UPDATE: Laura Sweetman

[00:00] Happy Friday, Crime Junkies. I feel like someone down at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office might have listened to our most recent episode, or maybe the timing is just a crazy coincidence. But a couple of hours ago this Friday, the Sheriff's Office finally fulfilled our records [00:30] violence incident. And I want to do something a little out of the ordinary. [00:35] While this episode is still top of mind for everyone, I want to share it with you. [00:40] There are three things that you're going to be hearing, and I'm going to pop in between each.

[00:45] First, I'm going to play for you sound from the body cam footage of a deputy responding to Laura's call that she made to the sheriff's office. [00:54] Then I'm going to play you the entire audio file that she turned over to them of the incident that she was reporting. [01:04] This is the almost hour and a half long recording she has of her and Dave inside their house when she says he refused to let her leave. [01:12] And then I'm going to play you some audio from when the deputy arrested and questioned Dave.

[01:19] This audio answers so many questions and brings up a million more. [01:26] And I think for those of you who have been in a volatile or abusive relationship, this audio is going to hit home in a hard way. But it is important to hear because these are some of Laura's last recorded words before she died later the same year that this was reported. [01:43] So first, [01:45] Here is the deputy's interaction with Laura. [01:48] It has been edited for clarity. [01:55] Hello. Who's Laura? I'm just going to tell her where my kids are so somebody knows.

How are you? I'm okay. Not injured or anything? No. Okay. Do you want me to start with a scratch? Mm-hmm. [02:21] Um, recently I discovered that my husband has another family. And so over the past few weeks, I've gotten ready to get divorced and he was out of town this weekend. So I moved my things out of the house and then he was with two of the kids. So when he got back, I, um, took, uh, I told him I was taking the kids to Walmart really quick and I just took the kids to a friend's house and I went back to tell him that I was leaving.

[02:51] He wasn't inside, and I was looking for him, so I decided to try to leave. And I had my car parked, ready to go out on the street, because I knew there was going to be an altercation with him, because that's his mode of action. But I ran into him when I was coming out the garage door, and he grabbed me by the shirt and shoved me back in the house. Did you get your head on? Uh-huh. And so then he proceeded to argue for about an hour and 20 minutes, and I tried to get out of the house.

[03:21] three times, and he grabbed onto my neck. Do you have any marks? I don't have any marks on it, no. And then he had made threats during the conversation that neither of us was getting out of this alive, that he would kill me, he would kill himself. He did retract that he would kill me and only kill himself. Like you said, and I have recorded this because I knew this was going to happen, that he had gone upstairs. [03:51] weapons? Yeah, I've seen three weapons. What kind of weapon do they have?

There's a gun that looks probably like a 9mm or something, a silver one. I looked for it yesterday so I could get rid of it, but I couldn't find it. There's a shotgun, but that isn't loaded. It's probably not even out of the box or loaded, but the 9mm probably is loaded wherever it is. And then there's in the garage, but not in the house, there's another gun that looks like a semi-automatic gun. It looks like 100 years old. [04:21] I don't know if it has any. Okay. [04:25] And then basically he went through the whole, for an hour, telling me that he loved me.

He wanted to find a way to make this work out. And then after he realized that it wasn't, he basically just was telling me that I needed to get the kids back. I told him that the kids were with the police because he knows I have top friends. [04:51] to have them bring the kids back, but instead I ran. Okay. And I came here. How many kids do you have in common? Three. Were they there when this was going on? No, I had taken them earlier, married with a friend. Okay, how long have you been married?

Two years. Okay. [05:09] Thank you. [05:10] Now when you say he has a whole other family, can you find that for me? Well, yeah. Basically, he had an affair with a woman and they share a child in common. And I don't know what the extent of the relationship is with her. Do you know how old that child is? I think the kid's almost to probably like 20 months or something. Do you know her name or where she lives? Yeah, I have all that information in the car. Okay. [05:40] any of his threats?

Yes. Okay. And how often have things like this happen between the two of you? I would say early in our marriage we would have altercations, but never with police involvement. [06:01] Has he ever been arrested for anything? [06:03] Yeah. [06:05] He has one arrest for assault. [06:08] a few years ago. And who did it yourself? I don't know. I just discovered this in my [06:14] recent investigative measures. Okay. What's his full name? David Michael Sweetman. Was anybody else present when I know this was going on? You said you had some of it recorded.

I've recorded the whole thing. Do you mind if I take a copy of the recording off of there? Sure. I'm just going to put it on my computer and just copy it real quick until you can be able to have this back. [06:44] Don't give me a few seconds. I got your time. [06:48] Have you thought about getting order of protection against him yet? I don't have one, but I've thought about it. Are you going to go do that? Me too, yeah. As soon as possible? Okay. [06:58] Do you think I'm going to have any problems when I go over there with him?

