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Man: YEAH! OW!
Narrator: A FAILED MARRIAGE LEAVES A YOUNG MOTHER BROKE
AND HUNGRY FOR LOVE.
YOU DON'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND?
BUT WHEN SHE THINKS SHE'S BEEN BETRAYED...
WHO WAS THAT ***?
SHE STARTED STALKING ME. IT WAS REAL CRAZY.
Narrator: ...SHE SEEKS REVENGE.
Johnson: YOU HURT MY HEART,
I'M GONNA HURT YOU.
ON YOUR KNEES.
Narrator: SHE GIVES LOVE ONE MORE TRY...
I'D MY LIFE FOR HER IN A HEARTBEAT.
Narrator: ...UNTIL OLD WOUNDS SPLIT OPEN.
WHY CAN'T YOU BE FAITHFUL?
ALL I FELT WAS LIKE, "I'M GONNA KILL YOU."
AAH!
Narrator: NOT ALL FAIRY TALES HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
[ WOMAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG, A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
LAWRENCE!
COME BACK HERE!
LAWRENCE!
NOVEMBER, 2004, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.
[ GROANS ]
23-YEAR-OLD CRYSTAL JOHNSON HAS SNAPPED.
LAWRENCE!
Narrator: HER BOYFRIEND AND THE FATHER OF HER BABY
IS LEAVING HER,
AND SHE'LL DO ANYTHING TO MAKE HIM STAY.
ALL SHE KEPT TALKING ABOUT WAS, "WHY ARE YOU LEAVING ME?"
AND I WAS TELLING HER, "THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT."
COME OUT!
SO, SHE BLEW UP, GOT UPSET,
AND SAID, "I SHOULD KILL YOU RIGHT HERE."
[ GROANS ]
Johnson: HE BROKE MY HEART BAD,
SO I FELT LIKE, "I'M GONNA HURT YOU.
I'M GONNA MAKE YOU FEEL HOW I FEEL.
I'LL MAKE YOU FEEL IT IN PAIN HOW YOU MADE MY HEART FEEL."
Narrator: IT'S THE LATEST ROUND IN A VICIOUS CYCLE OF BETRAYAL
THAT HAS PLAGUED CRYSTAL SINCE CHILDHOOD.
AAH!
THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES.
Narrator: FALL 1993.
THE FUTURE IS LOOKING BRIGHT FOR 12-YEAR-OLD CRYSTAL JOHNSON.
SHE'S ENJOYING A HAPPY CHILDHOOD,
GROWING UP IN A WORKING-CLASS FAMILY IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.
SHE'S CLOSE TO HER PARENTS, GETS GOOD GRADES,
AND HAS DREAMS OF BECOMING A NURSE SOMEDAY.
OH, SIT DOWN. SIT DOWN.
OKAY.
I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL EVERYBODY
NOW THAT WE'RE ALL TOGETHER.
WE'RE GONNA ADOPT A BABY.
Narrator: THE NEWS TAKES CRYSTAL COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE.
YES!
WHILE CRYSTAL LIKES THE IDEA OF A SIBLING,
SHE WONDERS WHY HER PARENTS WANT TO ADOPT.
I MEAN, SHE HAD ME. WHY DON'T SHE JUST... HAVE ANOTHER ONE?
YEAH, THEY HAD YOU. THEY WENT AND GOT YOU.
YOU'RE ADOPTED.
I'M NOT ADOPTED. STOP KIDDING.
'CAUSE I WAS, LIKE, A GOOD CHILD UNTIL THEN...UNTIL THEN.
I'M ADOPTED?!
Narrator: HER COUSINS REVELATION SENDS CRYSTAL SPINNING
INTO A PAINFUL WHIRLWIND OF CONFUSION AND BETRAYAL.
YOU'RE OUR DAUGHTER. WE LOVE YOU.
APPARENTLY, I'M NOT.
SHE CAN'T BELIEVE
HER PARENTS HAVE LIED TO HER ALL THESE YEARS,
AND SHE NO LONGER TRUSTS THE PEOPLE SHE CALLS MOM AND DAD.
I STARTED TELLING THEM, "YOU'RE NOT MY MOM.
YOU'RE NOT MY DAD. YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO."
Narrator: THE PAIN AND RAGE SHE FEELS IS ALMOST CRIPPLING.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
HEY, YOU NEED TO BACK UP.
OKAY, WELL, YOU NEED TO GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF MY FRIEND.
Narrator: CRYSTAL STARTS ACTING OUT.
Johnson: I KIND OF STARTED REBELLING --
SKIPPING SCHOOL, FIGHTING IN SCHOOL,
I STARTED GETTING EXPELLED FROM SCHOOL,
MY GRADES STARTED FALLING IN SCHOOL,
BECAUSE BEFORE, I WAS A 4.0.
LIKE, MY TEMPER WAS JUST BAD.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
CUT IT OUT! CUT IT OUT!
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
Dr. Jordan: MANY ADOPTED CHILDREN HAVE A DETACHMENT DISORDER.
WHEN CRYSTAL FINDS OUT AT AGE 12
THAT THE PEOPLE SHE THINKS ARE HER PARENTS
ARE ACTUALLY HER ADOPTIVE PARENTS,
SHE FEELS INCREDIBLY BETRAYED.
THIS WILL DEFINITELY AFFECT HER FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS.
Johnson: I THOUGHT I WAS DIFFERENT.
LIKE, I WONDERED WHY I DIDN'T HAVE A REAL MAMA.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.
WERE YOU ANGRY AT YOUR BIRTH MOTHER
AND YOU WERE ACTING OUT ON YOUR ADOPTIVE PARENTS?
YES.
YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT! TAKE HER AWAY! TAKE HER AWAY!
Narrator: CRYSTAL GETS ARRESTED AFTER A PARTICULARLY NASTY FIGHT.
SHE'S SENT TO A DETENTION CENTER AND THEN PUT ON PROBATION.
Woman: AFTER THIS, WE'RE GONNA GET SOMETHING TO EAT, OKAY?
DAD, I'M FINE.
Narrator: HOPING TO WIN BACK CRYSTAL'S TRUST,
HER PARENTS MAKE A BOLD MOVE
THAT THEY HOPE WILL REIN THEIR DAUGHTER IN --
THEY ARRANGE FOR HER TO MEET HER BIOLOGICAL MOTHER.
AND WHEN I MET HER, SHE DENIED EVEN HAVING KIDS,
BUT I LOOK JUST THAT WOMAN.
Narrator: CRYSTAL QUICKLY REALIZES
SHE'S BETTER OFF WITH THE FAMILY SHE'S GOT.
Johnson: SHE WAS ON DRUGS, AND I REALIZED THAT SHE HAD 12 KIDS
AND THE STATE TOOK US ALL AWAY...
AND SEEING WHAT MY LIFE REALLY COULD HAVE BEEN.
SO A LOT OF MY BEHAVIOR STOPPED.
Narrator: THE MEETING INSPIRES CRYSTAL TO TURN HER LIFE AROUND.
SHE THROWS HERSELF BACK INTO HER SCHOOLWORK
AND EARNS HER HIGH-SCHOOL DIPLOMA...
WITH PLANS TO APPLY TO NURSING SCHOOL.
WHEN CRYSTAL MEETS HER BIRTH MOTHER,
SHE GETS PERSPECTIVE,
AND SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT HER ADOPTIVE PARENTS
REALLY ARE HER FAMILY,
BUT STILL, THOSE FEELINGS OF BETRAYAL AND ABANDONMENT
ARE ALWAYS LINGERING UNDER THE SURFACE,
THREATENING TO POP UP IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Narrator: A FEW WEEKS AFTER CRYSTAL GRADUATES,
A FAMILY FRIEND SHOWS UP ON HER PARENTS' DOORSTEP.
