I Found A Hidden Camera In My Bedroom

Summary

Podcast Summary: We're All Insane – "I Found A Hidden Camera In My Bedroom"

Host: Devorah Roloff
Guest: Madeline Martin
Date: May 24, 2026

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Episode Overview

This riveting, unfiltered episode features Madeline Martin sharing her deeply personal and disturbing story about discovering a hidden camera in a family friend’s home while dog-sitting. Through vivid details and raw emotion, Madeline recounts how a seemingly ordinary “nice guy” in her community infiltrated her family’s trust over years, leading to a shattering revelation. The episode dives into the aftermath, the investigation, the trauma, and the lessons about intuition, grooming, and how predators operate in plain sight.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Madeline & Community Background (01:00 – 05:27)

• Madeline grew up in Lexington, North Carolina, in a close-knit community.
• Her family became involved in disc golf, forming the Martin Family Disc Golf (MFDG), a local activity that drew many community members together.
• Madeline’s role was more as a coordinator and fundraiser, getting to know many regulars at events.

2. Introducing “Dave” & Robert Galassi (05:29 – 09:41)

• "Dave," a long-time family friend, introduced the family to Robert Galassi, an older man active in the local community, with no initial red flags.
• Robert and Madeline's family developed a typical small-town close relationship; he helped with car repairs, attended disc golf events, and became a trusted family friend despite certain oddities (e.g., his wife never joining, flaunting wealth, etc.).

3. Early Subtle Red Flags and Madeline's Dog-Sitting Experience (09:42 – 20:21)

• Madeline began dog-sitting for Robert and his wife at age 16, noting that communication was only ever with Robert—a dynamic she later recognized as unusual and “off.”
• She observed that Robert held more household control than typical, and his relationship with his children seemed strained.
• He encouraged her to have her boyfriend visit while dog-sitting—something she felt was odd for an adult to offer a teenage girl ([31:02]).

Quote:
“You can have your boyfriend over.”
—Robert, as recounted by Madeline, [31:02]

4. Escalating Intuition and the "Concession Stand" Event (20:21 – 26:42)

• Madeline describes an encounter in the family’s concession stand where Robert lingered uncomfortably close, making her feel uneasy though his behavior was outwardly “normal.”
• Both Madeline and her mother independently commented on the “weirdness,” but justified it as possible side effects of back pain medication.

5. The Discovery: Hidden Camera in the Bedroom (41:51 – 53:52)

• In October 2023, while dog-sitting again, Madeline spotted a suspicious black device labeled “air purifier” in the bedroom.
• She was initially startled when it loudly announced, “do not power off,” then felt compelled—without knowing why—to photograph and Google the device, revealing it was actually a hidden camera ([49:08]).

Quote:
“It was like something took over my body... I just went into full-on fight or flight.”
—Madeline, [49:08]

• She discreetly left, discussed with her family, and returned to retrieve the device, terrified Robert might be watching in real time ([53:53]).

6. Shocking Revelations from the Camera’s SD Card (66:49 – 73:15)

• Examination of the SD card showed:
  • Still photos and clips spanning a year, including images of Madeline, Robert’s wife naked in their own home (apparently without her knowledge), and another family friend (“Faith”) caught naked.
  • Evidence the camera was intentionally moved and positioned before guests’ stays.
  • Disturbing scenes including images of children in various states at family gatherings ([73:18]).

Quote:
“...the day before she’d come over, you could see him unplug the camera... then plug it in for her stay.”
—Madeline, [71:25]

7. Reporting to the Police & Judicial System Failures (75:39 – 96:42)

• Initially, the police brushed her off, not understanding the context or seriousness.
• Persistence and mention of children eventually drew a more appropriate response; the investigation became serious—evidenced by a major search at Robert’s house, seizure of electronics, and his eventual arrest.
• Madeline shared her frustrations and emotional exhaustion with navigating the legal system—her case, despite felony evidence (including child exploitation material), resulted in a short jail sentence.

Quote:
“Honestly, it was like a slap in the face... looking back now, I’m glad he’s on the sex offender registry.”
—Madeline, [110:33]

8. Aftermath, Broader Implications & Lessons (100:33 – End)

• Robert received minimal punishment (90 days jail, probation, 30 years on the sex offender registry).
• His wife remained with him. Other potential victims declined to press charges or disengaged.
• The experience fundamentally changed Madeline’s sense of trust, her understanding of grooming, and her approach toward intuition and self-protection.

Quote:
“Now, instead of putting people in the good category and letting them make their way to bad, they start in the bad category...”
—Madeline, [115:10]

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On intuition:
  “I feel like I have a very strong intuition, but sometimes I make myself feel like I’m crazy.” ([20:21])

• On grooming and trust:
  “He has groomed my entire family... years of him building up my dad’s trust to be around his son, and then around me.” ([90:44], [115:36])

• On the distress of reporting:
  “I called the cops... the guy on the phone pretty much was like, ‘It’s his house, so he can have cameras wherever he wants.’ And I... went into an absolute meltdown.” ([75:39])

• On the limitations of legal outcomes:
  “He ended up doing 90 days. His probation was like two or three years... but the sex offender registry is what matters.” ([103:35])

• Advice to listeners:
  “If you feel something is wrong, don’t doubt yourself about it.” ([117:14])
  “Go on the sex offender registry and... look in your area. You will be so surprised how many people are actually where you live.” ([119:09])

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Important Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | Highlights | |---------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Lexington/Family/Disc Golf Background | 01:00 – 09:41 | How the close-knit community facilitated relationships with adults like Robert | | The "Weirdness" at Disc Golf | 20:21 – 26:42 | Madeline & her mother sense something wrong, but rationalize away initial red flags | | Timeline of Dog-Sitting | 31:02 – 41:51 | Odd comments from Robert hint at deeper motives | | Discovery of the Hidden Camera | 41:51 – 53:52 | Madeline’s quick thinking, evidence gathering, immediate response | | SD Card Shocks | 66:49 – 73:15 | Photos of multiple women & children, pattern of moving the camera for “guests” | | Police Involvement & Legal Process | 75:39 – 96:42 | Initial dismissal, eventual search, court proceedings and emotional toll | | Sentencing & Reflections | 100:33 – End | Tiny jail term, long registry; wife’s denial; trust issues; advice for others |

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Final Takeaways

• Madeline’s story underscores the importance of listening to intuition, even when someone appears trustworthy and well-integrated in community life.
• Predators often operate over years, manipulating group perception and seeking intimate access through “nice guy” routines.
• The failure of initial law enforcement response is a stark warning about the need for advocates and persistence by victims.
• Legal consequences are often disturbingly light compared to the trauma and societal threat posed.
• Empowerment comes from vigilance: Madeline urges everyone to check local sex offender registries and not assume “it could never happen here.”
• Her courage and composure in handling the aftermath, and sharing her story publicly, may protect countless others from similar fates.

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If you are in a situation where something feels off, trust your gut. Seek help, ask questions, and take action—your safety and dignity are worth more than politeness or giving someone the benefit of the doubt.

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Resources

• North Carolina Sex Offender Registry (find your state's registry online)
• Madeline and Devorah encourage listeners to reach out with their own stories or tips via the podcast’s contact information.

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For broader safety:

• Consider checking any unfamiliar devices in bedrooms or bathrooms against listings for hidden cameras.
• Maintain open lines of communication within your family about intuition, boundaries, and safety.

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“You never actually know who someone is.” — Madeline, [112:54]

Transcript

[Madeline Martin]

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[Podcast Host]

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[Madeline Martin]

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[Madeline Martin]

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[Podcast Host]

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[Madeline Martin]

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[Podcast Host]

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[Madeline Martin]

My name is Madeline Martin. I am from Lexington, North Carolina, from a very small area. And I am going to jump in and tell you all about my story. Let's hear it. Because it's crazy. Okay, so I have two siblings. So I have a brother and a sister. We grew up very normal, very, you know, everything was. We just were living, you know, everything was fine. And then when we were probably, my dad was. Was trying to find something that like, we could do as a family group, like bowling or something like that that we could do all together and like, you know, a lifetime sport, if you will, like, something like that. So when my brother was probably, it was probably like 2015, my dad decided to get into disc golf. So I don't know if you know what that is, but it's.

[Podcast Host]

No, tell me.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. So it's basically like a, like, you know, ultimate Frisbee or something like that. It's like a. Just a disc and you throw it into baskets. That's kind of unnecessary for the story, but where we are in Lexington, it's kind of a very big thing. Around where we are, it's not a big thing, but it's a growing thing. So everybody's kind of getting into it and everybody was just trying to spread, you know, it was just like something that you could do with your kids and adults and like, it was totally like normal for kids and adults to do it all together and like, you know, and you could go out and bring your kids and your friend could bring their kids and it was just like a fun thing that everybody could play together and it wasn't like the kids had to do it separate. Yeah. From the adult good family. Yeah, it was just like a. Like, bowling or, like, you know, like an activity like that. So we live on a lot of property, too, where we live. So my dad was like, well, you know, we kind of got into it. My brother loved it. He immediately took a liking to it. He started doing tournaments, the whole thing. And we kind of had like, a little community of disc golfers where we lived. So everybody kind of, you know, it was just like, you call up your friend and we'll go play disc golf or whatever. So my dad decided on the property that we live on to kind of create, like, a mini little course. And it was just, like, really just for our family. And, like, our close friends lived, like, two roads over, so we were like, this is great. Like, we can all play, and then they can just come over and we can just like, have a little, you know, just like a little hangout, basically. A hangout where you don't have to do nothing. Like, it's, like, fun, like, you know, so. And it's free and, like, you know, like, why not? So it was, like, it was really fun. And I was still pretty young, but when it started to kind of take off. And so we had mfdg. Martin Family Disc Golf. That's what that stands for, because I'm going to be saying that a lot. But MFDG kind of started taking off. My dad created a Facebook page, and we kind of just. I don't know what happened. Like, it just kind of took off, and everybody around us just. We expanded the course. Like, we got nicer baskets, and so it was, like, so popular.

[Podcast Host]

So everybody was. Started coming to your house or your property to play the disc golf.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. And so my dad, like, organized, like, we did all kinds of events. Like, we had, like, fundraisers. Like, I did. My senior project was, like, a fundraiser for, like, a food pantry and stuff like that. And. But I had that opportunity to do it through the disc golf.

[Podcast Host]

That's awesome.

[Madeline Martin]

Because they were so. And everybody in that community was so giving, and they would just, you know, if they saw something was important to you or somebody, you know, in the. Like, they would pour into it and, like, you know, and it was really great. It was really great. And I didn't really start getting into it until, like, I didn't step into the disc. I never played, like, actually, like, my brother did. Like, my brother was very competitive and really started going into, like, the whole tournament scene. I did not do that. I played, like, school sports in high school, so I Was really focused on that. But then, as I. So like I said, I did, my senior project was like, something the disc golf scene. So I was more on the side of like. Like my dad, like, we used to joke that I was like, the course manager. Like, I was really just like, would, like, make cute little graphics to go on the Facebook or, like, just kind of stuff like that. Like, just think of ideas of, like, fundraisers and things that we can bring everybody together and like, you know, just.

[Podcast Host]

You were like, the coordinator.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah, I was just there. Like, I wasn't ever playing. Like, I'd be out on the course and I knew everybody at that point. So, like, a lot of the. Because I would go with my brother to tournaments and stuff like that. So I knew a lot of the. Because it was really the same people, you know, continuously. So I didn't know a lot of the people that were around. One of the guys that we played disc golf with was also, like a longtime family friend from, like, my mom's, like, friend's husband from high school. Like, it was like a. It was a long time. And we were friends before disc golf ever was a thing to us. Because, I mean, there was a time before disc golf, but when disc golf came, it was like, that was a lot of our life. And so he came in over and played it. It really became like a thing that we all did together. So I'll just call him Dave for this podcast. Okay. But Dave, you know, was our good family friend, and he really, like, you know, we were very close, and we were very close with their family there. They had a whole, you know, so

[Podcast Host]

was he wife, kids, your age or he was your mom's age?

[Madeline Martin]

No. Yeah, he's my mom's age.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, so this is a family friend.

