Betrayal Weekly - Blind Spot | EP 5 | The Confidante

Episode Date: October 22, 2026

The real perpetrator is unmasked, and Carl is forced to face an unimaginable truth.  If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing us at [e-mail] and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts.  To access our newsletter and additional content and to connect with the Betrayal community, join our Substack at betrayal.substack.com.     If you are currently in crisis, please reach out to organizations that offer immediate support. We are including a few US-based resources here:    988 Lifeline. If you or someone you know is in crisis or need to talk to someone immediately, please call or text 988 – the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available 24/7/365.   National Domestic Violence Hotline. They offer 24/7 phone and chat support to help you create a personalized safety plan and connect you with local support.   For resources on sexual violence, visit rainn.org/betrayal. You can also get free, confidential, 24/7 support through RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline. Text HOPE to 64673 or call 1-800-656-HOPE.   Every state has a domestic violence coalition. If you’re looking for help in the US, search the web for your state’s domestic violence coalition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. I'm Melissa Jeltson, host of the What Happened to Her podcast. We're kicking off the season with the Sandra Birchmore story, a case the police rode off as a suicide in a snowstorm. Her family never bought it, and the man they suspected wore a badge.

You never know who that devil is because he's wearing in disguise. Sometimes it's a police uniform. And you can get access to all episodes 100% ad-free with an IHeart True Crime Plus subscription exclusively on Apple Podcasts, available only to IHeart True Crime Plus subscribers. So don't wait. Head to Apple Podcasts, search for IHeart True Crime Plus, and subscribe today. How do you know that Claude won't become manipulative?

This is a constant worry. And you can actually catch the model thinking, I think X is actually true, but I'm going to tell the user why. I'm Walter Isaacson. On my new podcast, The Builders, I'm going inside the minds of the people shaping our future. Listen to The Builders starting October 13th on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This short lady comes in who barely see over the counter. Everything about has screamed, I'm not an international banker.

That was a clip from our newest hit podcast, Royal Swindle, about two very unlikely scammers. These Australian women charm their way into British. High Society, one over England's horse-loving elite, and even met the queen all while conning people out of their fortunes. From USG audio, Blanchard House, and exactly right media, this is Royal Swindle. Listen to Royal Swindle on the IHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Goodbye. From Pushkin Industries, I'm Jonathan Goldstein, and this season on heavyweight. Jenna wonders why her foster family promised to adopt her, but then never did. And Jade questions the confession her grandmother made just before she died. She said she is the Mrs. Jones in the famous song Me and Mrs. Jones.

Listen to Heavyweight on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On January 23, 2024, Paul Augustine heard a knock at his front door. Yes, support. Money if I step in? I'm scared. What's going on? What if I step in? I mean, kind of, yeah.

Okay. Can you come on, mom, talk to me? Paul seemed reluctant to get too close to the officers who were now standing in his living room. I'm scared. I've never... Why are you scared, Paul? Okay, because cops are... I've never had this happen. Take it a breath. You're okay. I'm heard of this, and I want to let my mom... Well, what's going on?

I'm really, really scared. The walls were closing in on Paul. I'm Andre Gunning, and this. This is Betrayal Season 6. Episode 5. Blind Spot. In the last episode of betrayal, the wrong man was arrested for stalking and harassing Carl Bryan.

All the circumstantial evidence pointed to Carl's ex, Adam Mejia. There had been a year of harassing messages, escalating in severity, all from spoofed phone numbers. You'll have hell to pay. Your new boyfriend should know the truth about what you did to do. Why is it okay for you? you to just move on and all I can wait for is the shit storm that is about to read. Should I show Andrew the proof of the shit I dug up? Good luck with school board. Got Venmo? Not like anyone has access to all your information. That'd be horrible

wrong with daily. The day after Detective George arrested Adam Mejia, she got a report back from the spoofing company. The results shocked her. Every single message linked back to one phone number. And it wasn't Adams. I had been a pawn in Paul Augustine's game. He had set up Adam Mejia to take the fall for him. When Detective George learned the truth, she rushed to release Adam Mejia from custody. I started making phone calls. I called the district attorney's office.

And I said, hey, we got the wrong guy. And I said, I am 100% sure you need to release him right now. Then she set out to question the real perpetrator. She and her partner, Nick Morrow, drove to Sam's Club. That's where Paul Augustine worked. A manager offered them an office or they could speak with Paul privately off the sales floor. The detectives didn't tell Paul they were coming. He seemed quite surprised to see them.

