The Dating Detectives – Episode Summary

Podcast: The Dating Detectives

Host: Dear Media
Episode: The Evil Stepmother
Date: September 15, 2025

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode of "The Dating Detectives," professional investigator Mackenzie Fultz was absent, and comedian Hanna Anderson was joined by producer Molly to explore the harrowing true story of “The Evil Stepmother” – an Australian family’s tale of deception, manipulation, and resilience. Their guest, Christy, shares how her father fell victim to a master manipulator who left a wake of broken relationships, drained bank accounts, and traumatized children. Together, the hosts and Christy unravel the web spun by her father’s second wife, dubbed "Rose," offering listeners insights into red flags, intergenerational trauma, and the critical power of family intervention and community support.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction of Christy & the Family Background

• [06:27] Christy’s Story Begins: Christy, one of three daughters, recounts an idyllic childhood in Sydney until a family tragedy (her cousin’s death) results in her parents’ marriage unraveling.
• [09:01] Family Fracture: The trauma of loss leaves Christy's father emotionally destabilized and controlling. The eventual breakdown leads to a dramatic SWAT team intervention and her father’s arrest following a suicide threat and intimidation charges.

“That’s exactly when they fell off their pedestals to me. I was like, holy shit, they’re actually human.” – Christy [11:45]

2. Aftermath of Divorce and Meeting "Rose"

• [17:12] Picking Up the Pieces: Christy describes supporting her father post-separation, shielding her youngest sister, and managing his transition into single life.
• [19:21] Enter Rose: Two years later, Christy’s dad meets Rose through his motorcycle club. While Christy is relieved at first, red flags quickly appear — Rose is self-obsessed and immediately tries to dominate conversations with her own dramatic stories (e.g., falling off a plane with a stack of pillows [21:17]).

“No one’s gonna measure up to my mum because I just adore her. But… she just seemed to be quite self obsessed.” – Christy [20:17]

3. Rose Moves In: Manipulation & Financial Control

• [22:10] The White Knight Illusion: Rose is behind on rent; Dad steps in, paying bills and becoming her savior, as Rose exerts increasing control. She contributes little, lets her children take advantage, and manipulates situations for financial and emotional gain.
• [25:48] Marriage in Secret: Without inviting any children, Dad marries Rose in Fiji—a move Christy suspects Rose pushed for financial and legal security.

4. Fifteen Years of Living with Rose

• [32:05] Ongoing Tensions: Rose constantly “one-ups” family hardships, seeking attention and sympathy. Christy is later diagnosed with MS, and even then Rose attempts to overshadow her experiences.
• “She had a story to try to one up that. And I was like, you can’t one up MS.” – Christy [33:00]

5. The Mastermind Exposed: Multiple Affairs Uncovered

• [34:46] Shocking Discovery: In 2021, Rose’s daughter Piper reveals over Facebook Messenger that Rose has married another man ("Roger") while still married to Dad. Piper confides Rose had a decade-long affair ("Frank") in the midst of the 15-year marriage.
• [36:09] Christy’s Reaction: Stunned yet resolute, Christy cross-verifies with Piper, receives screenshots, and realizes the scale of deceit: “Frank, Roger, and Dad — all in a relationship with this crazy lady.” [37:41]

“My head was spinning...I knew she was up to something, but I didn’t think she’d be that blatant to put something on Facebook.” – Christy [35:53]

6. Confronting the Con-Woman

• [42:25] Christy Takes Charge: Christy calls Rose directly, tells her to “pack your shit, and get the fuck out of my dad’s life.” Rose hangs up.
• [44:38] Breaking it to Her Dad: Christy carefully breaks the news to her father, providing evidence and encouraging him to independently verify. He initially denies it until confronted with overwhelming proof.

"You don't have to believe me, but I want you to look into it." – Christy [45:22]

7. The Web of Lies and Community Support

• [47:39] Fallout: Dad, shocked but not surprised, finds quick housing thanks to his biker community, highlighting the vital role of social networks in recovery.
• [57:09] Meeting Frank: During the stressful pack-up, Frank (affair partner) arrives. Both men realize they’ve been lied to – Frank had been told Dad was Rose’s brother.
• [58:50] Double Dipping: Rose takes money from both men, collects “rent” from Frank while Dad pays all the household bills, amassing an estimated $2,000 a week. She’s further exposed for inventing additional lies to control or gain sympathy from each target.

8. Protecting and Supporting Each Other

• [63:31] The Standoff: With Piper and Frank’s help, Christy and her sister Katie prevent Rose from entering the house, carefully pack her belongings, and ensure Dad is never left alone with her, foiling potential manipulation or false accusations.
• Christy records the handover for legal protection, anticipating Rose might fabricate accusations.

