EP 23 - Angelique Pt. 2

Summary

Betrayal: Weekly – Episode 23: Angelique Pt. 2

Release Date: December 26, 2024
Hosted by Andrea Gunning

---

Introduction

In the gripping second part of Angelique's story, Betrayal: Weekly delves deeper into her harrowing experience of surviving an attempted murder aimed at stealing her unborn child. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this episode unpacks the complexities of trust, trauma, and resilience as Angelique navigates the aftermath of betrayal by someone she once trusted deeply.

---

The Attempted Murder and Immediate Aftermath

At the heart of this episode is Angelique Robletto's terrifying encounter with Cassandra, a friend whose sinister intentions shattered Angelique's life.

Angelique's Discovery
At [03:54], Angelique recounts the moment of realization:

"I just start screaming."
Angelique discovers two large butcher knives in Cassandra's diaper bag, signaling that the gifts once perceived as tokens of friendship were, in fact, tools of betrayal.

Police Response
The response from law enforcement was less than supportive. At [06:08], Angelique shares her frustration:

"They were laughing. They were joking. Oh, are you sure this didn't happen?"
Despite her clear evidence and suspicions, the police were not convinced, attributing the incident to a possible marijuana-related accident rather than an attempted murder.

---

Taking Matters into Her Own Hands

Feeling dismissed by the authorities, Angelique decides to investigate on her own, driven by a determination to uncover the truth.

Independent Investigation
At [07:26], Angelique explains her proactive approach:

"I watched way too much SVU. I know what to do. That's how I felt."
Her research leads her to uncover alarming information about Cassandra's past, including connections to dangerous individuals and potential gang involvement.

Breaking Evidence
With the help of a friend working at the hospital, Angelique discovers that Cassandra was not pregnant, undermining her alibi. At [08:47], Angelique states:

"She actually saw the test that she took at the hospital, and they were able to confirm that she was not pregnant."
This revelation further solidifies Angelique's belief that Cassandra intended to harm her and steal her baby.

---

The Legal Struggle

Angelique faces significant challenges in the legal system, where procedural missteps threaten to invalidate her case against Cassandra.

Plea Bargain Offer
At [20:10], Angelique discusses the plea bargain presented to her:

"The state offered eight years in a psychiatric hospital."
The district attorney's office suggested charges of attempted first-degree murder, arson, and burglary, painting Cassandra as mentally ill and shifting some blame onto her intentions.

Impact Statement and Closure
During the sentencing hearing at [21:16], Angelique conveys her decision to forgive Cassandra:

"I don't want to live my life hating you. I don't want to have hate in my heart."
Cassandra's lack of remorse during this interaction leaves Angelique feeling unresolved, highlighting the emotional toll of the legal process.

---

Revisiting the Case and Uncovering New Truths

Years after the initial sentencing, Angelique reopens her investigation, uncovering discrepancies in the official narrative.

Re-examining Evidence
At [23:22], Angelique reflects on her decision to revisit the case:

"I felt like I was in a better state of mind. I was older. I feel like I'm ready to start digging."
She uncovers Cassandara's taped confession, revealing a more elaborate and premeditated plan involving gang activities and fetal abduction, which starkly contrasts the prosecution's portrayal of Cassandra's motives.

Uncovering Gang Connections
At [25:29], Angelique exposes a new layer to the betrayal:

"She was his, like, his possession, basically. And she had to do what he told her to do."
This revelation suggests that Cassandra was part of a larger criminal operation, aiming to steal Angelique's baby for profit, thereby adding depth to the understanding of her motivations.

---

Healing and Advocacy

Despite the unresolved elements of her case, Angelique finds a path toward healing and uses her experience to advocate for others.

Personal Healing
At [33:17], Angelique shares a pivotal moment of acceptance:

"I realized, it's just a house. That's all it is. It's just a house that something bad happened to me in. But I'm here, I'm alive, I'm okay, and I have my son."
This realization marks a significant step in her healing process, allowing her to reclaim her life and focus on her family.

Advocacy and Surrogacy
Angelique becomes an advocate against fetal abduction, aiming to raise awareness and support other victims. Additionally, she takes a profound step by becoming a surrogate, which helps her heal by allowing another mother to experience the joys of pregnancy and motherhood.

Advocacy Statement
At [35:06], Angelique states her motivation:

"I feel like it's an opportunity for me to be a voice for not myself and my son, but also for the mothers that are not here that didn't get to survive this crime."
Her dedication to advocacy underscores her resilience and commitment to preventing similar tragedies.

---

Conclusion

Betrayal: Weekly – Episode 23: Angelique Pt. 2 offers a poignant exploration of betrayal, trauma, and the arduous journey toward healing. Through Angelique's story, listeners witness the profound impact of broken trust and the strength required to overcome such adversity. Angelique's transformation from a victim seeking justice to a healer and advocate serves as an inspiring testament to human resilience.