Yes. What kind of problems do you think I'm going to have? He has guns in the house, and he's very angry, and he doesn't back down. Okay. [07:14] to kill himself. Okay. So you're definitely going to have a problem if he's there. Plus, Sherry told him all the kids are with the cops. So I'm sorry that sets you up. That's not a problem. I don't mind. I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself. You said you have three kids in common. How old are they? They're five, seven, and eight. And you said they're all safe right now?

Okay. [07:44] Now, would you be willing to go and testify against him in court? Or is this something that you might be fearful of? I will be fearful of it, yes. Okay. Well, if he's there, he's most likely going to go to jail tonight. This isn't something that we take lightly when he threatens to kill you and himself. [08:08] No, I mean, I'm afraid. I'm afraid. I feel like my whole life is ruined right now because he's going to be after me. Okay. And also let my detectives know that I have your address redacted from our report if you think he's going to make me chasing you down.

I mean, yes, as soon as he gets out. Do you think that if they arrest him, they'll just keep him until the morning? [08:38] The threats right now only fall under misdemeanor, so there's a high probability that he'll be released. But they'll give you a phone call before they do that so you know. Okay. Will you update me later, or will I know what's going on? I can give you a call if he's there when I get there and take him to jail. Just so you're kept in the loop tonight.

Do you have a card or anything? [08:58] We now understand that Laura's friend, who was a cop in another jurisdiction, gave her some kind of recording device to capture this interaction. It's why the audio you're about to hear is so clear. [09:14] I'm going to play this audio in full as it was given to us. The only part I'm taking out is a moment where Dave shares something personal with his wife. I can't verify the claims that he's making. [09:27] And I'm going to let you know where that part is in the clip, just so you're super clear.

[09:31] Now listen with care. [09:35] Where are you? [09:40] Are you in the bathroom? [09:43] Thank you. [09:48] Thank you. [09:49] Thank you. [09:51] Thank you. [09:53] Thank you. [09:54] Thank you. [09:55] Thank you. [09:57] David. [10:05] Thank you. [10:05] Thank you. [10:10] Thank you. [10:17] Thank you. [10:18] Thank you. [10:21] Thank you. [10:22] Thank you. [10:26] Thank you. [10:36] Thank you. [10:43] Thank you. [10:44] Thank you. [10:46] Thank you. [10:50] Thank you. [10:51] Thank you. [10:53] Thank you. [10:55] Where are you? [10:58] Thank you. [11:00] Thank you. [11:02] Where the kids?

[11:13] Is that I'm moving it? No. [11:15] Yes, I am. No, we're going to go talk. No, we're going to go talk. This isn't right. [11:21] You're right. You're right. It's not right. I'm fucked up. I understand. [11:26] You're right. I'm fucked up. I understand. Okay, you have another family. No, I don't have a family. [11:31] I don't have another family. I don't have another family. Okay? I've made mistakes. I agree. I am fucked up. I have tried to fix my problems. Okay? I really fucking have. [11:43] Okay, I have to take responsibility for another kid.

I understand that. [11:47] Okay, I have to fucking do that. Okay, can you just let me go? No, I don't know because I love you, Laura. I fucking love you more than anything in this world. I love my kids more than anything in this world. I don't want to fuck up anything with them. No, you're not fucking up anything with anybody else. The only thing I want is you and my kids. That's what I want, Laura. That's all. That's all I want is you and my kids. I don't know how to fix my other problems other than what I'm trying to do now.

I'm trying... [12:15] to fix myself. Okay? I'm really fucked up. I'm in a really bad spot right now. Everything in my life is the shit. You want me to shoot myself in the head right now? Okay, go ahead. Take my kids from me, Laura. I don't want to take them away. I just want... No, no, that's what's going to happen. No, it's not. I promise you. Laura, no. I don't want to take them from you. I just want us to get them out of a healthy life. Laura. This is not healthy for me.

Okay, what... [12:38] It's not healthy for me either. It hasn't been healthy for me for a long time. I've told you. [12:45] The last time we had, or the last few times we've had fights, Lord, you have... [12:52] You don't love me. [12:55] You haven't loved me. I love you more than anything in this world. I don't know what I have to do to prove that, but you're my wife. I've never left you. I've never wanted to leave you. [13:07] You are the only person who- Do you really think I can stay when you have a kid with someone else?