Mind if we sit with you? As far as Paul knew, he'd gotten away with it. Adam had been arrested, just as he'd planned. Instead of confronting Paul with the new information they'd found, detectives decided to engage in a bit of theater. For a lot of this episode, we'll be playing police body cam audio. Some of the names have been redacted, as you'll hear. The detectives explained to Paul that they had come to tie up a few loose ends.

They wanted to gather some outstanding evidence for their case against Adam. And by the way, you'll hear some background music playing in the same. the store. Okay. You have any messages on your phone still? Unfortunately, I deleted them. You have any calls or anything like? Well, so what I've done, I've sent them all too.

Okay. So I, unfortunately, no, I haven't saved everything because he's been the one he's kind of taken over. Do you have even like a one call on their left over still? I honest to God, I don't. And I feel bad. It was a game of pretend for both the detectives and for Paul. So Paul shifted the subject.

He wanted to know why the authorities had shown up to his workplace unannounced. I was just uncomfortable because I was like, you know, it makes me like look bad at work. Oh, no. We told them you're not in trouble or anything. We'll be good. Yeah, you're good, yeah, you're a good dad. I always like assume, like, I think when you see police, like, you're just like, oh my God, what happened? I even get nervous if I get pulled over, so I get it.

And I am a cop, so I get it. Yeah. Detectives put Paul at ease. But, of course, Paul had every role. reason to be nervous. The cops knew exactly who they were talking to, and they wanted to keep him talking. Paul brought up at him, asking how much trouble he was in, if he was facing felony charges. And it's actually a felony. Talking is automatically a felony in Wisconsin. Oh, well, good. Yeah. I'm not complaining. Detective George redirected the conversation. She wanted to know

how was Paul connected to Carl and the harassment. Like, how did you get drawn in? into this. Are you really close to you? We are really close friends. I've known for, well, about 10 years. So, but we've never actually dated or anything like that. We've just been, we've like explored the idea, but it's never actually like turned into that. Detective Morrow started pressing Paul a little bit further. So you guys are best friends, right? Are you guys like really close best friends then, I'm assuming? Yeah. So you guys share everything and hang out all time and all that. Yeah, super often and seeing him probably over the weekend, you know, just like for the Packer game or something.

Right. Sounds like I've been pretty traumatized by these and scared. Me too. Yeah. Yeah. I can imagine that message are pretty scary. Paul did his best to regain control and turn the focus back to Adam. Now that he's been arrested, has he, have you guys even searched his phone?

We're working on that. So no one else uses your phone where they could have gone in and like, use your information. Have you ever, like, lost your phone or, or, I'm working on. I guess you always have your phone with you. I've lost it before, yes. And how long was your phone lost for? When I say lost, I mean, like, missed place. Did know where it was.

Yeah, for like maybe one hour or two. Oh, right. We've been asking everybody this, have you ever downed like any type of spoofing apps or anything like that? We typed it out one just to see, like, just because we were curious what what I'm doing.

But like, I mean, I just deleted it right away. Do you remember what the name that one? To be honest, no. Oh, good. So I wrote search warrants to a couple of different smooth companies. Okay. And one of the apps showed that you had an account. Okay. Do you remember that? Well, like I said, we did download one just to like test it out because I've been leery about, you know, it's like my phone has been hacked. So unless he was able to download another one

that I'm unaware of, yeah, I don't have much for you. Okay. So the issue is that yeah, some of these messages that are being sent to... We're coming from your phone. Well, that's weird. Okay. I'm unaware of that. I mean, what am I supposed to say? Yeah, that's what we're trying to figure out. Detective George asked Paul if he'd be willing to sign a form, allowing them to do a forensic download of his phone. Do I have to agree to that? I just make it a lot easier. I don't really feel comfortable with that. This is really intense. And if he actually did have the ability to spy on our phone, he's been able to do that.

Okay, I don't know if he's hacked at both of our phones. You know, he very well could have put a lot of stuff on whether it's my phone, phone or phone. Paul was clearly uncomfortable. The detectives told him they needed to search his phone. They said it could help in the case against Adam. It would help us out in the long run, too, especially with charging him further with everything.