“Don’t argue, don’t talk...I was just a bossy, bossy person telling him what to do and what not to do.” – Christy [54:10]

9. The Unraveling: Alerting the Final Victim

• [70:05] Telling Roger: When Rose moves in with Roger, Christy and Katie notify him via his friends and ex-wife. Roger, naïve about online banking, is devastated to find Rose has drained his bank accounts and attempted to take ownership of his home.
• Eventually, after Rose physically assaults Roger, she is arrested and removed.

“He had $6...She started screaming at him, ‘this house is mine.’” – Christy [80:56]

10. Aftermath and Recovery

• [83:44] Finalizing Divorce: Christy orchestrates the divorce, doggedly tracking Rose to serve papers. Rose, predictably, tries to dodge service.
• [88:02] A New Family: Piper, the step-daughter, asks Dad to walk her down the aisle. She’s embraced as family, establishing bonds that transcend the trauma.
• Frank and Dad foster a new friendship – “a bit of a bromance” [89:19] – both supported by community afterward.

“If she needs me, she knows she can contact me…she had her real dad and my dad on either side of her while she walked down the aisle.” – Christy [88:56]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "That’s exactly when they fell off their pedestals to me. I was like, holy shit, they’re actually human." – Christy [11:45]
• "Pack your shit, and get the fuck out of my dad’s life." – Christy to Rose [42:25]
• "You don’t have to believe me, but I want you to look into it." – Christy coaching her dad [45:22]
• "He had $6...She started screaming at him, ‘this house is mine.’" – [80:56]
• On Piper’s courage: “The mental barriers I’m sure she had to go through to get past everything she learned from her mom…it’s really brave. Piper, best person in the world alert. Someone give her the Nobel Peace Prize.” – Hanna [101:13]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [06:27] – Christy introduces her background and family history
• [09:01] – Family falls apart after cousin’s tragic death
• [17:12] – Christy supports her father post-separation
• [19:21] – Dad meets Rose; red flags appear
• [25:48] – Dad secretly marries Rose
• [32:05] – Christy describes living with Rose as always a competition
• [34:46] – The Facebook post reveals Rose’s new marriage and past affairs
• [42:25] – Christy confronts Rose and then informs her dad
• [47:39] – Dad receives confirmation; community steps up
• [57:09] – Frank and Dad meet, realizing the full extent of manipulation
• [63:31] – Christy and Katie prevent Rose from accessing the house
• [70:05] – Notifying Roger and learning he is another victim
• [80:56] – Roger’s devastation and Rose’s erratic exit
• [83:44] – Christy organizes and successfully serves divorce papers
• [88:02] – Piper’s new family bonds with Dad
• [101:13] – Reflection and praise for Piper’s bravery

Lessons, Red Flags & Takeaways

Red Flags and Patterns

• The “one-upper” who always centers herself in every story and seeks endless sympathy.
• Isolating the victim from family and controlling communication/access.
• Rapid escalation to legal/financial commitment (marriage, joint accounts).
• Spinning multiple conflicting stories to different parties (e.g., calling Dad her “brother” to Frank).
• Lies related to employment (“cleaner fell out of plane,” “flight attendant”), trauma (curing an autistic grandchild), and feigned vulnerability (caring for PTSD “brother”).

How Christy Protected Her Dad:

• Direct but gentle confrontation (“You don’t have to believe me, but I want you to look into it.” [45:22])
• Ensuring her father had community (biker club) to avoid isolation
• Never leaving him alone with Rose again after the deception surfaced
• Carefully recording all interactions during property split for legal protection

Reflections on Parentification & Community

• The hosts and Christy discuss the risk of “parentification” — children having to protect or manage their parents’ lives.
• Importance of not being afraid to take charge when a vulnerable parent is targeted.
• Value of community for emotional, practical, and even emergency support.

"If you are in a situation like this…do not leave them alone with that person again once you know what’s going on." – Host Commentary [104:01]

Final Thoughts and Advice

• Go gently but firmly: Approach a scammed or abused loved one with evidence and empathy – never shame or overwhelm.
• Don’t be afraid to intervene: Sometimes, “parenting your parent” is necessary to break the spell of manipulation.
• Community saves: Encourage vulnerable loved ones to nurture real-life support networks, not just romantic connections.
• Trust your instincts: Document everything, and never give manipulators an opening to rewrite the narrative.

"You can’t save everybody. That’s something Piper told me. I’ve saved who I can… But you saving the one person – they can then go save the next person." – Christy & hosts [93:00]

For Listeners Seeking Support

If you or someone you love is in an abusive or manipulative relationship, resources like the National Domestic Violence Hotline provide confidential support: 1-800-799-7233.

Next Steps & How to Share Stories

• Listeners are invited to send “parent” stories, niche community stories, and AA/NA-related stories to the podcast (instructions provided at [109:33] and [110:40]).
• Anonymization is carefully managed–guests can withdraw their stories at any time.

A compelling, empowering listen for anyone wanting to understand the anatomy of familial scams, intergenerational trauma, and how collective strength can bring even the "mastermind" to light.