MARK IS 10 YEARS OLDER THAN CRYSTAL.
WELL, I DIDN'T REALLY LIKE HIM,
BUT HE WAS MY COUSIN'S BEST FRIEND.
Narrator: HE'S A CHARMER AND TAKES AN INSTANT LIKING TO HER.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING?
TV.
Johnson: HE KEPT TALKING TO ME.
HE WAS KIND OF AGGRAVATING A LITTLE BIT.
MAYBE WE CAN GO CATCH A MOVIE SOMETIME OR A BITE TO EAT.
BUT HE HAD A CAR, YOU KNOW?
I'M 19.
SO, WE JUST TALKED.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A WALK WITH ME?
YEAH.
Narrator: MARK'S UNLIKE ANY BOY SHE'S EVER DATED.
Johnson: HE WOULD, LIKE, TAKE ME OUT ON DATES AND STUFF.
Narrator: HE QUICKLY WINS CRYSTAL OVER.
HE WAS, LIKE, REALLY SWEET.
Narrator: AT FIRST, DATING AN OLDER MAN IS FUN AND EXCITING,
BUT AFTER ONLY THREE MONTHS,
CRYSTAL DISCOVERS SHE'S PREGNANT.
I'M JUST NERVOUS...
WHEN MARK HEARS THE NEWS, HE DECIDES THERE'S ONLY ONE OPTION.
IT FORCES THE TEENAGER TO MAKE A GROWN-UP DECISION.
WILL YOU DO ME THE HONOR OF BEING MY WIFE?
Johnson: AND I KIND OF DIDN'T WANT TO GET MARRIED
'CAUSE I WAS YOUNG, YOU KNOW?
BUT I WAS LIKE, "WELL, TO HECK WITH IT.
I'M PREGNANT. I MIGHT AS WELL TRY IT."
[ SMOOCHES ]
OH, THAT LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL ON YOU.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
WE HAD, LIKE, A LITTLE COUNTRY WEDDING AT MY MOM'S HOUSE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
YES.
[ SCOFFS ] NOT MY IDEAL WEDDING.
[ CHUCKLES ]
WE GOT MARRIED, GOT IN OUR OWN PLACE,
AND IT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
Narrator: BUT THE HONEYMOON PHASE QUICKLY SOURS.
CRYSTAL, IS THAT YOU?
Johnson: WE JUST DIDN'T WORK.
CRYSTAL!
WHAT? WHAT?
HE WAS JUST BORING, LIKE, DON'T WANT TO DO NOTHING BUT GO HUNT.
CRYSTAL, IT IS 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
EVENTUALLY, THAT'S WHAT IT LED UP TO.
I STARTED GOING OUT WITH MY FRIENDS.
I NEED YOU TO START ACTING LIKE YOU ARE A MARRIED WOMAN
WHO'S ABOUT TO HAVE MY CHILD!
I WOULDN'T EVEN COME HOME SOMETIMES.
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR [BLEEP] MIND?!
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!
YOU NEED TO START ACTING LIKE AN ADULT!
WHEN I WOULD BE HOME, I WOULD FIND REASONS TO FUSS WITH HIM.
I'MA WALK AWAY.
Dr. Jordan: CRYSTAL FALLS FOR MARK
BECAUSE, AS AN OLDER, ESTABLISHED GUY,
HE CAN MARRY HER AND GET HER OUT OF HER HOUSE,
GIVE HER A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE SHE'S REALLY CRAVING,
BUT WHAT SHE DIDN'T EXPECT
WAS HOW BORING MARRIED LIFE WOULD BE.
[ BABY COOS ]
Narrator: ONE YEAR AFTER MEETING MARK,
CRYSTAL GIVES BIRTH TO A GIRL THEY NAME JADA.
[ BABY CRYING ]
BUT BEING A MOM DOESN'T COME EASY TO HER.
[ CRIES ]
AND I WAS GOING THROUGH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION LIKE REALLY BAD.
I'M NOT HAPPY!
I WAS A CRYBABY, I WAS MOODY, REALLY DEPRESSED,
AND I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER.
ALL THE CRYING AND STUFF, LIKE, EVERYTHING
WAS JUST STARTING TO BOTHER ME AND REALLY GET TO ME.
CRYSTAL? HONEY?
Narrator: WEEKS GO BY,
AND CRYSTAL'S DEPRESSION GETS EVEN WORSE.
JUST WANT TO TAKE YOU TO TALK TO A DOCTOR.
MY MOM WAS KIND OF SCARED
THAT I, YOU KNOW, WOULD HAVE BEEN SUICIDAL.
Narrator: MARK IS DESPERATE FOR CRYSTAL TO GET BETTER.
Johnson: HIM AND MY MAMA, THEY LINKED UP TOGETHER
AND FELT THAT IT WAS BETTER FOR ME TO GO GET TREATMENT.
MAYBE GET YOU SOME MEDICATIONS
SO YOU CAN JUST TRANSITION WITH THE BABY.
Narrator: BUT THE YOUNG MOTHER REFUSES THEIR HELP.
IF I LEAVE, I'M NOT COMING BACK.
MAMA, NO! I'M NOT COMING BACK!
CRYSTAL FEELS TRAPPED.
Mark: BABY, STOP!
CRYSTAL!
I AM NOT GOING TO THAT DOCTOR!
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA! WHERE YOU GOING?
CRYSTAL! CRYSTAL, CRYSTAL, CRYSTAL, COME ON.
Narrator: MARK AND HER MOTHER PANIC WHEN SHE TAKES OFF.
GET OUT OF THE CAR!
SHUT UP!
CRYSTAL!
CRYSTAL!
Narrator: CRYSTAL JOHNSON'S HAD A HISTORY
OF ANGRY AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR
SINCE LEARNING AT THE AGE OF 12 THAT SHE WAS ADOPTED.
NOW 20, THE BIRTH OF HER DAUGHTER
ADDS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION TO HER VOLATILE MIX.
CRYSTAL'S DETERMINED TO ESCAPE HER REALITY...
CRYSTAL!
...ANY WAY SHE CAN.
CRYSTAL'S EMOTIONS OVERWHELM HER,
AND SECONDS LATER, SHE YANKS ON THE STEERING WHEEL
AND PURPOSELY RUNS HER CAR INTO A DITCH.
AAH!
CALL 911! CRYSTAL!
WAIT A MINUTE. YOU RAN YOUR CAR IN A DITCH PURPOSELY
YES.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A CRAZY PERSON, YEAH.
Mark: CRYSTAL!
WHAT DO YOU WANT?!
WHAT?!
YOU SHUT UP!
Narrator: MARK IS NOW CONVINCED
CRYSTAL IS A DANGER TO HERSELF AND NEEDS HELP.
Johnson: I WAS TALKING SUICIDAL.
I WAS, LIKE, CRYING NONSTOP.
I'M HER HUSBAND!
I AM HER HUSBAND!
I AM HER HUSBAND! HEY!
Narrator: THE POLICE TAKE CRYSTAL TO A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.
I DON'T WANT TO GO!
THE FACILITY IS 80 MILES AWAY IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.
I'M NOT COMING BACK!
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
NO! STOP! NO! I DON'T WANT TO GO!
Narrator: DOCTORS THERE DIAGNOSE HER WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION...
GET OUT! GET OUT OF HERE!
...AND BIPOLAR DISORDER...
...BUT CRYSTAL DOESN'T THINK SHE BELONGS THERE.
TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN THE INSTITUTION.