It would. Okay. If Paul didn't have anything to hide, giving over his phone shouldn't be a problem. Can I think it over before I sign something? We'll just need an answer probably by the end of our conversation today. If I sign that, and then, so it would actually be good if you did find something, because then worst case, like if I don't sign that, would he not even get in trouble or I don't really know?

It's legal for detectives to lie to suspects, and that's what Detective Morrow did. He told Paul that yes, if he consented to the search of his phone, that evidence could help keep Adam in prison. It'll be just easier for the judge to be like, yeah, this is concrete. He's staying. But Paul still didn't want to give up his phone. He reminded detectives about other evidence they already had against Adam. He broke the no-contact order from what I remember. And then you even heard his voice on the fake report that he made. about the thing with beating up the dogs or whatever. Yeah, I heard it.

So like, isn't that alone, you know, regardless of extra things, enough to charge him with whatever? If he's got a good lawyer, you never know. Would I be able to see one more thing on your phone? What do you need? Just your IP address? Yeah, I just don't feel comfortable like giving out really any morning. And please don't take it personal.

I know you guys are doing your job. I just, it's more that, like, I wish I could have come to you, really, like, caught me off guard and I don't know. So, like, I just don't really want to give out any more info. When it was clear, Paul wasn't going to cooperate. Detectives gave up the act. Detective George looked him straight in the eye, and for the first time told him why they were really there. So we are going to be seizing this phone's evidence. What do you mean by that?

We are seizing it. taking it with us as evidence. So I can't have my device. No. So we are going to be running a search warrant for it. Okay. Because we know what's going on. Do you?

Why are you so nervous? What's on that phone that you think we know about that you don't want us knowing about? What do you mean? Like, you know what I mean, dude. I don't mean to be rude. But we just told you that your phone number is being associated with a spoof thing.

And it's a little bit more than just one time doing it. Detective Morrow was getting frustrated. He told us he'd come there, half expecting Paul to confess. When you first meet Paul, that was my first time seeing him. I'm like, there's no way this guy isn't going to crack. He looks like someone that you tell him, we got everything. He's going to be like, oh, shit, I'm caught.

But that just wasn't the case. And I was actually kind of pissed off that I didn't get consent that day. Despite Paul's protests, detectives took his phone into evidence. Before we leave, we're going to give you one last opportunity to tell us anything you want to tell us. I mean, like, so you're going to look through regardless of whether or not something's been deleted or whatnot. Like, what are you exactly... We're going to find whatever's on your phone.

Okay. Like, if you're so convinced that it's me, then how come the B. I was even arrested in the first place for that? Adam's name is redacted, but what Paul wanted to know was, why did you even arrest Adam if you think it's me? That's when Detective George finally told Paul the news that Adam had been released. Oh, I didn't realize. Okay. Wow.

For a year, Paul had been the puppet master. He'd manipulated Carl, Drew, Adam. He'd even manipulated investigators. But now, he was no longer pulling the strings. Detective Morrow gave Paul one last opportunity to give consent for his phone to be searched without a warrant. What's the difference even? The warrant is longer. So basically it just drags the whole thing out.

Then, for once, Paul said something that was the complete truth. Well, I'm going to drag it out. And that's exactly what he's. He did. You've heard the chaos. Now you can see it. Hello. Oh my gosh.

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Open the free IHR radio app. Search video podcasts and tap watch. I'm Melissa John. And in my new podcast, what happened to her, I'm bringing you new stories and conversations every week. Stories about women whose deaths were too quickly ruled a suicide. She was starting to get worried and get scared for her safety. Stories of survival. The only difference between me and her, frankly, was a little bit of luck, because by all rights,

I should be dead. Cases that everyone else called closed. They can't convict her, right? Like, she has so much evidence. These stories all start in the same place, with a woman failed by a system that didn't believe her, that didn't protect her, that didn't see her. No child should ever experience that.

And we were babies. She did all of these brave things and came out and spoke about it, and he got a year. You never know who that devil is because he's wearing a disguise. Sometimes it's a police uniform. Listen to what happened to her on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If there's a million times more digital intelligence than there is biological intelligence, it's hard to imagine humans being in control in that scenario.

I'm Walter Isaacson, host of the new podcast, The Builders. Right now, we're living through an AI arms race. So I went directly to the people shaping that future. Elon Musk, Dario Amade, Alex Carr, Faye, Fayeffey-Fei-Liby-Liby. or more lucky, because I wanted to understand what the most consequential builders believe, what they fear, and where they think this is all headed. Silicon Valley is always saying the cliche thing about the way to predict the future is to create it. Well, yeah, it's up to us.

