True Crime All The Time – Thomas Montgomery Replay (Dec 29, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this replay episode, hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson ("Gibby") revisit one of their favorite "lesser known" true crime stories: the twisted case of Thomas Montgomery. This story is a labyrinth of online lies, catfishing, and escalating deceit that ends in murder. The episode explores how ordinary individuals, dissatisfied with their lives, can find themselves driven to extremes by digital fantasy—leading to devastating real-world consequences.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Ordinary Life of Thomas Montgomery ([03:46]–[07:12])

Thomas Montgomery was a 46-year-old machinist, married for 16 years with two teenage daughters, living in Cheektowaga, New York.
Outwardly, he was a family man: taught Sunday school, was vice president of his daughter's swim club, and was described as awkward but likable.
Montgomery's marriage suffered due to impotence and communication issues. He confided that, despite having "great kids" and a "great wife," he still felt unsatisfied and guilty for wanting "something else" ([08:26]).

2. Escaping Reality Online ([09:04]–[12:00])

Thomas retreated to the Internet, especially chat rooms and online poker, using the username "Marine Sniper" (a nod to his actual military service, though he never saw combat).
He invented an online persona, "Tommy," an 18-year-old Marine—tall, fit, battle-scarred, and everything Montgomery wanted to be ([11:23]).
The hosts draw comparisons between padding a resume and Thomas's online reinvention—"If you're going to go on the Internet and pretend, who’s going to go on there and pretend to be themselves the way they currently are?" – Mike Ferguson ([11:54]).

3. Catfishing and Online Seduction ([13:43]–[16:46])

In May 2005, "Marine Sniper" met "tall hot blonde," supposedly an 18-year-old high school senior named Jesse from West Virginia.
They quickly developed a virtual relationship: flirty chat led to sending gifts, photos, letters, and even virtual sex.
Montgomery, as "Tommy," fabricated wild stories, including claiming to have raped a cheerleader at 17—a detail even the hosts found bizarre and deeply unsettling ([15:58]).

Notable Quote:
"I kept thinking, well, we're never going to meet. I'll just play the game with her." – Thomas Montgomery, as quoted by Mike Ferguson ([13:35]).

4. Escalation and the Double Life ([17:12]–[27:34])

As the fantasy intensified, Thomas increasingly blurred lines between reality and fiction, including posing as "Tommy's father" when "Tommy" was supposedly deployed to Iraq.
He juggled phone calls and orchestrated elaborate lies to maintain the relationship.
His wife and daughters began to sense his withdrawal, with his wife later discovering the shocking truth via letters, gifts (including underwear), and photos from Jesse ([28:18]).

5. Jealousy and Rivalry: Brian Barrett Enters ([30:38]–[32:58])

Jesse, trying to verify Montgomery's identity, contacted Brian Barrett, a 22-year-old coworker of Thomas. Brian confirmed the deception, and soon began his own online relationship with Jesse.
Hostility grew as Montgomery became jealous of Brian, leading to ominous threats: "Brian will pay in blood." ([32:27])

6. Unraveling and Violence ([38:52]–[40:13])

The rivalry and rejection threw Montgomery into an emotional spiral. He threatened both Jesse and Brian, even as Jesse (unwittingly) continued to fan the flames by vacillating between the two.
On September 15, 2006, after a particularly aggressive phone call to Jesse, Montgomery shot and killed Brian Barrett as he left work ([41:24]).
Police recovered telling pieces of evidence (a peach pit, dog hair, missing rifle) and found a digital trail of threats linking Thomas to the murder ([47:02]).

