Betrayal - The Aftermath | Jenifer's Story

Episode Date: April 28, 2022

Through his social media and texts, Jenifer learns devastating details about her husband’s double life. The arrest was the tip of the iceberg. She was living with and loving a man with addictions, fantasies, and predilections he kept hidden the entire time they were together. She discovers more about Spencer’s crimes and how he justifies his behavior. Eventually Jenifer turns the devastation inward wondering if it’s her shortcomings that caused this. Family and friends rally around her. She realizes to heal and move on she will have to learn everything she can about the man she married.   If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at [e-mail].  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, it's Joel and Matt from How to Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back. Prices, they're still high. And the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress. That's right.

Yeah, each week we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on. And the small moves that make a big difference. Kick off the year with confidence. Listen to How to Money on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Dr. Jesse Mills, host of the Mailroom podcast. Each January, men promise to get stronger, work harder, and fix what's broken. But what if the real work isn't physical at all? I sat down with psychologist Dr. Steve Poulter to unpack shame, anxiety, and the emotional pain men were never taught how to name.

Part of the way through the Valley of Despair is realizing this has happened, and you have to make a choice whether you're going to stay in it or move forward. Our two-part conversation is available now. Listen to the mailroom on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. I'm John Polk. For years, I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement, the ex-gay who married an ex-lesbian, and traveled the world telling my story of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. You might have heard my story, but you've never heard the real story.

John has never been anything that gay. but he really tried hard not to be. Listen to Atonement, the John Polk story on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast discusses sexual assault. Please take care while listening. On December 30th, 2012, Spencer Heron and Jennifer Fasin were married. Let us pray. God of all love and mercy, make this a sacred place, holy by your people.

presence and by the love that we celebrate today. Help us to find in this couple's love and laughter, the love and laughter you share for us. Amen. Jennifer, ever since I saw you walk into that hotel lobby last year, I've known what I'm supposed to do with the rest of my life. I feel beyond honored to know you, to love you, and to accept the most privilege of all things being your husband. Nearly six years later, on August 16, 2018, Perrin was indicted on five counts of sexual assault by a teacher on school property in Cobb County, Georgia. You will never have to question my love or devotion to you because there's nothing else that I want to spend my time doing except showing you those things. I am so in love with you.

Nearly nine months later, on April 8, 2019, Spencer was indicted for sexually assaulting the same student in a hotel in Turkey, Georgia. Spencer told the victim to stay down in an effort to hide her while driving her from Kelle High School to a hotel. Having witnessed the covenant that you have made today and celebrated the love that you share, it is my privilege to pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss. I'm Andrea Gunning, and this is betrayal. Episode 2, The Aftermath.

The judge set a $55,000 cash bond. So we couldn't get him out if we tried. Couldn't put the house up or anything like that. $55,000 is a lot of money. So he stayed in jail. It was almost like a wake. Almost like someone had died because people just kept coming over. In the days after the news broke,

Jennifer and Spencer's friend group were in disbelief. and rallied around her. Her friend Danielle was one of the first people Jennifer reached out to. And upon hearing the news, Danielle drove straight to Jennifer's house. Oh, what the fuck? I couldn't wrap my head around there being any truth to it. All I could do was just be there for her and let her know that she had a huge community who was not going to let her down.

Jen's neighbor Jill knew Spence, and she just couldn't process it. I was like, no, no, no, no. Nope. It was like her calling me and speaking to me. in Mandarin because I'm just like, I don't know what you're saying to me right now. Spence's mugshot was all over the news, not just in Ackworth, but nationally and internationally. There was no hiding it. Jennifer had to deal with the shame of what her husband had done. The victim told investigators that during the summer of 2016, Spencer met with her at school

several times for a non-existent school club meeting. She said that he would text her and tell her when he would be at the school and where to find him. That would give her a reason to be at Kelle High School. Spencer began groping the victim on several different occasions, and his behavior continued into the fall semester. Law enforcement also learned that in 2017, Spencer started having sexual relations with the student inside the school on multiple occasions. She was a sophomore. She provided some devastating details that were contained in the criminal warrant. As a warning, some of them are difficult to hear.

For example, when she began crying because it hurt, Spencer told her to be quiet. Also, he insisted that he not used protection because he was quote-unquote fixed. You know, it was sickening to know that the accusation was coming from someone the same age as his youngest. That was really difficult for us.