But when you say us, who's us? Is it 400 people that you know in Silicon Valley? Is it me down here in New Orleans? They're brilliant, controversial, and they're already shaping us. the future. The question is, whose imagination do we want to live in? This is going to determine the fate of nations and economies and the future of humanity. Listen to the builders on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Lisa, we should tell them about our new show. Oh my God, Lexi, we have a new podcast. It's called Don't Lie to Me. I'm Lexi You Want You. We're two best

friends, 22 years apart, but so close at heart. And I'm Lisa. City Giulio, the old one, which means we have wildly different references, occasionally different opinions, and at this point in my 50s, I've lived it all. I'm not going to get anyone you're fighting. That is wild. I learned that about you today. Now in my 30s, being the founder of new shoes, good taste is my business, and I've always got something to say. If men were just honest about this, there would be so much more peace in the world. We're going to talk about dating, relationships, beauty, getting a lot of older and a little wiser. We're best friends, but we don't always agree. Because you told us how

accommodating you are. Obviously, I would do what I think I could do to fight the fight, but there's only so much fight I can fight. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Liar. Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast, I don't really care. On the morning of January 19th, while detectives were questioning Paul at his job, Carl got a call. The Kenosha Sheriff's Department wanted to see him and his boyfriend Drew. It's delicate work telling a victim of a crime that their theory of the case is wrong and that the real perpetrator is their closest friend. That would need to be an in-person conversation. When Carl and Drew got to the station, Deputy Roarie,

has greeted them. Essentially, we just got to go over a couple things. Because it's the last process, we just need to talk to you separately. We'll talk with Andrew first. What was the point in bringing in Carl and Drew for an interview and then separating them? That's standard course in any investigation.

People, whether they know it or not, kind of feed off of each other. But it's also just trying to make sure that all of our bases are covered and trying to connect the dots of like, Did one of them possibly know about this? The sheriff's department had already arrested the wrong guy, and they weren't about to make the same mistake twice.

Before they could arrest Paul and say that he was the sole mastermind, they had to rule out all other possibilities. Hopefully it shouldn't take two incredibly long. Is that what they needed Paul for, too? Paul's was separate. Yeah. Andrew, we'll come right in here. Deputy Roars walked through down a hallway.

Carl was led to a small lounge and asked to wait. But as the minutes ticked by, he grew anxious. What was taking so long? It was probably for about a good half hour. I was by myself. And I'm like, okay, so what's really happening? And then eventually the door opens up. Drew walks in, we switch places,

and Drew has a look on his face. He's very red. That is not a face I've seen on. him before, and I thought, oh my God, something bad is happening. Carl followed Deputy Roars to a conference room with gray walls and a small oval table. Another detective was there to assist. Immediately, Deputy Roars dropped the act. So I'm going to start off a little bit of false pretenses why we brought you guys over here. Okay.

Okay. I talked to you about how we went up. We served the service. He was referring to the search warrant of Adam's home. Despite going through Adams' electronics, they couldn't find anything to prove he was behind the harassment. The deputy also brought up Adams' interrogation and how firm Adam was in his innocence. He was extremely cooperative. Extremely cooperative. He let us go through his phone. He let us go through his computer.

We took both of those things. I mean, we've scoured everything. Last night, Detective George got one of her search warrants back from the spoofing companies. After reading these messages, they sound like they come from somebody who intimately knows your life. Yeah. Can you think of anybody who would know this much detail that probably isn't Adam? I'm really curious. Why not just tell Carl straight up? It was Paul. Just human nature, we only see what we want to see. They believe that Paul was their first.

And especially with Paul spamming himself so that he could look like a victim too. I don't think that they could comprehend how it could have been Paul. So I think we were trying to get them to get to that conclusion themselves. For nearly a year, Carl had clung to the fact that Adam was the perpetrator. He'd spent months convincing authorities of the same. Authorities couldn't just come right out and tell Carl he'd been wrong, and that the real perpetrator was his best friend of all people. He'd never believe them.