7. The Ultimate Catfish Reveal ([44:01]–[46:05])

Police sought to warn "Jesse" of possible danger, only to discover the young woman never existed. "Jesse" was the online creation of Mary Schuyler, a middle-aged woman—and Jesse’s own mother.
Mary used hundreds of her daughter's photos (many taken without her knowledge), and sent underwear and letters, perpetrating an elaborate hoax on multiple men.
Sharp condemnation from the hosts: "So as harsh as I was on Thomas Montgomery, I'm just as disgusted by this Mary woman... You're going to use pictures of your real daughter..." – Mike Ferguson ([45:26])

8. Legal and Emotional Fallout ([50:18]–[65:12])

Thomas was arrested, tried, and ultimately pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, receiving a 20-year sentence with five years of supervision ([54:02]).
Mary Schuyler was not criminally charged—though her actions were morally repugnant, she didn't break the law.
The emotional toll extended further: Mary's husband divorced her and the real Jesse cut off all contact ([58:52]). Brian's family suffered deep grief, feeling justice was limited.
Montgomery’s wife divorced him, and their daughters have avoided public comment.

Notable Quote:
"The uniqueness of this case is that everybody appeared to be misleading everybody else, and the whole situation, which resulted in a violent death, was unnecessary. Ironically, the only person telling the truth here was the victim." – John DeFranc, Erie County Deputy DA ([50:18])

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

On the dangers of online escapism:
"If you're escaping your marriage by finding other people to talk to on the Internet and starting up flirty conversations and stuff like that, well, you're heading down a path that could lead to disaster." – Mike Ferguson ([10:08])
On the attempted murder cover-up:
"He shot Brian three times with his .30 caliber rifle. When the judge asked if he intended to kill Brian, Thomas said no, until his defense attorney nudged him." – Mike Ferguson ([52:26])
On the aftermath for the families:
"My wife and I don't understand how this could happen to our family. We don't understand how such evil could exist in the world. To gun down a boy over simple jealousy does not make sense." – Dan Barrett, Brian's father ([54:02])
On catfishing and its dangers:
"This is a case, and a really unfortunate example of just how easy it is to lie to people when someone is hiding behind a username and, you know, carefully selecting a profile picture... a cautionary tale to everyone—children and even adults—need to be extremely careful when dealing with strangers online." – Mike Ferguson ([65:56])

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | Key Points | |------------|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 03:46 | Setting up Montgomery’s life | Family/work background, dissatisfaction | | 11:23 | Online reinvention/“Tommy” persona | Catfishing begins | | 13:43 | Start of online relationship | Lies, photos, virtual gifts, and sex exchanged | | 28:18 | Wife and daughter discover the deception | Family impact and response | | 30:38 | Involvement of Brian Barrett | Rivalry, threats, and escalation | | 41:24 | Brian attacks and aftermath | Murder and investigation | | 44:01 | Police discover Mary Schuyler’s role | Double catfish revelation | | 50:18 | Legal outcomes and DA’s commentary | Sentencing, “only the victim told the truth” | | 58:52 | Fallout for Schuyler family | Divorce and family severed ties | | 65:56 | Moral and cautionary reflections | Internet deception warnings |

Analysis & Takeaways

Human Vulnerability: The case is a stark reminder of how personal dissatisfaction and loneliness can breed susceptibility to fantasy and manipulation via digital spaces.
Digital Reality vs. Real-world Consequences: Online deception can have severe, sometimes fatal, real-world repercussions—a “stranger danger” of the information age.
Catfishing Dangers: Not just exclusive to romantic scams; the Montgomery case demonstrates the potential for devastating social, legal, and psychological fallout.
Victims Beyond the Direct: The tragedy affected many—Brian Barrett’s family, the real Jesse, both central families, and even the workplace community.

Episode Tone

The hosts’ tone is conversational, occasionally irreverent and self-deprecating, but their approach to the crime and consequences is respectful and serious.
Frequent injections of dry humor provide levity, but they always return to the gravity of the real-world impact.

Closing Reflection

This episode stands as a reminder that "stranger danger" has evolved, and that online relationships, even those started in harmless escapism, can spiral into tragic territory. As Mike Ferguson notes:
"You never know just exactly who you’re chatting with... this is stranger danger at a higher level." ([66:39])

For more on this case:

Watch the documentary “Tall Hot Blonde”
Read feature articles/interviews with surviving family members

Next up: An all-new case on True Crime All The Time in the first week of 2026.