---

Notable Quotes

• Angelique:
  "I just start screaming." [03:54]
  "They were laughing. They were joking. Oh, are you sure this didn't happen?" [06:08]
  "I think when people think of survivors... it's quite the opposite. We go into this moment that we need to figure out what happened." [07:26]
  "She was going to come back and follow through with the plan." [07:00]
  "I don't think I can live my life that way. I forgive you because you're mentally ill." [21:16]
  "It's okay to be naive. It's natural. It's who we are." [35:52]

• Andrea Gunning:
  "What had been a potential arson was now an attempted murder investigation." [05:44]
  "She backed away from the bag, trembling." [04:19]
  "She admitted that she'd planned to murder Angelique in order to steal her baby." [17:24]

---

Acknowledgments

Betrayal: Weekly is produced by Glass Podcasts in partnership with iHeartPodcasts. Special thanks to the entire production team for bringing Angelique's powerful story to light.

---

Stay Connected:
To share your own betrayal story or reach out to the Betrayal team, visit betrayalpodmail.com. Subscribe to Betrayal on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast platform and leave a rating to support the show.

Transcript

[Narrator]

The dating app fatigue is real. Mindless swiping, meaningless DMs and an overwhelming amount of likes have made us feel more disconnected than ever. While most dating apps are all about pursuing someone else, there's one that's carved out of space for you to find yourself. Download F eeld F E E L D on F eeld, an app where curious people come to connect. You have the breathing room to explore your own desires and go on a journey wherein the person you discover is yourself. In fact, 62% of field members evolve their sexuality, interests and desires within their first year on the app. You have the freedom to explore who you are and what you like in ways you haven't imagined. As part of this community, you'll quickly find that people regularly practice honesty and openness. See any field bio Download Field F e e L D on the App Store or Google Play PK Every day our world gets a little more connected, but a little further apart. But then there are moments that remind us to be more human.

[Angelique]

Thank you for calling Amica Insurance. Hey, I was just in an accident. Don't worry, we'll get you taken care of.

[Narrator]

At Ameca, we understand that looking out for each other isn't new or groundbreaking. It's human. Amica Empathy is our best policy. Hey guys, we want to tell you about Peloton. Peloton has a variety that allows me to adapt to any season of life and keep me coming back through my childhood's growth, changing interests, potential injuries and recoveries, or even just a busy season. That's right. Peloton has what you need to keep you on track to your goals no matter what season of life you're in. You're right, Anders.

[Andrea Gunning]

Peloton has a variety of challenging classes.

[Narrator]

That you can lean on and fit into your schedule. Whether you're a new parent, traveling for the holiday, training for something big, or just busy.

[Andrea Gunning]

From four week strength building classes to.

[Narrator]

Running, cycling and everything in between, Peloton.

[Andrea Gunning]

Can adapt to any goal and need.

[Narrator]

In this season of your life.

[Andrea Gunning]

You could challenge yourself anywhere with Peloton's All Access membership. Like at home, on your bike, tread and row, or take your favorite classes on the go and at the gym. With the app they have 10 minute hikes, 15 minute hit rides, 45 minute strength classes. No matter the amount of time you need, Peloton has the perfect class for you to sweat in. Find your push. Find your power with [e-mail].

[Angelique]

He took the police report and he gave it to me and he said, one day, when you're ready, you should read this. There's some stuff in here that I don't think you know. It's actually diabolical.

[Andrea Gunning]

I'm Andrea Gunning, and this is Betrayal, A show about the people we trust the most and the deceptions that change everything. When Angelique Robletto was 17, she found out she was pregnant. She decided that this baby would be her second chance. She got clean from drugs and made a new friend, another pregnant teenager named Cassandra. But one day, a casual hangout with Cassandra took a sinister turn. Angelique had a gut feeling that something was wrong, but she didn't know what it was. After a fire started, Cassandra was taken away by paramedics, and Angelique was left to explain the situation to her parents and law enforcement. She suspected that Cassandra started the fire and that the proof was in her friend's bag.

[Angelique]

I take the diaper bag, and I keep explaining to them. She said she had this present for me. Like, the explanation is in this bag. And as I'm doing that, I put the bag on the counter. I reach my hand in the bag, and I feel these two metal objects. And when I lift them and pull them out, they're two large butcher knives. And I drop them on the counter, and I just start screaming.

[Andrea Gunning]

She backed away from the bag, trembling. The cops stepped in, and they come.

[Angelique]

And pull out more they found, like, scissors, disinfectant, alcohol.

[Andrea Gunning]

The items painted a dark picture of what Cassandra might have been planning that night. And Angelique realized the gifts she'd been given weren't for her at all.

[Angelique]

Everything that she gave me was one of everything. To take my son, to make sure my son had a newborn diaper. To make sure my son had a baby onesie. A receding blanket to wrap him in a blanket so he didn't get cold. A carrier to carry my baby out with. She had one of everything. To take my child and to leave that house.