[Madeline Martin]

This is an older family friend. Yes, this is like my parents age.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

Family friend. And he, you know, he had kids my age, so we got. I had, you know, he had kids my age, and we, you know, we were. I mean, everything was fine. He brought in some people that he knew, like his friends, like, from work or whatever, wherever, to come over and play disc golf, because it was just like a good time. It was like nothing. You know, it was just a great time. And he ended up introducing us to Robert Galassi, and that is who our story is revolving around. So he is older. So he's older than my parents. That kind of helps the. The scale here. So he's older than my parents, and then it's like my parents age. He's probably. I don't even know. Probably over 10 years older than my parents. Probably closer to 20 years older than my parents. But he was just, like, a nice guy. He did a lot in, like, our local youth theater. And, like, he became very close to our family. He was just, like, the nice guy. He had older kids that were already older. They had moved out. So it was just like. Like the nice grandpa, if you will. Not really grandpa, but, like, you know, the older dad whose kids don't live at home. The empty nester. And it wasn't weird. He was just very normal. He had a wife. They lived, like, literally five minutes down the road from me. So whatever. He was around the disc golf scene, and it was just like, very normal, just like everybody else, you know. And so we kind of, you know, just invited him in and nothing was, you know, off at all. So let me kind of jump back to the disc golf thing. On our property, we had, like, a little concession stand thing. I would run that because now I'm getting more into it. I had. I believe I had just graduated high school or was about to graduate high school. And so I was getting more into it more, Like, I was there more. I was interacting more with the people there. Our families became very close. And really not his family, though. It was more just like him and my dad were friends and, like, me and my brother, like, knew him.

[Podcast Host]

Would his wife come?

[Madeline Martin]

No, his wife never would come. But it really wasn't weird. Like, I don't really know. It just, like, wasn't odd to us. It was just because they were coming. He was coming over to play disc golf. There was, like, we had between probably 20 and 40 people over every. So we do, like, Wednesday night. It'd be between 20 and 40 people would come over every Wednesday night to play disc Golf, and probably 90 of them did not bring their wives.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

So it was. It was like mainly a man thing. And if you, like, it was very normal for just like, the dad to bring their kids. Yeah. And like, whatever. It was just like, very normal. And I mean, some of them did bring their wives, but I mean, a lot of, you know, it was like, high, like, you know, it's just not really like a lot of women didn't just. Yeah. You know, wasn't their thing. Yeah. And it was just totally fine. Normal, whatever. There was, you know, kids everywhere, great time, you know. So our family started getting closer with him. He owned a. Like a auto. I'm not going to get too specific, but a auto repair, just like, basically like a mechanic shop. Let Me say that it was not like auto repair, like just a mechanic shop. And so we would like. He would like have a car for sale, we'd buy it, whatever. Like my parents would buy it and then he would do work on it for cheap. I mean, it was just like a very normal family friend type of relationship. It wasn't very know. There wasn't anything really odd. So let me jump back. So when I started getting more into the disc golf thing and I would run the little concession stand thing, handing out waters, whatever. It wasn't like anything crazy. But. So it was just like one random Wednesday he had stopped coming. I would say he had really bad back issues. So he stepped away from like playing. He. I think he liked the, you know, being around people. So he was still like come and maybe just like walk around. But he wasn't really physically playing anymore. So I mean, here and there, here and there. It was just kind of like. We didn't really talk about it. It was just like whatever, whatever you want to do. I mean. But he hadn't been coming. And then one random Wednesday he decided to come over and you know, he would come like a little later too. Like he would like. We probably started at 6:30. He would probably come in like 7, 7:30 as people were like wrapping up. Because at the end then everybody just starts talking and chatting and whatever before you go home. Which total. I mean, it was pretty normal. It was just weird that he would come over and not play and was just like there to interact with everybody.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Which mean we didn't really think anything of it at the time because maybe you just want to hang out with your friends or whatever. I mean, I don't know. I don't really know what the, you know, what the point was. But this one time he came over, he actually came in. So the concession stand that I'm talking about is like more of like a little shed. Like it was like a little shed. We had a window on the side and people could just walk up, be like, can I get a water? And it just hang it up or can I get a soda? And I would just hand it out, whatever. And I would sit in there by myself because I mean, it was literally like right next to our house. Like it was not, you know, I'm not like, we're not like out in the middle of the woods. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And you pretty much know who's coming and going.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes, I knew pretty much everybody I name. Okay. And it was not like, like it was literally on my driveway directly next to my house, like it was just very normal. And this one Wednesday, he comes in. So Robert comes in to the little shed concession stand and just sits down in there with me. And I was by myself and I was just like, you know, I personally

[Podcast Host]

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[Madeline Martin]

So let me kind of backtrack a little bit too. I had been dog sitting for their family, so him and his wife for. I don't even know, probably since I was about 16. So at this point, I was, at this point in the story, I was probably 18.

[Podcast Host]

So did you know him before this? Disc Golf.

[Madeline Martin]

So no.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. He was introduced through the Dave guy.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Because of this activity.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

And you started dog sitting for him and his wife?

[Madeline Martin]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

At their house?

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. And I was kind of. I was also known as, like, I would just kind of do whatever. Like I was just. I didn't really have a job. Like, I was just like babysitting. Nanny? Yeah, like I was kind of known as like the dog sitter. Like I would just. I babysit for you and dog Sit for you and then you go tell them. And then it was just very normal. And you know, I will say most of the time I feel like as a young, especially because I was so young, like 16 is still very young to me now, looking back.

[Podcast Host]

So I was 18.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. Yeah. Especially like looking back now. And I just was so young. And at that age, I feel like most of the time the babysitter or the dog sitter, most of the time, if you're a girl, you have contact with the wife.

[Podcast Host]

Yep.

[Madeline Martin]

And the woman, which I feel like is just kind of. I don't feel like it's like you making it weird, but I feel like it's just kind of normal. As a woman, you are the one to contact the babysitter and just, you know, I don't know, maybe, you know.

[Podcast Host]

No, I agree.

[Madeline Martin]

I just feel like that's kind of common practice. I don't know.

[Podcast Host]

But.

[Madeline Martin]

And that really was how it was with everybody else. But with him, he was like the one that I was contacting always. I had his phone number and I did have the wife's phone number, but she was never the one to reach out and say, hey, we're going on vacation. Can you come over and watch the dogs? Or whatever.

[Podcast Host]

So you would sleep there too?

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. I'll kind of get into all that once I kind of explain his dynamic with his family because so he had kids. One of his kids lived very far away, the other one lived nearby. I don't really know what the dynamic with him was. I never had, you know, met the sons or anything. I had met the wife because like after I would docs, I would go over there and they'd pay me or whatever. I will say they always did kind of over pay me because I kind of. I didn't really have a rate. I was just like, you know, just pay me what you think that I'm worth or what, you know, it wasn't like. But he was just like a good family friend. I knew they weren't gonna like just give me like rip you off. Yeah, rip me off. So I knew that they would, but it was just like almost too much like I. I didn't really know because obviously at 16 years old, I'm not going to tell you that you're overpaying me. You know, I'm going to take the money and, you know, I just want. That's all I did. I was just like hustling around and doing whatever. So it was just very. I don't know, the dynamic. It was like, he kind of ran the household. And I don't know, around where I live, like, are the people that I've worked with, let me say that, like, the people that I dog sit for and babysit for. And, like, most of the time, the wife does, you know, the more traditional roles compared to the man. Like, you know, most of the time it's just like the man works and, you know, hangs out with the kids and whatever. It's not really, like, does all of the booking, the vacations and all of that, like, jazz at. You know, it's just very traditional, I think. And it was just kind of a different dynamic than I was used to, because no one else that I had ever really seen or grew up, like, around no one else kind of had that same, you know, dynamic in their family. And like I said, I never met the sons, so I don't really know what their, you know, relationship was like with him. But for. From what I knew, it wasn't, like, you know, great.

[Podcast Host]

They weren't very.

[Madeline Martin]

At least with one of them, it wasn't great. They just weren't.

[Podcast Host]

So he didn't have any daughters.

[Madeline Martin]

Right? It was just two sons.

[Podcast Host]

Got it.

[Madeline Martin]

So let me also preface by saying this, too. His. He had someone very close to him. I'm not going to say her name, but she was his son's age, and let's just call her Faith. Let's just call her Faith. So Faith was the age of his sons, or like, around that age, and someone close to her and her family had passed away. So she didn't really have that super. And I don't really know much, so I don't want to say a lot because I don't really know much about her and everything going on with her, but she. I think she just didn't have that strong family, you know, unit. I mean, if it was someone in her immediate family, I'm not gonna say who because, you know, but it was someone in her close family unit. So they took her in a way where they would, like, take her on vacation. It wasn't like. I don't think it was like she was living with them, but it was like she would, like, go on vacation. Like, just like normal family vacation. Dad, mom, kids. Like, it was just like an uncle or something. Like you. You know, it was just. I don't know, I think it was very normal for them. And like I said, I don't know much about her in her story as far as that goes, but that's kind of what I know from just What? I've, you know, inquired about all this. So now that I've kind of got all that out of the way, let's jump back to when we were at the concession stand. Now that I've kind of gotten through all that. Sorry. So the night in the concession stain, he comes in. I'm just, like, giving stuff out to people, and he's just kind of sitting in there. And I don't really know what he was doing. We were just kind of making, like. I was just kind of making small talk. But I will say it was very uncomfortable. I feel like I have a very strong intuition, but sometimes I make myself feel like I'm crazy.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

And I feel like that's very normal. But I just made myself feel. Feel like I was crazy. And, like, something. Like, I was like, I feel uncomfortable, but, like, oh, that's Robert. You know, like.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

You kind of have that internal sense that tells you something's wrong. But I couldn't really. It was just so hard to put my finger on it. But the thing that kind of set my alarm bells off was I was. He was just sitting on, like, a stool. Like a bar stool type of stool. Like just a tall stool. And I had reached over to get something out of the bottom of the fridge. And, you know, most of the time you would just kind of slide out of the way or, like, you know, and it was summertime. I was like, you know, I was in shorts, whatever. And he just sat there and just, like, kind of let me. I don't know if that makes sense, but just kind of let me. I don't want to say this, but, like, bend over in front of him.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Like, not, like, in a weird way, but, like, I just needed to get something out of the bottom of the fridge. And he was just sitting there and wouldn't move. Like, he was just kind of like,

[Podcast Host]

he wasn't like, oh, sorry.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. Yes. Like, a normal. I feel like a normal interaction would go, especially somebody, you know, the age.

[Podcast Host]

What was he talking to you about?

[Madeline Martin]

It was just kind of. I don't like small talk. It was just like, really small talk about dogs, about his dog or whatever. Like, it just was very normal. Like, probably about his wife or whatever. Okay. It wasn't anything inappropriate in any sense. Like, it was just very, you know, just whatever. We normally talked about disc golf or whatever. Just very normal conversation. But my mom had came in after that, and so she didn't know he was there. So my mom comes in, and I'm just like, hey, Mom. Like, I'm gonna go run in and use the bathroom. And I don't think I ever came back out. I never came back outside because I just went into the house and I was just like. Like something is weird. I was just like, that is very, you know, I just, I didn't feel something, didn't feel right. But I didn't know what because he never said anything inappropriate. It was just like very normal.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

You know, conversation. And I was used to talking to people that age. I was very. I feel like I could turn on the maturity very easily. Like not mature in like a, like a inappropriate kind of. No, I know, but like. Yeah, I just turn on where I sound more like an adult, you know, which I did that when I'm talking to, you know, you know, just like you do like a job interview, you have to turn on that. Like, you know, you know, maturity.

[Podcast Host]

You get serious.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. You turn and it's just like very normal. It was just very normal for me to do that. And so that's what exactly what I did around him. It wasn't like I was talking to him like he was my age. It was very much like he was an employer pretty much. Like, I mean, not an employer, but like someone older than me that I'm, you know, I dog sit for you. Like, I'm trying to, like I'm responsible. Like I'm, you know, so it was just a little weird. And I remember my mom, I think it was after he left. Like me and my mom would always do like a debrief. Like, oh, they were doing something weird or you know, just like the, like gossip. Yeah, I guess. And that was very normal. But when he left that night, my mom was like, something's weird. And I was like, yeah. She was like, thanks. She was just like joking, like, thanks for leaving me out there with him. And I was like, well, he was like, he just kind of was acting weird. Like he was just like, not. I don't know, it just did it. It wasn't like him. And keep in mind, like he had been our family friend for like 10 years at this point, before I had ever even. So this is like when I first started having contact when I was dog sitting for them or whatever. But before that, he was friends with like my. Not really my mom, but like my dad and my brother because he was. My brother's younger than me, so he, because of the disc golf thing, he really was a big part of my mom, my dad, and my brother's lives. My sister really doesn't have anything to do with this golf. She was working and stuff and she. So she really never had anything to do with it. But when I started to step into it, the whole thing is, you know, he had been around for a long time. He's more interactive. Yes. So there I was definitely interacting with him more, but I was interacting with everybody more. So it wasn't necessarily like it was weird.