Can you think of anybody who would have this intimate detail that would know this stuff? Carl tried to think, it couldn't be his mom or his sister. It couldn't be Drew. And in his mind, it couldn't be Paul either. He does not have a malicious bone in his body and he's not tech savvy at all. There's nothing that. had gone on in the friendship, the course of my friendship that I have had with Paul. Like there would be any sort of motive that he is trying to break up me and Drew or he's trying

to get some sort of revenge on me. Carl reminded detectives why Adam was the only logical perpetrator, because the harassing text he received referenced very specific moments from their relationship. The text messages that I had received were all. based on my relationship with him. Stuff about like a visit to White Castle when we were dating. There were so many more examples. Details only Adam would know.

The guilt Carl felt for not calling an Uber, the night of Adams DUI, the Valentine's Day card Adam sent from prison, the baseball cap Adam took when they broke up. I didn't tell it to anybody else. Only, Carl had told someone else. He just didn't remember. That's how much he trusted Paul.

how enmeshed Paul was in his life. Detectives realized Carl wasn't going to come to this conclusion on his own. So they had to ask him directly. Had he ever noticed Paul Augustine acting strangely? Carl was taken aback. He racked his brain. As he replayed the last year in his memory, one or two moments with Paul stood out,

like how Paul handled the text he was getting. He was getting a death threat. Someone's not going to make it out of this alive. And if you're stupid and show him this message, it just might be you. I'm sitting here talking on the phone with him for 45 minutes, and I'm like, dude, you have to file a police report. You are getting a death threat from this text message.

But instead, he's crying to me about how it makes him feel and how he just wanted to make sure that, like, we all feel safe and supported. Is there any other instances like that? There was another time where the three of us had met with you to sign off on those statements. These were incident reports, filed in the early days of the harassment. And I was like, you need to sign this. You know, because if you don't sign this, I'm afraid that this won't lend as much credibility to what's like this ongoing investigation. But Paul resisted.

He didn't feel comfortable getting involved with the cops. It was just a little frustrating, though, because it felt like, you know, we had come this far. You know, an investigation was happening. Signed the paperwork, get the thing going, and he was kind of dragging his feet. Still, Carl couldn't see Paul as being the perpetrator here. I've known him for 10 years. I'm pretty good at reading him. Like, I know when, like, he's BSing.

Carl would have to see the evidence himself to believe it. The deputy took a deep breath. and slate a piece of paper across the table to Carl. It was the report from the spoofing company. So this company, it's called Spoof Card, and it's like it's an app that you can get on your phone. Yeah. And so basically you have to put in a phone number to verify you,

and the phone number has to say, it has to be a legitimate phone number. Yeah. Would it surprise you to know that those are registered? The redacted name was Paul's. Would Carl be surprised? to know that the spoofing app could be traced back to Paul. Yeah, yeah, absolutely 100%.

The deputies pointed at the piece of paper in front of Carl. All the spoof texts and calls. Sent. Every single one of these. Every text, every spoof call, every threat. The tow trucks, the extortion, the nude photos, the police rushing to his home. It was all tied to one person, Paul Augustine. Hearing the news, Carl just stared at the cops, and he bit his lip, saying nothing.

I asked Carl to take me back to that moment. I'm sitting there in the room like completely dumbfounded. My stomach hit the floor. Paul did it. He used the information he knew about my relationship with Adam. and used all of that against me. I mean, it was like just the weight. Everything is crashing down.

Carl left the station, withdrew at his side. The two of them walked through the parking lot in a daze. It didn't really hit me until we got to our cars. We both gave each other a hug, and we were just like, oh my God, I can't believe this. Carl drove home feeling numb. That's when he got a notification, a message from Paul. Detectives had just stopped in to question Paul at work, and they'd taken his phone into evidence.

He messaged me on Facebook and was like, I'm just so shocked by everything that's happening right now. And I can't believe all these things that I'm being accused of, but I just want you to know that I'm not a stalker and I never have been or I ever will be. And that's just not me. Carl ignored the message. He was in shock, trying to process everything he'd just learned, the concrete evidence he'd seen, tying his best friend to the crimes. But Paul was desperate to get a hold of him. To convince Carl, this was all just one big misunderstanding.

In Paul's frenzy to attempt to reach him, Paul enlisted the one person who would always support him. His mother. We don't know what Paul told her about the police investigation. But based on the voicemail she left Carl, it probably wasn't the truth. I will not contact you any further after leaving this message. I am with Paul. He is completely traumatized.

He was interrogated by Kenosha Police Department this morning. They seized his phone and are accusing him of being a part of your harassment. We are in a world of panic and disbelief that this has come to this now. where Paul is being accused of this stuff. I'm looking for clarity. Paul's looking for clarity. What is going on? Radio presents the soundtrack to your October.