How do you wrap your head around that? And there were plenty of people who couldn't. Channel 2's Lauren Posen, talk to one of his former students tonight. She's live outside the Cobb County Jail with what she learned. People we spoke with are skeptical of the charges. Because you don't always know what's the truth is. Two former students who did not want to go on camera told me Heron was a great coach and teacher.

The other student added Heron was a professional and kind-hearted. She told me she does not believe the allegations are true. But Jennifer knew they were true. Spencer had admitted it. Now she was confronted with something else. Two days after Spencer's arrest, Jennifer uncovered a dark, secret life her husband had been living. A trove of her husband's lovers, sex partners, and prostitutes

that dated back to the beginning of their marriage and beyond. He kept everything. Photos, videos, emails, and text exchanges between him and at least 50 other women littered his computer. She had gotten into his email. to reset the password for his Facebook, and that's when she was able to shut down his social media. She was just looking to protect him, protect him, protect the family.

But once she logged in his email, it was over, and there's just no going back. I don't think that anybody expected for her to find what she found. I call it his trophy case. It was an entire catalog of emails and correspondence with women years and years and years. I mean, he saved everything. He saved the rejection emails. He saved every photo. He backed up the photos that he got from his Facebook.

He was not who we thought he was. She told us that she was going to file for divorce. Spence was literally living a double life. On one hand, he's living as the perfect, doting, loving husband, great father, teacher of the year, Air Force Band. He was even an Eagle Scout. Jennifer's sister Chrissy was the voice of reason and probably understood Jennifer better than anyone. She had discovered all of the other women and the emails, and I think she was obsessed about that because it was easier than actually being sad about it. She only showed me

one thing because I just didn't want to see it. I didn't need to see it, but I think she had to because it was Spencer. You still don't believe it. Jennifer and Spence got married on December 30th, 2012. She found photos of 14 different women, many of them nude, within the first year of their marriage. There were two that I knew. One is someone who became friends of ours through the wine bar. Her and her husband would come in pretty regularly. The wine bar. It was a big part of Jennifer and Spence's life. It had been a dream of Jennifer's to own one. Spence and I talked about opening a coffee shop when we first moved here, because Eckworth has this small town feel,

and it's got this great main street. It somehow evolved into a wine bar, which we opened and had for two years. This was a place where the neighborhood really came together. All we had to do was open up the doors, and the neighborhood just came in, and they introduced themselves, and they hung out, and we all just became friends in this really great community.

Having that wine bar was a way to play hostess to the neighborhood. And it turns out it was also a sexual playground for Spencer, who found new prospects, seduced women, and even had sex. Here I think we just have this great bar. And Spence was basically using it as his brothel. I have seen messages where he says, wow, that blowjob you gave me in the bathroom last night was amazing. Or photos of somebody in the bathroom,

taking a picture of herself and sending it to him. He used to put a sign on the door, apparently, that said back in five minutes or back in ten minutes and then would have sex. in there. Jennifer's mother Gail just couldn't wrap her head around the audacity. It's like in my business too. I mean

is there no place sacred? Unbelievable. It's absolutely unbelievable. But there were dozens, and he met them in all kinds of ways. Jennifer discovered evidence of a year-long affair with a woman from his running club.

And then another one was in the military with him. They were all very different from who Jennifer is. It's a Spencer juggled multiple conquests at the same time. The affairs he was having with the women overlapped, and he stayed in touch with them through sordid text exchanges. It's fair to assume that people behave differently with secret lovers during affairs than they might with their own spouses, but reading his text was like reading a novel.

He was a fictional character. The messages showed that Spencer had secret fetishes. Just a warning, the texts are explicit, and maybe the most of the most of the same. alarming part is realizing that your own partner wrote them. And that's what Jen faced when she discovered these text messages. Note, all of the following were sent to adult women. Will you actually punch me this time? I'm not fucking around. I need you to hurt me. That's the point. The entire point. Was he into pain? Or was it the rush? Jennifer had no idea because she had no clue that he like to be hit. Spencer also liked his lovers to refer to him as Daddy. Send Daddy a picture was a

frequent request. In his fantasy life, Jennifer noticed he seemed to enjoy a playful and sometimes not so playful dominating persona. There were other texts where Spencer was in touch with former students. Here he keeps trying to persuade one of them to get together. I remember you being in class. You're always so much fun and so sweet. I hope you could tell that I was always super fond of you. We have a cool connection. You're gorgeous. Fact. We need to hang out. I can't wait. I dig you. Eventually, the young woman asks, how are you and your wife, though? Okay, I guess. You know how relationships are. Can you see how I might have a crush on you? You know how relationships are.