[Podcast Host]

I am sure so many of you can relate to the feeling of just feeling like something is off. Whether it's no matter what you eat, your stomach just isn't settling, it doesn't feel right. You're exhausted.

[Madeline Martin]

Midday.

[Podcast Host]

That is like the biggest thing that I struggle with and, and something that I just started to realize is that so much of these off feelings actually tie back to your gut and your gut health. Whether it's your digestion or your brain function or your focus or your overall energy levels. And that's why it is so important to really nourish and take care of your gut. And that is why I started taking Just Thrive probiotics. And it's not one of those probiotics or things that you take that just looks good on paper and it actually is meant to arrive in your gut 100% alive. Which is the whole point. Right. So instead of just hoping that something works, you're actually giving your body a real shot at better digestion, stronger immunity and just feeling like you are back to your normal self again. And the best part, there is no risk. You can try it and see how you feel. Start your 90 day risk free trial today at justthrivehealth.com insane and save 20% on your first order. That's just Thrive Health.com promo code insane. Be the best you with just Thrive.

[Madeline Martin]

So that happened and my mom was like, you know, or my, I think it was my both of them. Honestly my mom and dad were like maybe he's like taking too much pain medicine or something because he did have back problems. Like it was kind of like a big deal. Like everybody knew. Yeah. So they were just, you know, maybe he's taking too many pills or something. Maybe he's just in a lot of pain. I don't know. And we of just chalked it up to that. But my mom, I just specifically remember my mom saying thanks for leaving me out there with him. Like not in like a. It was just like a joking way. But at the same time it was like she knew too.

[Podcast Host]

Like she felt weirdness.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes, she felt something weird there too. But we. So then from then on out really. We just. We just brushed it off in a way. But we kind of always knew. I think we kind of always knew that something wasn't right. And he very much flaunted his money, and he's taking his entire extended family on vacation to wherever. Like, it was very much flaunting money, but not. It was almost so subtle that you. That we never even thought, like, twice about it. It was just very. I mean, we were just like, how are you? The only question we had was, how are you getting the money? We never asked. But it was like, you're running, like, a mechanic shop. Like, you're taking your entire extended family on vacation, flying across the country or something. Like, it's like. It is not, like, how are you affording? Adding up? Like, how are you. Yeah. And he lived in a very normal house. Just like a very, you know, normal house. Kind of lived a normal life. But there was just things all the time that would come up, and it was just like. Like how? Like what? You know, like there'd be just like a random, very expensive car, and then it just disappear and you never see it again. And it was just like very. Just kind of subtle red flags, but they were happening so far apart that it was just like. And we didn't know. We didn't know what was going on. So, you know, what were you. What are you supposed to do if you don't really know? And I want to kind of add this in here. If you want to, like, put this at the end, you can. But the way I kind of. I listen to the Gift of Fear, it's a book, but in the book, the. The author talks about how, you know, your intuition is a very strong thing. But when you sometimes. And predicting things, like, it's like predicting an intuition is a huge thing, and you have to kind of tune into it. But when things happen and you're only getting clips of it, it's hard to sometimes put it together when you're in the moment. So he talks about a guy who is checking into a hotel and, you know, he doesn't have anything with him. He talks about how, you know, nobody loves him and, you know, asks for a hotel on a high floor. And as you're listening to the story, you can probably, you know, predict that he's gonna commit suicide and jump out the window and kill himself. But if you're. And then it goes back to. Well, if you're the clerk at the counter, maybe he is, you know, checking him, and maybe he just is gonna go back to the car and get his luggage once he checks in. And then it's like maybe the guy showing him to his room who is saying nobody loves him and all this. Like, maybe him and his wife got in a fight and he, you know, just needed to stay the night at a hotel. And he's just like, you know, having a rough. A rough day. And it was just like all. If you see all of the clips from all of the individual pieces, you might not like. It's just like, you can chalk it up to anything, but when you look at it from the whole story, you're like, how did you not notice? Or how did you not know? But if you look at it, you know, in the moment, it's very hard to put all the pieces together, I guess. But that's kind of the way I like to think about it because I feel like telling the story too. I'm like, how did I not know? But.

[Podcast Host]

Well, I think the thing is we as humans try to make excuses for a lot of things. We try to dim down our intuition, like you mentioned.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And I think also there are a lot of fucking weirdos. I also think most people are weird and that's fine. And it's very normal to sit and talk about, like, did you see what they did? Or that's weird. Or the way they acted was weird. And it's one thing, there's a huge gap between weird and then a problem,

[Madeline Martin]

you know, and you don't really usually

[Podcast Host]

know there's a problem until it's thrown in your face.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

So it's very easy to go back and be like, oh, we should have known, we should have known. But there's so many people that have red flags and are just weird. But it stops there. There's not. I mean, you don't assume that everyone's really, really bad.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. And see, that was. So, yeah, let's kind of jump back to as I started dog sitting for them. Let's just get a little clip in there. So I was probably 16, my boyfriend at the time we were together. And this is like the very first time that I was going over there to watch the dog. So it was me, my mom, my dad, my brother and my boyfriend at the time. We went over to his house because he was gonna show me, like, all the stuff I had to do and like, you know, where the dog food is and like, you know, the typical, you know, how to set the alarm, all the things. So we get over there and at this point, this is before anything at the concession standard Anything had happened. So this is like very beginning when I started dog sitting for them. We get over there and he was like, oh, I wasn't expecting everybody to be here, which is like very like normal. But these are the comments that stick out in my mind looking back now. So that's why I kind of remember all of these pieces. And as we're kind of walking around and he's giving me a tour of his house or whatever, you know, he's very much like, it was just very. It was pretty normal. I mean, but he was like, you know, you can have anybody over you want, like, you know, if you feel more comfortable. He's like, no, you can have whoever over. But the thing that stuck out to me is he said, you can have your boyfriend over. And I was like. And I remember like, I was just like, What? I was 16. I was like, I don't want a boy over here with me. Like, I mean, I was still, I was 16, but I was still like, like, I know better than that. Yeah, Like, I know that is not normal because I knew, like, obviously my boyfriend would come to my house, but like, I knew that was not normal or okay in, you know, and my dad was like, you're not having no boys over here. And it was just kind of like we moved on. And I was like, yeah, I wasn't like planning on it. Planning on it, but that's just like, I was just like, that's weird that he would say that. And that's like one of those comments that still sticks out to me because that's just so such an odd thing to say to a young girl. Yes. So. So that's when I had first started dog sitting. I dog sat for them and then I started getting to the disc golf thing. So where we are, Let me jump forward again. Where we are now is the concession stand incident, which was about two years later after. This was a long time. Yes.

[Podcast Host]

You would have been dog sitting for them whenever they'd go away for a couple years.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. So it started really when I was 16, probably when I could start driving. And then when I was 18 is when I started really getting into the disc golf scene. And that's when the thing happened at the concession stand. So that kind of helps the timeline there. So I would just dog sit whenever they needed me, really. So it was just, you know, a week here, a weekend there, whenever. So I was probably 17, 18. Around this time I started also babysitting with his wife. So his wife was like naming for this family who had like, it's probably like four or five kids. And she, I mean, she was older too, so she was like. They were probably. They were approaching 60, so, I mean, they were grandparent age. So, you know, it was hard for her to keep up with two little babies. So she was like, you just, you know, if you want to come over, like, I'll pay you half of my pay and you can like, help me out. The kids. And I was like, sure. Because that was just like very much normal. And me and her, everything was very normal. We just took care of the kids. Like, we talked, chatted like, it was just kind of like, not like, I'm definitely not like a mom figure, but it was just like. I don't even know how to explain the relationship because it was just so not weird. Because it wasn't weird. We very much talked like, normal. Like, I don't know, it was just like somebody you meet and just. Yeah. You know, and she was obviously a lot older than me, a lot older than my mom, but. And she, like I said she wasn't like a mom figure. It was just almost like an older aunt or something. Like something like that. Like, it just very much was normal. And I. I would just. I think it was like every Friday or something, so it was just like every week. And then eventually the kid got. One of the older kids got old enough where they were going to school or whatever, so she didn't need me anymore and whatever. I just, I got a full time job or a full time babysitting job then, so I didn't really need it either. So we just kind of parted our ways. So jump back. So they're going out of town for a weekend. I was helping his wife babysit and he would just kind of. Not all the time, but he asked me just one time to. And this is getting closer to the big event. So as we're going down the timeline, we're like babysitting with his wife and all that and like the concession stand incident. And then we're getting closer towards the event. He asked me to come up to the shop and answer the phones for the day because they didn't have like a desk person. I guess it was just like a very small thing, like. Or like a small town thing, I guess. Like they just kind of answer the phones whenever they could. But there was normally, like, I think there was three of them there normally. And he was going to be the only one there for the day. So he asked me. And I know looking at this, you're probably like what the heck were you thinking? But it was just like. He just asked me. It was like the night before. It was probably like 6 o'. Clock. He was like, hey, would you like to come answer phones in the morning and I'll show you what to do? Like, all you got to do is tell them, you know, I'll pay you. All you got to do is tell them, like, I'll get back to you, take the notes down and then I'll call them back or whatever, take their name and number. And I was like, okay, sure. Seems like easy money. Like, I'm just gonna stay here all morning. Answer the phone. Perfect. So I actually do go. It was the next morning. It was probably like 8 o'. Clock. And like, I said, he was the only one there. And it was very. I wouldn't say I didn't really feel too. I don't know. I knew that it was odd, but it was. I think that what set off my, like, alarm bells was because he didn't really. Like, he just kind of sat me in the back corner. He was like, you can just sit, like, sit here, answer the phone. Like, I'll give you this notepad. You can take notes or not notes, but take, you know, notes from the calls or whatever. I was like, okay. And then, you know, he was like, when lunchtime comes, like, just let me know when you're hungry. I'll give you money. You can drive down to Chick Fil A. Like, bring us something back and, you know, we'll have lunch. I'll pay for it, like, and then I'll pay you at the end of the. Or, it was like. I think it was a half day or something. I'll pay you at the end of the day or whatever. And that. That sounded great to me. Like, at that time, I was like, yeah, sure. But I just always think that I had the nagging intuition that I couldn't put my finger on. And I just didn't quite know because it was almost like he was so standoffish in a way. But then sometimes he would do things and not do things, say things that would be just kind of. You just be like. But you'd also. Then you chalk it up to, oh, that's, you know, that's just a nice guy. Like, you know, it's. You know, he just said something weird like, you know, and you just, like, kind of make excuses for it, which I feel like is normal, you know, and are not normal. It shouldn't be normal. But so, whatever, it was fine. Nothing ever really happened. I just took phone calls and took notes and that was it. And I went home. I went and got lunch and went home. And I just remember, like, I remember sending a Snapchat to my friend, and I was like, this is the best job ever. And I was like, sitting here to my chick Fil A, like, this is so easy. Yeah. And I, like, enjoyed, like, answering the phone or whatever. But I just knew deep down, I think, that something was weird because I was just, like, sitting in the corner of the, like, of the office area. Like, I wasn't even sitting at the front counter. Like, you know, most of the time, if, you know, I feel like you'd be at the front counter or where do you feel most comfortable kind of thing. But he was just like, you can sit back here. I don't know. But looking back now, I'm like, he could have raped me. Like, he. Like, anything could have happened. Like, you never know. And looking back now, obviously I would, like, I would never put myself in that situation again. But once again, I was just. He was just family, friend, robber. And nothing was weird. Like, it was just very normal. And so let's jump back. So this is all happening. So this is all led up. So this was like, we're approaching. I think it was the. It was a weekend. It was like the weekend before Halloween of 2023. I think it was October 27th of 2023. I was watching. I think it was just for the weekend, watching the house for the weekend. And the dog. And the dog was very old, so they, especially him, was always like, you know, just sleep in our bed. Because that's where she's blind, whatever. She's, you know, rough, rough shape. So they were like, you know, just sleep in our bed. She's used to that, you being there or someone being there. So I was like, okay, that was just very. And I. I mean, I did that other people's houses, like, I would sleep in the master bedroom or whatever. Like, I feel like it's just kind of common to do that. But it was just. I don't know, like, once again, I just. I had a very hard time sleeping over there, too. Let me add that in as we're getting into this, too, because this comes back to the intuition thing. I think it was my intuition the whole time, but I just could not sleep. And I would just wake up like, every hour of the night, and I just would, like, sit there and I'm like, what is the problem? And I never had problems. I've never in my life had Problems sleeping. I'm very much. I will sleep through the whole night as soon as my head hits the pillow. Like, I'll fall asleep in two minutes in the car. And, like, it's never. I never have any trouble sleeping. But over there, I was waking up every hour of the night, and I just. I'm like, I just could not. And this was kind of a consistent thing where I could not. Like, I just couldn't. And I was like, maybe the dog is just, like, annoying me because she would wake me up in the middle of the night to go pee. But it was just, like, times in between that, like, I'd just wake up and I'd just be like, like, what's the deal? Like, why am I awake?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