[Andrea Gunning]

It all finally clicked for Angelique. Cassandra had been planning to stab her and run away with her baby.

[Angelique]

I just remember sitting on the couch, staring at a wall, and I just kept repeating the same thing over and over and over again. It was like a trance. I told you she was gonna kill me. I told you she was gonna kill me. I told you she was gonna kill me. My mom said that I sat there for hours.

[Andrea Gunning]

The rest of that night was a blur. She was in shock. She remembers the cops taping off the scene.

[Angelique]

They had blocked both of my streets off so that nobody can get in nobody can get out.

[Andrea Gunning]

What had been a potential arson was.

[Angelique]

Now an attempted murder investigation.

[Andrea Gunning]

Later that night, a police investigator came to speak with Angelique.

[Angelique]

When the detective comes in, me and her very much know each other. Because of my past, I've been arrested by her at least once. It's a small town that she knew me by name. Hi, Angelique.

[Andrea Gunning]

You know, she was surprised by how the cops spoke to her.

[Angelique]

They were laughing. They were joking. Oh, are you sure this didn't happen? And she says, you guys are smoking marijuana in your room. You know, it's no shocker because Angelique has done things in the past, but it wasn't a joking situation.

[Andrea Gunning]

They hadn't been smoking weed. Angelique knew what happened. She just couldn't prove it to the cops.

[Angelique]

They had me write it down, and then that was it for the night. They just did their investigation and they left. So the next morning comes, I call them, and they don't have any news. They know that she left the hospital and she's not there anymore. They know that for sure. And I'm like, okay, well, what are you guys going to do? Well, we're trying to find her.

[Andrea Gunning]

She was afraid Cassandra might come back and follow through with the plan.

[Angelique]

This lady literally came to my house with butcher knife and tried to kill me.

[Andrea Gunning]

But the cops weren't necessarily convinced.

[Angelique]

Well, we can't prove that. We can't say that that's what happened. We don't know if that's what happened.

[Andrea Gunning]

She didn't feel like they were taking her seriously. And now Cassandra was out of the hospital roaming free. Angelique decided to take matters into her own hands.

[Angelique]

I think when people think of survivors and they think of people that are victims, they think that we go into this weird moment of poor me or like, I'm scared. It's not like that. It's quite the opposite. We go into this moment that we need to figure out what happened. I was ready to investigate. I was very much. I watched way too much svu. I know what to do. That's how I felt.

[Andrea Gunning]

She got to work online, so I.

[Angelique]

Started googling my little heart out and found things about her. I found this news article on her, and I found out that they stated that she was a danger to herself and society. So that was like a little clue.

[Andrea Gunning]

And then she found a surprising connection.

[Angelique]

Her cousin is somebody that I knew from middle school, and I called the cousin.

[Andrea Gunning]

Cassandra's cousin had a lot to say.

[Angelique]

Found out from the cousin. She said, my cousin's crazy. My cousin Is very dangerous. That's when everything started to click.

[Andrea Gunning]

After the fire, cassandra was brought to the hospital because she was having contractions. Angelique had a friend who worked at that hospital at the time, A friend who was willing to break the rules to help angelique get some answers. And what her friend saw in cassandra's medical record Was a bombshell.

[Angelique]

She actually saw the test that she took at the hospital, and they were able to confirm that she was not pregnant.

[Andrea Gunning]

Up until that moment, Angelique fully believed her friend was pregnant. In fact, that had been the basis of their entire relationship. But now she had confirmation that it was all a lie. She felt like this information was important to her case.

[Angelique]

I gave it to the cops, and they were like, oh, how did you find this? And I'm like, are you serious right now? It felt like they were not taking my case seriously, and it was extremely frustrating.

[Andrea Gunning]

For the cops to move forward, Angelique would need to get cassandra on the record, Contradicting her original statement to police.

[Angelique]

Because her story was that we were in the room, we were smoking marijuana. We ashed out my pipe, and it set my closet on fire.

[Andrea Gunning]

So they asked angelique to do a recorded phone call.

[Angelique]

My goal was to get her to admit that she was in the room alone before the fire started. So I had to call her and ask her, how are you doing? How did everything go at the hospital? I had to pretend like I had no idea what was happening because she didn't know what was happening. She has no idea that I found the butcher knives. So she admits it? Yes. Yeah, I remember when I was in the room. Yeah. You were in there by yourself? Yeah, I was in there by myself. And that was the goal, to get her to say all of those words.

[Andrea Gunning]

Then cassandra started to catch on.

[Angelique]

I could tell that she wasn't alone. There was somebody in that house with her, because we all heard a man say, hang up the phone, and then click.

[Andrea Gunning]

Angelique got what she needed, but it was anticlimactic. The police basically thanked her and sent her on her way. But almost immediately from that moment, I.