[13:12] Or, yes, I do think you can, and I want you to, and I'm begging you to. [13:18] What more can I do or say, Laura? [13:22] What more can I do or say, I will do anything. [13:25] Album. [13:26] Fix anything that I can fix, Lord. You're what I want. [13:32] I've never once ever considered not having you as my wife. [13:36] I would rather be dead than not have you. [13:40] I love you and care about you more than anything. I just don't think you love me. [13:45] And I don't think you've loved me for a long time.

And I really wish you did. [13:49] I really, really, really wish you did because we have beautiful fucking great kids and I love them more than anything in this world also. [14:00] My family is all I've got. That's all I've got. He's your kid, too. You need to recognize him and take care of him, and he's their brother. [14:08] That's their brother. How do I broach that subject with my wife? [14:15] How do I acknowledge [14:17] with my wife and... It's done now. And with, with, with... And I am happy for him to be a part of your life.

Laura, I... You can, she can live here. No! I don't care. No, she can't! [14:26] No, she can't. I don't want anything to do with her. [14:31] I've, I, Jesus Christ, I've told her a hundred thousand times that we need to fuck alone. [14:37] I mean, that's not fair to him, David. You're right. It's not. And I try. I try. When I drop off money to her, I see him for a little while and that's it. [14:48] And I can't afford this house anymore. I lost everything and I had put all the bills this month on a credit card.

And then your money goes to her. No, my money doesn't go to her. It's only a few hundred dollars. [15:02] And I'm supposed to get fucking my insurance money. You can have it. I don't want a single thing. I just want us to be nice to each other and share the kids. Laura, no. Please, David. Please. Please. Don't leave me. David, I don't want to be mean to you. I just cannot live. I can't live. I will kill myself. I'll kill myself. Laura, I need you. You're my wife. Don't leave me.

Jesus Christ. [15:32] I will do anything I can to fix it. No, no, no. I want you. I'll do anything to show you that you're my wife. [15:41] Or I've tried very hard. I really have. [15:45] Do you ever need to do what my life is like? When people have to call me year after year after year and tell me who you're fucking every year? I'm not fucking people every year. That's not true. Then why do I have to live a life where people track me down and tell me these things?

First of all, people who try to hurt me. People from my business that try to hurt me. Jesse... [16:08] Kevin because he's a [16:10] I found his fucking child porn on the goddamn fucking, on the computer, and I had to give it to his probation officer. [16:17] Kevin's out to hurt me. Bobby hates me because I fucking fired him. I mean, Laura, you do have to realize that there are people that really, really want to see me burn. [16:27] Jesse especially. He's doing everything he can to burn me. [16:31] And I'm certain he's happy to call you.

I would have squeezed out a black kid along the way. Would I be alive today? [16:39] Laura. No, David. It doesn't go both ways. You would have killed me. [16:44] or [16:46] Can I have some self-respect for the first time in my life? [16:51] I cannot live knowing that you have a kid with her and then you take my stuff and you give it to her. I don't take stuff and give it to her. The rocking chair, the jogging, strolling, I nursed my baby in that stuff. [17:06] It's a sickness, David.

It's sick. Okay, then will you fucking help me, please? I would love to help you and I would love to be your friend. And I want us to take good care of our kids. We have amazing children. You're taking you and my kids away. And I don't want any of that to happen. [17:28] Don't you understand what... [17:30] I love you. Do you love me? I don't love you anymore, David. I can't. [17:36] I'm your friend. When was the last time you loved me? Because I loved you this entire time.

I really have. I have loved you this entire time. [17:46] This entire time, this entire 20 fucking years, I have loved you and cared about you more than anything. [17:54] Do anything you want to me. [17:56] Put any type of rule and restriction on me that you want. Just love me and stay with me. [18:01] Please. [18:03] I care about you and my kids more than anything. [18:07] I do. [18:08] I swear that on everything. I swear it on my wife. [18:12] I am not here to take them away. I want them to have a happy, pleasant existence with two parents that love them and don't fight.

I don't want to fight with you. Laura, I don't want to fight you. I just can't live in the same house as you. Laura, please don't do this. [18:27] Thank you. [18:28] Are you seeing someone else? No. Have you been seeing someone else? No. I don't care about anyone else. Stop that. Have you been seeing someone else? No. Just be honest with me. No, David. For one. No. I'm not. I've never seen anyone else because I did love you. And no. No. No. Don't. Then let's talk. [18:46] Do you swear you've never seen one?

I swear, David. I don't care about that. [18:51] I care about our kids and I want them to be healthy and it's not healthy for them to see us self-destruct. [18:58] Then let's fix it, please. Let's work together and fix it, please. [19:03] Let's work together. Can we work together and fix it? Yes, but I need a break. Can I have a break? Or, no, because you're just, you're, that's just, you're just... [19:12] Thank you. [19:13] You're leaving. I am leaving. I am leaving. Please, David, help! Please, David, I want you to go!