You know, And I just never had that issue at other people's houses. So I think looking back now, that was kind of a red flag. So I think it was just. It's like something was telling me to get out of there, but I just couldn't. Yeah. Figure it out. So I'm sleeping in their bed, you know, every time I go over there. So this weekend, I. It was just kind of, like, very normal. I had went. I think it was the first night I was over there. I remember I was babysitting that morning, and the wife had actually texted me, which wasn't very common, but she was like, hey, just making sure, like, you're so good. We're leaving now. Whatever. And I was like, yep, I'm coming over as soon as I'm done babysitting. And it was very normal for me to come and go during the day, and then at night is when I would stay all night long. And it was also very normal for me to have my brother. I didn't have him many times, but probably two or three times before this, I would have him come over there, and he would sleep on the couch.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

Because I could not. Like, I just felt so terrified. Yeah. And I just could not ever figure out why. Figure out why. Yeah. And it. He did have cameras, let me just say, in the living room and the kitchen. So he had, like, one that was facing, like, into the living room, but it was kind of by the front door. So, I mean, it was just come. I don't know. Not. I feel like not a lot of people have cameras, especially if you don't have young kids there. Like, I feel like it's more normal if you have younger kids to have cameras inside or something. Like, if you have, like, a nanny or a babysitter or something. But They're. They just had camera, a camera in the living room and then they had one in the kitchen that I knew of at the time. So the weekend that I went over there, I was by myself. It was the. Like I said, it was the very first day. And that night it was pretty early. I think it was probably like around 9 o'. Clock. I had started, like winding down for bed. And most of the time I didn't, like, I really didn't shower or anything over. Like, I would just do that at home because they were like five minutes away from me. So I just shower and then come over and get in bed. So it wasn't really like I had to do this whole nighttime routine. I just came over and went to bed. So I would just like wind down. I let the dog out and I was just laid down in bed. And the way that their bedroom was set up is they had. So they had. The bed was here, the wall across was like the tv. They had like a TV stand. And then to the right side they had an exterior door that would go outside. And they had a whole wall of windows on this side. But then if you look, it was almost like a little hallway into kind of like an office thing over here, which led back out into like the rest of the house. So in that little office space, there was like a desk or whatever, a bookshelf and whatever else. But on the very far wall there was just like a wall of windows. And I could see it from the bed kind of. And I. And it was just like, almost because I was looking at it, I think it was just like creeping me out. I was just like, oh, that's. You know, it was dark outside and the blinds were. It was just. The blinds were open. I was like, oh, it's creeping me out. And all the blinds on this side are closed. So obviously I didn't get up and close those. But I just like. I was like, let me just get up and close those blinds. Like, maybe that'll make me feel better, make it easier for me to go to sleep. And so when I get up, I go and close the blind. And as I'm kind of. Or as I'm walking towards the blinds, actually, let me go. Yeah, sorry. Let me fix that. As I walk. As I get up and walk down the little mini hallway thing into the office area to close the blinds, I kind of get stopped in the little corner area because I hear something say, do not power off. It's like almost like the way I describe it is like a siri type of voice, like, very much like a robot kind of voice. It's like, do not power off. I was just like. I was like, what was that? And I look over because now I'm standing. I'm in the little hallway going towards the wall of blinds and the. I'm kind of standing directly beside the TV and the TV stand, and I look over and down onto the TV stand and I'm like, what is that? And it's like. It was just like this little black circle thing. And I was like, that's kind of weird. And I. So I took a picture of it and then it was just like, very instinctual of me too. Let me just say that, because it was not like.

[Podcast Host]

And that's what made the noise. That's what said.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes, yes. And I didn't know that at first. I don't see. This is the thing that kind of like.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, because like, if you think about it, I mean, I've never heard something even say, do not power off.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. It was very. Just like instinctual, like I said. It was very much like. I didn't know why I was doing it. It just happened. Okay, Picture of it. Yeah. I literally took my phone and I was just sitting there and I was literally frozen because I heard it. And it was just like. I heard the do not power off. I turned. Made direct eye contact with it, and then I was just like, turned my phone and just took a picture of it. And I don't know why. I have no clue. Honestly, I have no clue why I did that. But then I went back to the bed and I just sat down on the bed and for some reason it just like clicked in my head. I'm like hitting camera. And I was like. I honestly didn't. At first. I didn't think it was a camera, though. I think I. I thought it was more of like audio recording. For some reason, that just came first to my head.

[Podcast Host]

Like, where was this? Facing towards the bed. Okay, so. So like you said, there was like the little hallway, but this camera thing was facing into the bedroom towards the bed.

[Madeline Martin]

So the office was like. So let me kind of just so, like, if the bed was over here, the TV and the TV stand were right in front of it.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

Directly facing it. And that's where it was sitting. It was sitting on that TV stand. Ah, yes. Okay. I was like walking off towards the left side, if that makes sense. So I was walking up towards the left side to go close the blinds. But I kind of got stopped in that little hallway. Area. And that's. That's how I was standing directly beside it, I guess, because it kind of went off that way.

[Podcast Host]

So it's facing the bed?

[Madeline Martin]

Yes, it's facing the bed.

[Podcast Host]

Now you're sitting on the bed and this thing's still just facing you?

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. So it never made another sound after that. It only said, do not power.

[Podcast Host]

No lights.

[Madeline Martin]

No. Well, so it had a. Like a light on the top. It was just like a little power button.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

Just like a little red power button. But after I took a picture of it, it says, like, it just said air purifier on the front. And so I was just like. Yeah, like, it literally just said air purifier. And it just kind of looked like a cheap air purifier, honestly.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

And I was just like.

[Podcast Host]

See, I wouldn't have thought twice.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah, see, that's what I'm saying. It was like complete.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Something took over my body and I just like went into full on, like, fight or flight. And I sat down on the bed and I remember thinking, I think this is like an audio recording or something. Like, it's trying to catch me. Maybe he's trying to catch me saying something bad about them or something. Like. I don't know. And for some reason, that was the first thought in my head. But once again, I don't know why I did this, but I just immediately went to Google and I was like, air purifier camera. Like, that's literally what I Googled. And I don't know why. Like, I have no.

[Podcast Host]

It was your gut.

[Madeline Martin]

What? Like, no clue why I did that. But, like, it was like pure. Just intuition. My dad was like, that was just like divine intervention. Like, you. It just all happened. So also probably because the feelings that

[Podcast Host]

you were getting in there, like, as if almost like you couldn't sleep because you felt like you were being watched.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. And that's. That's kind of. It was just like, I always felt like. I don't know. I. Like you said I was almost like I was just being watched all the time. It was just like an uncomfortable feeling that I couldn't really put words to. So I sit down, you know, I Google it, and I find it, and I'm like, oh, shoot.

[Podcast Host]

So it's actually an air purifier with a camera.

[Madeline Martin]

I don't think it actually was. It was like sticker on it. It was like. So I. So when I googled it, I literally found like, the Amazon listing. Okay, let me. It was a literal Amazon listing of like, air purifier hitting camera. Ah. So he didn't, like, make it. Like, he ordered it from somewhere.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

If that makes sense. Yes. So. And once again, I was. I was, like, still sitting on the bed and I had, like, screenshotted the Amazon listing because I remember scroll. Like, I scrolled down to, like, the reviews because I was like, the review pictures are going to look more alike, Right. And it was like a spitting image. It was like the exact same thing. So I took a picture or a screenshot of it, and I had sent it to my boyfriend. Poor guy. We had literally been dating for. It was like, literally 20 days after we started dating. And I was like, he's gonna think that I am crazy. Like, he's gonna think that I'm nuts. And I sent it to him. And I was like, do you think this is a camera? And this is like, before I even said anything to my parents, because I was just like. And I knew. I already knew. I just needed somebody to confirm my feelings before because obviously this is going to freak my parents out. And I'm like, I already knew, but I needed somebody to confirm before I freak out.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

You know, because it was coming. It was building. Like, I. Like, I said I was literally in fight or flight, but I was very. I just feel like I was very oddly calm in, like, a weird way. I was just. I knew exactly what to do, I think. So I sent it to him and he was like. Like, you need to leave. Like, that is like, yes. He was like, that is very. You know, that's the exact same thing. Like, that's very. And I was just like, okay, that's all I need to know. So I, like, grabbed. I just remember grabbing, like, a few of my things. I don't even know. Like, I grabbed. Like, I had, like, my book bag with my laptop in it. Like, I just remember grabbing my laptop, I think, or I don't even remember. I just grabbed a couple of my things and just leaving. And I rem. I had my own alarm code, too. Let me just say that I had my own alarm code to get in and out. So I. It was different from the one they used. So he could also see everything from his phone. Any of the cameras in the house. Like, he could access them at any time. So like, the one in the living room, in the kitchen, he could see them whenever. And he could change the code on the alarm even if he wasn't there. And just, like, things. Like, it was very, like, smart home type of, I guess. Like, he could Just change the alarm whenever and do things like that from his phone. So I remember getting myself. And I was like, I have to walk down this hallway because the camera that was in the living room was also kind of like down the big hallway that had the master on the end. And I was like, I just have to walk down this hallway. Like nothing happened. And I honestly did not know if he was watching me in that moment on the camera. And that's. I think what freaked me out so bad is because I was like, you know, we have been saying that something is off this whole time, and what if he's like, in to something bigger?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

And I was like, what if. Like, this sounds so crazy, but, like, what if he's, like, in the mafia? Or, like, what if he, like, has some kind of, like, connections with, like. I don't know, like, connections with something. Yeah, like, group bigger. And I was like, I could, you know, if he saw me on the camera, see the camera, like, there's no telling what could happen. And so it very much, like, scared me. But I just remember before I walked out of the door, I was just like, deep breath. I was like, just walk down the hallway, like, everything's normal. Just like, you're leaving. And I had not called anybody because I didn't want. If he was on the camera or anything, I didn't want them to hear.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Because I didn't want anybody to know. And, like, he had cameras outside the house, everywhere around the. Outside of the house and everything. So he could see me get in the car and leave and like, all that. So I just had to punch the alarm code in, like, leave, like, normal.