From spooky podcasts and chilling playlists to non-stop Halloween radio and more. We have all the thrills and chills you're craving this season. Press play. I'm Melissa Jeltson, and in my new podcast, what happened to her, I'm bringing you new stories and conversations every week.

Stories about women whose deaths were too quickly ruled a suicide. She was starting to get worried and get scared for her safety.

Stories of survival. The only difference between me and her, frankly, was a little bit of luck, because by all rights, I should be dead. Cases that everyone

else called closed. They can't convict her, right? Like, she has so much evidence. These stories all start in the same place with a woman failed by a system that didn't believe her, that didn't protect her, that didn't

see her. No child should ever experience that. And we were babies. She did all of these brave things and came out and spoke about it and he got a year. You never know who that devil is because he's wearing a disguise. Sometimes it's a police uniform. Listen to what happened to her on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If there's a million times more, more digital intelligence than there is biological intelligence. It's hard to imagine humans being in control in that scenario. I'm Walter Isaacson, host of the new podcast, The Builders. Right now, we're living through an AI arms race.

So I went directly to the people shaping that future. Elon Musk, Dario Hamaday, Alex Carr, Faye, Faye-Fei Lee, Palmer Lucky, because I wanted to understand what the most consequential builders believe, what they fear, and where they think, This is all headed. Silicon Valley is always saying the cliche thing about the way to predict the future is to create it. Well, yeah, it's up to us. But when you say us, who's us?

Is it 400 people that you know in Silicon Valley? Is it me down here in New Orleans? They're brilliant, controversial, and they're already shaping the future. The question is, whose imagination do we want to live in? This is going to determine the fate of nations and economies and the families, and the future of humanity. Listen to the builders on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Lisa, we should tell them about our new show.

Oh my God, Lexi. We have a new podcast. It's called Don't Lie to Me. I'm Lexi You Wanto. We're two best friends, 22 years apart, but so close at heart. And I'm Lisa DiGulio, the old one, which means we have wildly different references, occasionally different opinions, and at this point in my 50s, I've lived it all. I'm not gonna get anyone you're fighting.

That is wild. I learned that about you today. Now in my 30s, being the founder of new shoes, good taste is my business, and I've always got something to say. If men were just honest about this, there would be so much more peace in the world. We're gonna talk about dating, relationships, beauty,

getting older, and a little wiser. We're best friends, but we don't always agree. Because you told us how accommodating you are. Obviously, I would do what I think. think I could do to fight the fight, but there's only so much fight I can fight. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Liar. Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I don't really care. Paul denied any involvement in harassing and tormenting Carl. But after seizing his phone,

detectives had access to Paul's search history. Paul's Google searches read like a blueprint for the last year of chaos. Here are just some of his searches read by a voice actor. How can I send a text message and make it look like it came from someone else's phone number? Towing services that don't require you to be there. How to get revenge on someone without them knowing online. Ways you can fuck with someone without police. What are the chances of being caught spoofing?

Then there were the searches that targeted Drew. Paul conducted numerous searches for Quick Trip, the convenience store where Drew worked. He also searched, What will get you fired from Quick Trip? You may recall, someone called the manager at the Quick Trip and complained that Drew had been behaving inappropriately with a minor, which wasn't true. Paul's search history connected the dots. How would someone frame someone for harassing a minor? How to get miners' names?

A list of kids at Bradford High School. There were also clues into how Paul tried to frame Adam. Best ways to get someone arrested. How to set someone up to go to jail. How to set someone up for a crime. With the forensic phone evidence in the spoofing app report, detectives were finally ready to take action. What happened next was captured on police body cams.

Some of the names have been redacted. On January 23, 24, just before 5 p.m., detectives George and Morrow knocked on Paul's door with a team of other officers. No one answered, so Detective George knocked a little harder. The door swung open, but no one had answered it. It hadn't been fully closed. Sheriff's apartment. Okay, sorry, your door bounced open while it's knocking on it. That's okay. clothes on? You got shorts on? I'm like, I don't have clothes.

Paul called down from the top of the stairs. He was, in fact, only wearing pants, no shirt. I'm sorry. That's okay. I, you scared. Why'd if I step in? I'm scared. What's what's going on? When if I step in? I mean, kind of, yeah. Okay, can you come on, Tomoxing? Okay, put clothes on. Oh, you're fine. I don't mind.