Why are you doing this? What? You're saying help? Because I'm just saying hurt. You're dragging me in the house. You're saying help? From me? David, help me. [19:30] I can't I just go? No! No you can't! You've taken my children away! [19:39] You've taken my children away from me. [19:41] You've already done it. [19:44] You didn't just leave. You took my children away. [19:49] You took my children away from me. You didn't just leave. [19:54] Amen. [19:55] Your plan is to destroy me. It is not like it. Just like the rest of them.

No, it's not. I'm the nicest person that you've ever met. No, you just yelled. You're right. Because you're putting your hands on my neck and you're dragging me in the house three times now. I'm trying to talk to you. Can't. [20:09] I love you and care about you. [20:12] You can't do this to me. You can't do this to me. [20:18] I'm already self-destructing as a person because of all the problems. [20:23] What can I do? Fix yourself and come back the person that you used to be. Build a business, do something.

Yeah. Not make me feel like an idiot all the time because I can't pay all the bills. I'm not trying to make you feel like an idiot. I'm going to get paid off here very shortly. [20:41] I'm supposed to get a check this week. [20:45] Okay, and figure it out. No, I want to figure it out. I want to buy our house and then buy it. You can have it. No, I don't want it. I want us. I don't want the house without you. I don't want this place without you and the kids.

[21:00] Are you kidding me? [21:01] They're gonna be here. Whatever they- No they're not! You've already taken them! Where are my kids at? They're right now visiting the police department. [21:12] With my friends. [21:14] Thank you. [21:15] You've taken my kids to the police department. No, they're with my friends who are police. [21:20] and [21:21] Thank you. [21:22] You've taken my kids to the fucking police department. [21:26] Thank you. [21:30] Well, why aren't they down here right now officiating? Why aren't your friends, your cop friends that make so much sense to you, Laura?

I want us. I don't want anybody else. I don't want Beth. [21:46] He's my kid and I have to acknowledge that. I'm going to have to take care of that and deal with that. But I don't want... [21:52] Anybody but you. [21:54] You're the person I want. You're the person I love. You're my wife, Laura. [22:01] You can't do this. You can't do this to me. [22:05] Forgive me, please. I will do anything. [22:09] I will fix the problem. [22:13] Please. [22:17] Please give me one last chance to fix the problem.

[22:22] Please, Laura. I'm not trying to hurt you. No, but you are. I'm the only person that does not want to hurt you. I want to live in my house and the kids live with you whatever days you want and whatever days me. And we go to sports and we do everything, but I cannot sleep in this house. [22:37] Laura, no one else has ever been in this house. No one else has ever been with me in this house. I would never disrespect you that way. I have never done anything like that.

Yes, I've made a mistake. Yes. [22:48] I agree. [22:50] Can I please... [22:51] Fix the problem or a... [22:54] Please. [22:56] Get your money fix your problems. [22:59] The problem I want to fix is right here. I want to fix the problem with you, Laura. [23:04] I don't want any other problems. I don't want any other shit. I want my family. [23:11] Lord, this is the only good thing I've got. Everything else has turned to shit. It really fucking has. My business has been yanked out from under me by vindictive people who are just trying to destroy me.

[23:25] Seriously! [23:27] You might think that sounds like fucking paranoia, but it's a fact. It's a goddamn fact. People are coming at me from every goddamn direction trying to fucking yank me down. [23:38] They really fucking are! [23:41] The only thing I've had in my life that's good is you and my children. [23:46] Okay. And you're taking all of that away from me. But you are. You're taking them. They're at a police station. [23:54] They're at a police station, right? My kids are at a fucking police station with some fucking lady that they don't even know.

Right now, instead of with their father. [24:03] Who cares about them more than anything? [24:09] Thank you. [24:12] Thank you. [24:20] Bye. [24:25] Oral, please don't do this. [24:28] Please. [24:31] Look at me, please. [24:34] Please. [24:36] Please, I love you. I really do. Look, I acknowledge I've made fucking mistakes. [24:42] I'm not fucking perfect. I'm nowhere near perfect. I don't even, I can't even see perfect from where I'm at. [24:47] But could you please... [24:50] Please acknowledge the fact that you know I love you. [24:55] You know I love you, don't you?

[24:58] I love you and care about you more than anything, Laura. [25:02] I do. [25:07] Seriously, will you look at me? [25:09] I love you and I care about you more than anything, Laura. [25:13] You and my kids are the only thing in my life. [25:16] That's worth anything to me. [25:18] And I will do anything to keep it. Okay, well, anything means give me a break, David. [25:23] Amen. [25:24] And prove it to me. Fix your problems. [25:27] You're not coming back. You won't come back, all right? [25:30] You're going to walk out right now.

