What I Survived – “The TikTok Fugitive Part 1” (March 31, 2026)
Host: Jack Laurence

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode of What I Survived (originally released as “Wanted”), host Jack Laurence dives into the extraordinary story of Chad Hauer—a former Microsoft employee who became an international fugitive, allegedly wanted by the FBI and Interpol for kidnapping his own son. The narrative threads Chad’s unusual upbringing, his early computer genius, complex family dynamics, harsh custody battles, and the events that thrust him into life on the run. Through first-hand interviews and reflective narration, listeners are invited to question what survival means when the “enemy” chasing you is the world’s most powerful agencies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The TikTok Notification: How the Story Begins

• Jack shares (02:43–05:58) how he was tagged in a TikTok video featuring a wanted poster for Chad—“the TikTok Fugitive”—claiming FBI and Interpol are after him.
• Intrigued, Jack begins a deep dive into Chad’s story, leading to direct communication on a discrete app.
  • “All right, let's click on one of these videos. What do you got? ‘FBI Fugitive found on Caribbean Beach.’” (05:12, Jack Laurence)

2. Chad Hauer’s Unconventional Childhood and Computer Talent

• Chad describes being introduced to programming around age 10 in Pennsylvania (09:58).
  • “Our school had one computer, and only I was put into the gifted program...I got in front of it in 1980 and I loved it. And it was just, ‘hello, world.’” (09:58, Chad Hauer)
• His mother was blind—Chad becomes integrated into college life through working with disabled students (11:17–13:03).
  • “So I would sit in on these students’ classes and I would take their notes and I would take their tests... I just started sitting in on any class I wanted. Chemistry, comp sci, whatever interested me.” (11:43, Chad Hauer)
• Recent autism diagnosis offers insight into his lifelong social detachment and academic ease (13:13).

3. Atypical Teenage Years and Family Upheaval

• Chad lives independently from age 17 after his parents’ split, working nights and barely finishing high school (14:01–14:32).
• Isolation and an unstable home reinforce his self-sufficiency, culminating in an early marriage.

4. Early Marriage and Red Flags

• Marries “Nancy” (called “Vecna,” a Stranger Things reference) at 19; the relationship is platonic with early warning signs (15:21–16:51).
  • “We didn't have much money at the time...I bought this trip to the Bahamas. I'm like, well, let's go. She's like, I don't want to go to the Bahamas. Take your best man if you want. I'm like, okay. So we did.” (16:23, Chad Hauer)
• Their son is born in June 1996, marking the beginning of escalating marital tensions.

5. The Start of the Custody Battle

• Nancy (Vecna) becomes extremely possessive of their child (22:10–23:16).
  • “She was, how dare you take my child? And this was when I realized stuff was not right with her.” (22:35, Chad Hauer)
• Chad moves out in early 2001, aiming for an amicable arrangement: “Just take care of the kid and let me see him. That was all I really wanted, right? Yep, yep. That failed almost right away.” (23:47, Chad Hauer)

6. Going International—and Parental Alienation

• Chad takes a job in Europe; visitation becomes fraught, with Nancy restricting communication and access (24:33–25:53).
• Mediation fails:
  • “I'm gonna do something that I've never, ever done in my career before. She says, your soon to be ex-wife is the most intransigent person I have ever met in my entire career.” (25:31, Mediator relayed by Chad)

7. The Move and Legal Warfare

• In 2004, Chad’s son innocently tells him, “We’re moving”—prompting panic and suspicion (26:13–26:33).

• Nancy relocates without providing details, violating court procedure. Chad files for an injunction, but she evades the system and effectively disappears with their child (27:49–28:45).

  • “She doesn't show up to the court date. Not only does she not show up, she moves on the court date and does not tell me where she's moving to at all.” (28:41, Chad Hauer)

8. Table Turned: The Hunted Becomes the Hunter

• Ironically, before being hunted, Chad becomes a “hunter” himself, searching for his vanished son using maps and internet sleuthing (29:35–29:46).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On becoming wanted:
  • “You never know. In my case, you never know. It could be the FBI. They saw me on TikTok. They want to fuck with me. Because the shit they've done to me…” (08:49, Chad Hauer)
• On early diagnosis:
  • “Plus I'm autistic, which I didn't know until last year...That explains a lot of my life, but I just thought it was normal.” (13:13, Chad Hauer)
• Marriage breakdown:
  • “We were friends...It was a platonic relationship. I think she just wanted kids. And I was in my stage of life...So we got married early. And that's kind of what it was.” (16:51, Chad Hauer)
• Custody frustration:
  • “She just kept this crap up.” (25:53, Chad Hauer)
• On being denied contact:
  • “I would call and they would either never be there, or she wouldn't let me talk to him, or she'd pick up like, he's busy, he's eating, he's with friends, and he was just never there for me to talk on the phone.” (24:51, Chad Hauer)
• The disappearing act:
  • “All I know is they're moving and I don't know about it.” (27:23, Chad Hauer)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:43 – Jack introduces the background and origins of the case
• 05:12 – First exposure to the “TikTok Fugitive” story
• 09:58 – Chad describes his earliest computer programming experiences
• 11:43 – Working with blind and disabled college students
• 13:13 – Recent discovery of being on the autism spectrum
• 15:21 – Story of meeting and marrying Nancy (“Vecna”)
• 16:23 – The honeymoon-that-wasn’t
• 19:00 – Entry into tech industry, rise in computer software
• 22:10 – Early signals of Nancy's possessive behavior
• 23:47 – Chad leaves the marriage
• 24:33 – Overseas move and deterioration of visitation rights
• 25:31 – Mediator’s unprecedented declaration about Nancy’s opposition
• 26:13 – Son’s revelation about moving
• 27:49 – Chad details the legal obligations for moving out of state
• 28:41 – Nancy disappears with their son, defying court order
• 29:35 – Chad begins the search, turning from the hunted to the hunter

Overall Tone and Style

Jack Laurence’s narration is direct, empathetic, and investigative. Chad’s manner is earnest, often self-deprecating, and tinged with frustration—especially when recounting years of powerlessness against a system and a person determined to keep him away from his son. The episode is gripping, blending suspense, emotional candor, and a complex web of legal and personal drama.

Conclusion / Coming Next

The episode ends with Chad frantically hunting for any clue about his son's whereabouts, foreshadowing greater conflict to come as the hunted becomes the hunter—and setting up Part 2.

For listeners:
This episode is immersive and fast-paced, balancing emotional interviews with clear exposition, perfect for those drawn to stories of survival against overwhelming odds—especially those not always clear-cut or heroic.