[Angelique]

Had went into labor.

[Andrea Gunning]

She went straight to the hospital. Because cassandra still hadn't been arrested, the hospital took precautions to keep angelique safe.

[Angelique]

They have police outside my room. They have me down as jane doe. You have to have a code to get inside my room.

[Andrea Gunning]

She spent four days in labor.

[Angelique]

I probably should have had a c section, But I think they were trying to be mindful of the whole situation that I had just gone through.

[Andrea Gunning]

After all, someone had wanted to Steal her baby and brought a butcher knife to do it. So she was adamant about not having a c section.

[Angelique]

As much as I wanted my son to be born, I felt like the only safe place was inside of me. But at the same time, I was feeling like, okay, well, inside of me isn't safe because someone just tried to kill me. So I. I was going through all of these emotions.

[Andrea Gunning]

The stress had led to high blood pressure, and now Angelique had preeclampsia. It was a high risk birth.

[Angelique]

Finally, my water broke. And it was just an intense birth. His heart rate had dropped at some point. It was Honestly, it was scary.

[Andrea Gunning]

Finally, her son was born. He was healthy and in her arms.

[Angelique]

I went through such a traumatic event that seeing him alive was just a blessing. I could not imagine him being with anybody else.

[Andrea Gunning]

She hoped that after he was born, she'd find some relief.

[Angelique]

And finally, once everything is okay, I still can't sleep because, a, I'm freaking out on nurses, making them show me their badges. Two, I think I'm destined to die, and I just want to spend whatever moments I can with my son. And that's all I remember actually being in the hospital is. I was worried about someone coming to steal him or me dying.

[Andrea Gunning]

While she was in the hospital, her family worked to renovate her bedroom to repaint it and make it livable again. But after she was discharged, she struggled to relax at home.

[Angelique]

Coming home is such a blur. I didn't go back in my room. I refused to go to my room, so I slept on the couch.

[Andrea Gunning]

Josh, her son's father, stepped up to help. He wanted to be a safe place for Angelique. So every night, he stayed with her on the couch next to their new baby.

[Angelique]

He helped me feel safe when nobody else made me feel that way.

[Andrea Gunning]

But even with him by her side, she couldn't let her guard down.

[Angelique]

I just wasn't myself. There was nothing that was right or okay about me.

[Andrea Gunning]

When Josh or her family tried to talk to her about how she was doing, Angelique shut down.

[Angelique]

I pushed everybody away. Josh would say something, and I would be like, I'm fine, but really, I'm dying inside.

[Andrea Gunning]

She wanted Cassandra arrested, But the cops weren't sharing any information about the case.

[Angelique]

I felt like I was completely in the dark when it came to my investigation. Anytime I would try to talk to somebody, Nobody could give me answers. And it was just super discouraging because I had gotten out of the hospital, and I expected to feel safe, and I didn't feel safe. I expected for her to be caught. She wasn't caught.

[Andrea Gunning]

She didn't even feel safe taking a walk around her neighborhood.

[Angelique]

I just never left my house. I stayed inside of my house and never left.

[Andrea Gunning]

One night about a month after her son was born, I fell asleep one.

[Angelique]

Night and I remember my mom coming into the room. It had to have been like midnight and she had woken me up and she said, here. And she like hands me the phone and I'm like, who is it?

[Andrea Gunning]

It was the lead detective on her.

[Angelique]

Case and she was like, we got her.

[Andrea Gunning]

Cassandra had been arrested.

[Angelique]

Foreign.

[Narrator]

The dating app fatigue is real. Mindless swiping, meaningless dms and an overwhelming amount of likes have made us feel more disconnected than ever. While most dating apps are all about pursuing someone else, there's one that's carved out of space for you to find yourself. Download F eeld F E E L D on Field, an app where curious people come to connect. You have the breathing room to explore your own desires and go on a journey wherein the person you discover is yourself. In fact, 62% of field members evolve their sexuality, interests and desires within their first year on the app. You have the freedom to explore who you are and what you like in ways you haven't imagined. As part of this community, you'll quickly find that people regularly practice honesty and openness. See any Field Bio Download Field F E E L D on the App Store or Google Play PK it's better.

[Andrea Gunning]

Over here now at T Mobile get.

[Narrator]

Four 5G phones on us and four lines for $25 a line per month.

[Angelique]

When you switch with eligible trading all.