And what's going to happen is, like you said, you're done paying for everything. [25:36] The house is going to get foreclosed on. I'm going to end up being a hermit somewhere and... [25:42] And my kids will never, I'll end up shooting myself in the fucking forehead or drinking myself to death. [25:47] And then you'll be happy. If you want me to kill myself, just say so and I'll do it now. And I'm not joking. [25:55] I've got a gun upstairs, I'll kill myself. Will that make you happy? No, David. [26:00] I want us to do the best thing for the kids.

No, I want to. Laura, Jesus, I care about you so much. Don't leave me. [26:08] You're the only person that I... [26:11] I've trusted and cared about for 25 years, Laura. We've been together since we were kids. I know. I know. [26:19] Thank you. [26:20] I care about you more than anything. But my life sucks, David. So does mine. Can we work together and fix it? [26:28] Please? I think I deserve something else than people telling me all the time. [26:34] All right, well, first of all, you're right. You do deserve better, and I apologize.

[26:39] You deserve better. People should never. These pieces of shit that would call you and say these things are pieces of shit. [26:48] Okay, I agree and I'll I'll get them. Okay, they're trying anything that can you see that they're trying anything they can to hurt me? [26:56] Nothing will make them happier than you to leave me. [27:00] All it does is hurt me and I'm sick of being hurt all the time, time after time after time. Okay, it's not as bad as you're making it out to be, though. [27:09] It's not time after time after time after time after time.

I've made mistakes. I agree. [27:14] But I'm not perfect. I agree. [27:16] But I mean, it's not like I went searching for anything. [27:21] Accidents have happened. Mistakes have been made. I swear to God. Mistakes have been made. But they were mistakes. [27:28] They're not, I am not perfect. I agree. [27:31] Okay, I've made mistakes. [27:33] But it's not like I'm leading a double life. It's not like I'm living somewhere else. [27:39] You are leaving a double life. You visit her, you bring her money. And the last few weeks, I've had like $14 to buy groceries and she gets your money.

[27:50] Ask me for money. I give her money at the start of the month to help with him. Okay. She has a job. I've given her three. What about me? Like that's our money. Okay. You're right. You're right. And I have got nothing. I have nothing. I have this house, which is a noose around my neck. And that's it. And I go to work all day. And then I bring you your dinner upstairs. And I have nothing. I have my children. And I have my job. And I just try to put my feet every day and lay my bed.

[28:20] and [28:21] Then... [28:23] Okay, then let's fix this together. [28:26] Please. [28:28] *crying* [28:30] Please. [28:32] Please I don't want it. I'll give you all every ounce every every penny of money. I've got I don't care about money I just want to have a day where I have more than $14 to buy groceries. Okay, all right. I think a fuckload of money. Okay, and I have nothing Okay, I agree. We've had this problem for a while. I [28:53] - - [28:54] Fine. There she has groceries. [28:59] She has her own job.

I give her $300 a month. [29:03] *cough* [29:04] Okay, I'm not rich. I'm barely making it. I'm barely fucking surviving. [29:09] My business is going in the tank. So what did you think was going to happen? Like, I didn't know. I didn't know how I was going to explain. And why would you hide your son? He's your son. Because I love you and I care about you and I didn't want to hurt you. [29:27] And I'm embarrassed. [29:29] But at this point, pride doesn't mean a goddamn thing to me. I'm embarrassed beyond all embarrassment.

[29:37] I didn't know what to do or how to do it. [29:39] okay she used to be maceo's girlfriend oh you already know the whole story do you know everything i'm sorry go ahead tell me okay she was maceo's girlfriend i was maceo's friend [29:53] We ended up just somehow in, it ended up where it ended up. Okay. She refused to have an abortion. [30:01] And there it is. I'm stuck with the goddamn kid. [30:09] I... [30:11] I wanted more than anything to not have another child. Then why would you be starting businesses with her and my kids' names and her names all over everything together like you're a family?

No, no. That right there was down there at the coffee shop. [30:26] Okay, that was I had to start the LLC. She demanded to be a part of the LLC. I said, here, fine then. If you can run this, great. And if you can make any money, great. And it never worked out. Why are my kids names with her? [30:41] Okay, your kids' names are on the LLC in case she ever tried to do something where she tried to take anything that wasn't hers. [30:49] Okay, that way she's not a majority owner.

