And it made me feel really gross for him 734 00:36:15,306 --> 00:36:16,407 to be mouthing that to me. 735 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:18,641 Like, how dare you say that to me. 736 00:36:21,545 --> 00:36:23,146 ANDREA: Chad got a hefty penalty, 737 00:36:23,179 --> 00:36:24,148 60 years without parole. 738 00:36:24,181 --> 00:36:26,684 And the DA decided not to bring any other charges 739 00:36:26,717 --> 00:36:29,519 against Chad because he was already serving, essentially, 740 00:36:29,552 --> 00:36:33,724 a life sentence, and the VanOostens got justice. 741 00:36:34,958 --> 00:36:37,527 DONIELLE: So I have not spoken with him since his arrest. 742 00:36:37,561 --> 00:36:39,429 But Chad wrote me a lot of letters from jail. 743 00:36:39,463 --> 00:36:42,500 [tense music] 744 00:36:42,532 --> 00:36:44,802 All of them were full of manipulations. 745 00:36:46,536 --> 00:36:48,505 ANDREA: So, Donielle was receiving letters 746 00:36:48,539 --> 00:36:50,574 from Chad for a while, and then 747 00:36:50,608 --> 00:36:52,510 she started getting letters from an individual 748 00:36:52,543 --> 00:36:54,077 named Elouisa Mae. 749 00:36:54,110 --> 00:36:58,715 Elouisa Mae was a character that Chad created, 750 00:36:58,748 --> 00:37:03,186 like this Southern lady that was really proper. 751 00:37:03,219 --> 00:37:06,623 Here's a sample of what was written in those letters. 752 00:37:06,657 --> 00:37:08,659 "Donielle, it is good to be 753 00:37:08,692 --> 00:37:10,628 "a-talkin' with you again, missy. 754 00:37:10,661 --> 00:37:12,896 "I pray you are a-doin' well. 755 00:37:12,929 --> 00:37:15,498 "I hope your little ones are a-findin' time to be kids 756 00:37:15,532 --> 00:37:17,735 in this world we are a-livin' in." 757 00:37:17,768 --> 00:37:22,907 - This Elouisa Mae character, her husband had been arrested 758 00:37:22,940 --> 00:37:24,474 or had done something for which Elouisa Mae 759 00:37:24,507 --> 00:37:27,610 did not forgive him, and because of that, 760 00:37:27,644 --> 00:37:29,780 her husband had killed himself, 761 00:37:29,813 --> 00:37:32,949 and this Elouisa Mae was really concerned for Donielle 762 00:37:32,983 --> 00:37:35,018 because she felt that Donielle might be going down that path. 763 00:37:35,052 --> 00:37:38,688 And if she didn't forgive Chad and take him back 764 00:37:38,722 --> 00:37:40,690 as her husband, then Chad might kill himself. 765 00:37:40,724 --> 00:37:42,458 ANDREA: "Enough chit-chat. 766 00:37:42,492 --> 00:37:45,762 "Down to brass tacks, sugar plumb. 767 00:37:45,795 --> 00:37:48,898 "What Charlie did caused our family to suffer, 768 00:37:48,932 --> 00:37:51,969 "but what I did destroyed our family. 769 00:37:52,001 --> 00:37:53,836 "I thought I was being brave when I ended our marriage, 770 00:37:53,871 --> 00:37:56,773 "but I was still being a coward. 771 00:37:56,806 --> 00:38:01,811 What I really needed to do was to forgive." 772 00:38:01,846 --> 00:38:05,349 - It was obviously Chad saying, you better take me back 773 00:38:05,382 --> 00:38:07,483 or I'm gonna do something. 774 00:38:07,518 --> 00:38:10,820 - How she should grant him forgiveness. 775 00:38:10,855 --> 00:38:13,791 - When you're writing, even if you have that accent, 776 00:38:13,824 --> 00:38:15,326 you don't write it as the accent. 777 00:38:15,358 --> 00:38:16,927 [laughs] 778 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:18,963 CHRIS: He's writing these letters, 779 00:38:18,996 --> 00:38:21,164 trying to pull on their heartstrings, 780 00:38:21,197 --> 00:38:23,867 that this woman went through a similar experience, 781 00:38:23,900 --> 00:38:27,771 and she found it in her heart to forgive, 782 00:38:27,804 --> 00:38:29,539 and these letters are trying to convince them 783 00:38:29,572 --> 00:38:31,842 to have some sympathy. 784 00:38:31,875 --> 00:38:34,478 ANDREA: What I really think is, 785 00:38:34,510 --> 00:38:35,646 I don't think he thought very highly 786 00:38:35,679 --> 00:38:37,047 of Donielle and her intellect, 787 00:38:37,081 --> 00:38:39,449 and I think that Chad thought that he could manipulate 788 00:38:39,483 --> 00:38:41,251 Donielle into doing whatever, 789 00:38:41,284 --> 00:38:42,085 or it just shows that 790 00:38:42,119 --> 00:38:44,387 he's completely divorced from reality. 