[Andrea Gunning]

On America's largest 5G network. Minimum of four lines for $25 per line per month with autopay discount using debit or bank account, $5 more per line without auto pay plus taxes and fees and $10 device connection charge phones via 24 monthly bill credits for well qualified customers. Contact us before canceling entire account to continue bill credits or credit stop and balance on a required finance agreement due bill credits end if you pay off devices early. CT mobile.com introducing Groons, your ultimate solution for getting your daily greens effortlessly. Gone are the days of dealing with clumpy powders and pills. With Groons you get all the benefits of a comprehensive health supplement packed into just eight delicious gummies per day. Each serving is crafted to provide you with over 20 essential vitamins and minerals alongside 60 nutrient dense whole food ingredients. Gruns Gummies are not only a breeze to incorporate into your daily routine, but they're also vegan and gluten free, Making them the perfect choice for those with dietary restrictions. And the best part, they taste just like a fruity snack. So you can enjoy the health benefits without sacrificing flavor for the little ones in your life. Don't forget to check out groons, kids. A specially formulated version designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing children. Right now, get 45% off your first order with code betrayal. Discover groons. Get your daily greens the easiest way possible. You're gonna love it. After weeks of waiting, Angelique was losing faith that cassandra would ever be held responsible. But then she got the call. Law enforcement was finally able to make an arrest. Cassandra was facing multiple charges.

[Angelique]

She is being charged with attempt of first degree murder, which means that it was plotted, it was planned out. So attempted first degree murder, arson, burglary. She said she's going to go away for a very, very long time.

[Andrea Gunning]

Cassandra had made a full confession.

[Angelique]

And I started crying, and I said, she admitted it. And they said, yeah, she admitted it.

[Andrea Gunning]

She admitted that she'd planned to murder angelique in order to steal her baby. Cassandra was now behind bars, and she would stay there until there was a trial.

[Angelique]

And I just remember crying and being so happy. That was the first night that I actually slept.

[Andrea Gunning]

The news brought a lot of relief. Angeli could breathe a little easier. But the arrest didn't take away the trauma.

[Angelique]

As a mom, you imagine you're going to be this happy family. You're going to teach him how to say mama. You're going to teach them how to walk. You're going to teach him, you know, figure out if his first food is going to be peaches or carrots. All of these things are things that I thought about. I don't remember any of them. It's like it was all stolen from me.

[Andrea Gunning]

She recently saw a video that was taken when her son was one. He was learning how to walk for the first time.

[Angelique]

And I say it. Oh, my gosh. It's his first steps. I can't. I don't remember that video. I don't remember where that video was taken, what time. Like, I. And I was standing right there talking in the video.

[Andrea Gunning]

In the wake of everything, she wasn't living. She was surviving.

[Angelique]

My family, my friends, they distracted me. I can't tell you how because I don't remember. But I know that I survived.

[Andrea Gunning]

When everything went down, Angelique had to fight for her case to be taken seriously by the cops. And after cassandra was arrested, she didn't hear anything from law enforcement or prosecutors.

[Angelique]

For 12 months, I just remember thinking, like, when is this gonna happen? Like, what's gonna happen? Maybe I should just be thankful that she's in jail. But nobody has communicated anything with me.

[Andrea Gunning]

That was until she got a call from the district attorney's office.

[Angelique]

They tell me, we're gonna be completely honest with you. We don't think this should go to trial. And I was completely thrown back. Like, what do you mean, this shouldn't go to trial? They said, well, through our investigation and through everything that we've done, the cops did not read her her Miranda rights at the time of the confession. And I was like, wait, what? What? Like, what do you mean that he didn't read her her Miranda rights?

[Andrea Gunning]

The full confession police got out of Cassandra wouldn't be admissible in court.

[Angelique]

If we go to trial, her whole confession is thrown out, and we can lose this case because it's not illegal to carry butcher knives around the city. Technically, it's not against the law, and we cannot pinpoint everything in here without her confession.

[Andrea Gunning]

But Angelique knew there was physical evidence from the fire.

[Angelique]

And I was like, well, what about her fingertips on the candle? And they said, yes. They said, we want to try to do a plea bargain.

[Andrea Gunning]

The DA's office informed Angelique of Cassandra's defense strategy. She was going to plead insanity.

[Angelique]

The picture that they painted for me was that she was there to take my child because she was mentally ill and believed that my baby was her baby, that she was pregnant, and this was her child.

[Andrea Gunning]

And in that moment, Angelique almost felt bad for her. The prosecutor said that Angelique could decide.

[Angelique]

Do you think she should go to prison, or do you think she should go to, like, a mental hospital? And I asked if they can give me some time to think about. About that.

[Andrea Gunning]

She slept on it and realized that without the confession, the prosecution's hands were tied.

[Angelique]

I didn't feel good about this whole thing, But I really trusted, like, they're the professionals. This is their job. Like, who am I to tell them what's right and what's wrong?

[Andrea Gunning]

The state offered eight years in a psychiatric hospital.

[Angelique]

And so that was our plea bargain.

[Andrea Gunning]

At the sentencing hearing, Angelique was able to read a victim impact statement.