[30:59] I'm not trying. I've never tried to be Mr. Subversive about anything. And I knew someday I'd have to confront this issue. [31:08] And I didn't know how I was going to do it. And it really weighed heavy on me. I don't know. I have no idea or had no idea how the hell I would deal with this. [31:18] This is a huge problem and a huge embarrassment. I don't know what to do. It's embarrassing to me. I know. [31:28] I'm like the biggest fucking loser on the planet. No, you're not.

Yeah, I am. [31:34] Come on, don't, don't, don't! [31:38] don't. [31:39] I don't even hate you. I just... [31:43] Jesus Christ, I just want to be... [31:47] I won't. [31:49] I don't want you to be alone. That's the thing that I've never wanted. I've wanted to be with you. I love you. [31:57] I love you. I've wanted us to be together for the longest time. [32:04] But everywhere I go, people are telling me that you're with other people. Who was saying this? [32:10] Who was saying this? It's everybody everywhere. [32:13] Everybody everywhere is saying that I'm with other people or I'm not.

I'm with you. You're my wife. You are what I care about. You are who I love. [32:23] I [32:24] Granted, I haven't felt loved back for a long time, but I've wanted that. I figured maybe once we got this house situation worked out, then things would be a little bit better for us. [32:39] Thank you. [32:45] I have nothing. I'm 42 years old. I am losing my home. Okay. You're not. I have nothing. I have no retirement plan. I have $400,000 of tax debt and they're going to come after me.

I talked to you earlier. They're talking about me because I'm the only one with a paycheck. [33:01] Hold on a second. [33:03] There's no one's coming after you. [33:05] This is getting handled. [33:07] This is being handled by Fred. I've got the lawyer's name. I've got the lawyer's name. He's handling it. [33:16] He's really, hey, this is being handled. [33:20] Okay, you don't have $400,000 of tax debt. Don't think that it doesn't weigh on my head that it's sitting out there, but I'm handling it. [33:28] I'm handling this. [33:30] Thank you.

[33:30] And when I talked to a lawyer, he said, they'll leave me $2,000 a month to live on. And then I'm going to be the person paying it back. [33:38] You don't have $400,000 of tax debt. [33:43] You don't have $400,000 of tax debt. Okay. The IRS, what they did was they didn't accept those two years worth of taxes because they were repetitive. [33:54] change that they made to $24,000, then what they do is they take that and then they disallow the next two years. [34:03] Okay, this is being fixed.

I swear it. This is being fixed. Okay, I've already paid the attorney. I paid him a year and a half ago. [34:13] Okay, I am working to fix these problems. I really am. [34:17] Okay, well, then come and find me when they're fixed. I can't even find my kids. You've taken my kids away from me, Laura. I don't want to come and find you when... I wish you would work with me. I am working with you, and I'd love to see you tomorrow at wrestling. Laura, no, don't, no. Why can't we be a family?

Why can't... [34:37] What? [34:39] All I want is you. [34:42] I want you to love me. [34:44] I want you to love me. [34:47] I've wanted that [34:50] That's all I've wanted is you to love me. [34:55] I haven't felt it for a long time, I can tell you that honestly. [35:00] Thank you. [35:01] I mean, I know you're stressed and you're having a hard time, but I really am. I do have plans to fix that, and I did want to fix that. [35:09] And I still do want to fix that.

I want us to be a happy family. [35:15] Thank you. [35:16] My plans were to buy the house, [35:20] And then, you know, I probably aren't going to be able to work very much, but... [35:25] you know, because I'm not going to have any money to put back into the business. [35:29] And that's going to, you know, I'll just have to sell things off as they go. But then at least we don't have that enormous... [35:35] You know, house built. [35:40] Thank you. [35:43] I really do have plans to fix this.

I don't know how to fix that. I can't. I don't know. I don't know how to deal with that. I. I want. Okay. Could you forgive me? [35:53] Amen. [35:56] I love you. [35:59] I know that much. If I gave birth to a black kid, would you forgive me? Laura, if it meant you not leaving... [36:08] And our family staying together, I'd have to deal with it. [36:13] I would have to deal with it. [36:16] That's bullshit. That's not bullshit. [36:21] I would be hurt. I would be devastated. I'd be feeling all the same things that you're feeling.

[36:28] but I would still love you because you're the person I'd love that I married. [36:33] Because I love you and because I cared about you. And we've been through so much. I can't even imagine being with anybody else. [36:42] I can't imagine wanting to be with anybody else. I don't want to be with anybody else. I don't want to be with anyone else. I don't want any. I can't live like this anymore. Okay. It's, it's, [36:53] It's so mortifying. [36:55] I know. I know. I know. Believe me, I know.

