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Probable Cause | EP 3 | The Confidante

Betrayal

Hosted by Andrea Gunning

46m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

This episode covers the escalation of a months-long harassment campaign against Carl and his boyfriend Drew, which ultimately culminated in the wrongful arrest of Carl's ex-boyfriend Adam. Throughout late 2023, Carl received hundreds of harassing texts, spoofed calls, and fake emergencies, including a harrowing incident where law enforcement was dispatched to his home for a fake weapons call. Believing Adam was behind the relentless psychological torture, Carl compiled an extensive spreadsheet and shared voicemails with the police. Meanwhile, the actual perpetrator, Carl's best friend Paul Augustine, posed as a supportive victim and even filed his own false police report. Armed with circumstantial evidence like a cherished Chicago Cubs hat found during a search warrant, detectives arrested Adam for felony stalking, leaving Paul free to celebrate with Carl while hiding his guilt.

  • Callers using spoofing apps typically dial non-emergency dispatch numbers rather than 911 because emergency services successfully screen for fake phone numbers. 37:06
  • Documenting extensive harassment in a detailed timeline spreadsheet can successfully convince law enforcement to elevate a civil complaint into a criminal investigation. 15:16
  • Cooperating fully with police during an interrogation does not prevent an innocent suspect from being arrested based on misleading circumstantial evidence. 47:23
  • True stalkers often mimic victimhood by filing their own police reports and making distress calls to completely divert suspicion away from themselves. 5:43

Chapters

  1. 0:00
    Show Introduction

    Hosts introduce the podcast and set the stage for the episode.

  2. 3:25
    Background of the Harassment Campaign

    The host outlines the escalating harassment against Carl, Drew, and Paul, setting the stage for the investigation.

  3. 5:43
    Paul’s Threats and the Rise of Spoof Calls

    Paul’s harassing texts and spoofed phone calls intensify, causing Carl and Drew to fear for their safety.

  4. 14:51
    Law Enforcement’s Initial Response and Evidence Gathering

    Carl and Drew present a detailed spreadsheet of harassment to local police, prompting a more serious investigation.

  5. 33:53
    Swatting Incident and Its Consequences

    A false emergency call leads to a dangerous SWAT response at Carl’s home, highlighting the severity of the threat.

  6. 39:03
    Detective George’s Investigation and the Search Warrant

    Detective George subpoenas spoofing companies, finds evidence linking Adam, and obtains a search warrant for his residence.

  7. 47:31
    Adam’s Interrogation and the Misidentification of the Perpetrator

    During questioning, Adam denies involvement, but police mistakenly arrest him for stalking while the real culprit remains free.

  8. 50:17
    Paul’s Arrest and the Revelation of the True Harasser

    Paul is finally apprehended, and the narrative confirms he was the true harasser behind the threats and spoof calls.

  9. 52:18
    Closing Remarks and Listener Call‑to‑Action

    The host concludes with a call for listeners to share their stories and provides contact information and episode credits.

  10. 56:45
    Episode Disclaimer

    The host confirms the podcast is a human‑produced iHeart show.

Highlights

  • 4:07

    The Real Perpetrator Is Revealedinsight

    The host reveals that Carl's best friend, Paul Augustine, was the mastermind behind the entire harassment campaign, intentionally framing Carl's ex-boyfriend Adam.

  • 15:04

    A Comprehensive Evidence Spreadsheetstrategy

    Carl creates a detailed spreadsheet logging hundreds of harassing texts and phone calls, which finally convinces Kenosha County Deputy Mike Roers that the harassment is legitimate stalking.

  • 23:14

    Physical Toll of Stalkingdata

    The prolonged stress causes Carl to regain nearly half of the 150 pounds he had previously lost after undergoing gastric bypass surgery.

  • 31:13

    The Dangerous Swatting Incidentstory

    The perpetrator calls dispatch pretending to be Carl and claims his boyfriend Drew has a knife, prompting multiple armed squad cars to rush to the apartment.

  • 37:06

    Non-Emergency Dispatch Exploitationinsight

    Deputy Roors realizes that the harasser specifically used non-emergency lines for over 30 fake calls because 911 dispatch successfully screens out spoofed numbers.

  • 45:13

    The Cubs Hat Discoverystory

    Detectives executing a search warrant at Adam's home find a cherished Chicago Cubs hat that Carl previously claimed only Adam possessed, sealing the false case against him.

  • 47:23

    Wrongful Arrest for Stalkingdata

    Despite maintaining his innocence and cooperating fully during questioning, Adam is formally arrested and booked into jail for felony stalking.

  • 50:16

    The Culprit Celebrates the Arreststory

    Upon learning of Adam's arrest while hanging out at Carl's apartment, the real culprit Paul barely conceals his excitement and joins in celebrating.

Quotes

  • “The real person behind the harassment? He was someone who'd been there all along, serving as a shoulder to cry on and doing everything he could to place the blame on Adam.”
    Andrea Gunning · 3:54
  • “When it was all laid out in Carl's spreadsheet, you could see all of the phone calls and texts for what they were, a pattern of abuse.”
    Andrea Gunning · 14:36
  • “False reporting of emergencies is known as swatting, as in calling a SWAT team, and it's considered a serious crime.”
    Andrea Gunning · 32:58
  • “The hat was buried in storage. He just forgot he had it.”
    Andrea Gunning · 46:58
  • “The day that text came in, Carl told Paul he needed to go to the police.”
    Andrea Gunning · 6:06
  • Southern New Hampshire University 0:13–0:58
  • OnePay 1:03–1:53
  • Talkiatry 19:19–20:40
  • Saber Smart Pepper Spray 21:50–22:25
  • OnePay 54:01–54:47
  • OnDeck 54:47–55:12
  • Gernavix 55:29–56:15
  • Staples 56:15–56:39

About this episode

Sheriffs take on Carl’s case as the harassment reaches new heights. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing us at [email protected] mailto:[email protected] and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod https://www.instagram.com/betrayalpod/ and @glasspodcasts https://www.instagram.com/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. https://988lifeline.org/ 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 https://www.thehotline.org/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=domestic_violence. 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 https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

0:00
46:41

9,006 words · 8 speakers

Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

Topics

  • Kenosha
  • United Healthcare
  • Kenosha County Sheriff's Office
  • Coastal Community Bank
  • Lead Bank
  • Wauwatosha PD

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