[Angelique]

I wrote this long letter to her. I said, I don't want to live my life hating you. I don't want to have hate in my heart. I don't think I can live my life that way. And so I'm going to tell you that I forgive you because you're mentally ill. I ended it that way, just for my conscience, for me. The judge told her, cassandra, is there anything that you would like to say to this woman? She stood up, she put her hands together. She looked at me and said, no, you, Honor, and sat back down. No remorse. That felt like a slap in the face. That felt like, I want to take back everything that I said to you. That was the last interaction I had with her.

[Andrea Gunning]

Almost immediately, it became a media circus.

[Angelique]

Everybody was outside my door. I had every single news station. I had people calling me. I had Anderson Cooper calling me. I don't even know how they got my number.

[Andrea Gunning]

Everyone wanted to run with the story. Angelique became reduced to a headline. It felt like something was being taken from her and not on her terms.

[Angelique]

If I could take back some of the shows that I did, like doing the Dr. Phil show, I would have not done that absolutely. He used me for my trauma to get views.

[Andrea Gunning]

A few years after sentencing, a local journalist came over to interview Angelique about the story. And he was the first one to.

[Angelique]

Ask her, have you ever read the police report? And I was like, no. At the end of our interview, he took the police report and he gave it to me. And he said, there's some stuff in here that I don't think, you know, you should read this.

[Andrea Gunning]

But at the time, Angelique wasn't ready to hear it.

[Angelique]

So you want to know what I did? I shredded it. I shredded it all. I shredded everything. That is what trauma does.

[Andrea Gunning]

It wasn't until eight years later, when Cassandra was released from the psychiatric hospital, that Angelique finally revisited the case.

[Angelique]

And that intrigued me to open everything back up, because I felt like I was in a better state of mind. I was older. I feel like I'm ready to start digging. So I went deep. I went deep down this rabbit hole. I went to the police station. I pulled all the police reports. I pulled the tapes. I pulled anything that they would give me. And I sat in my car for hours listening to these CDs, listening to Mike like me talk, listening to all, Listening to everything. It took, like, four to five hours.

[Andrea Gunning]

She started with Cassandra's taped confession. And on it, she learned Cassandra's story, what Cassandra was really doing the night the fire started.

[Angelique]

The fire was never meant to happen. It was an accident.

[Andrea Gunning]

Her plan was to kill Angelique with a butcher knife and steal her baby. That's what she was preparing to do. When she sat Angelique on her bed in the dark and counted to three.

[Angelique]

She said that she felt a moment of weakness when she was going to Stab me. When she had me bent over, she had her hand on my shoulder. She had the knife physically to my back, and she was ready to push the knife inside of me.

[Andrea Gunning]

But then Cassandra got cold feet.

[Angelique]

When she started counting, she started to feel guilt. And she says, I started to second guess it if I could actually do it.

[Andrea Gunning]

When Angelique stood up, the initial plan fell apart. So Cassandra moved on to plan B.

[Angelique]

She said the fire was supposed to be a distraction, and she was hoping that I would be overcome with smoke and I would pass out. Then she'd be able to perform the C section with me being passed out on the ground.

[Andrea Gunning]

Cassandra thought it would be easier to kill Angelique if she were unconscious. The whole thing was like a horror movie.

[Angelique]

It's actually diabolical. It's almost unbelievable, though, that an 18 year old can come up with this.

[Andrea Gunning]

It turns out the plan wasn't entirely hers. Or at least that's what Cassandra stated in her confession.

[Angelique]

At the very end, before they cut the tape, she talks about how she was a part of a gang.

[Andrea Gunning]

And in this gang, Cassandra confessed that she worked for one man in particular.

[Angelique]

She was his, like, his possession, basically. And she had to do what he told her to do, and it was all his plan, and she was just doing what he asked.

[Andrea Gunning]

Cassandra claimed that she was part of a gang operation and her boss had a plan to sell Angelique's baby.

[Angelique]

She says he has done this before, that they sold babies in Mexico and that they were going to get a certain cut. She talked about how much they would get for the baby and that they were going to stay and live in Mexico.

[Andrea Gunning]

This was all news to Angelique. These tapes suggested an alternate motivation for why Cassandra did what she did. And it didn't match up with what Angelique heard from prosecutors back when they offered a plea deal. At the time, her understanding was that Cassandra was mentally ill and thought the baby was hers. But in the confession, not once did.

[Angelique]

I ever hear her say that she wanted the baby for herself.

[Andrea Gunning]

And there was something else in Cassandra's confession, Another thing Angelique heard that didn't square with what the prosecutors told her.

[Angelique]

I heard them read her Miranda rights. Foreign.

