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Narrator: A TEENAGE GIRL IN THE THROES OF INFATUATION...
HE WASN'T LIKE ALL THE OTHER BOYS.
Narrator: ...THE PERFECT DATE NIGHT AHEAD OF HER.
Martilynn: WE HAD THE WHOLE PLACE TO OURSELVES.
THAT WAS SOMETHING NEW FOR US -- NOT HAVING ADULTS AROUND.
Narrator: BUT THE OBJECT OF EVERYONE'S DESIRE
IS A MAGNET FOR JEALOUSY.
MOST OF HER FRIENDS WERE GUYS,
AND I KNOW THE MAJORITY OF THEM DID HAVE CRUSHES ON HER.
EXCUSE ME. YOU GOT A PROBLEM?
Narrator: AND A DREAMY NIGHT CAN EASILY TURN DEADLY.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!
I WON'T LOOK AT ANYBODY ELSE.
SHE JUST KEPT REPEATING TO ME, "CARL, PLEASE DON'T LET ME DIE."
Martilynn: THERE WAS NOTHING IN HIS EYES BUT DARKNESS.
THIS MAN IS SERIOUSLY GONNA TRY AND KILL ME.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: THERE ARE PLENTY OF HIGH-SCHOOL GIRLS
WHO SPEND THEIR LIVES IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR...
...BUT MARTILYNN CHECOTS ISN'T ONE OF THEM.
A LOT OF THE WAYS, I WAS A TOMBOY --
RAN WITH ALL THE BOYS.
I HAD THREE BROTHERS THAT TAUGHT ME VERY WELL.
WE WOULD ALWAYS EMBARRASS THE CRAP OUT OF HER.
HEY!
SHUT THE DOOR! GO AWAY!
SHE DIDN'T SHY AWAY FROM THE CONTACT.
THAT WAS FOR SURE.
I BEAT ALL THE BOYS ALL THE TIME.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
I'M DONE WITH BOTH OF YOU.
OUT!
UGH!
Narrator: TODAY IS DIFFERENT.
MARTI'S GOT A SPECIAL DATE PLANNED
WITH HER FIRST REAL BOYFRIEND.
HE WASN'T LIKE ALL THE OTHER BOYS.
I WAS ATTRACTED TO LARRY.
HE ONLY HAD EYES FOR ME.
HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN ANY OTHER GIRLS.
HE WAS VERY LOVING AND PASSIONATE.
HE WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLDER THAN SHE WAS --
FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OLDER THAN SHE WAS.
AND YOU COULD SEE WHERE
ATTRACTING THE ATTENTION OF AN OLDER GUY
MIGHT BE ATTRACTIVE TO A YOUNG GIRL.
Narrator: 21-YEAR-OLD LARRY DOTES ON 16-YEAR-OLD MARTI.
HE MAKES TIME FOR ONLY ONE OTHER PASSION.
LARRY'S INTERESTS WERE SWORDS, AXES, DAGGERS.
Chronis: HE COLLECTED PARTICULARLY SAMURAI SWORDS.
THEY'RE NOT ONLY A WEAPON.
THEY'RE ALSO OBJECTS OF ART.
Martilynn: MEDIEVAL WEAPONS WERE HUNG ON HIS WALL.
Narrator: LARRY IS THE ULTIMATE MAN'S MAN, AND MARTI LOVES IT.
SHE'S BEEN WITH HER SEXY OLDER GUY FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW.
THEIR HOMETOWN OF LITTLETON, COLORADO,
HAS A LIVELY NIGHTLIFE.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS DATE IS ABOUT.
LARRY AND I BOTH LIVED WITH OUR PARENTS.
IT WAS A SPECIAL DATE FOR US
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HIS PARENTS WEREN'T HOME,
SO WE HAD THE WHOLE PLACE TO OURSELVES.
THAT WAS SOMETHING NEW FOR US -- NOT HAVING ADULTS AROUND.
Narrator: LARRY CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE MARTI ALL TO HIMSELF.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
HEY, MAN.
WHAT'S UP, MAN? HOW ARE YOU DOING?
WHERE YOU GUYS GOING?
Narrator: NO PARENTS AND NO KID BROTHERS.
HELLO.
GO.
HI.
Martilynn: IT MAKES YOU FEEL SPECIAL
WHEN SOMEONE'S DEVOTING THAT MUCH TIME TO YOU.