IT WAS -- I WAS NERVOUS
BECAUSE I BE WITH PEOPLE, YOU KNOW,
THAT, LIKE, TALK TO THEM THEMSELVES.
THEY'LL WALK AROUND, BE LOOKING CRAZY.
ONE WOULD FOLLOW ME. THAT WAS WEIRD.
PEOPLE THERE GOT SOME REAL ISSUES.
AFTER JUST A WEEK OF TREATMENT,
THE CLINIC RELEASES HER WITH A BOTTLE OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS.
AND I TOOK THAT FOR A LITTLE WHILE,
BUT THEN I QUIT TAKING IT 'CAUSE IT MADE ME SLEEP.
MM-HMM.
IT DID.
THE DOCTORS ALSO RECOMMEND
THAT SHE CONTINUE THERAPY.
CRYSTAL IGNORES THE ADVICE OF HER DOCTORS.
SHE DECIDES TO STAY WITH HER UNCLE IN COLUMBIA
INSTEAD OF GOING HOME
AND GETS A JOB AT THE LOCAL MALL.
AFTER SPENDING TIME IN A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL,
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WAKE-UP FOR CRYSTAL,
BUT INSTEAD, SHE IS NOT TAKING HER MEDICATION,
NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.
NOTHING GOOD CAN COME FROM THIS.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
Narrator: BUT LIVING WITH HER UNCLE MEANS
SHE'S OVER AN HOUR AWAY FROM HER DAUGHTER.
JOHNSON: Hello.
Crystal...
COULD YOU BRING THE BABY BY?
No, I'm not gonna bring her to you.
Johnson: I WOULD CALL FOR HIM TO COME OUT THERE, YOU KNOW,
TO BRING HER TO SEE ME,
BUT HE WAS LIKE, "YOU COME HOME, AND YOU CAN SEE HER."
I TOLD YOU, "IF YOU SEND ME TO THE HOSPITAL,
I'm not coming back!"
[ TELEPHONE BEEPS ]
Narrator: WHEN HER UNCLE DIES A YEAR LATER,
CRYSTAL IS FORCED TO GO BACK HOME TO AUGUSTA,
BUT HER MARRIAGE TO MARK IS OVER.
HEY, GIRL!
SHE GETS A JOB AT WALMART, RENTS A SMALL APARTMENT OF HER OWN,
AND VISITS WITH HER DAUGHTER, WHO'S IN MARK'S CUSTODY.
SHE'S BARELY SCRAPING BY.
WHY DON'T COME OVER TO THE CLUB AND DANCE WITH ME?
WHEN A FRIEND TELLS HER
HOW MUCH MONEY SHE CAN EARN AS A STRIPPER...
A LOT MORE.
...CRYSTAL CAN'T RESIST.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Johnson: MY FRIEND WAS DOING IT,
AND SHE WOULD HAVE, LIKE, A LOT OF MONEY EVERY DAY,
SO I WAS LIKE, "HMM, I'MA TRY IT."
Narrator: SURPRISINGLY, ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF HER NEW CAREER,
SHE DANCES HER WAY INTO ANOTHER RELATIONSHIP.
THAT'S WHEN I MET LAWRENCE.
Mitchell: GET IT, GIRL!
Mitchell: I WAS JUST YOUNG AND NAIVE.
I REALLY WASN'T LOOKING FOR ANYTHING
AND JUST OUT TO HAVE FUN.
LOOKS LIKE YOU HAD A GOOD NIGHT.
I DID, YEAH.
YEAH. [ CHUCKLES ]
WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT?
I JUST...[ CHUCKLES ] I'M JUST AMAZED.
LIKE, YOU LOOK DIFFERENT THAN ALL THESE OTHER GIRLS,
AND YOU GOT IT.
HE WAS CUTE,
AND WE WAS, LIKE, AROUND THE SAME AGE, FINALLY.
YOU DON'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND?
AH, NO, NO. NO GIRLFRIEND FOR ME.
Narrator: THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN CRYSTAL AND LAWRENCE IS UNDENIABLE,
AND IT ENDS HER NEW CAREER AFTER JUST ONE NIGHT.
CHEERS TO A BEAUTIFUL DATE.
Mitchell: SHE WAS A NICE PERSON.
SHE WAS COOL TO BE WITH, AND WE HAD FUN TOGETHER.
Johnson: AND I DIDN'T EVEN GO BACK TO THE CLUB.
WE WAS TOGETHER LIKE EVERY DAY AFTER THAT.
Narrator: HE SPOILS CRYSTAL.
EVEN THOUGH LAWRENCE IS LIVING WITH HIS MOTHER,
HE HAS A STABLE JOB WORKING AS A STOCK BOY
AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE.
CRYSTAL FALLS FOR HIM...HARD.
Johnson: OH, I THOUGHT HE WAS THE ONE.
I CARED ABOUT LAWRENCE MORE THAN WHAT I DID THE REST OF THEM.
LIKE, THE WAY I LOOKED AT HIM WAS DIFFERENT.
IT WAS, LIKE, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE HIM.
LIKE, IT WAS JUST -- EVERYTHING JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS RIGHT.
WHAT WAS SO GOOD ABOUT HIM?
SEX WAS GOOD, HE WAS FINANCIALLY STABLE,
YOU KNOW, HE WAS ADVENTUROUS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD FUN TOGETHER.
EVERYTHING WAS JUST PERFECT.
BUT LAWRENCE ISN'T LOOKING TO GET SERIOUS.
Mitchell: EVERYTHING WAS GOOD, YOU KNOW, FOR A FEW MONTHS.
FIRST, IT WAS JUST TO CHILL WITH HER.
I WASN'T EXPECTING FOR ANYTHING TO PROGRESS FOR LONG-TERM.
IT WASN'T A REAL RELATIONSHIP.
I WAS MESSING WITH OTHER WOMEN
BECAUSE I KNOW SHE WAS OUT THERE DOING WHATEVER SHE WANTED TO DO.
SO, SHE WAS WITH -- YOU KNOW, SHE DONE HAD OTHER GUYS
AT THE TIME WHEN SHE WAS MESSING WITH ME.
Narrator: BUT CRYSTAL CLAIMS OTHERWISE.
IF I LOVE SOMEBODY AND I REALLY LOVE THEM WITH ALL MY HEART,
I LOVE THEM HARD.
LIKE, I DON'T WANT NOBODY ELSE BUT THAT PERSON.
[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]
Narrator: WHEN CRYSTAL PICKS UP ON LAWRENCE'S LACK OF COMMITMENT,
SHE BECOMES POSSESSIVE AND PARANOID.
HEY, EMILY!
HOW ARE YOU?
ONE DAY, LAWRENCE RUNS INTO A CHILDHOOD FRIEND
AT THE NEARBY MALL.
HEY, WELL, I GOT TO RUN. IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE YOU.
IT WAS GOOD SEEING YOU. HOPEFULLY, I SEE YOU SOON.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD.
READY?
NO, I'M NOT READY. WHO WAS THAT?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "WHO WAS THAT?"
Narrator: THE ENCOUNTER
SENDS CRYSTAL REELING.
WHY AM I TRIPPING?
Mitchell: WHEN SHE SEEN ME TALKING TO HER, SHE GOT UPSET ABOUT IT,
CLAIMING THAT THAT WAS MY GIRLFRIEND
AND WAS A WOMAN THAT I WAS MESSING WITH.
SEEMS LIKE ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS MAKE ME MAD IN PUBLIC PLACES!
CRYSTAL, YOU NEED TO TAKE IT DOWN A NOTCH, ALL RIGHT?
ALL OF A SUDDEN,
SHE JUST STARTS TRIPPING AND TRIPPING AND TRIPPING,
SO I SAID, "LOOK, JUST BRING ME HOME, AND I'M DONE WITH THIS."
