Podcast Summary: Something Was Wrong | S22 E6: A Weak Bridge Collapses
Title: Something Was Wrong
Episode: S22 E6: A Weak Bridge Collapses
Host/Author: Broken Cycle Media | Wondery
Release Date: November 27, 2024
Description: Something Was Wrong is an award-winning docuseries that delves into the journeys of survivors as they navigate discovery, trauma, and recovery from various forms of crime and abuse.
Introduction
In the gripping sixth episode of Season 22, titled "A Weak Bridge Collapses," Something Was Wrong explores the harrowing experience of Tom, a former disability advocate, whose trusted friend Megan Stoner orchestrates a sophisticated series of scams. This episode unravels the complexities of betrayal, manipulation, and the struggle to reclaim trust after being deceived by someone close.
Background: Building Trust
Tom's Role and Friendship with Megan
Tom, the central figure of this episode, founded the Neurodiversity Coalition in 2019—a disability advocacy group aimed at supporting individuals with autism, Asperger's disorder, PDD-NOS, OCD, and other invisible disabilities. Through his work, Tom met Megan Stoner, who was involved with his advocacy group.
- Tiffany Reese: "In the second half of episode five we met Megan. Tom met Stoner through a disability advocacy group that he founded." [03:27]
Their friendship quickly deepened when Megan moved to Indiana during the COVID-19 pandemic through Teach for America. They bonded over shared interests, attending hockey games together and sharing meals, maintaining a purely platonic relationship.
- Tom: "We went to hockey games together, we would grab meals together. We were purely platonic, by the way." [04:06]
The Onset of Manipulation
Re-emergence and Initial Red Flags
As the pandemic subsided, Megan's and Tom’s paths diverged when she moved away, leading to reduced interactions. However, Megan resurfaced in May 2023, reaching out to Tom with urgent pleas for financial help.
- Tom: "On May 6th, I got a number of random texts throughout the day saying, 'I'm in a crisis, I need help. It's not mental health.'" [05:01]
Megan claimed to be at a low point, needing money for bail related to charges from 2021. Despite Tom’s hesitation—rooted in past experiences of being financially exploited—his empathy led him to transfer $1,000 via Venmo to help her out.
- Tom: "I would say there were between 10 or 20 charges that my bank reversed in that month alone, and I was able to get that money back." [06:57]
Escalation of the Scam
Increasing Demands and Red Flags
Megan's requests for money grew more intense and frequent. Initially asking for bail assistance, she soon expanded her demands, leading to suspicious activities such as multiple declined transactions and unexpected charges on Tom’s credit card.
- Tom: "Now, up to this point, I'm just assuming, oh, it's just a classic case of identity theft." [06:57]
By July 4th, Megan escalated her appeals, requesting an additional $2,000 with promises of repaying double the amount once she received student aid. Her narrative became increasingly convoluted, involving stories of homelessness and urgent financial crises.
- Tom: "It's really upsetting to me that you're in trouble right now." [07:31]
Megan introduced fabricated elements, such as a moving company and additional contacts like Stephen, to legitimize her pleas. Her requests ballooned from $4,000 to $13,000 within days, raising significant suspicion.
- Tom: "She's saying, all right, I need my car back tonight. I had to sign it twice." [07:31]
Breaking Point: Realization and Confrontation
Discovery of Megan's True Nature
Tom’s increasing frustration and the mounting evidence led him to investigate Megan’s background. On July 9th, a pivotal moment occurred when Tom discovered Megan's involvement in rental scams through a news article titled "Fisher's Woman Arrested in Rental Scam."
- Tom: "I saw the article, Fisher's Woman Arrested in Rental Scam, and I saw a Twitter Megan Stoner Scam Awareness." [27:06]
Confronted with incontrovertible proof, Tom realized that Megan had a history of deceit and manipulation. This revelation shattered their long-standing friendship, leading Tom to take decisive action by contacting legal counsel and preparing to pursue legal remedies.
- Tom: "That's how I got in the Megan Scam Awareness Facebook group." [37:54]
Community Response: Uniting Against the Scam
Formation and Impact of the Megan Stoner Awareness Group
Alyssa, another victim of Megan’s scams, shared her journey of joining the Megan Stoner Awareness Facebook group. Initially encountering Megan in a "Buy Nothing" group, Alyssa witnessed Megan’s deceitful behavior firsthand when Megan took her baby gate and other items under the guise of legitimate exchanges.
- Alyssa: "I remember being so baffled, like who would do that? It just seems so shady to me." [39:00]
The group rapidly grew as more victims came forward, sharing their stories of financial ruin and emotional distress caused by Megan. Alyssa described the group's evolution from a place of shared pain to an organized effort to expose and prevent Megan's further scams.
- Alyssa: "We were able to stop her crimes along the way, prevent her from doing more crimes in the future." [37:54]
Collaborative efforts included creating bingo boards to predict Megan's next fraudulent move, thereby fostering a community-driven approach to combat her manipulative tactics.
- Alyssa: "The bingo group was really where the chase started. She had all these court dates coming up." [39:09]
Conclusion: Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
Rebuilding Trust and Awareness
Tom and Alyssa’s experiences underscore the vulnerabilities inherent in trusting relationships and highlight the importance of community vigilance. The episode emphasizes the necessity of safeguarding personal information and recognizing the signs of manipulation to prevent such betrayals.
- Tom: "Trust who your friends are and can't be too careful. But Justin and Mike said, do you want to join the support group?" [37:54]
Alyssa reflects on the broader implications of Megan’s actions, noting how a seemingly ordinary individual can inflict widespread harm through calculated deceit.
- Alyssa: "I truly think she doesn't have remorse. I truly think that she doesn't understand how evil she is." [43:16]
The episode closes with a message of resilience and the collective strength found within supportive communities, urging listeners to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting themselves and others from similar threats.
- Tiffany Reese: "Trust is easy to lose. It's only a matter of time before a weak bridge collapses." [35:35]
Notable Quotes
- Tom: "I want her to get better so that we can work together on something." [50:04]
- Alyssa: "There really are evil people out in the world, then it is possible to stop them the legal way." [37:54]
- Tom: "Four years of friendship in a minute. Completely gone." [35:45]
- Alyssa: "She was just an evil human being. It would be like her in a jail cell with an orange jumpsuit on." [39:09]
- Tom: "I've had problems with finances in the past and people not paying me. So I'm quite paranoid after these two months." [43:16]
Key Takeaways
- Vigilance in Trust: The episode highlights the critical importance of being cautious when sharing personal information, even with trusted individuals.
- Community Support: Forming support groups and sharing experiences can empower victims and facilitate collective action against fraudulent behaviors.
- Recognizing Manipulation: Understanding the tactics used by manipulators can help individuals identify and avoid falling prey to similar scams.
- Legal Recourse: The necessity of seeking legal advice and taking action when faced with deceit underscores the role of the legal system in addressing personal betrayals.
A Weak Bridge Collapses serves as a compelling narrative about the fragility of trust and the enduring strength of community solidarity in the face of personal and financial betrayal. Through Tom and Alyssa’s stories, listeners are reminded to protect their vulnerabilities and seek support when navigating the complex landscape of interpersonal fraud and manipulation.