I don't have any clothes. I don't mind. You can step on. No, but I don't want to leave without clothes. You're not going anywhere. I'm scared. Who's gone, son? You're not, you're safe. You're not going to hurt me, are you? No, absolutely not.

You know me. I know you. I'm scared. I've never, like, why are you scared, Paul? Okay, because cops are, I've never had this happen. Take it a breath. You're okay. Can I at least put a shirt on?

I'm like, I got to come up there with you, all right? I'm really nervous. And I want to let my mom. But what's, uh, well, what's going on? I'm really, really scared. He was freaking out. And he had a really good way of acting scared. He's a victim.

This is all BS. But it was crocodile tears. After Detective Morrow escorted Paul through the process of getting a shirt on, the two of them came back downstairs and sat down at the kitchen table with Detective George. Okay. So we just wanted to talk about, we don't see if you've had a chance to kind of think of anything, if anything else was... In regards to the whole situation.

Well, I mean, that's why I've been in contact with a lawyer and such. but like what was but more specifically if you've recalled anything about the situation yeah anything you think might be important I mean it's just been been emotional it's been it's been hard because I don't consider myself I mean I know not even do I not consider myself but I know that I'm not the one who initiated all of this you know that started any of this harassment and then you guys showed it with my work caught me off guard I mean I was offended by the fact that you guys kind of came at me in sort of an accusatory type of way. So you remember when I talked to last time I explained you that, number one, we don't,

we don't think you're a bad person. I know you're not a bad person. I know that this just kind of got out of control. I don't think that you meant to truly hurt anybody, but to truly get anyone in trouble. No. Okay? I think maybe you just got a little bit carried away. Now that I've gone through your phone, I want to hear yours. I just, I just, and it, I'm being totally respectful, you guys. Without a lawyer, like, I just, I do not feel comfortable going into the details of that, and I don't say that to be offensive. I don't say that to be rude to any of you guys.

I hope you don't take it that way. I don't at, I don't feel comfortable at, like, being interrogated about it. I mean, even for the phone, I, like, I said I didn't consent right away to a search of the phone. You know, I said, like, you guys would have to get a warrant in order to do so from whatever follow. Which I did. Which we did. Okay. And I found everything you've been doing.

I don't know what to say. Okay. Is there anything that you would like me to know just from your side of things? Like I said, I don't want to comment on that stuff. I don't. Alright, so take a deep breath. Stand up. You're under arrest.

Okay. Where are your shoes? Can I grab them? Yeah, we'll get them for you. You're not going to fight? No, of course, not. I'm just scared. I don't want to be hurt.

You are not going to be hurt. Will I be able to eventually call my mom? Absolutely. Yeah, it's just right now you can't call her offending, but a jail phone. You know how it works in terms of like bail or like if you're not going to have a bail right now. Yep. It's felony offenses. So you're going to see a judge tomorrow or the next day at about 1 o'clock and then he will set some sort of bail for you.

So we'll explain everything a little bit further to you in the car. I'm going to have you face away, separate your feet. I thought that's usually how it works. I thought that someone can bail you out. That one is a felony. ever or not in Kenosha while Detective George stayed with Paul in the house Morrow went outside Paul's mother Joan had just arrived I'm detective Morrow with the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department my partner detective George and a couple

other officers are inside right now okay not right now he's gonna be coming out he is in custody with us okay he's gonna have quite a bit of charges just stay right here with me real quick. He'll be able to call you when he gets down to our jail, okay? Will he be able to be bonded out? Not tonight. Mom, they said they can't bail me out. Just then, Paul came out of the house, in handcuffs with a team of cops all around him. Can I give him a hug? George, George, are you okay if she gives him a hug real quick? Paul's mom briefly wrapped her arms around Paul's shoulders. Then, the police led him away.

Am I ever going to get bailed out? I'm going to do every single thing I'm going to do. I thought he just feel the house. My reflection on his behavior during the arrest is that he wasn't, you know, scared of law enforcement or he was scared of facing the consequences of what he had done. Everything with him was calculated to a T. So I'm sure he had it in the back of his mind. If I'm caught, this is how I'm going to act.