Johnson: YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD EMILY TO TAKE YOU HOME.
YOU GET IN THE CAR!
CRYSTAL'S BIPOLAR DISORDER MANIFESTS ITSELF
NOT ONLY IN MOOD SWINGS BUT IN DISTORTED THINKING.
SHE BECOMES SKEWED AND OBSESSED ABOUT PARTICULAR CONCEPTS.
IN CRYSTAL'S CASE, SHE THINKS
ANY MAN THAT SHE EVER LOVES AND COMMITS HERSELF TO
IS BOUND TO CHEAT ON HER AND BETRAY HER.
I DON'T WANT TO...[ SIGHS ]
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO FIGHT WITH YOU ANYMORE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO FIGHT.
Narrator: BY THE SIXTH-MONTH MARK,
CRYSTAL AND LAWRENCE HAVE POLAR-OPPOSITE VIEWS
OF WHERE THEY SEE THEIR RELATIONSHIP GOING.
OH, I WAS DEEP IN LOVE WITH HIM --
LIKE DEEP, DEEP IN LOVE WITH HIM.
LIKE, I KIND OF, LIKE, STOPPED BEING AROUND WITH MY FRIENDS
AND EVERYTHING FOR HIM.
Mitchell: I WAS NEVER IN LOVE WITH HER.
JUST TAKE IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT IT WAS MORE LIKE
I DIDN'T REALLY WANT A RELATIONSHIP AT THE TIME
BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE A FUTURE WITH HER, ANYWAY.
[ SCOFFS ] OKAY.
AS THE TIME PROGRESSED, I WANTED NOT TO REALLY BE THERE.
Narrator: WHEN LAWRENCE TELLS CRYSTAL HE FINALLY WANTS OUT,
IT SENDS HER OBSESSIVENESS INTO OVERDRIVE.
YOU CAN'T COME HERE TO MY WORKPLACE WITH THIS RIGHT NOW.
Johnson: WELL, WE SEPARATED
'CAUSE HE TOLD ME THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE WITH ME NO MORE.
I KEPT AFTER HIM FOR LIKE A WHOLE WEEK STRAIGHT,
AND HE WAS LIKE, "I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH YOU."
SO, JUST STOPPED CHASING HIM AROUND.
Narrator: BUT THREE WEEKS LATER, CRYSTAL'S GOT SOME NEWS
SHE HOPES WILL BRING LAWRENCE BACK TO HER.
LIKE WHAT? WHAT'S GOING ON?
Johnson: WE'RE PREGNANT.
Johnson: I WAS, LIKE, EXCITED ABOUT THAT PREGNANCY.
YOU KNOW, KIND OF WAS PLANNED IN A WAY --
LIKE, I WAS TRYING TO GET PREGNANT, YOU KNOW?
I WANTED A FAMILY WITH HIM.
ARE YOU SURE?
Narrator: LAWRENCE CLAIMS CRYSTAL HAD TOLD HIM SHE WAS ON BIRTH CONTROL.
I'MA BE RESPONSIBLE...
THE LAST THING LAWRENCE WANTS IS A RELATIONSHIP WITH CRYSTAL,
BUT HE CAN'T BRING HIMSELF TO ABANDON HER AND THEIR BABY.
A CHILD WAS BEING INVOLVED, SO I KNEW, AT THAT TIME,
THAT I COULDN'T CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER I WANTED TO DO
AND NOT WORRY ABOUT ANY RESPONSIBILITIES.
SO, THAT KIND OF MADE ME STICK AROUND A LITTLE LONGER
TO JUST, YOU KNOW, HELP HER OUT UNTIL THE BABY CAME.
HOW ARE WE DOING OVER HERE?
Narrator: HAVING MADE THE DECISION TO STICK AROUND,
LAWRENCE SEES NO HARM IN BEING INTIMATE WITH CRYSTAL.
OH, YEAH.
BUT HE MAKES IT CLEAR
HE'S STILL NOT INTERESTED IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.
NONETHELESS, SHE REFUSES TO LET GO OF HER DREAM
OF BUILDING A LIFE WITH HIM.
I'D HAD THE BABY BEDROOM. EVERYTHING WAS WINNIE THE POOH.
Mitchell: SHE GOT MORE SERIOUS.
SHE STARTED CLAIMING SHE WANTED TO HAVE A FAMILY,
BUT I STILL KNEW THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANTED.
SO, I TOLD HER THAT AFTER THE BABY CAME
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE WITH HER ANYMORE.
Narrator: OCTOBER 2004.
CRYSTAL GIVES BIRTH TO A BOY SHE AND LAWRENCE NAME DEON...
BUT THE BABY'S PREMATURE AND HAS TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL.
LAWRENCE GOES HOME WITH CRYSTAL FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS
TO HELP HER RECOVER FROM THE BIRTH.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
Mitchell: I KIND OF STUCK AROUND
JUST, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE WOULD BE OKAY,
AND WHEN THAT TIME CAME, NOW I CAN GO,
LEAVE HER ALONE, LET HER BE, AND ME GO DO MY OWN THING.
I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE THE BABY.
Narrator: LAWRENCE ASSURES CRYSTAL HE'LL BE A RESPONSIBLE DAD
BUT TELLS HER THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS OFFICIALLY OVER.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
WHEN CRYSTAL REALIZES HE MEANS IT,
SHE COMES COMPLETELY UNHINGED.
I'M NOT GONNA DO THIS! YOU'RE CRAZY! DON'T HIT ME!
Mitchell: THEN, SHE JUST HOPPED UP AND WAS TRYING TO FIGHT ME,
PUTTING HER HANDS ON ME.
NO, DON'T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME!
JUST LOOK -- STOP! LOOK, RELAX!
I LOVED HIM, BUT I HATED HIM FOR WHAT HE PUT ME THROUGH.
AND YOU FELT BETRAYED.
VERY. VERY BETRAYED.
I'M GONNA KILL YOU!
Dr. Jordan: THIS IS THE WORST POSSIBLE TIMING
FOR LAWRENCE TO BE BREAKING UP WITH CRYSTAL.
SHE HAS HER UNTREATED BIPOLAR DISORDER
AND NOW POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION ONCE AGAIN,
MAKING HER THE PERFECT STORM TO DO SOMETHING REALLY DANGEROUS.
Mitchell: SHE LOOKED RIGHT UPSET
AND SAID, "I SHOULD KILL YOU RIGHT HERE."
WHY DON'T YOU JUST LET HIM LEAVE?
BECAUSE I WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM,
AND I FELT LIKE I COULDN'T BE WITHOUT HIM.
I FELT LIKE I COULDN'T DO NOTHING WITHOUT THAT DUDE.
I LOVED HIM WITH ALL MY HEART.
Narrator: CRYSTAL SEES RED...
AND SHE'S ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
Narrator: WHEN THE FATHER OF HER BABY TELLS HER HE'S LEAVING,
IT SHATTERS CRYSTAL JOHNSON'S FANTASY
OF HAVING THE PERFECT FAMILY.
SHE REFUSES TO LET HIM GO.
LAWRENCE! YOU'RE STILL PACKING?
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THOSE?
I KNEW SHE WAS CRAZY ENOUGH TO DO IT.
I WAS SHOCKED...
...BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
I WAS JUST MAINLY THINKING ABOUT LEAVING.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT SHE GONNA REALLY STAB ME.
I WAS SO WRONG.
YOUR *** IS CRAZY! I'M NOT GONNA DO THIS!
I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH YOUR ***!
AAH!