[Narrator]

The dating app fatigue is real. Mindless, swiping, meaningless dms and an overwhelming amount of likes have made us feel more disconnected than ever. While most dating apps are all about pursuing someone else, there's one that's carved out of space for you to find yourself. Download F eeld f e e l D on field, an app where curious people come to connect. You have the breathing room to explore your own desires and go on a journey wherein the person you discover is yourself. In fact, 62% of field members evolve their sexuality, interests and desires within their first year on the app. You have the freedom to explore who you are and what you like in ways you haven't imagined. As part of this community, you'll quickly find that people regularly practice honesty and openness. See any Field Bio Download Field F E E L D on the App Store or Google Play pk It's better over Here after investing billions to light up our network, T Mobile is America's largest 5G network.

[Andrea Gunning]

Plus right now you can switch keep your phone and we'll pay it off up to $800. See how you can save on every.

[Narrator]

Plan vs Verizon and at&t@t mobile.com KeepAndSwitch.

[Andrea Gunning]

Up to 4 lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service ported 90 plus days with device ineligible carrier and timely redemption required.

[Narrator]

Card has no cash access and expires.

[Andrea Gunning]

In six months Introducing Grunds, your ultimate solution for getting your daily greens effortlessly. Gone are the days of dealing with clumpy powders and pills. With Groons, you get all the benefits of a comprehensive health supplement packed into just eight delicious gummies per day. Each serving is crafted to provide you with over 20 essential vitamins and minerals alongside 60 nutrient dense whole food ingredients. Grun's Gummies are not only a breeze to incorporate into your daily routine, but they're also vegan and gluten free, making them the perfect choice for those with dietary restrictions. And the best part? They taste just like a fruity snack so you can enjoy the health benefits without sacrificing flavor for the little ones in your life. Don't forget to check out Groons Kids, a specially formulated version designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing children. Right now, get 45% off your first order with code Betrayal. Discover Groons. Get your daily greens the easiest way possible. You're gonna love it. Prosecutors had told Angelique that Cassandra's confession wasn't admissible in court because no one had read Cassandra her Miranda rights. While reviewing the case file years later, Angelique discovered that wasn't true. They had read her her Miranda rights.

[Angelique]

I even have it circled where it says they read her rights. And then it goes on to her telling her confession.

[Andrea Gunning]

This supposed procedural error was the reason why Angelique was okay with the plea deal. So why did the prosecutors tell her this story? Well, Angelique has a theory.

[Angelique]

I think that we were used as a plea bargain to help catch bigger fish. I don't think anybody will ever be able to confirm that for me. But if she had more information to help them catch bigger people, they don't have to necessarily tell me all the information on what they're working on.

[Andrea Gunning]

If cassandra was telling the truth, maybe she could help law enforcement Catch higher ups in her gang. Angelique thought back to all the phone calls cassandra had taken, the ones in spanish. And she'd taken a call in the middle of the attempted murder. Angelique had believed she was talking with edwin, her husband. So was edwin the mastermind, the gang leader. The cops met with edwin, and they were very surprised to hear he states.

[Angelique]

Yeah, she's someone I dated. No, we haven't talked in years, and we're not together. So this guy edwin, who she told all of us was her husband, Was not actually her husband.

[Andrea Gunning]

Edwin was a real guy that cassandra had dated, but he hadn't talked to her in years. So who was actually on the other end of the phone in her confession? Cassandra does name someone besides edwin, but the cops couldn't find a record of this other guy. And that's where the police file ends. For angelique, it felt like they gave up. She's had to make peace with the fact that she might never know who cassandra was working with. She might never get the full story.

[Angelique]

I think about it a lot. I contemplate all the time if I want to know the truth. And I always go back and forth with yes, no, yes, no. The thing is, it's not going to do anything except for maybe piss me off. So I just stopped looking for answers.

[Andrea Gunning]

She's come to accept that the police report May just be another version of the story. And can she even trust cassandra's taped confession? After all, cassandra was clearly unwell. By the time angelique heard the tapes, Cassandra had served her entire sentence. Angelique felt like reopening the case against cassandra Would be a dead end.

[Angelique]

I found out way too late. We're talking about nine years now. I can't go back and bring him all this. I just thought every person there Was doing their job for me. I thought this was a big case. I thought this was abnormal. I've never heard of fetal abduction. Like, I just figured that everyone was in my best interest.

[Andrea Gunning]

For her, reopening the case Would only bring back bad memories. The damage was already done.

[Angelique]

She stole my first few years between me and my son, and I'm never going to get those back. There's no money in the world that could pay for that. She stole that away from me.

[Andrea Gunning]

Her healing process wasn't linear.

[Angelique]

There were moments, moments in my life where I remember being like, I'm healed. I feel so much better. I'm gonna be just fine. And then, like, five weeks would go by, and I would be like, I'm so triggered right now. And it's just been a cycle. It's been a vicious cycle. And that's what healing is. It's been almost 14 years since my trauma, and I feel like I just had an epiphany just a couple weeks ago.

[Andrea Gunning]

She recently drove past the house where the crime happened for the first time in years. And instead of feeling overwhelmed and triggered, she felt a powerful calm.