[Podcast Host]

And I'm sure it wasn't typical of you to leave after you were in for the night.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. And it was like I was bringing all my stuff over, so I just had to act very normal. And that's also why I didn't bring. I think that's why I didn't bring all my stuff too, because I just wanted to make it look like you were running out. Yeah, I was just like, running out to get something. I don't know. So I got in the car and I went home. And I just remember getting in the car and I'm like, immediately like, oh, my God. Like, I'm just like, I don't really remember. And I think I've, like, trauma blocked a lot of this out. But, like, I just remember being like, like, what is going on? And I backed the car. And then when I got on the front street and passed the House. That's when I called my mom and I was like, mom, I'm coming home right now. And, like, once again, I was, like, freaking out in fight or flight. But, like, I was just. I feel like I was just so oddly calm, and I just knew exactly what I needed to do in, like, a weird way. And so I was like, mom, I'm coming home right now. I was like, I think that I found a hidden camera in the bedroom. Like, I'm coming home. Just be awake. Because it was approaching, like, 9:30 at this time. It was 9:35 when I had found the camera. So it was like 9:40 that I called my mom and I told her I was coming home. And I had made it back home by 9:48. So I had made it back home and I was like, mom, please just be awake and downstairs so when I get there, like, I can show you what this is. Because once again, I don't know if he even saw me on the camera. I don't know if he saw me find it. I don't know if someone's coming after me right now. And I was just, like, so freaked out. And I talked to my mom and dad or whatever, and my dad was just like that silent anger. Like, he immediately knew as soon because I had the picture. I showed him the picture. I showed him the listing on Amazon. And I was like. But I was still the one that was denying myself. Yeah, in that, like, I was showing it to them. And my dad was just like. I could tell that he knew that it was something very serious. And my mom is kind of the one who, like, she's the one who immediately just is, like, kind of goes off the handle and just like, Is just like. Just like, immediately jumps in. My dad is kind of like the silent thinks things through, but I was still denying myself because my dad, I was just like. I was like, well, what about the dog? And he was just like. Like this. Like, the dog does not matter anymore. And he was like this. Like, this is very serious. Like, this is not like a joke. And I was like. I knew it wasn't a joke, but I was just like. Or not a joke, but I was just like, well, what if it. What if it was this or what? I was still denying myself in that moment. And I. But I knew, like, I knew deep down that it was something way bigger. So what I actually did was I went back over there. Me and my parents had talked, and they were like, you need to go get it. Like, get the camera from the house. Because If. If he did see you on there, and obviously he's on vacation, he. He's like, not across the country, but he. He can't just, like, zip home real quick. So they were like, go back over there. Just walk in like normal, unplug the camera and bring it back home. And, you know, it'll be fine. And so they were just like, act like normal. I mean, not like, it'll be fine. They were obviously freaking out, but, like, they needed me to act normal in that time. So it was not, you know, so I went back over, and so this was probably. It wasn't even 10 minutes. I arrived back home the first time with, like, just the pictures at 9:48. And by 9:55, I was going back over there. I had already left home and was going back. So it wasn't even 10 minutes. And my parents had convinced me that I need to go back over there. And they were like, you cannot wait. Like, you need to go now. So I. I think my brother might have rode with me, but I was like, you have to stay in the car. Because I was like, I don't need it to look like I'm scared or anything's wrong. I just need to make it look like I'm just running back in. So I. When I ran back in, I had. My book bag was still there, so I just unplugged the camera and I just put it in my book bag and just walked back out. But once again, I literally had to just, like, walk out. Like, everything was completely normal. And, like, I didn't, you know, just find this. Because we hadn't contacted him at this time in any way. Like, we had not. And I was like, oh, my God, I'm gonna get arrested for theft. Like, they're gonna like, I'm stealing. But my dad was like, no. Like. Like, this is way more serious than. Than that. He was like, if you do, like, so be it, because it's gonna be a bigger issue or whatever. They're like, you'll be fine. Like, whatever. And I was like, I'm 18. Like, I was 8. I was. I don't. I think I was 18 at the time. I was like, they're going to get arrested. Like, I was just. Yeah, it was just so stupid looking back now, but. So I went back home, and I got back home. I got back home at 10:10. And I had. That's what's crazy to me. Like, these timestamps are so close together. And I, like, pulled him from my camera. But, like, I had literally like our camera at our house from me pulling in the driveway or whatever. But it's just so crazy how fast it all happened. Yeah, like I got there, I got to his house and left within like two minutes.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Got the camera and left within two minutes. And then I got back home like five minutes later. It was just so crazy. And so my dad texted at that point once I brought it home and we really could tell that it was a camera. So like if you like would put your flashlight up to the. Where it says air purifier in like one of the letters, it was like a little like red. Like you know when you shine it, it'll be red. So it was like a little red dot and I was like, oh my gosh. And just. I just didn't even know what to feel. I don't think I was just like complete just like shock almost.

[Podcast Host]

That was the only one he had.

[Madeline Martin]

No, I think there was way more. Okay, and I'll kind of get into that too. That same night after we had got the camera home and kind of did a thorough. It didn't have to be very thorough because we kind of figured that out real quick. But my dad had texted him. I don't even know what my dad texted him them something very just like. I think it was just Meline's done. She's not watching the dog. Find somebody else to watch the dog. She found the hidden camera or something. It was just like very like two sentences probably and that was it. And I, that. So I obviously stayed at home that night. But I was still like, oh my God, dad. The dog. Like the dog. And that's. He, that's why he added in the park. Find someone else to watch the dog. Because he was like, I was freaking out because I was like, the dog's gonna be left by herself. Like, yeah. And I just like, once again, looking back, that was just like so stupid. Like I like obviously I care about the dog's well being but like that was not the thing that I needed to be focused on at that time.

[Podcast Host]

So

[Madeline Martin]

we ended up taking the like the SD card out of the camera and then we didn't, I didn't really, like we didn't really mess with it too much because I didn't because I knew I was going to call the police the next morning. So he didn't even text my dad back all night and it was like only 10 o' clock or something. So he didn't text my dad back all night until the next morning. And he said so he said, john, I set that up when the cleaning ladies were at the house last week and totally forgot to move it. We have a jewelry box that is directly across. Across from it by the back door. It's the only reason I have it. I certainly am not trying to watch Madeline sleeping. And so there was a jewelry box by the back door, but it was not in the view of the camera. The camera was facing directly towards the bed. It was not, like, even remotely faced towards that direction. So we all knew that it was B.S. like, obviously, he's just trying to cover, but we still didn't really know what. Because I'm like, I never had anyone over there, really.

[Podcast Host]

Did you ever get changed in front of the camera?

[Madeline Martin]

So, no, not as, like, looking back now. I really didn't change over there much. If I did, it was in the bathroom.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

But I was just so freaked out. I was like.

[Podcast Host]

I mean, like, if you did have your boyfriend over, like he said, you know what I mean?

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. And that's kind of when all this thing started coming back to me. And it was just like, he was literally, like, inviting my boyfriend to come over and stay with me.

[Podcast Host]

And, like, regardless, like, even if you did have it set up for any other reason, I don't know. I just think cameras in the house, it should either be full disclosure or, like.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. And at this point, this is when I started looking into, like, the legal side of stuff. Like, I was Googling. Like, it's like secret peeping in North Carolina, I think. And it is legal to have cameras in your house, but you cannot have them in, like, personal spaces. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Like bedroom, bathroom.

[Madeline Martin]

Bedroom, bathroom. Anywhere where you would expect someone to get changed, especially if you have a guest. And if you do have a guest, then it has to be disclosed. So, like, if I'm coming to stay at your house and you have a camera in your bedroom, then you have to tell me.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Or like, that's when I can, like,

[Podcast Host]

you know, make a decision or be like, can you actually turn it off?

[Madeline Martin]

You know, that's when, you know I could call the police on you. Like, you know, what is it now besides anything.

[Podcast Host]

You know, besides it being what it is, which is horrible. It's uncomfortable.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Nobody wants to feel like a camera is watching them sleep.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. It's just weird to begin with. And even if it was just a thing when I was not there, it's still just weird to me in general because I don't even know. So the next. So this is the next morning when he texted My dad back. We actually took the SD card out of the camera and we actually took the camera back and put it in his mailbox. That sounds so, like, weird. But I didn't want to be in trouble. And that wasn't gonna be arrested for theft. Yes, I didn't wanna be arrested for theft. And that was like. I just, I just. I don't know why. I was just like so freaked out. And you're about to start college. Yes, I was about to start college to be a teacher. And so I was like, yeah, I was like, I'm gonna be arrested for that. I'm never gonna be able to get a teaching job in my whole life. Like, this is never gonna happen. So we took it back over there and me and my sister went and bought an SD card reader the same morning because, like, once again, we still hadn't viewed anything on the SD card. So we got this or the reader thing. We came back home and I made my sister look through. Bless her, I made her look through everything because I was like, I don't wanna. Like, if I'm on there, like that is going to haunt me. Because I don't know. Because obviously he's able to access this from somewhere else. I think. Like, I. At this point I was thinking that he could see it from his phone.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, I would assume.

[Madeline Martin]

And I still don't know for sure, but I'm like, if you can look

[Podcast Host]

at pet cameras from your phone, I'm sure anything like that.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes, absolutely. So I. That's kind of why.

[Podcast Host]

So did she see any? Did you find anything?

[Madeline Martin]

So on the camera she. So during. Also during this time of us looking through the camera, his wife texted me because no one had texted me directly. Okay. She texted me and said, omg, Robert told me you found our nanny camera. I am so sorry you think we are peeping on you. That is for the cleaning ladies to make sure they aren't stealing from the jewelry box. It's been there for months and honestly forgot to move it. We totally trust and love you and never invade your privacy.

[Podcast Host]

And it's hard because, like, reading that, it sounds.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Sympathetic.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

And honest.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. So when my sister. So this is quite a few hours after he had texted my dad too. So that he takes my dad at 8 o' clock in the morning and she didn't text me until almost 1pm okay. So it had been like hours and hours. And I was just like, there's no way, like he's like taking her phone or he. And he is very dominant. In their relationship, let's just say. So he very much would not surprise me if he, like, had to threaten, hurt us in the text at all. Like, that would not surprise me whatsoever.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

But at this time, I s. At this point, I realized that it was something. It, like, it was not. Like, there was no chalking this up to be something that it wasn't. Because what my sister was finding on the camera was there was one picture of me that she found, and the pig. And the camera only went back one year, I believe it was, like, around one year of pictures. And then there was some, like, video clips. I just don't really know exactly how it would record, if it would record motion, because it never recorded me in motion. It would. So what she found was one picture of me. Then there was pictures, a lot of pictures of his wife completely. Because that's her bedroom, you know, and just, like, completely naked and, you know, and just walking around the room. And honestly, I don't think she had any idea. And I think that when this all started to unfold, she started. You know, it started to unfold for her, too. Okay. Because in, like, I don't know even in my own house, if it was my own. Like, it's just so, like, it's your husband. Why are you. Yeah. That's just weird, that, like, period. I just don't. And she just looked like she was never, like, looking at it. Like, you know, if I was walking by, I'd be like, oh, like, you know, like. And she just looks like she had no idea she was walking around naked.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

And.

[Podcast Host]

But you think the pictures were, like, screenshot stills.

[Madeline Martin]

And so that's what I never. And I still don't know to this day. It makes you want.

[Podcast Host]

Because, like, all the camera stuff that I have, it records motion. It's not just, like, a still.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. So that's kind of one of the things that I still wonder. And I would like to know if it was him on there, like, picking and choosing. Yes. If it was him or even if it was him, like, just watching it and just, like. Yeah, click. And just, like, taking the picture or, you know, I don't know how they got saved to the SD card. I don't really have any.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

I still really don't know.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. So your sister looks through it and finds that.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. And she also finds. This is the part that's just like. So back to the beginning when I was talking about the girl Faith, that was very close to their family. So to bring her back in, this is they had a full, like, finished basement. So she would come. She was older. Now she's much older than me or probably maybe around 10 years older than me. So she's like, probably late 20s at this time. She would just come and stay, like a weekend or whatever. She didn't live in the area anymore, I don't think. So she would just come and stay, whatever. And it was just like very, like I said, uncle, aunt kind of relationship, I guess. But you could see him before she would come over. It'd be like the day before she would come over. You could see him, like, unplug the camera or like, you could see him, like, leaning over the camera and, like, you would see, like, his shirt ruffling or whatever. Like, you could see him walk up to it, like, unplug it and it would, like, still be recording some of this. So, like, him when he would lean over and then it would just kind of cut and then the next pictures would be him on or plugging it back in or you can't see him plugging back in, but he's leaning over, you know, into the basement room where she's saying, ah, yeah, the. The day before she's coming over video

[Podcast Host]

and stuff of her.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. And then the next, it's like you see him plug it in the next picture. And I didn't look through all of them. Like, there's no way. Like, I was just a mess. And so you see him plug it in. Then the next picture still is just like, of the blank room. And then the next picture is her walking in the room with her bags. And then the next picture is her getting out of the shower completely naked, obviously, because she's in a, you know, a locked bedroom, fresh out of the shower. And that's when I was like, this isn't just me. I was like, this is not just about me anymore because, like, this is another girl. Like, she's like. I mean, she's my age. She's like more family to them than, like, me. So my creep on me. But, like, yeah, like, that's more like a daughter to you. And you're taking pictures of her naked. Pretty much. Like, it's. I mean, yeah. And so this is all this. And it was just so weird because you could see him every time. The day before I would come over, lean over the camera.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, even for you as well.