SHE JUST STARTED SWINGING THE KNIFE AT ME.
I TOOK, SIMULTANEOUSLY, TWO IN THE SHOULDER.
SHE THREW A THIRD ONE TO TRY TO STAB ME IN MY FACE.
I THREW MY ARM UP, AND SHE HIT ME ON MY FOREARM.
AAH!
ALL I FELT WAS LIKE, "I'M GONNA KILL YOU."
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!
I TRIED TO RUN DOWN THE STAIRS...
WHEN SHE SWUNG AGAIN AND STABBED ME IN MY BACK.
I STUMBLED AND ROLLED DOWN THE STAIRS.
[ GROANS ]
Johnson: THAT WAS THE ANGRIEST I'D EVER BEEN.
AFTER ALL THE STUFF HE DONE PUT ME THROUGH?
Narrator: LAWRENCE KNOWS HE'S GOT TO SOMEHOW ESCAPE
IF HE WANTS TO LIVE.
AND I RAN OUT THE DOOR.
THAT'S WHAT SAVED HIS LIFE, BECAUSE IF THAT DOOR WAS LOCKED,
I WOULD HAVE JUST KEPT STABBING HIM
'CAUSE MY INTENTIONS WAS TO KILL HIM.
I'M NOT EVEN GONNA LIE. LIKE, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
Narrator: LAWRENCE IS STARTING TO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF HIS WOUNDS.
Mitchell: MY ARM WAS NUMBING UP, AND I COULDN'T LIFT IT.
SO, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD FOR ME TO DEFEND MYSELF.
I WAS IN PAIN FROM THE STAB WOUNDS.
LAWRENCE! COME BACK HERE!
Narrator: LAWRENCE SEES NO WAY OUT.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ GROANS ]
Narrator: HE CALLS 911.
YEAH. MY EX-GIRLFRIEND JUST TRIED TO KILL ME.
AAH!
Narrator: ALL LAWRENCE CAN DO NOW IS WAIT.
LAWRENCE!
SHE REALLY WAS TRYING TO TAKE MY LIFE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HER MIND.
IT'S NOTHING THAT I POSSIBLY COULD HAVE DID
TO HAVE HER SO CRAZY AND POSSESSIVE
TO WANT TO TAKE MY LIFE.
AAH!
Narrator: CRYSTAL IS SO DETERMINED TO FIND HIM,
SHE IGNORES THE APPROACHING POLICE SIRENS.
DAMN!
IS HE DEAD?
IS HE DEAD?
I DON'T KNOW! DROP THE KNIFE!
THEY TAKE HER INTO CUSTODY
AND CHARGE HER WITH AGGRAVATED BATTERY.
I'M NOT FINISHED!
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
ALL RIGHT. GET IN THE CAR.
PARAMEDICS RUSH LAWRENCE TO THE HOSPITAL,
WHERE DOCTORS TELL HIM HE'S LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.
HE HAS NERVE DAMAGE IN HIS ARM,
BUT HIS BACKPACK BORE MOST OF THE BRUNT
OF CRYSTAL'S ATTACK FROM BEHIND.
FROM WHAT THEY SAID, ONE, LIKE, JUST MISSED HIS HEART.
WHEN CRYSTAL ATTACKS LAWRENCE, THIS IS REALLY THE CULMINATION
OF ALL OF THE PAIN OF BETRAYAL AND ABANDONMENT
FROM HER CHILDHOOD.
WHAT CRYSTAL IS REALLY SAYING IS,
"DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME."
SHE WANTS TO DESTROY THE FEELING
THAT SOMEONE IS WALKING AWAY FROM HER
AND NOT LOVING HER AGAIN.
Narrator: CRYSTAL IS RELEASED ON BOND.
DEON'S STILL IN THE HOSPITAL
AND WILL STAY WITH HER PARENTS WHEN HE'S READY TO GO HOME.
CRYSTAL REFUSES TO GIVE UP ON LAWRENCE.
SHE CONVINCES HERSELF THAT THEY STILL HAVE A FUTURE TOGETHER.
HEY, BABE.
HI.
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?
I CAME TO VISIT YOU.
I LOVED HIM TO DEATH, YOU KNOW? I STILL TRIED TO BE WITH HIM.
I'M AT WORK!
I'M BUSY RIGHT NOW! I'M AT WORK!
I DON'T BELIEVE SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH ME.
I DON'T THINK SO AT ALL.
I THINK SHE JUST WANTED WHAT SHE WANTED AT THE TIME, YOU KNOW --
JUST WANTED TO HAVE ME
'CAUSE SHE FELT, AT THAT TIME, SHE COULDN'T HAVE ME NO MORE.
SO, YOU CAN RAISE YOUR VOICE, BUT I CAN'T RAISE MINE?
I DON'T CARE ABOUT THESE PEOPLE, OKAY?
Narrator: ACCORDING TO LAWRENCE,
CRYSTAL'S OBSESSION WITH HIM IS PUTTING HIS JOB AT RISK.
Mitchell: I CAN'T DO THIS!
I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU GETTING IN TROUBLE!
Mitchell: SHE STARTED STALKING ME.
WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?
I TOLD YOU, YOU CAN'T COME HERE AND BOTHER MY EMPLOYEE.
SHE WOULD TALK LOUD, THROW THINGS AT ME OFF THE SHELF.
AT TIME, MY MANAGERS HAD TO COME AND PUT HER OUT THE STORE.
I WOULD SEE HER SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT,
WAITING FOR ME TO SHOW UP.
IT WAS REAL CRAZY -- REAL CRAZY.
Narrator: JANUARY 12, 2005.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO MONTHS SINCE THE STABBING,
AND CRYSTAL IS ONCE AGAIN ON THE HUNT FOR LAWRENCE.
I WAS LOOKING FOR HIM ONE DAY
'CAUSE HE WASN'T ANSWERING HIS PHONE.
Narrator: SHE LURKS OUTSIDE THE GROCERY STORE AS HE LEAVES WORK.
HE'S WITH A WOMAN, AND CRYSTAL IS SURE SOMETHING IS GOING ON.
SO, I GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT THE [BLEEP]"
HEY, LAWRENCE.
HEY, LAWRENCE. WHO IS THIS?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
I WAS GONNA BEAT HER ***.
WHO ARE YOU, HUH?
HEY, HEY, HEY! BREAK IT UP RIGHT NOW!
Johnson: I TRIED TO FIGHT WITH HER, BUT HE WOULDN'T LET ME GET TO HER.
Narrator: CRYSTAL IS CONVINCED THE WOMAN
IS STANDING IN THE WAY OF HER HAPPINESS WITH LAWRENCE.
Mitchell: SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE GIRL. IT WAS A COWORKER.
SHE NEVER MET THE GIRL BEFORE,
AND I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF THE MALE COWORKERS.
IF YOU ANSWERED THE PHONE, I WOULDN'T COME HERE!
STOP YELLING OUT HERE! I WORK HERE!
WHEN YOU GET PREGNANT, YOU GET A LITTLE BIT NUTTY,
AND YOU HAVE YOUR POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.
WERE YOU JUST PARANOID?
NOPE. NOT AT ALL. NOT AT ALL.
HOLD ON.
Dr. Jordan: CRYSTAL'S UNTREATED BIPOLAR DISORDER
AND HER POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
ARE REALLY WREAKING HAVOC WITH HER THOUGHT PROCESS.
SHE NOW SEES LAWRENCE AND ANY WOMAN THAT HE'S WITH
THROUGH A PARANOID LENS OF "HE'S CHEATING ON ME."
QUITE SIMPLY, SHE'S CREATING SCENARIOS THAT AREN'T EVEN REAL.
CRYSTAL, JUST GO!