[Angelique]

I realized, it's just a house. That's all it is. It's just a house that something bad happened to me in. But I'm here, I'm alive, I'm okay, and I have my son. You can't push or rush healing.

[Andrea Gunning]

Josh, her son's father, has been a constant in her life and in her healing.

[Angelique]

If you were to ask me where my safe place is, it's with him. I am scared of everything. It can be as simple as, I don't want to get into a lake because I'm scared I'm going to drown. I'm scared of life because something traumatic happened to me when I had no idea that it could happen. So because of that, my husband has been there to push me into different directions that I don't think I could have done without him.

[Andrea Gunning]

They dated throughout their first few years.

[Angelique]

As parents, and come 2020, we decided, why not? So we actually got engaged in 2020, and we got married.

[Andrea Gunning]

She and Josh had two more children together.

[Angelique]

We live a happy life altogether. We're a very big sport family. We do football, softball, soccer, run quads, go hiking, go to the lake.

[Andrea Gunning]

The son she nearly lost is now 13.

[Angelique]

When I look at my son, I just think about how lucky we are and how blessed we are, because not everybody gets this happy ending. I always tell him, you were absolutely meant to be here. I don't know what life has to offer you, but I just know you were meant for greatness.

[Andrea Gunning]

Angelique's also become an advocate for preventing fetal abduction.

[Angelique]

When I was 17 years old, I didn't know that this was. Was even a crime that could happen. I didn't know that because it was never talked about.

[Andrea Gunning]

Fetal abduction is incredibly rare. There have been less than 20 documented cases in the US in the last decade. And of those cases, very few of the victims survived.

[Angelique]

My motivation is not just to get my story out so that other mothers can understand that this is something that happens. I feel like it's an opportunity for me to be a voice for not myself and my son, but also for the mothers that are not here that didn't get to survive this crime.

[Andrea Gunning]

She's also done something astounding. She wanted to help others grow their own families. So she became a surrogate.

[Angelique]

Carrying a baby who wasn't mine and allowing that baby to leave my body and go to somebody else was a huge step for me and absolutely healed me in ways that I didn't know that I needed to be healed in.

[Andrea Gunning]

We end all of our weekly episodes with the same question, why are you telling your story?

[Angelique]

I think about how that one second that it took for me to turn around is literally what saved my life. I would not be here if I did not listen to that gut feeling. It's okay to be naive. It's natural. It's who we are. We're only human. Just listen to yourself. Trust yourself a little bit more. Sit there and start to learn what that intuition feeling is and listen to it. Maybe it'll help save somebody's life.

[Andrea Gunning]

On the next episode of Betrayal, I.

[Angelique]

Get a phone call and it was, is this Dawn Harris? And I said, yes, it is. And they said, this is so and so with the Dallas FBI office. We'd like for you to come in.

[Andrea Gunning]

If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team or want to tell us your Betrayal story, email [e-mail] that's betrayalpodmail.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 Betrayal. 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 in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. The show is executive produced by Nancy Glass and Jennifer Faison, hosted and produced by me, Andrea Gunning, written and produced by Monique Laborde. Also produced by Ben Federman. Associate producers are Kristen Melchiori and Caitlin Golden. Our iHear team is Ali Perry and Jessica Krynczyk. Audio editing and mixing by Matt Del Vecchio. Additional editing support from Tanner Robbins. Betrayals theme composed by Oliver Baines Music Library provided by MIB Music and for more podcasts from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pod.

[Narrator]

The dating app fatigue is real. Mindless swiping, meaningless DMs and an overwhelming amount of likes have made us feel more disconnected than ever. While most dating apps are all about pursuing someone else, there's one that's carved out of space for you to find yourself. Download F eeld F E E L D on Field, an app where curious people come to connect. You have the breathing room to explore your own desires and go on a journey wherein the person you discover is yourself. In fact, 62% of field members evolve their sexuality, interests and desires within their first year on the app. You have the freedom to explore who you are and what you like in ways you haven't imagined. As part of this community. You'll quickly find that people regularly practice honesty and openness. See any Field bio Download Field F E E L D on the App Store or Google Play PK At Amica Insurance, we know it's more than just a house. It's your home. The place that's filled with memories. The early days of figuring it out to the later years of still figuring it out for the place you've put down roots. Trust Amica Home Insurance Amica Empathy is our best policy.

[Andrea Gunning]

Meet Groons the new way to get your daily greens in one easy step. Say goodbye to messy powders and large pills. These all in one eight daily gummies simplify your health routine with 20 plus vitamins, minerals, and 60 whole food ingredients. They're vegan, gluten free, and tastes just like a fruit snack for the little ones in your life. Don't forget to check out Groon's Kids, a specifically formulated version designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing children right now. Get 45% off your first order with code Betrayal. Discover Groons. Get your daily greens the easiest way possible. You're gonna love it.