[37:05] There isn't anything that I don't know better. I know that. [37:11] But how could I come to you and say, geez, honey, guess what I did? I fucked up again. [37:17] Not only is everything else in turmoil, but I'm a complete fucking idiot. Look at this enormous fucking blemish mistake I've made. [37:27] And I knew it was only a matter of time before somebody fucking decided to really stick it in my side and call you. [37:36] Thank you. [37:38] Yeah. [37:39] It's your phone. I said it down over there.

[37:42] It was in my hand. [37:47] Thank you. [37:51] Thank you. [37:54] Thank you. [37:56] Thank you. [37:57] That's got to be your police friends. No, I'm on call. [38:02] Thank you. [38:03] Fuck. [38:07] Thank you. [38:08] Amen. [38:10] Thank you. [38:11] Sigh. [38:16] Thank you. [38:18] Thank you. [38:19] Thank you. [38:21] Amen. [38:22] Amen. [38:28] So as you can see, I have no friends in the entire universe. Okay. They give two shits about me. Everyone's out to fucking stab me in the back. I am not. Trying to fucking hurt.

I want us... [38:38] To make those kids have a great life and help them with their careers and their wrestling and everything. And I think we can do that. But there's no reason. We can't do that separately. Laura. We can't. No, every family that breaks up, the kids are destroyed by it. [38:53] You know that. [38:55] You know that. [38:57] You know that as a fact that broken homes are terrible. [39:03] Look at what Robin is... Why didn't you make a good one? I'm not vindictive like her. Yeah, well, things like that happen, and I'm a piece of shit that would be vindictive, because...

[39:12] As soon as you're with somebody else, I'm going to lose it. [39:15] But that's going to happen. It will happen. Or you've turned yourself into a beautiful woman. All you care about is working out and being in shape. [39:25] Because otherwise, it's an antidepressant because it's the only thing that makes me feel better. [39:31] Well, I wish I could fucking make you feel better. Look at what's happened to me. I've just turned to shit because I have no fucking dignity or self-respect about myself. [39:40] I don't care about myself.

I change everything. Will you help me? But I'm not staying in this house, David. [39:49] Okay. No! [39:51] No! No! No! [39:54] No, let's work together and make it better. Let's work together and fix it. [39:59] Let's work together. [40:02] Please, let's work together. I've been doing all I can. [40:07] Okay. And I died in my room and I didn't fucking care. [40:13] Okay? That's how bad it is. [40:16] What do you mean? When I had a heart attack. [40:20] I knew what was happening, and I thought I died in there.

And you know what happened? I just woke up the next day. What are you talking about? When I... [40:29] When I was sick. [40:32] When was this? The first time you had a heart attack? [40:38] I passed out. I thought I was just done, and you know why? I didn't care. [40:42] because at that point I would have rather been dead. [40:47] This is like a year ago. [40:52] I knew when you took the baby stuff that you had a baby and I knew you had it with her. And this whole time I've been thinking that I'm crazy.

[41:01] Oh, God. [41:03] Because you had 14 stories about what you were doing with the stuff. And I knew you were with her. I always know when you're with somebody. [41:09] Okay. [41:10] I'm not with her. [41:12] I'm not with anybody. I'm with you, first of all. I'm not with her. [41:23] You mean everything to me. You are the only woman in the world that ever has meant anything to me. [41:30] But you can't... [41:32] Force me into this situation, David. [41:35] Thank you. [41:37] Thank you. [41:38] Thank you. [41:39] But I'm going to try.

[41:42] Lord, I care about you. You're the only thing I care about. I would rather see us both dead than now. [41:50] I'd rather see me dead than not have you in my life. [41:54] Because my children are going to be destroyed by this. They're going to be destroyed from this. [42:00] And it's all my fault. [42:04] my children's lives are going to be fucked up because of this [42:08] Fuck [42:10] I fucked up everything with you. I fucked up everything with my kids. [42:14] Everything [42:16] *sniff* [42:20] I would like to help you.

I just can't stay here, please. [42:28] I don't want you to go, Oram. [42:30] I don't want you to go [42:32] I don't want you to go, I don't want you to take my kids. [42:36] Amen. [42:39] I don't want you to go. [42:44] Yeah. [42:45] for fucking pictures. [42:47] Thank you. [42:48] You took their pictures. [42:51] Thank you. [42:56] You can't do this to me. [42:59] Thank you. [43:00] You can't do this to me, Oprah, please. [43:03] Please, please, let's us live. [43:07] Make this better together, please, Laura. [43:10] Are you just looking for a way out?