GET IT!
GET YOU PURSE AND GO!
Mitchell: AND THAT'S WHEN SHE JUMPED IN THE CAR.
WHEN SHE BACKED UP, I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, GOOD.
SHE LEAVING.
I WON'T HAVE NO PROBLEMS TONIGHT."
IT'S ALL GOOD. I THINK SHE'S ALL RIGHT.
YEAH.
Narrator: BUT CRYSTAL ISN'T FINISHED WITH LAWRENCE YET.
Johnson: AND WHEN I CAUGHT HIM WITH HER, I JUST SNAPPED.
WHEN YOU HURT ME, YOU KNOW, YOU HURT ME EMOTIONALLY,
I'M ABOUT TO HURT YOU PHYSICALLY.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
Mitchell: WE HEARD THE ENGINE REV UP.
SHE FLOORED IT.
[ TIRES SQUEAL ]
STOP! NO!
[ ENGINE REVS ]
Narrator: CRYSTAL JOHNSON THINKS SHE'S BEEN JILTED
BY THE LOVE OF HER LIFE, AND SHE'S OUT FOR REVENGE.
SHE'S ALREADY SLICED LAWRENCE OPEN WITH A KNIFE,
BUT HE SURVIVED THE ATTACK.
NOW SHE'S BACK TO FINISH THE JOB ONCE AND FOR ALL.
STOP! NO!
Woman: WHAT THE HELL?
Man: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?
AND I GUESS SHE MADE HER MIND UP
TO IT GIVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO TAKE MY LIFE.
I WAS LIKE, "THIS FEELS LIKE A MOVIE -- AN ACTION FLICK."
Johnson: HE'S DRAMATIC.
I WASN'T EVEN GOING THAT FAST,
BUT, YEAH, I HIT HIM WITH THE CAR.
YEAH, I'M FINE, I'M FINE. I'M GONNA CALL THE COPS.
WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?
MY EX-GIRLFRIEND JUST TRIED TO RUN ME OVER.
Narrator: LAWRENCE CAN'T BELIEVE CRYSTAL IS TRYING TO KILL HIM AGAIN.
Mitchell: I REALLY WANTED TO GO AND DO HER HARM.
I WAS REALLY PISSED OFF.
[ SIREN CHIRPS ]
Narrator: SHE DOESN'T GET FAR BEFORE POLICE TRACK HER DOWN.
WELL, HOW WAS IT WHEN THE JIG WAS UP,
WHEN YOU SAW THE COPS IN YOUR REARVIEW MIRROR
PULLING YOU OVER?
I WAS STILL TRYING TO TALK MY WAY OUT OF IT.
BUT IT DIDN'T WORK, SO I WAS LIKE, "YEAH, I DID IT."
STEP OUT OF THE CAR, PLEASE, MA'AM.
Johnson: I TRIED TO GIVE THEM A WHOLE STORY, BUT I WENT TO JAIL.
BEHIND YOUR BACK.
Narrator: ONCE AGAIN, CRYSTAL IS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED BATTERY.
FOR WHAT?
Johnson: MY LAWYER WAS TRYING TO SAY
THAT I'D BEEN GOING THROUGH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
AND THAT I DIDN'T GET HELP WITH THIS PREGNANCY,
SO THEY WAS TRYING TO SEND ME TO A HOSPITAL.
Narrator: CRYSTAL ENDS UP PLEADING TO A LESSER CHARGE
FOR BOTH THE STABBING AND THE HIT-AND-RUN.
SHE'S SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS, NINE OF WHICH ARE SUSPENDED.
SHE SPENDS ONE YEAR IN JAIL,
FOLLOWED BY FIVE YEARS OF SUPERVISED PROBATION.
LAWRENCE GETS CUSTODY OF THEIR SON, DEON.
Mitchell: HER GOING TO JAIL WAS A BIG RELIEF.
YOU KNOW, SHE NEVER REALLY TOOK CARE OF NONE OF HER KIDS,
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE SHE DO LOVE HER KIDS.
CRYSTAL KNOWS THAT YOU CAN ABANDON YOUR CHILDREN
WITHOUT RECOURSE.
HER OWN BIRTH MOTHER ABANDONED 12 OF HER OWN CHILDREN.
SO, CRYSTAL'S NOTION OF MOTHERHOOD IS VERY DISTORTED.
Narrator: NOVEMBER 2006.
WHEN CRYSTAL GETS OUT OF JAIL, SHE'S 25 YEARS OLD.
SHE MOVES BACK IN WITH HER PARENTS
AND TRIES TO JUMPSTART HER LIFE.
Johnson: HI.
BUT GETTING A JOB IS TOUGH WITH HER CRIMINAL HISTORY.
ON HER WAY TO A JOB INTERVIEW,
SHE CATCHES THE EYE OF THE DRIVER, JORDAN SMITH.
NERVOUS?
I AM NERVOUS.
WELL, IF YOU GO IN FOR THIS INTERVIEW...
I WANTED TO SEE WHERE THINGS WOULD GO
BECAUSE I REALLY WAS ATTRACTED TO HER.
THANK YOU.
NO PROBLEM. YOU'LL DO GREAT.
[ CHUCKLES ] OH, THANKS.
Narrator: JORDAN'S FLIRTING BARELY GETS A RESPONSE FROM CRYSTAL.
BUT TWO WEEKS LATER, SHE FLAGS DOWN A CAB,
AND GUESS WHO'S BEHIND THE WHEEL?
OH, IT'S FATE?
THIS IS FATE.
I FINALLY SAID, "WELL, I SHOULD TRY."
AND I STARTED TALKING TO HER.
AND I JUST WORK AND SLEEP BASICALLY.
WE ARE IN ATL, AND YOU DON'T GO OUT --
SOMEBODY LOOKING LIKE YOU?
AND OUR CONVERSATION WAS GOOD.
I SEEN WE HAD THINGS IN COMMON.
WHY DON'T YOU LET ME TAKE YOU OUT SOMETIME, RIGHT?
ALL RIGHT.
SO, I STARTED TO GET EVEN MORE EXCITED
ABOUT TRYING TO PUSH SOMETHING FORWARD.
THE TAXI MAN.
THE TAXI MAN. THAT'S RIGHT.
Narrator: JORDAN'S MOM WORKS AT A HOTEL,
SO FOR THEIR FIRST DATE, HE PLANS A ROMANTIC EVENING
IN ONE OF THE SUITES WITH WINE AND ROOM SERVICE.
Johnson: WE SPENT OUR FIRST NIGHT TOGETHER,
AND WE JUST HOOKED UP,
AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ADVENTUROUS, IT WAS FUN.
Narrator: CRYSTAL THINKS THIS COULD BE THE START OF SOMETHING SPECIAL.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
YOU REMEMBER WHEN I TOLD YOU ABOUT MY BABY DADDY, RIGHT?
THE NEXT MORNING,
CRYSTAL DECIDES TO COME CLEAN WITH JORDAN.
I SPENT TIME IN PRISON 'CAUSE I STABBED HIM.
WAIT, HOLD ON. LIKE -- OKAY.
SHE GOES ON TO TELL HIM HER HISTORY WITH LAWRENCE
AND HOW SHE FELT HE BETRAYED HER.
YEP. I TOLD HIM UP FRONT
'CAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING YOU JUST DON'T HIDE FROM NOBODY,
AND IT DIDN'T SCARE HIM AWAY, YOU KNOW?
HE WAS LIKE, "WELL, I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT TO YOU."
YOU WERE PUTTING JORDAN ON NOTICE.
YEAH, A LITTLE HINT.
YEAH.
I KNOW THAT'S MEAN, BUT, YEAH.