He barely acknowledges the question and brings it back to the conversation he really wanted to have. In another exchange, he mentions withholding sex from Jennifer. When I know that we're going to meet, I like depriving myself. So I avoid sex with her, if it even comes up. And to another, he references 10. attention at home for more excitement. By the way, Jen and I are fighting right now. So I am in an even freakier and more amped up mood to test the waters. And then there was this.

I am a single man for the next six days if you want to hook up. I'm still very interested. That's a text Spencer sent when Jennifer was traveling for work. But the person Jennifer saw when she returned was someone happy to see her. He'll be jumping up, you know, saying, hi, wife, welcome home. It's almost like an outer body experience because you can't prepare yourself for something like that, especially when it's the last thing you expect to happen. New goals and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever.

I am Matt and I'm Joel. We are from the how to money podcast. And every week we help you to see. spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to How to Money on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Dr. Priyankowali. And I'm Hurricane DeBolu.

It's a new year. And on the podcast's health stuff, we're resetting the way we talk about our health. Which means being honest about what we know, what we don't know, and how messy it can I like to sleep in late and sleep early. Is there a chronotype for that or am I just depressed? We talk to experts who share real experiences and insight. You just really need to find where it is that you can have an impact in your own life and just start doing that. We break down the topics you want to know more about. Sleep, stress, mental health and how the world around us affects our overall health. We talk about all the ways to keep your body in mind. We talk about all the ways to keep your body in mind, inside and out, healthy.

We human beings, all we want is connection. We just want to connect with each other. Health stuff is about learning, laughing, and feeling a little less alone. Listen on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A new year doesn't mean erasing who you were. It means honoring what you've survived and choosing how you want to grow. It means giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding and knowing that it's okay to ask for help. I'm Mike Dolorotcha, host of sacred lessons. This podcast is a space

for men to talk openly about mental health, grief, relationships, and the patterns we inherit, but don't have to repeat. Here, we slow down, we listen, we learn how vulnerability becomes strength and how healing happens in community, not in isolation. If you're ready to let go of what no longer serves you and step into the year with clarity, compassion, and purpose. Sacred Lessons is your companion on your healing journey. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Delo Rocha on America's number one podcast network, IHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike Delo Rocha and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. Jennifer needed to get away from it all.

So she went to stay with her sister in L.A. During the time that she stayed with me, she went from angry to really, really sad. She started thinking it was because of her that she wasn't enough. And I didn't cry when she was here, but as soon as she left, I cried, I think, for two days straight, because she hated herself. You know, like, we did have plans to go and meet some friends, but she didn't want to go because she didn't want people to think she was a loser, and a loser turned into ugly, a loser turned into fat. she's none of those things. Her self-esteem, I mean, the saddest part is the effect it had, no matter how many times you say that it wasn't her fault,

she couldn't hear it. It was so sad. Just to watch someone who was so beautiful and vibrant and confident and smart turn into someone so small or thought that they were so small. and unlovable. Christy remembered something from a past conversation she had with Spencer at a dinner party. I had asked Spence and his friend, I said, you know, do you guys ever get nervous with the young girls these days? And Spencer had this look on his face because he was being thoughtful about it.

And Spence said, well, I never meet any of my students alone. and if I do, I always have the door open. But there was a pause there that made me think. It didn't make me pause because I thought he had done something, but it made me pause because I thought he wasn't saying something he wanted to say. And I'm not going to lie, that was the first time that I thought, St. Spence. Spence never made bail,

and although all of his friends and family knew that he was incarcerated for sexual assault with a student, he was determined to stay in touch and make amends however he could. Jennifer mentioned that he wanted to write me an email. He wants us all to love him. He has this need for everyone to love him. He wants to send emails and talk about how he's found God and all of this stuff. And I was like, don't bother.

It's never going to happen. He's insane. Nothing he says is true. Jennifer returned home to Ackworth to pick up the pieces. The next casualty of Spencer's crimes, Jennifer's day-to-day life. Spencer's income, all that household money was lost. On top of that, her work was suffering from a lack of sleep and horrible stress. She had spent a lifetime building a reputation as a dependable and highly skilled producer.