[Madeline Martin]

Even for me, yeah. Not just her.

[Podcast Host]

Move it.

[Madeline Martin]

He wouldn't move it.

[Podcast Host]

So that it's obvious that they didn't forget it was there.

[Madeline Martin]

And that's and that's. Yeah, I would like to go back to that too. It was obvious that it was not for the jewelry box and forgotten about and forgotten it was being moved. It was being moved every time. The day before or the morning of that I was coming over and it was always him moving it too.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

That's what I'm. I don't think the wife ever knew what it was. And she is very ditzy, let's just say she's just very like, like let's just let him handle it. And you know, and it was, I guess it was just normal for them. But okay, she was just very like,

[Podcast Host]

so did you guys decide to tell the faith grow.

[Madeline Martin]

So at this point I didn't know her.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

Like I didn't like my parents knew who she was and how she was, you know, in relation to them, but I didn't know her like personally. I never met her. My parents had never met her. So what we decided was after seeing all the pictures and just. And okay, let me also add this in. Some of the pictures were in his grandkids bedroom at a birthday party where the kids were in bathing suits. I don't know who a lot of the kids were because it was a birthday party. So I really didn't know, like, I didn't know who the kids were. Like, I didn't, I don't know. But they like were jumping on the bed in their bathing suits and he had moved into the grandkids bedroom the day of the birthday party, you know, and it's just like, like that's kind of the one that I was like, yeah, that's a different hit than like an adult because I mean I was an adult at the time. But like even the clips on the camera, I was like, if he, you know, there's got to be ones for me as a minor, you know, like I had just turned 18. So I was like, you know, this. We've got a do something. So we pretty much, after looking at all the pictures and all that this was later that night, like 6:45ish, my parents basically sat me down and were like, you know, if you want to pursue charges, like we can do that and we can go about the whole thing. And I hadn't even contacted police or anything yet, so it had almost been almost 24 hours where we were just kind of meticulously unraveling, unraveling everything. And they were like, you know, if you want to. Because I just remember this conversation so clearly. They were like, if you want to Pursue charges. We can do that. But they were like, you're 18, so if it's not going to be us handling it for you, a lot of it is going to be, you know, if you have to go to court and say something or talk, like, it's going to be a lot. And I was very, like, still very kind of shy at that time. Like, growing up, I was very. It's scary to myself. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

It's very intimidating.

[Madeline Martin]

It's freaky. Yeah. And I think they wanted me to know that it's not going to be, like, we're going to be able to talk for you. It's going to be a lot. Like, you're going to have to talk to the cops. You're going to have to handle it. Handle it pretty much, because they're not going to let us do that for you. So I was like, yes. I was like, no hesitation. I was like, absolutely. I was like, I'm. I want to call the cops. And so that's what I did. I called the cops on my own. And I was like. Or my parents obviously knew, you know, I called the cops. And I was, like, trying to explain the situation on the phone. I was like, I was staying at a family friend's house, you know, and he has this camera in his bedroom, and I found it, and he was, like, filming me in the. And I just tried to get it across. And I was literally. I was obviously a hot mess. Like, yeah, like, probably on the verge of tears. Just, like, shaky, like, voice. And the guy on the phone pretty much was like, it's his house, so he can have cameras wherever he wants. And I was just like, what? I was like, but I didn't know they were there. Like, they're in his bedroom. He was like, well, it's his house. He can have them wherever he wants. And I. That was it. I hung up and I just went into an absolute meltdown. I was just, like, crying. I didn't even know what to do. Like, I was just crying, but I was just, like, also in shock. I was like, yeah, how? Because I had also done some research.

[Podcast Host]

Like, also, like, we just mentioned. Okay, yeah, he can have them where he wants. But if he's having people stay in his home.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. It.

[Podcast Host]

Private places.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

They need to know.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Because you're filming someone without consent.

[Madeline Martin]

And see, that's where I was like, that's where the line was kind of. I was looking through, like, all the laws and all that. And obviously. I know. Idea.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

I have no idea what I'M doing. But I was doing my best to like figure out my parents to like just figure out what kind of made sense because it was an area that wasn't, you know, a communal area or whatever. Like it was a private. Considered a private area. And so that's when I call. This is like why I called the cops. And then they told me that it was like, you know, I was expecting them to like take this very seriously. And then they pretty much just like laughed in my face about it. And I was like, well. And that's why I just went into a fit because I was like, I don't know what to do. And so I went downstairs, I was just like crying to my parents and they were like, you know, we'll take you down to the police station tomorrow or we'll do. And they were just like trying to figure everything out too, because they did. They had no clue what they were doing either. It was like, this is not a situation that comes up very often. And as I'm sitting there in full on hysterics, I am getting a phone call from like a random number and I answer it and it's the same police officer calling me back again. And he's like, hey, like I just called the magistrate or whatever and he's like, can you give me some more details on what happened? And so that's when I kind of unloaded some more on just like, like this isn't like this is in his bedroom. I also want to say I forgot to mention this earlier, but the camera that he was like this. It was the same camera that he was moving around. But the clip that got me, he had turned the camera or the air purifier, whatever to face the bathroom door. So then he had moved across the room and then to turn and face the bathroom door. And that's the clip that got me like I was changing or something in the bathroom. And that's like the one clip that I know of that got me in it from the SD card. And I was telling, then I was telling the cop on the phone that I saw the pictures. Like there's. And I was like, there is children in the pictures. I was like, they're. I mean, I was like, they're not. I. And I didn't look at all of them and there were so many on there that we couldn't have even gone through them all. But I was like, you know, I didn't see any of them, you know, not with clothes on. But I was like, I'm on there. With no clothes on. I'm like, there is literally clips of me with no clothes on in there. And you're just going to like, like, what am I supposed to do? And so that's when he kind of was understanding more, I think. And he, like, I don't know, it just kind of clicked that it wasn't, you know, just like the surface level little thing. And so he was like, I'd like to come talk to you tonight. So it went from, you know, pretty much laughing in my face, me bawling my eyes out, to now I want to come talk to you tonight. And it was probably, yeah, it was 7:40 when he asked if he could come talk to me. And he didn't even get there until 9:30 is when we sat down and like really talked about everything. And they had me write like a statement.

[Podcast Host]

Did you give him the car?

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah, I gave. We put the SD card in a bag and gave him that. And I was like, well, I don't have the. I don't have the camera anymore. I put it in his mailbox or whatever. Yeah. And. But I was like, I believe there's more cameras in there. And I really tried to make that a big deal because. So let me go back because I missed this part the day. So the day after when I went back to put the camera in the mailbox, I also still had stuff inside. So I still had like some of my little stuff inside. And I was. I was like, let me go. I didn't want to, but I was like, I need to go get the rest of my stuff, obviously. But I was too freaked out. I was like, I don't know who's waiting for me. Like somebody could be waiting for me in there. I have no idea. And it was mainly so Dave in our story. This obviously was his best friend. So this was his best friend. And so his wife. Him and his wife would like, go on vacation with their kids, but he would come with them. So Robert would go with them on these vacations. And they had two young kids. They had one daughter that's my age, but two much younger kids and my mom and me, because I would babysit for them. And like, they were in my life for a very long time. And so I was just very scared that something had happened to them or something like them specifically. Like, obviously the kids on the camera and whoever these other people are. Like, I'm very concerned, but, like, these are like kids that I have a personal connection to. So it was very much like, I was very worried about Them. So we. My mom had called her and was like, hey, like, we. I need you to come over and talk to me. And so she came over and we kind of just like, spilled it all out and you know, and was like, you know, are your kids okay? Like, you need to talk to them and see if something had happened or whatever. And it turns out that one of the younger daughters had his phone number, like, on her, like, ipod, like, iPad thing. And, I mean, I don't think it was anything overly inappropriate, but that is inappropriate. You should not have a. And she was probably. I don't even know, like, maybe 12.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Maybe older than that. But still, she was not. I don't even. I don't even think she was a teenager, maybe 12 or 13. But we were just. It was. And she was like, well, she. And they were just acting like it was normal. I was like, this is still not normal to have a grown man. He is literally pushing 60. Yeah. And your child is texting him from her iPod, iPad, whatever. And I was like, that's not normal in any sense. I don't care how good of a family friend he is to you. Like, that is just not right.

[Podcast Host]

And, like, what are your intentions?

[Madeline Martin]

Yes, it was just very. That part was just very weird. And so we. The. As we were sitting there, me and my mom and Dave's wife, we started to, you know, talk about what should be done. This is so. This was before I had called the police. I got a little off there. But she. She said, you know, because I was talking about, I think there's more cameras in there. And I really just started to think about everywhere that the cameras could have been, that I wouldn't have known. Just, like, it was on the TV stand, and I would have had no clue. So I started really, like, thinking, and I was like, well, if he has one in the bedroom, why wouldn't he have one in the bathroom? And so my immediate. My next thought was that there's one in the bathroom. And I just. For some reason, it just, like, kept playing in my mind. And he had, like, a little alarm clock thing in the corner of the bathroom. And I was like, you know, it was always weird. It always kind of stood out to me because, like, when I was over brushing my teeth, like, I just felt it was, like, hanging over too much. And I was like, this is, like, the most awkward place to have this. And I was like, but he does. I mean, maybe he gets up early. Like, he just needs to keep an eye on the time. But I was like, it's just in a very awkward place. And I'm like, maybe that was a camera.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

So I started. That's the next thing my mind went to, was like, maybe there's more cameras in there. And so, like, I said, I still had some stuff over there, so just, like, little stuff. But the mom, or my mom and her mom were like, you know, maybe we should go back over there and have you go in and get the rest of your stuff, but also see if there's, you know, any cameras over there. But obviously, I was scared. I was like, I have to get in, get my stuff. And that was kind of the main thing. I just wanted to get the rest of my stuff and, yeah, be done. Because I was just so. That's, like, one of those things that you worry about in the moment. Like, I got my toothbrush is still over there. Like, it was just, like, one of those stupid things that doesn't really matter, but at the time, it mattered so much. And so I did end up going back over there. And I think that's when we dropped off the camera in the mailbox, too. I didn't have that in my notes, but when I went over there and tried to get in, he had changed my alarm code already. And as we were pulling down his street, his son. So his son had the same car as him, and it was very distinct. It was a very distinct color car. So as we were pulling down his street, his son was pulling out. And I was like, oh, no. And I was like, now he's over here. I was like, now? I don't know. I did not even know what to think. But we still went over there, and I still went in. My mom went with me. But, like, when I went in, like I said, he had changed the alarm code, and the alarm just started blaring because it just started going off. And I was just, like, trying to get my stuff. And I just remember, like, peeking in the bathroom real quick and, like, all the. Like, the room. They had a TV in their bathroom, too. Like, a small tv. Like, the remotes, the alarm clock, everything was gone. And I remember coming back out, and I just, like, was on the verge of tears. And I was like, mom, everything's gone. I was like, everything's gone. And we just got my. Whatever. I had my little stuff, and we left. And I had take. Then I had take. I actually texted the wife, and I was like, hey, I had to go get the rest of my stuff, but the alarm. The alarm's going off. I was like, I used the alarm code I use every other time. So, like, why is it going off now? I was like, robert changed the alarm code, so it's going off. And this is all before I contacted the police. But I feel like, looking back, I probably should have contacted them earlier, but at the same time, I wouldn't change how things played out. They came over and talked to me. I wrote, like, a full statement. And I remember handing them, handing me that statement paper. And I was like, what do you want me to write? I was like, where do you want me to start? I remember asking the female cop that because there was a man and a woman. And I just asked the woman. I was like, where do you want me to start? I was like, there's so much to unpack here. I was like, where? Like, where do you want me to start? And I remember. I just remember, right. I have no clue what I wrote down. I was just, like, very. I was still very much in, like, fight or flight because all of this had been happening. And I just remember a lot of what the. Like, the questions they were asking me. Like, I just imagined it to be a lot. And I was like, I have the SD card. I just imagined it to be a lot about things he says, things he does, you know, does he. Does he say things that make you uncomfortable? Whatever. Like, I was just expecting it to be a lot of that, but honestly, majority of the questions that they asked me were like, how does he make you feel? Like. And I don't know if it was. But I don't know if it was, like, the female cop, too, but it was just like, a lot of. Does he make you uncomfortable? Like, in his house? Are you uncomfortable? And I just remember being like. Like, this is how the TV shows are. Like, most of the time, it's like the concrete evidence. But they were asking me so many questions about how it made me feel. And, like, I think it was a lot of, like, you know, they were playing into the intuition thing, too.