"IF YOU CHEAT ON ME,
YOU BETTER RUN FASTER THAN A KNIFE CAN SWING"?
[ CHUCKLES ]
Smith: I WAS SHOCKED A LITTLE BIT IN THE BEGINNING.
I KIND OF PUT MYSELF IN HER SHOES
AND REALIZED IF SOMEBODY DID THAT TO ME,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY REACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN.
YOU AIN'T GOT TO WORRY ABOUT THAT WITH ME, ALL RIGHT?
Narrator: DESPITE CRYSTAL'S DARK PAST,
JORDAN IS COMPLETELY SWEPT OFF HIS FEET.
MM-HMM.
I GOT YOU.
Smith: I WOULD DESCRIBE HER AS BEAUTIFUL, SMART,
STRONG-MINDED, INDEPENDENT, VERY CARING.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH HER, WITH HER PASSION FOR LIFE.
Narrator: THE COUPLE QUICKLY BECOMES INSEPARABLE.
Johnson: WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON, YOU KNOW?
WE WERE BOTH ADVENTUROUS. WE BOTH LIKED TO HAVE FUN.
Smith: I DID THINGS THAT I AIN'T NEVER DID BEFORE.
I RODE A BOAT FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH HER.
WE DID NATURE TRAILS. WE DID EXCITING THINGS.
I THINK WE BOTH WAS VERY HAPPY.
Narrator: WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS,
CRYSTAL MOVES INTO JORDAN'S APARTMENT.
THEY'RE BOTH CONVINCED THEY'VE FOUND THE ONE.
Smith: I WANT A FAMILY WITH HER.
I LOVE HER TREMENDOUSLY.
I'D GIVE MY LIFE FOR HER IN A HEARTBEAT.
UH, HOLD UP.
WHY IS LAURA TEXTING ME SAYING YOU MESSING WITH SOME GIRL?
Narrator: BUT AFTER TWO YEARS TOGETHER,
CRACKS BEGIN TO FORM IN CRYSTAL AND JORDAN'S RELATIONSHIP.
I EVEN HAD GIRLS TELLING ME THAT THEY WAS MESSING WITH JORDAN,
YOU KNOW, WITH THE SAME SITUATION --
KIND OF LIKE WHAT I DEALT WITH WITH LAWRENCE.
WHY CAN'T YOU BE FAITHFUL?
WHY ARE YOU LISTENING TO HER?
MAN, SHE IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH.
BECAUSE THAT IS MY BEST FRIEND!
Narrator: CRYSTAL'S PAST INSECURITIES WITH HER RELATIONSHIPS
COME FLOODING BACK IN FULL FORCE.
JUST CALM DOWN, GIRL. DAMN. CALM DOWN.
CALM DOWN.
Johnson: JORDAN WAS LIKE, "I'M NOT MESSING WITH NOBODY.
I'M NOT GONNA HURT YOU LIKE YOUR BABY DADDY DID
'CAUSE I KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH."
BUT BECAUSE I DONE HEARD ALL THAT BEFORE,
I WASN'T BELIEVING IT
BECAUSE WHAT MY BABY DADDY DID TO ME,
HE BROKE MY TRUST WITH, LIKE, MEN BAD.
YEAH, WE GOOD.
WHY -- COME ON. WE GOOD FOR REAL?
I SAID WE GOOD, BOY.
Smith: THE THING DEALING WITH LAWRENCE,
THAT'S THE MOST POWERFUL THING THAT I HAD TO DEAL WITH
BECAUSE EVERYTHING SHE'S JUDGING ME THROUGH HIS LENSES
TO HOW SHE JUDGED HIM
BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT HE DID TO HER.
WHERE YOU BEEN?
Narrator: BUT SOON, JORDAN STARTS TO FEED OFF CRYSTAL'S SUSPICIONS.
OH, HOW HAVE I BEEN? YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW I'VE BEEN?
Smith: I TRUST HER, BUT I HAVE DOUBTS
THAT SHE COULD HAVE MESSED WITH SOMEBODY ON MY TIME.
I GOT DOUBTS ABOUT IT, BUT I AIN'T GOT EVIDENCE.
Narrator: THE MUTUAL DISTRUST LEADS TO BIGGER AND BIGGER FIGHTS.
...COME IN HERE, AND I WANT TO RELAX.
Smith: WELL, SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAVE ARGUMENTS AND STUFF...
NO!
...I PUT MY HANDS ON HER.
SOMETIMES, IT'S ACTUAL HITTING.
I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT 'CAUSE THAT AIN'T ME.
THAT AIN'T MY CHARACTER.
SOMETIMES, IT'S HARD TO CONTROL MY EMOTIONS.
Johnson: [ CRIES ]
Dr. Jordan: CRYSTAL AND JORDAN'S RELATIONSHIP
HAS CLEARLY ENTERED THE ZONE OF UNHEALTHY CODEPENDENCE.
THEY FEED ON EACH OTHER'S INSECURITIES.
NOW THERE'S PHYSICAL ABUSE GOING ON.
IF THIS KEEPS GOING AND AMPING UP,
THERE IS NO WAY THIS CAN END WELL.
Narrator: TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
CRYSTAL'S SUSPICIONS ONCE AGAIN BEGIN TO EXTEND
TO ANY WOMAN WHO HAS CONTACT WITH HER MAN...
...INCLUDING HER BEST FRIEND, LAURA.
I KIND OF FELT THAT THEY HAD SOME THINGS GOING ON.
I HAD HER PHONE,
AND I SEE HIS LITTLE BROTHER'S NUMBER'S ON THE PHONE,
'CAUSE HIS BROTHER LIVES RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO OUR APARTMENT.
Narrator: AND JORDAN HANGS OUT A LOT AT HIS LITTLE BROTHER'S PLACE,
WHICH FEEDS RIGHT INTO CRYSTAL'S PARANOIA.
WHY ARE YOU CALLING JORDAN'S BROTHER?
WHY ARE YOU ALL IN MY PHONE?
FIRST OF ALL, ANSWER MY QUESTION.
YOU ARE IN MY HOUSE.
Johnson: I'M LIKE, "HOLD UP. HOLD UP."
I WANTED TO FIGHT WITH HER.
YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR IT?
BUT SHE'S NOT THE TYPE TO FIGHT.
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO FIGHT WITH ME AT ALL.
OH, YEAH, JUST RUN AWAY, THEN, ***.
THAT'S WHAT YOU ALWAYS DO.
Narrator: WHEN JORDAN GETS HOME THAT NIGHT,
CRYSTAL TURNS HER RAGE ON HIM.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!
WHOA, WHOA, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
DESPITE LITTLE TO GO ON, SHE'S CONVINCED HE'S GUILTY.
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? WHAT'S WRONG?
I WAS, LIKE, PISSED THE [BLEEP] OFF.
WHY IS SHE CALLING OVER THERE?
WHY IS SHE CALLING OVER THERE?
I DON'T KNOW. ASK HER.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT I WENT THROUGH WITH LAWRENCE
AND ALL OF THAT,
ALL THE EMOTIONS JUST START COMING BACK UP,
AND ALL THE ANGER STARTS COMING BACK UP.
WHEN SHE ASKED ME ABOUT IT, I TOLD HER FROM JUMP STREET
THAT I AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH HER BEST FRIEND.
EVEN IF I TELL YOU WHERE I'VE BEEN, YOU AIN'T GONNA BELIEVE IT. SO, IT DON'T MATTER!
SHE NEVER BELIEVED ME.
EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T SEE NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE,
I THINK ONCE THAT MIND-SET PUT INTO HER MIND,
I THINK SHE RAN WITH IT.