But coworkers could see that she was distracted. Finally, there would be the cost of a divorce attorney. And eventually, she had to see. sell her home. The house that Jen and Spence bought together represented much more than their marriage. Jen's sister understood it symbolized something greater. Stability. Growing up, after my parents divorced, we moved around a lot. When we were younger, my sister, Jennifer John and I, my brother John, we were all very close, but we also were always going into different schools, 12 different schools before eighth grade. It was kind of just needing to survive. For Jennifer, she always

wanted a home. She wanted to stay in one place. She wanted a house. She wanted the white picket fence because we didn't have that. You can't hide from the reality when those bills are due. Here I have a mortgage on a home we just bought together. As hard as I tried, I can't make ends meet. Jennifer was broke and practically homeless. Her friends offered up their basement apartment rent-free, and she accepted. It was humiliating. Like she was starting over.

All over. And then there was Spence. She was done with him. He was behind bars, but he had nothing. Even after everything that he had done to her, she couldn't live with the thought of him not having toothpaste or deodorant. She was not that kind of person. He's still a human being.

and he at the time is my husband. I'd put money in his commissary account. But it was never a lot. It was like maybe $20 here and there. New year, new goals, and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt. And I'm Joel.

We are from the How to Money podcast. And every week we help you to spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to How to Money on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Dr. Priyankowali.

And I'm Hurricane de Bolu. It's a new year. And on the podcast, health stuff, we're resetting the way we talk about our health. Which means being honest about what we know, what we don't know, and how messy it can all be. I like to sleep in late and sleep early. Is there a chronotype for that or am I just depressed? We talk to experts who share real experiences and insight.

You just really need to find where it is that you can have an impact in your own life and to start doing that. We break down the topics you want to know more about. Sleep, stress, mental health and how the world around us affects our overall health. We talk about all the ways to keep your body in mind, inside and out, healthy. We human beings, all we want is connection. We just want to connect with each other. Health stuff is about learning, laughing, and feeling a little less alone.

Listen on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every January, we're encouraged to start over. But what if this year is about slowing down and learning how to understand ourselves more deeply? What if this year is about giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding? and knowing that it's okay to ask for help. I'm Mike Delarocha, host of Sacred Lessons. This is a podcast for men navigating stress, emotional health, fatherhood, identity, and the unspoken pressures were taught to carry alone.

We talk honestly about mental health, about healing generational wounds, and about learning how to show up with more presence and care. If you want a healthier relationship with yourself and the people you love, then Sacred Lessons is the podcast for you. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Dolorotcha on America's number one podcast network, IHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike Delocha and start listening on the free IHeart radio app today. As Spence's sentencing date got closer, he appealed to his friends and family, which included Jen's close social circle, asking them to write letters on his behalf.

He asked Jennifer to pass a message onto the group. Here's an excerpt from the letter. Dear villagers, I'm a man who comes to you with a humble heart and zero pride for all of the obvious reasons. I am not asking for your forgiveness because I'm not there yet, and I don't deserve that anyway. I am asking for your help, however.

Why am I doing this? It's because I am fighting for my life. It's because I have clearly never been in such a place of need, but I am now. What I did to Jennifer and how I treated our marriage is something that I can not only never fix, but also something I cannot ever apologize enough for doing. I will never be able to give back to her the things that I have taken. My only hope is that she moves on from this life bomb that I dropped on her as soon as she possibly can. I am coming to you because despite how horrible I was to Jennifer, I hope and pray that you don't

see me as the person, the media, and my charges are making me out to be. I hope that the Spencer you know or knew is not that person that has been described. For my upcoming arraignment hearing, I'm asking people who know me to consider writing a character reference letter to be given to my judge and the DA. Obviously, I'm wanting to get out of jail as soon as possible. You all know, of course, that the three kids are all in college, and I am desperate to get out so that I can support them in every way, emotionally, spiritually, parentally, and financially. What it will do for my case, I believe, will be so very important. I wish you all the very best, and thank you for being such an incredible friend to Jennifer.

Much love. Thanks. Spencer. He brings up the kids. That is when my blood started to boil. That is his first thing that he tried using those kids. He says, I hope you remember the person that you know and not the one that the media is making me out to be. Well, he is the person. The media is making him out to be. It's all true.