[Podcast Host]

And I'm sure it validated your feelings, too.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes, it made me, like, that's when it, like, made me feel so. Like, I felt so, so much better after that conversation because I just felt like they kind of understood more because I was like, he has been in our lives for a long time, our family friend. Like, this. All this has happened, and then this has, like, changed in one day. But there are so many feelings that I can go back to before that. And I think that's, like, a very good point for, like, you know, anybody in that type of field. Like, it made me feel so, like, understood when they started talking about the feelings. Like, I'm like, I don't really have much. He really hasn't said anything weird or, like, you know, he isn't like, try to touch me or anything like that. But the way that I felt was enough.

[Podcast Host]

And that's the thing, too, is I don't think people realize, you know, being violated physically is one thing, but I don't think people always think about how it might feel, being violated in that way and, like, how to go about handling that. Because, like you said, it's not like you can straight up say, oh, they did this.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

But it still is a huge violation to feel like you didn't have that control of when somebody's watching you and looking at you, it's. It's completely uncomfortable and violating.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. And I remember, no wonder they're paying you more. Yeah, like, yeah, exactly. Exactly. And I just remember being so, like, yeah, like, I felt like I was totally understood, but then at the same time, I was kind of like, well, in court, my feelings don't mean anything.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Like, prosecuting him, that means absolutely nothing, really. Right. So. And. And I was just like, trying to explain to them, like, looking back now, like, he's groomed my entire family. Like, that was a big thing that we just, like, my. Me and my family kept talking about. Like, he has literally, like, weaseled his way into, like, every person in our family except my sister. She's very, like, to herself. But, like, he. Like my brother, like, my little brother, my dad, that was like, you know. You know, they were very good friends for over 10 years at this point. And, like, my mom, like, he was around her, you know, at disc golf and all this, and it was just like, he has manipulated and groomed our entire family. And it's like, it has nothing to do about anything being physical or, like, physically. But he was weaseling his way in, like, without us, you know, he was still putting on the nice guy, like, without trying to be detected, you know, or. That's what I believe. So then after we kind of went into all of the court stuff, because they did take it seriously. They, like, raided his house the next day.

[Podcast Host]

Wow.

[Madeline Martin]

There was, like, I don't even know probably seven police cars there because we actually drove by the next day because we were like, well, I wonder if he's home. I think it was the next day or the day after. It was probably one or two days after I had initially contacted the police. But I think it was time for him to be coming back home. So maybe I think that's why we actually drove by, because. Because I think that we were wondering if he had come back home or if he had come home early or. So it was something like that. I don't quite remember, but I remember, like, pulling down the street and, like, seeing a line of cars on the street, and I was like, like, what is that? Because none of them were marked. Okay. So it was all, like, unmarked cars on the street. And then, like, there was probably two actual marked police cars in his driveway, and he was standing outside in the garage talking with a police officer. And I just, like, remember driving by, and it, like, literally felt like we were. It was me and my mom, and I just remember feeling like it was, like, slow motion, and I just like. Like, I could see him so clearly. And I was just like, this is just like a movie. I was like. Because this is never, like, I never ever, like, experienced anything like this in my life. And it was just insane, like, seeing him stand there. And I was just like, I just know he's up there manipulating, like, I just know he's up there manipulating the cop. Like, just by the way he was standing.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Like, you can just tell. Like, he's just trying to be overly friendly or whatever. Like, you know, I don't know if you.

[Podcast Host]

And nonchalant, I'm sure.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. Like, just very, like, normal guy on the block that has, like, police surrounding his house. Like, and they. I could see people carrying stuff out of the house, too. Like, we had turned around at the end and came back down, and people were carrying computers and stuff out of the house. And so I was like, this is perfect. I was like, I know. I just kind of felt peace at that moment, I think. And I was like, I know that they're taking it seriously.

[Podcast Host]

And,

[Madeline Martin]

you know, they don't just go in there and take the computers out for no reason. I was like, there has got to be something bigger that they are thinking or that they found or something that is, you know, leading them to do all this. Because I. You know, I originally thought they were just gonna, like, brush it off and whatever. But no, they're, like, really, like, taking this seriously. So that's when I knew it was going to be a big thing. So, yeah, that's when kind of everything happened. He got arrested. He got charged with four counts of felony secret peeping. So that was for me. But what we didn't know is when he got arrested for 10 counts of second degree sexual exploitation Of a minor. So that was like. We had no idea.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

And that's just like. And that's. Or where. Where we live. It's like, distributing. It's not producing it. So it's not like you're directly making or filming it.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

But it's that you're, like, receiving and sending.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

Is the thing too. Like, it's not just that you're getting it for your personal use or whatever.

[Podcast Host]

So he was involved in some.

[Madeline Martin]

It's that you're. Yeah, yeah. It's that you're distributing it to some extent, too. Even if it's that you're sending it to your friend or, you know, you're still distributing it.

[Podcast Host]

Did the wife act like she didn't know about any of this?

[Madeline Martin]

So the wife stayed with him. Okay. Is still with him. Never left him.

[Podcast Host]

How long did he get?

[Madeline Martin]

So, yeah, after all the court stuff, it was a very long process. So I. When I wrote the letter to the cause, I had to, like, go meet with the people. I forget what they call her, like, the prosecutor and then the victim assistant lady. So I had to sit down with them and like, talk about kind of everything that happened and what I wanted to see happen. And I was like, obviously, I want, like, maximum. Obviously anyone in my position, I'm like, I want maximum. You know, consequences.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Because this is insane. And they're like, okay. You know, and the prosecutor was. They were really good. But I also don't think I made it as clear as I should have that, like, you know, I want full consequences. Like, this is like, I didn't. I don't know if that. If I came across as direct as I wanted to. But once again, that was, like, the very first time that I'd ever talked about what happened. And it was just, like, very hard. Like, I just could not get anything out. Like, I was just trying to remember all the little details. And it was just. I just remember sitting at that table and being like, this is so overwhelming.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

And they're just, like, sitting there both staring at me at the table. And it was just like, oh, it was so. Almost not. It was uncomfortable. They tried to make me as comfortable as possible, obviously, but it was just like.

[Podcast Host]

Well, I'm sure it's really repetitive, too, right?

[Madeline Martin]

Yes. And it retold it to all my friends and everybody and, like, you know, all these people. And it was just the first time that I knew it was very important that I tell them exactly, you know, what happened. And so we had court proceeding after court. Like, it Was just on and on. And I went to every single court hearing and all this, and he didn't stay. So he got arrested and charged, but he got, like, bailed out the next day. I'm not really sure how that works. But he got. So he was in jail. It was literally the next day he was out until they went through all the court stuff, and then they actually. I guess until they actually sentence or charge. Yeah. I'm not really a hundred percent sure because it's still. I still don't understand it all. Like, we sit down in the court. I remember it's like the. We kind of knew it was coming to an end because every time up to there, it was like, his lawyer needed an extension or we need time to find this or whatever. It was just like, them constantly making excuses over and over again, obviously, to buy him time, you know? So I remember we knew it was coming to an end. So it was like, the very last one, and we were the first ones at the door to the courtroom. And the door was unlocked yet. And there was one other guy there who I guess was being like. I don't know, he was being seen in the court. Like, it was his case or whatever.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

And then next thing you know, here Robert comes around the corner, and I'm like, oh, my God. And it was just, like, very. It was. I just remember being so uncomfortable because every other time the door was open and we could just go in and sit down, but it was locked. And I just remember, like, standing there on the hallway, and, like, my dad, my mom, and my boyfriend were there. And I like, I just remember sitting on this bench, and I was like, turn around backwards.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, that's so uncomfortable.

[Madeline Martin]

I was like, I cannot look at him. And, like, my boyfriend was on one side and my mom and dad were on the other side. I was like, like, please do not let him look at me.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

I was like, just do not let him, like, and obviously I did. Like, I didn't want to look at him, but, you know, I was like, please. Just, like. Like, I just need to be blocked. Like, I don't want to be, like, emotional, you know, I don't want to. Or not like, emotional, but, like, I don't want to get all worked up before we even go in. So I just remember that very clearly. We go in, and then the prosecutor walked up to me when we first got in there, and she was like, you know, do you want to read a victim impact statement? And I was like, well, yeah, I would have. I was like, you didn't give me, like, no one ever told me.

[Podcast Host]

I didn't write one.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah, yeah. And I remember specifically for this court date, I had called and every single day to, like, the prosecutor and the people in that office to try to figure out what's going to happen, because they. Some. They normally would give me, like, a little rundown of kind of what we were expecting to have. And if. If I needed to be there, if it was just something kind of like, yeah, just another little thing. But I remember calling every single day. No one would ever call me back. No one would ever reach out to me. And I just remember when she said, do you want to read a victim impact statement? I was just like, are you serious? And I was just like. I just felt so defeated because I was like, yes, I do. And I would have wanted to, but now I don't have anything prepared. And if I get up there, I'm just gonna start crying. There's no way that I can just come up with something, you know, off the top of my head like that. Like, I'm not that kind of person. Like, I need to sit down and prepare. And I was like, you, like, you didn't give me any time. Yeah. You didn't even tell me that this was gonna happen now.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Madeline Martin]

Like, I had no idea. And that's when, like, I just, like, oh, my gosh. I just felt like. And after that, I've regretted that ever since because now I feel like I could get up there and do that at the time. Like, I can't give myself.

[Podcast Host]

Well, it's still so fresh.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. I can't give myself too much. Like, you know, I can't harp on that too much because, like, it was so, you know, also, I think when

[Podcast Host]

you're that, like, when you're that close to the situation and it's that fresh, it's like, all you're gonna want to do is react to an emotion. I think it's really hard to be able to describe and talk about how it's affected you and what. Because sometimes those effects don't come till later anyway, when you can really process it and you're out of the. Like, you're out of the main chunk of it.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah, exactly. And so I just remember being very upset that I didn't, like, get to say, like, my last words or, you know, just, like, get to say that one thing that just, like, you know, would make him understand, like, everything that he did. So he got. He ended up getting. So we. Or I didn't put Forward. The prosecutor didn't ask me and put forward six months in prison or jail or whatever. And then I think it was like 30 years on the sex offender registry or whatever. And by that time he would be like 90. So that was fine with me. But the prosecutor in the courtroom had told me that was kind of what they were going to do. But they ended up like, they countered our. So the last time I had talked to the prosecutor, that's what they said that we were going to do. It was like six months something. But then they had, like, countered our offer. So he only ended up doing 90 days. So this like, three months and a long probation. His probation was like two or three years, I think.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

And then he had like 30 years on the sex offender registry. And that was like, the main thing for us is we really wanted him to be on the sex offender registry because, you know, you can't do anything. Yeah, it's hard to find a job on the sex amendment registry. But you can't go in a school. Like, there's no way you're ever going to be around children again, pretty much.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Madeline Martin]

So, like, there's no going into school. Like, you can't go to like, like a festival or like a public. You know, you can't even really go out in public, like.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Madeline Martin]

And that was like the main thing for us because, I mean, he can go sit in prison, but it's more about when he gets out because he's only gonna be in there for so long. So we really wanted it once he got out for it to be worth it. So he also, like, no contact order for me, obviously. And then he had to have, like, supervised visits with his grandkids because he could not be, like, he couldn't be the only one there with him. He had. It has to be supervised visits with his grandkids. Trying to think if there's anything else as far as that. I think that was pretty much it. But honestly then I was very mad that he. And the thing that really just, like pissed me off even more is that after, you know, the judge had said that's what was going to happen, his lawyer stood up and asked if he could self surrender on January 1st. So it was. I can't really remember what month it was exactly, but it was approaching. I want to say it was like almost like September. Maybe like August or September when we like, had that final hearing, but I'm not sure. But I just remember his lawyer standing up and being like, can he self surrender on January 1st? And I just was thinking, like, you just want to make it through Christmas with your family. I was like, you just want to make it through the holidays and all this.