True Crime All The Time – Thomas Montgomery Replay (Dec 29, 2025)

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Ordinary Life of Thomas Montgomery ([03:46]–[07:12])

Thomas Montgomery was a 46-year-old machinist, married for 16 years with two teenage daughters, living in Cheektowaga, New York.
Outwardly, he was a family man: taught Sunday school, was vice president of his daughter's swim club, and was described as awkward but likable.
Montgomery's marriage suffered due to impotence and communication issues. He confided that, despite having "great kids" and a "great wife," he still felt unsatisfied and guilty for wanting "something else" ([08:26]).

2. Escaping Reality Online ([09:04]–[12:00])

Thomas retreated to the Internet, especially chat rooms and online poker, using the username "Marine Sniper" (a nod to his actual military service, though he never saw combat).
He invented an online persona, "Tommy," an 18-year-old Marine—tall, fit, battle-scarred, and everything Montgomery wanted to be ([11:23]).
The hosts draw comparisons between padding a resume and Thomas's online reinvention—"If you're going to go on the Internet and pretend, who’s going to go on there and pretend to be themselves the way they currently are?" – Mike Ferguson ([11:54]).

3. Catfishing and Online Seduction ([13:43]–[16:46])

In May 2005, "Marine Sniper" met "tall hot blonde," supposedly an 18-year-old high school senior named Jesse from West Virginia.
They quickly developed a virtual relationship: flirty chat led to sending gifts, photos, letters, and even virtual sex.
Montgomery, as "Tommy," fabricated wild stories, including claiming to have raped a cheerleader at 17—a detail even the hosts found bizarre and deeply unsettling ([15:58]).

Notable Quote:
"I kept thinking, well, we're never going to meet. I'll just play the game with her." – Thomas Montgomery, as quoted by Mike Ferguson ([13:35]).

4. Escalation and the Double Life ([17:12]–[27:34])

As the fantasy intensified, Thomas increasingly blurred lines between reality and fiction, including posing as "Tommy's father" when "Tommy" was supposedly deployed to Iraq.
He juggled phone calls and orchestrated elaborate lies to maintain the relationship.
His wife and daughters began to sense his withdrawal, with his wife later discovering the shocking truth via letters, gifts (including underwear), and photos from Jesse ([28:18]).

5. Jealousy and Rivalry: Brian Barrett Enters ([30:38]–[32:58])

Jesse, trying to verify Montgomery's identity, contacted Brian Barrett, a 22-year-old coworker of Thomas. Brian confirmed the deception, and soon began his own online relationship with Jesse.
Hostility grew as Montgomery became jealous of Brian, leading to ominous threats: "Brian will pay in blood." ([32:27])

6. Unraveling and Violence ([38:52]–[40:13])

The rivalry and rejection threw Montgomery into an emotional spiral. He threatened both Jesse and Brian, even as Jesse (unwittingly) continued to fan the flames by vacillating between the two.
On September 15, 2006, after a particularly aggressive phone call to Jesse, Montgomery shot and killed Brian Barrett as he left work ([41:24]).
Police recovered telling pieces of evidence (a peach pit, dog hair, missing rifle) and found a digital trail of threats linking Thomas to the murder ([47:02]).

7. The Ultimate Catfish Reveal ([44:01]–[46:05])

Police sought to warn "Jesse" of possible danger, only to discover the young woman never existed. "Jesse" was the online creation of Mary Schuyler, a middle-aged woman—and Jesse’s own mother.
Mary used hundreds of her daughter's photos (many taken without her knowledge), and sent underwear and letters, perpetrating an elaborate hoax on multiple men.
Sharp condemnation from the hosts: "So as harsh as I was on Thomas Montgomery, I'm just as disgusted by this Mary woman... You're going to use pictures of your real daughter..." – Mike Ferguson ([45:26])

8. Legal and Emotional Fallout ([50:18]–[65:12])

Thomas was arrested, tried, and ultimately pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, receiving a 20-year sentence with five years of supervision ([54:02]).
Mary Schuyler was not criminally charged—though her actions were morally repugnant, she didn't break the law.
The emotional toll extended further: Mary's husband divorced her and the real Jesse cut off all contact ([58:52]). Brian's family suffered deep grief, feeling justice was limited.
Montgomery’s wife divorced him, and their daughters have avoided public comment.