Several people did write letters of support for Spencer, but none of them were the villagers. Sentencing Day came without much warning. I had planned to go and sit in the back. Jill planned to go with me and says she would hold my hand, but I wanted to go, not as support for him, but just to witness. everything and hear it for myself. Unfortunately, the court date came up all of a sudden, and there wasn't any preparation for it. Spencer pled guilty to five counts of sexual assault by a teacher. For each count, he was sentenced to 20 years, with five years to be served in confinement,

serving them concurrently. He was going to state prison. I'm pretty sure that the evidence was stacked way, way against him. As soon as it was over, he called me. He said, he asked to say something to the victim's parents. And the mom said, we don't want to hear anything you have to say. You know, he went into all of this thinking,

I am an Eagle Scout. I'm in the Air Force Reserves. I'm a school. teacher. I was teacher of the year. I'm a great dad. Look at these people that are speaking on my behalf. And it didn't work. He couldn't talk his way out of it this time. There was one very small consolation. Spencer could be sentenced under the first offender statute. The intent of the law was to give first-time offenders a chance to learn from their mistake and move on with their lives without the burden of a conviction. The benefit is that after the 20 years, everything will be wiped off his record.

So he will not be considered a felon anymore. He can vote again. And the slate is wiped clean. For him, having that title of first offender was like, you know, a notch on his belt. I think. But remember how he took the student into a hotel? That was not in Cobb County, but in Cherokee County. A different jurisdiction. Spencer was indicted for that charge several months later on July 5th, 2019. After he'd been sent to prison, they woke him up in the middle of the night to transport him from Wilcox Prison,

back up to Cherokee County to have a hearing for. that case. He was really disappointed because he didn't think that they were going to move forward with that. So just by picking a hotel that happened to be in another county, he got another 20-year sentence. For Cherokee County's district attorney, Spencer Hearn wasn't a first-time offender. He was now a repeat offender, and he would no longer qualify for first offender status. Cherokee County gave him the same sentence also to run concurrently. Upon release, Spencer Heron will have to register as a sex offender. Cobb County District Attorney Flynn Brody Jr.

As a sexual predator, that is a scarlet letter for the rest of your life. It'll limit the type of jobs he can have. It'll limit the places that they can live. They'll have to report everywhere they go. Anytime they cross state lines, they have to report that their sexual predator in that particular state. It really limits them as far as their future is concerned, and rightfully so, because we know they're a predator and they have to be controlled.

The court proceedings, lengthy apology letters from Spencer, they were all distractions. Most days after the arrest, Jennifer was alone with her thoughts. She was simmering in the sadness, fury, and trauma of this massive betrayal. How did she get here? A successful, confident, secure woman, everything was now just fighting to get through every day. None of this had anything to do with her. She had not done anything wrong at all. And this horrible thing happened to her.

Jen needed to put all the pieces together. She needed to make sense of it all. Jennifer was tormented. By the spends she didn't know. By the women that were involved with him. Especially the high school school. didn't. But she didn't want to sit at home with her trauma, worried under the covers hiding from the world. So she decided to confront it,

to go out and meet the other people who have been impacted by Spencer. Instead of hiding, she wanted to know everything about who she married and what he had done. For the past 11 years, Jennifer had been living in a sea of lies. Now, she wanted the truth. That would be the start. of her healing. On the next episode of Betrayal, Jennifer meets with Spencer's most vulnerable victim, his former student.

The young woman in her 20s now is breaking her silence. I'm shaking. Yeah, me too. If you'd like to reach out to the Betrayal team, email us at Betrayalpod at gmail.com. That's Betrayal P-O-D at Gmail.com. 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 and Jennifer Fasin, hosted and produced by me, Andrea Gunning, written and produced by Carrie Hartman, also produced by Ben Federman. Our IHeart team is Ali Perry and Jessica Kreins.

Special thanks to voice actor Todd Gans, sound editing and mixing done by Matt DeVecchio, the Trails theme was composed by Oliver Baines, music library provided by mind music, And for more podcasts from IHeart, visit the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Joel and Matt from HowTo Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back. Prices that are still high and the economy is all over the place.

But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress. That's right. Yeah, each week we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on, and the small moves that make a big difference. Kick off the year with confidence, listen to How to Money on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Dr. Jesse Mills, host of the Mailroom podcast.

Each January, men promise to get stronger, work harder, and fix what's broken? But what if the real work isn't physical at all? I sat down with psychologist Dr. Steve Poulter to unpack shame, anxiety, and the emotional pain men were never taught how to name. Part of the way through the Valley of Despair is realizing this, have happened and you have to make a choice whether you're going to stay in it or move forward. Our two-part conversation is available now. Listen to the mailroom on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

favorite shows. I'm John Polk. For years, I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement, the ex-gay who married an ex-lesbian and traveled the world telling my story of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. You might have heard my story, but you've never heard. heard the real story. John has never been anything but gay, but he really tried hard not to be. Listen to Atonement, the John Polk story on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.