[Podcast Host]

Like, yeah, like, when it's convenient.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah, like when it's convenient. And that's what just like, really, like, I just remember sitting there and thinking, like, you've got to be kidding. Like, he's still like, just like making up, like, excuses almost to like, you know, get himself, like, make himself look like he's like this great guy. In that same last hearing, he asked if he could have travel permission to Florida and New York. So one of his sons lived in New York at the time, but he said that he had family in Florida and his. He wanted travel permission while he was on probation. It was Florida, New York, and I think there was somewhere else, maybe California or somewhere. And I'm like, we're in North Carolina. Keep in mind how far, like. And so he was asking for travel permission there while he was on probation. And thank the Lord that the judge said no to that. It was like a time by time basis, so he would have to, like, contact his probation officer and all that crap. But he also, in that same hearing, they kind of go into more detail about what they found. And so more of the stuff that they found was pictures. And I think this wasn't on the camera that I found, obviously, but this was like in his stuff that they seized, I guess, that they had found pictures of kids holding up numbers, like naked, holding up like 1, 2, 3, like, numbers. And they were like, saying that. And then afterwards, my dad had asked the prosecutor, like, because they had never said anything. Yeah, like that to me ever. And it was kind of more in detail. Like, it was like the way that they had to say it was like, image one showed female, age range 8 to 10 or something like that. Holding number two, white sign, unclothed. Like, it was kind of like that. Like, very. So it was hard to follow along when they were talking like that. Like, it was more for the judge to also understand. But my dad had asked the prosecutor after, like, what was that? Like, what, like holding numbers? Like, what did that mean? And they were like, well, it's like a sex trafficking type of thing. Like where they're like, selling them sick. Yeah. And so surprised.

[Podcast Host]

They only gave him whatever he ended up getting. Three months, technically.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. And so now I think that it was a lot more. Yeah. Than for himself, like, for pleasure. I think that it was like. I don't know.

[Podcast Host]

I think, like he was passing it back and forth between people.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. And I. I think it was way more than. I think that he was involved in a lot more shady stuff. And he was always traveling. Yeah. And that's like, just like when he was in there talking about he want to travel to New York and Florida and California. I'm like, there's are like three major, like, sex trafficking type of places. And I'm like, what if he was involved with something more like that? Like. And I mean, there's obviously not much I can do about that now because it's really out of my hands. But that's just like one of those things that like always. Yeah. That always comes to my mind and I'm just like, what if he really.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

He still could be real. I mean, I don't know. I don't know how under supervision he is now. Right.

[Podcast Host]

Like, how much they're monitoring.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. But it's just like. And he was in the car business. Like, there's so some, like, you know, there's a lot of shady factors to it, kind of factors to it that just don't sit right with me. But I don't know. I think that it all worked out how it was supposed to. And how many years ago was that this all finished in. I want to say he went. I think he went to jail at the beginning of 2025.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. So it's very recent. Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

I mean, he had just. Or maybe it was 2024 or 2025. I'm not really for sure because I just can't remember because the court process was so long.

[Podcast Host]

I'm sure. Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

That's the worst part that I have. It was just like time was just like flying but also moving in slow motion at the same time.

[Podcast Host]

And I think too, it sucks because it makes you, you know, you go through all that time and then it's like he only got such a small amount.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And I feel like that's why a lot of people don't want to press charges and don't want to go through things because the consequences just aren't. They don't feel worth it in comparison to the process you have to go through and the repetition of telling your story and just, you know.

[Madeline Martin]

It sucks. Exactly. It was like. It was honestly like a slap in the face. But looking back now, I'm glad he's on the sex offender register.

[Podcast Host]

Exactly.

[Madeline Martin]

And because, I mean, he, like I said, he was very involved in like our local, like, youth theater and like in the disc golf community. Like, he was around kids all the time. He was Going on vacations with Dave and his family. Like, his kids were, like, always.

[Podcast Host]

Like, what else he was involved in. Yeah, yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Just, like, always around kids.

[Podcast Host]

And that stuff happened in his own home. So that, like, was more. More. You know what I mean? Like, it's almost. I feel like it was quick, simple, and easy.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

But I feel like there was probably so many more things he was involved in and doing, and.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. And it honestly worked out exactly how it's supposed to, I think, because I

[Podcast Host]

can't believe the wife stayed with him.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah, she's. And she's still. To my knowledge, she's still with him.

[Podcast Host]

They live in the same area near your. Near you guys.

[Madeline Martin]

They live in the same house. So it's like, literally, do you ever run into them five minutes down the road? So the week after that, I found the camera and all this. My best friend Chloe was supposed to be going over there because I was able to watch the dog that weekend or something. So I was like, they. And they knew her, too, because they knew her dad through disc golf, and it was just this whole other thing. So she was actually supposed to go over there, like, the next weekend or something. And that weekend I just happened to find the camera, and I was just like, thank the Lord that she did not have to go through it. I had to because it was. It was hard. And actually, she called me just. And we still all live in the same area, but just a few weeks ago, she had called me and was like, you. Like, I just ran into Robert in the grocery store, and she had ran into him in the grocery store, and she was like, I don't even know what to do. She was just like, I just went the other direction. She was like, I've never. Like, I've never seen him out in public.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Madeline Martin]

And to my knowledge, he probably doesn't show his face as he. You know, as much as he used to. But. Yeah, she said he was just walking around the grocery store, and I was like, that is just, like. It's just like, so crazy to think that he can just be out and just, like, doing his life. Like, he can just go to the grocery store and he can just do all this after, like, all of this happened. Like, it makes me think, like, you know, when I'm out in public and I see somebody, I'm like, you never

[Podcast Host]

actually know who someone is.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah, I never actually know you. And that's kind of the thing now, too, is, like, I don't. There's no way that I could trust anybody as. And Even, I will say, even back when this kind of all was, you know, coming to, when I was finding the camera and this. This big event happened, it was. I was also listening to a lot of true crime. I'm very much true crime gal. And I was very aware and cautious. I was very. I was like, not like everybody's, you know. You know, everybody's great and everybody's, you know, I very much was aware of what was going on. And that's one of the other things that I think worked to my benefit because I. At the same time, I was doubting myself. I still. I think it's kind of helped me in a way.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. And it proves that you need to listen to your intuition and your gut and because like I said, when you showed me the picture of it, like, I would have never thought.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Twice.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. And that's another thing. Like, I don't even. Going back to me, like, finding it. I don't even know.

[Podcast Host]

It's like looking back, you're like, how did I know?

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah, exactly. I mean, my dad were, like, talking about it on the drive up here, and he was like, I just think it was like divine intervention. Like, that's what he kept saying. He was like, I just think it was like, you just knew. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

It's almost like that was your proof for everything that you had been feeling around him. And it's like, yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. And it was just. I don't know, it was just so creepy. And it's like I don't even have an explanation. And that's why I don't even have an explanation for how I found it and how I knew and any of that. I'm like, it just happened so perfectly. And it just sucks because it's like

[Podcast Host]

you want to think best for people and about people. And like I said, some people, everybody's got their thing. Some people are just fucking weird. Whatever.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

But you really. You have to kind of always have those boundaries and those guards up. You have to almost assume the worst.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And until proven otherwise.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. And that's what I was also telling my dad this, my mom and dad on the way up here was that now instead of putting people in the good category and they have to make their way to the bad category.

[Podcast Host]

They start in the bad.

[Madeline Martin]

They start in the bad category, and they have to. To.

[Podcast Host]

And even then, though, think how long he was around you guys.

[Madeline Martin]

Exactly. And you.

[Podcast Host]

Like 10 years or so. And you didn't know. Like, that's a long time. And that's. I feel like that is plenty of time to assume. Okay. He's just a little weird or he's a little off.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. But it's. It was. That's what. And that's what I liked. That's what I kept telling the prosecutor and everybody. I was like. It was like long term manipulation. This was like, not something that happened.

[Podcast Host]

He got your trust in a year.

[Madeline Martin]

This was like years and years of him building up my dad's trust enough to be around his son and then enough to be around me. And I'm his wife.

[Podcast Host]

I'm sure he was selling his wife, his wife's pictures. That other girl, like, it's messed up.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. And, oh, yeah, I forgot to say, so Faith, she never,

[Podcast Host]

like, moved forward.

[Madeline Martin]

She never moved forward with it. And they tried contacting her. Yeah. Like, many times. And they just told me that she wouldn't contact them back, so they just had to stop pursuing it.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

Like, I don't know if he. I have no clue what happened there. Right. I don't know if she had contacted him or.

[Podcast Host]

Or if she maybe just didn't want to even.

[Madeline Martin]

Or if she just deals, like. Yeah. Or she didn't want to deal with her if he had, you know, manipulated her. No.

[Podcast Host]

The hell no.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Seriously.

[Madeline Martin]

And that's like another one of those things that is just kind of like a don't know at this point. And I just, like, have to accept it that I'll probably never know. But. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Well, on a positive note, at least you, like, you have mentioned, it's almost like you put a stop to something bigger. Like, obviously it's traumatic and creepy and gross and scary and everything in between that it happened to you and you were even involved in it.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

But look at what else they uncovered and what else you guys uncovered that was probably that could have led to something. Who knows if it did already, but, like, could have led to something worse. And if there is, you know, child sex trafficking happening in there and whatever else, I mean, you might have saved, who knows?

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah, that's the thing that I'm like, if you like, see something like that, like, see something, say, like, just say something. Like, it doesn't matter who you say. Like, just, you know, don't. Like, if you don't doubt yourself, feel something is wrong. Like, don't doubt yourself about it. And I'm like, thank the Lord, like, my best friend did not have to go in there. And, like. Because there's, like, no telling. Like, I didn't. And I don't know if there was. I Didn't know if there was people watching the camera live because we've gone through every scenario.

[Podcast Host]

I didn't even think about that. There could be multiple people viewing it.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. Where it was like he was paying for people or, you know, people were paying him to just come on there and watch it. Like there's weirdos out there like that.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Madeline Martin]

They were easy to find, I'm sure. You know, once you get into the right.

[Podcast Host]

You know, think about that. That's true too. There's so many different avenues.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. It's. There's so many different things. I'm just very glad that my friend Chloe did not have to.

[Podcast Host]

Yes. And that it didn't escalate or get any.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Any further. Like that you found it when you did and that you do. You are somebody that's very self aware because it's easy not to be.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

You know, and it's easy to assume the best in people. It's easy to look at a. A air purifier and it's an air purifier. You know, especially if it says it on there. Oh, okay. It makes sense. It would say don't power off. You know, whatever.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

But good for you.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

For trusting your gut and for speaking up. Because it's not easy. And obviously there are a lot of people that don't feel comfortable speaking up. They don't want to. Whether it's age or just being scared or uncomfortable not wanting to deal with it. All of that is completely validated and makes sense too. But it takes somebody with a lot of strength and courage to go through that process. So good for you for doing that and for coming on here and sharing it as well.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Thank you.

[Madeline Martin]

And I encourage everybody, if you. Everybody listening, that if you do not look up the sex offenders in your red or in your area, go on the sex offender registry and you know. Right. Look in your area and just do a little research.

[Podcast Host]

That's real. I love that you said that. That's really true. It's so easy places.

[Madeline Martin]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

And it's so easy to go about life and just keep moving so fast and think, oh, not my area or none of my neighbors.

[Madeline Martin]

Exactly. It's better.

[Podcast Host]

You'd be surprised Right.

[Madeline Martin]

When you go out there and look because like, you can type in. I know you can type in your address and then it's like a radius around you and it'll show you everybody in your area. And you will be so surprised how many people.

[Podcast Host]

It's wild.

[Madeline Martin]

Like actually are where you live.

[Podcast Host]

Maybe link that to so people can.

[Madeline Martin]

Yeah. Recommend. I think it might be different for every state because I know it's for North Carolina, it's just North Carolina, but I'm sure every state does have it. So highly. Recommend.