791 00:38:44,420 --> 00:38:45,989 [somber music] 792 00:38:46,023 --> 00:38:48,291 DONIELLE: A lot of the time that I spent 793 00:38:48,324 --> 00:38:52,161 right afterwards was trying to understand my healing process, 794 00:38:52,195 --> 00:38:56,400 and how am I gonna move forward from this? 795 00:38:56,432 --> 00:38:57,635 I did a lot of self-help reading, 796 00:38:57,668 --> 00:39:00,003 and in the midst of that, 797 00:39:00,036 --> 00:39:03,072 I also think that God gave me peace. 798 00:39:04,307 --> 00:39:08,378 It's an indescribable quiet that I felt in my soul. 799 00:39:08,411 --> 00:39:09,713 It's gonna be okay. 800 00:39:09,746 --> 00:39:13,617 And over time, I moved on. 801 00:39:13,650 --> 00:39:14,751 RANDLIN: Donielle and I had-- 802 00:39:14,784 --> 00:39:16,152 every once in a while, we would talk about love 803 00:39:16,186 --> 00:39:19,623 and whether or not she would ever find love again. 804 00:39:19,657 --> 00:39:21,190 And she was always, absolutely not. 805 00:39:21,224 --> 00:39:24,728 I have no interest. I cannot trust anyone again. 806 00:39:24,762 --> 00:39:26,864 And then, actually, not that long later, 807 00:39:26,896 --> 00:39:28,965 she pulled me aside and she said, 808 00:39:28,998 --> 00:39:31,969 "So, I've sort of been talking to Billy." 809 00:39:32,001 --> 00:39:34,137 And I was like, Billy? That's awesome. 810 00:39:34,170 --> 00:39:36,840 [gentle music] 811 00:39:36,873 --> 00:39:40,777 DONIELLE: Billy and I met when we were teenagers. 812 00:39:40,811 --> 00:39:43,380 But we were really young and our lives just 813 00:39:43,414 --> 00:39:44,981 kind of went separate ways. 814 00:39:45,014 --> 00:39:46,983 And then after all of this happened, 815 00:39:47,016 --> 00:39:49,652 we started talking through text, 816 00:39:49,686 --> 00:39:53,690 and the talks got longer. 817 00:39:53,724 --> 00:39:55,693 I had started having feelings for him. 818 00:39:55,726 --> 00:39:57,795 Turns out, he also had feelings for me. 819 00:39:59,862 --> 00:40:01,164 Our relationship just developed, 820 00:40:01,197 --> 00:40:04,134 and he ended up asking me to marry him. [laughs] 821 00:40:07,438 --> 00:40:12,476 And I'm now married to the first love of my life, Billy. 822 00:40:12,509 --> 00:40:14,077 [laughs] 823 00:40:14,110 --> 00:40:18,014 ♪ ♪ 824 00:40:18,047 --> 00:40:21,117 GRACE: Our mom has grown so much. 825 00:40:21,150 --> 00:40:24,588 She's a stronger person. She's more confident. 826 00:40:24,621 --> 00:40:27,925 She laughs more now, 827 00:40:27,958 --> 00:40:31,228 especially now that Billy is in our house. 828 00:40:31,260 --> 00:40:36,500 I see so much happiness in her that I never saw before. 829 00:40:36,532 --> 00:40:38,202 I love her laugh so much. 830 00:40:39,869 --> 00:40:42,840 - Donielle is a much stronger person 831 00:40:42,873 --> 00:40:44,675 since this whole thing happened. 832 00:40:44,708 --> 00:40:47,911 She's so strong now. 833 00:40:51,835 --> 00:40:52,902 ANDREA: Donielle, I'm so grateful 834 00:40:52,936 --> 00:40:55,105 that you reached out to us. 835 00:40:55,139 --> 00:40:55,972 - It was really important for me. 836 00:40:56,005 --> 00:40:57,173 I want people to know that 837 00:40:57,206 --> 00:40:58,976 even if they don't find love again, 838 00:40:59,009 --> 00:41:01,277 they can still find joy again. 839 00:41:01,311 --> 00:41:03,581 I was finding joy in lots of things, 840 00:41:03,614 --> 00:41:08,184 my children, lots of things that I really, really enjoyed. 841 00:41:08,217 --> 00:41:10,887 And then finding Billy again was 842 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:13,389 just like icing on the cake. [laughs] 843 00:41:13,423 --> 00:41:14,391 ANDREA: Yeah. 844 00:41:14,425 --> 00:41:16,293 It's such a cute love story, I have to say. 845 00:41:16,393 --> 00:41:17,559 - And I want people to know that they can 846 00:41:18,161 --> 00:41:20,813 build themselves up and have a happy life again.