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

On the dangers of online escapism:
"If you're escaping your marriage by finding other people to talk to on the Internet and starting up flirty conversations and stuff like that, well, you're heading down a path that could lead to disaster." – Mike Ferguson ([10:08])
On the attempted murder cover-up:
"He shot Brian three times with his .30 caliber rifle. When the judge asked if he intended to kill Brian, Thomas said no, until his defense attorney nudged him." – Mike Ferguson ([52:26])
On the aftermath for the families:
"My wife and I don't understand how this could happen to our family. We don't understand how such evil could exist in the world. To gun down a boy over simple jealousy does not make sense." – Dan Barrett, Brian's father ([54:02])
On catfishing and its dangers:
"This is a case, and a really unfortunate example of just how easy it is to lie to people when someone is hiding behind a username and, you know, carefully selecting a profile picture... a cautionary tale to everyone—children and even adults—need to be extremely careful when dealing with strangers online." – Mike Ferguson ([65:56])

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

Analysis & Takeaways

Human Vulnerability: The case is a stark reminder of how personal dissatisfaction and loneliness can breed susceptibility to fantasy and manipulation via digital spaces.
Digital Reality vs. Real-world Consequences: Online deception can have severe, sometimes fatal, real-world repercussions—a “stranger danger” of the information age.
Catfishing Dangers: Not just exclusive to romantic scams; the Montgomery case demonstrates the potential for devastating social, legal, and psychological fallout.
Victims Beyond the Direct: The tragedy affected many—Brian Barrett’s family, the real Jesse, both central families, and even the workplace community.

Episode Tone

The hosts’ tone is conversational, occasionally irreverent and self-deprecating, but their approach to the crime and consequences is respectful and serious.
Frequent injections of dry humor provide levity, but they always return to the gravity of the real-world impact.

Closing Reflection

For more on this case:

Watch the documentary “Tall Hot Blonde”
Read feature articles/interviews with surviving family members

Next up: An all-new case on True Crime All The Time in the first week of 2026.

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Thomas Montgomery Replay

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Summary

True Crime All The Time – Thomas Montgomery Replay (Dec 29, 2025)

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Ordinary Life of Thomas Montgomery ([03:46]–[07:12])

2. Escaping Reality Online ([09:04]–[12:00])

3. Catfishing and Online Seduction ([13:43]–[16:46])

4. Escalation and the Double Life ([17:12]–[27:34])

5. Jealousy and Rivalry: Brian Barrett Enters ([30:38]–[32:58])

6. Unraveling and Violence ([38:52]–[40:13])

7. The Ultimate Catfish Reveal ([44:01]–[46:05])

8. Legal and Emotional Fallout ([50:18]–[65:12])

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

Analysis & Takeaways

Episode Tone

Closing Reflection

Summary

True Crime All The Time – Thomas Montgomery Replay (Dec 29, 2025)

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Ordinary Life of Thomas Montgomery ([03:46]–[07:12])

2. Escaping Reality Online ([09:04]–[12:00])

3. Catfishing and Online Seduction ([13:43]–[16:46])

4. Escalation and the Double Life ([17:12]–[27:34])

5. Jealousy and Rivalry: Brian Barrett Enters ([30:38]–[32:58])

6. Unraveling and Violence ([38:52]–[40:13])

7. The Ultimate Catfish Reveal ([44:01]–[46:05])

8. Legal and Emotional Fallout ([50:18]–[65:12])

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

Analysis & Takeaways

Episode Tone

Closing Reflection