And he did it well. He's very good at the manipulation and putting on some sort of show to make him the victim. Detectives calmly placed Paul in the backseat. They buckled his seatbelt and warmed up the car while they spoke with Paul's mom. I kind of comfort her, explain that he's going to be safe. Here's where he's going. Here's what's happening. Oh, my God.

I'm sorry. I feel like I died. I feel like I died. I feel like I'm good along with him. The mom was so hell-bent that there's no way he could have done this, no way in hell he would do this. Afterwards, everyone was left with the same question.

Why? Why did Paul do this to his best friend? Detectives had a theory about Paul's motive. They asked him about it back when they questioned him at work. Why would you do this? I mean, why are you accusing me if I can I... Are you in love? with you love him?

I mean, well, as a friend, yes. Yeah. Do you have any feelings towards him in any other way? Not, I mean, at one point maybe, like we've both had feelings for each other a little bit, but I mean, like I told you earlier, like never progressed into anything. Do you wish it ever did?

Not, especially with all this drama. No, not. Well, what about like before this drama? At one point maybe, but no, not anymore, not at this time. In so many cases, the question of motive, goes unanswered. But that wouldn't be true in Paul's case, because there was one more piece of evidence

that would soon come to light. Just one thing. And I would tell the same thing to anyone. You have to prove to me you're not recording me. A four-hour recording, where Paul explained what he did and why he did it. I was just like, I'll be damned if they're going to, like, be happy. It was all captured on camera,

And Paul had no idea. I'm not pleading guilty. That's for fucking sure. That's next time on betrayal. If you would like to reach out to the betrayal team or want to tell us your betrayal story, email us at Betraylpod at gmail.com. That is Betrayal P-O-D at Gmail.com.

Or follow us on Instagram at BetrayalPod or me at It's Andrea Gunning. To access our newsletter and additional content, and to connect with the betrayal community, join our substack at Betrayal.substack.com. We're grateful for your support. One way to show support is by subscribing to our show on Apple Podcasts. And don't forget to rate and review.

Five-star reviews go a long way. A big thank you to all of our listeners. Betrayal is a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group and partnership with IHeart Podcasts. The show was executive produced by Nancy Glass, hosted and produced by Nexorkelde. me, Andrea Gunnick.

Written and produced by Carrie Hartman and Caitlin Golden. Our story editor is Monique Laborde. Also produced by Ben Federman. Our production manager is Kristen Mulcuri. Our associate producer is Leah Jablo. Additional support by Curry Richmond and Olivia Hewitt. Our I-Hard team is Ali Perry and Jessica Kreinschuk. Audio editing and voice acting by Tanner Robbins.

Mixing and mastering by Matt Dalvecchio, with additional editing by Dean Welsh. And special thanks to Carl Bryan, Adam Mejia, Matt Rolesi, and their communities. Betrayals theme composed by Oliver Baines, music library provided by Mib Music. And for more podcasts from IHeart, visit the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, for wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Melissa Jeltson, host of the What Happened to Her Podcast. We're kicking off the season with the Sandra Birchmore story, a case the police rode off as a suicide in a snowstorm. Her family never bought it, and the man they suspected wore a badge.

You never know who that devil is because he's wearing in disguise. Sometimes it's a police uniform. And you can get access to all episodes 100% ad-free with an IHeart True Crime Plus subscription exclusively on Apple Podcasts, available only to IHeart True Crime Plus subscribers. So don't wait, head to Apple Podcasts, search for IHeart True Crime Plus, and subscribe today. How do you know that Claude won't become manipulative? This is a constant worry.

And you can actually catch the model thinking, I think X is actually true, but I'm going to tell the user why. I'm Walter Isaacson. On my new podcast, The Builders, I'm going inside the minds of the people shaping our future. Listen to the Builders starting October 13th on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. This short lady comes in who barely sees you over the counter.

Everything about has screamed, I'm not an international banker. That was a clip from our newest hit podcast, Royal Swindle, about two very unlikely scammers. These Australian women charm their way into British High Society, one over England's horse-loving elite, and even met the queen, all while conning people out of their fortunes. From USG audio, Blanchard House and Exactly Right Media, this is Royal Swindle. Listen to Royal Swindle on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Goodbye. From Pushkin Industries, I'm Jonathan Goldstein, and this season on heavyweight.

Jenna wonders why her foster family promised to adopt her, but then never did. And Jade questions the confession her grandmother made just before she died. She said she is the Mrs. Jones in the famous song Me and Mrs. Jones. Listen to heavyweight on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.