Are you just looking to make your run? Is that really what's going on here? [43:15] Are you not listening to me at all? I'm listening to you. You really don't care about anything I'm about to say? Is that really it? [43:22] No, David, I care. I just I've been over this 800,000 times alone. [43:28] Okay. You've been over what? This whole scenario. And there's not going to be a way that I'm going to feel better about that baby. [43:36] Okay, there's not going to be a way that I'm going to be able to make you feel better about that baby, but can you forgive me?

[43:41] For making a mistake. Because I'm not going to. The minute you're gone. I'm not running over. And being with this baby. [43:48] I'm not doing that. But you should. It's your obligation. No. Because you're your son too. Okay. I'm not going to run over and be with any. I'm never going to be with that person. [43:57] I have never, ever, ever. You should fight for your son. You should have your son half the time. He is yours, and he deserves to have a good dad, too. [44:06] and [44:07] Will you accept him into the house?

[44:11] No. Okay, then. You should fight for all your kids. [44:14] Because they're yours and they deserve a good, respectable dad. Okay. I'm not going to do anything that's going to jeopardize my chance with you. [44:24] Or I'm not gonna you know what you know I'm a pediatrician right? I mean I I actually feel bad for that kid because I want him to have you as a dad or you need to be there for him too David. I'm not gonna do anything. [44:39] about it. [44:39] That will jeopardize us. [44:44] Or I'm not going to do anything that will jeopardize us.

I'm not going to do it. [44:49] I want us... [44:51] I want you and me. I want our kids. I want our family. [44:55] That's what I want. That's the only thing I want. [44:58] That's the only thing I want. [45:01] I don't want anything that will jeopardize us. [45:06] I love you and care about you more than anything. [45:08] I really do. [45:10] I love you and care about you more than anything in this entire world, Lord, and I would do anything to prove that. [45:18] I don't want anything but you and my children in my life.

That's it. [45:25] And the only reason why I even had to deal with this other person is, is because there's a kid there. And yes, it's an enormous mistake. [45:34] But I do have to take a responsibility for the kid in some way. But... [45:42] I don't, I've never brought it up to you and I've never admitted, you know, this, this terrible problem because, you know, [45:50] of the problem it's going to cause me. [45:54] Because I don't want to lose my family. I don't want to lose you. [46:00] I love you.

[46:01] I love my kids. [46:05] This is all I want. [46:07] is you and my children. [46:12] It really is. [46:18] It really, really is, Laura. [46:24] What can I do? What can I do? Please tell me. What can I do? I don't know. I think you have the potential to be a great dad. You are a great dad. You need to be a dad to that kid. [46:34] But you've never been a good husband. [46:37] I have been a good husband. [46:40] I have been a good husband. I haven't been a perfect husband, but I've been a good husband.

[46:45] There are a whole lot worse husbands out there. I admit, I've got issues because... [46:51] You know, because of how my mom fucked me up. I've got issues, you know, I've got some deep, dark stuff that I've never told you. I've got problems that I don't know how to deal with. [46:59] Okay? But... [47:02] you know, [47:04] Thank you. [47:23] Thank you. [47:29] What do you want to tell me? [47:31] I mean, there's stuff that you need to save. [47:35] Get it off your chest. [47:39] Thank you. [47:41] Thank you.

[47:50] What? [47:55] Thank you. [48:01] It's really embarrassing. [48:05] Okay, well, I've been your friend since I was 16 years old. I know, but I've never told you before. I've never... [48:11] What? [48:13] This is the part of the recording where Dave shares something personal with Laura. [48:19] Look, I know I'm fucked up, okay? I know I'm fucked up, okay? [48:27] Everybody fucking leaves me. [48:29] My mom left me. [48:31] Grandma died. [48:35] Here we go. [48:40] Amen. [48:43] Thank you. [48:53] Thank you. [48:55] Amen. [49:05] Thank you. [49:06] Thank you.

[49:08] Thank you. [49:09] What was it? [49:12] Thank you. [49:16] Thank you. [49:19] Thank you. [49:25] Thank you. [49:29] Sorry that that happened to you. [49:33] Thank you. [49:36] Thank you. [49:58]. [50:04] I think we should just work on a better situation for our kids. [50:12] I'm... [50:13] I'm fucked up. I'm so fucked up, okay? [50:19] There's a lot of shit wrong with me. [50:22] Okay, David, I'm friends. Will you please help me fix a family? I would love to help you. Will you please say my wife? Can I get it?

Will you please say my wife? Do you care about me? Yes, I care about you more than anything. I need... [50:36] to be fixing myself. What about me and this? Please, I know I will do anything to help. I will do anything. I will do anything. [50:47] I will do anything. Please don't leave. Please don't take my kids. Please. I will do anything. I'm not thinking that, David. We're just going to work together. I'll pour my heart out to a psychiatrist. I'll tell them everything, and I will get better.