Narrator: CRYSTAL AND JORDAN ARE LIKE A RUNAWAY TRAIN ABOUT TO DERAIL.
ALL RIGHT, ENOUGH!
YOU WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW WITH YOU?!
I'M NOT GONNA DO THIS! YOU ARE CRAZY! ALL RIGHT?
AND I WAS STARTING TO GET SO HEATED UP IN THE ARGUING,
I FIGURED I WAS GONNA DO SOMETHING
THAT I PROBABLY WOULD REGRET,
SO I WAS GONNA WALK AWAY.
Narrator: CRYSTAL LOSES IT.
Johnson: ALL MY EMOTIONS FLARED UP.
YOU KNOW, ALL KIND OF THOUGHTS START COMING BACK IN MY HEAD,
AND I GRABBED THE BUTCHER KNIFE.
Narrator: FOR MORE ON HOW CRYSTAL IS DOING NOW,
GO TO investigationdiscovery.com.
LOOK -- STOP! LOOK, RELAX!
Narrator: THE SEA OF DECEPTION
THAT DEFINES ALL OF CRYSTAL JOHNSON'S RELATIONSHIPS
HAS CREATED A DANGEROUS TIDAL WAVE.
CRYSTAL BELIEVES HER BOYFRIEND, JORDAN,
IS CHEATING ON HER WITH HER BEST FRIEND.
NOW SHE WANTS REVENGE.
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF YOU RUNNING AROUND ON ME!
AAH! AAH! AAH!
DAMN, MAN!
I REACTED ON MY EMOTIONS.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!
I STABBED HIM IN THE BACK.
Smith: I WAS SHOCKED.
I'M NOT DOING NOTHING WRONG, SO I DIDN'T FIGURE I DESERVE IT.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!
Narrator: WHEN CRYSTAL SEES THE KNIFE WOUND IN HIS BACK,
SHE STARTS TO PANIC.
I'M SORRY!
Johnson: I REALIZED WHAT I DID TO HIM.
GET OFF ME! GET OFF ME!
I STARTED CRYING AND STUFF.
I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO!
I DIDN'T WANT TO HURT HIM LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW,
AND THAT STAB WOUND WAS REALLY BAD.
AND MY ANGER WENT AWAY, LIKE, JUST LIKE THAT,
AND I BECAME SCARED
'CAUSE I ACTUALLY HAD THOUGHT
THAT HE WAS GONNA DIE OR BE HURT BAD.
AND I WAS ON PROBATION ALREADY,
SO I'M LIKE, "LORD, I'M ABOUT TO GO TO JAIL
AND DO MY 10 YEARS PLUS SOME MORE TIME."
IF HE DIES, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?
I'M GOING TO PRISON FOR GOOD.
YOU NEED HELP!
NO.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH HE'S HURT,
JORDAN TELLS CRYSTAL NOT TO CALL AN AMBULANCE.
YOU JUST SAID YOU'RE AFRAID HE MIGHT DIE.
BUT HE SAID THAT IF I CALL THE AMBULANCE,
THEY'RE GONNA WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,
AND HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT HAPPENED.
Narrator: CRYSTAL GRABS ANYTHING SHE CAN FIND
TO TRY AND STOP THE BLEEDING.
Johnson: HE WAS UPSET, HE WAS CRYING,
HE WAS MAD, HE WAS IN PAIN,
BUT HE DID NOT SEND ME TO JAIL
BECAUSE HE SAID HE WASN'T GONNA SEND ME TO JAIL.
Narrator: JORDAN THEN STARTS DOWNING A BOTTLE OF ***
TO NUMB THE PAIN.
Smith: I KNEW WHAT SHE WAS FACING,
I KNEW SHE WAS ON PROBATION,
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT HER THROUGH IT.
I LOVE HER TOO MUCH FOR THAT.
COME ON.
AND I FELT SHE DIDN'T MEAN TO KILL ME.
HER PAST HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT.
I FIGURED,
IF SHE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HURT LIKE THAT IN THAT RELATIONSHIP,
WELL, THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE GOT HURT.
Narrator: INCREDIBLY, JORDAN BELIEVES THAT CRYSTAL'S ATTACK
IS A SIGN THAT SHE TRULY LOVES HIM.
Smith: WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEBODY WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
THERE AIN'T NOTHING YOU WOULDN'T DO FOR THAT PERSON.
Narrator: CRYSTAL IS DETERMINED TO SAVE HER MAN.
SHE USES STERI-STRIPS TO TRY TO CLOSE JORDAN'S WOUND
AND DOUSES IT IN PEROXIDE AND ALCOHOL.
FINALLY, IT STOPS BLEEDING.
Smith: I WAS WAITING FOR SIGNS.
I TOLD MYSELF, IF I WERE TO COUGH UP BLOOD,
I'D HAVE FELT THIS AND THIS, I WAS GONNA GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
BUT I NEVER FELT NO SYMPTOM
WHERE I REALLY FELT I NEEDED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
Narrator: IT TAKES A MONTH FOR JORDAN'S WOUND TO HEAL.
Johnson: AND THEN, AFTER THAT, I GOT RID OF KNIVES,
AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I EVER USED A KNIFE.
I MADE IT MY VOW AFTER I SEEN THAT I HURT HIM LIKE THAT.
'CAUSE I ACTUALLY LOVE THAT MAN A LOT, SO, YOU KNOW?
I EVEN TOLD HIM, "BABY, I'M SORRY.
I WILL NEVER TAKE ANOTHER KNIFE TO YOU."
AND ME AND HIM HAVE GOT INTO
A MILLION AND ONE FUSSES AND FIGHTS.
NOW, I MIGHT HIT OR SLAP HIM, YOU KNOW,
WHEN WE'RE HAVING AN ARGUMENT OR SOMETHING.
I'LL PUSH HIM OR SCRATCH HIM, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT AS FOR A KNIFE, NO.
SO, CRYSTAL AND KNIVES DON'T MIX.
NOPE. THEY DON'T MIX AT ALL.
Dr. Jordan: REMOVING EVERY KNIFE FROM THE HOUSE
IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE CRYSTAL'S PROBLEMS.
SHE STILL HAS THAT HOLE IN HER HEART
FROM HER ABANDONED CHILDHOOD,
AND SHE NEEDS TO LEARN TO LOVE HERSELF
AND NOT LOOK FOR THE ANSWERS IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A MAN,
BUT UNTIL SHE IS TAKING MEDICATION
FOR HER BIPOLAR DISORDER
AND GETTING PROFESSIONAL HELP AND THERAPY,
HER PROBLEMS ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.
Narrator: NOW, FOUR YEARS AFTER THE STABBING,
CRYSTAL AND JORDAN ARE ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED.
THEY'RE STARTING THEIR OWN JANITORIAL BUSINESS TOGETHER.
AND IF THIS RELATIONSHIP WOULD FAIL,
THAT WOULD HURT ME THE MOST.
WE WAS MEANT TO BE TOGETHER. I BELIEVE THAT WITH MY HEART.
I KIND OF LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE,
THAT I JUST GOT TO SHOW MORE PATIENCE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN I LOVE HER WITH ALL MY HEART.
Narrator: CRYSTAL INSISTS SHE WILL NEVER USE KNIVES AS WEAPONS AGAIN,
WITH ONE EXCEPTION.
IF HE WOULD CHEAT ON ME, YOU KNOW,
LIKE IF I WOULD CATCH HIM IN THE ACT,
THEN THAT'S DIFFERENT.
AND I TOLD HIM THAT, "IF I CATCH YOU WITH SOMEBODY,
I'MA STAB YOU, AND I'MA STAB HER."
PLAIN AND SIMPLE.