IT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO HAVE SOMEONE
THAT WAS JUST INTERESTED IN JUST ME.
Carl: WHEN MARTI WAS WITH LARRY, SHE WAS WITH LARRY.
THAT WAS IT.
I DIDN'T SEE HER.
SHE WASN'T AROUND NO MORE.
JESUS!
Martilynn: MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY BROTHERS
REALLY STARTED TO SUFFER THE LONGER I DATED LARRY.
Carl: I BARELY SEE MY SISTER.
IT TORE ME UP.
IT PISSED ME OFF, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
Narrator: LARRY HAS GOOD REASON TO BE POSSESSIVE.
HE'S SEEN HOW POPULAR HIS GIRLFRIEND IS.
MOST OF HER FRIENDS WERE GUYS,
AND I KNOW THE MAJORITY OF THEM DID HAVE CRUSHES ON HER.
SHE MIGHT'VE BEEN A TOMBOY -- MARTI --
BUT SHE WAS ALL WOMAN, A PURE BEAUTY.
[ LAUGHS ]
MARTI.
Martilynn: IF THERE WERE GUYS AROUND FIGHTING FOR MY ATTENTION,
I REALLY DIDN'T NOTICE IT.
Narrator: BUT LARRY DEFINITELY DID.
ALL HE WANTS ON THEIR DATE TONIGHT
IS TIME ALONE WITHOUT ANY COMPETITION.
Martilynn: YES.
YEAH.
WE HAD PLANNED ON GOING AND PICKING UP SOME FOOD
AND TAKING IT TO HIS PLACE TO WATCH A MOVIE.
Narrator: A BRIEF PIT STOP THAT SEEMS HARMLESS.
BUT WITH A GIRL AS MAGNETIC AS MARTI,
IT'S HARD NOT TO DRAW ATTENTION.
Martilynn: THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THERE THAT LOOKED AT ME.
I DIDN'T NOTICE THAT HE WAS LOOKING AT ME,
BUT LARRY HAD NOTICED.
HEY. YOU GOT A PROBLEM?
I'M HANGING OUT. RELAX.
YEAH.
RELAX?
IT WORRIED ME A LOT.
IF A GENTLEMAN HAD APPROACHED ME,
LARRY'S NOT THE KIND OF GUY THAT WOULD BACK DOWN.
YOU CAN TELL SHE'S WITH ME, RIGHT?
WITH YOU?
Narrator: MARTI TRIES TO DEFUSE THE SITUATION...
...BY SHAMELESSLY PROVING SHE'S ALL LARRY'S.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A PICTURE, OKAY?
Narrator: TIME TO GET THEIR DATE BACK ON TRACK.
LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW THE CONFRONTATION AT THE RESTAURANT
IS ABOUT TO FOLLOW THEM HOME.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
Narrator: MARTI'S SPECIAL DATE WITH HER BOYFRIEND, LARRY,
IS NEARLY RUINED BY SOME UNWANTED ATTENTION.
OH, YOU DON'T CARE?
THEY HEAD TO LARRY'S,
WHERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,
THEY HAVE THE PLACE ALL TO THEMSELVES.
HEY. THIS IS CUTE.
THEN AGAIN, EVERYTHING YOU WEAR IS CUTE, ISN'T IT?
PROBABLY GONNA STEAL IT.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA ENJOY OUR EVENING TOGETHER
WITHOUT PARENTS AROUND.
ARE YOU UPSET ABOUT THOSE GUYS?
LARRY, PLEASE, IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, HE COULD NOT LET GO
THE FACT THAT THE GUY WAS STARING AT ME.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
GET OFF OF ME FOR TWO SECONDS!
I WAS VERY HURT, YOU KNOW.
SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SPECIAL NIGHT WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND,
AND IT'S COMPLETELY BLOWN OFF.
I THINK A LOT OF OTHER GIRLS WOULD SIT AND CRY.
THAT WASN'T IN THE CARDS FOR ME.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!
YOU SERIOUSLY CAN'T BE MAD AT ME.
HE STARTED YELLING AND SCREAMING AT ME.
DON'T SMILE! DON'T WINK!
I WAS A FLIRT.
I WAS A ***.
EVERY SINGLE [BLEEP] TIME!
YOU'RE A ***!
Narrator: SO MUCH FOR MARTI'S DREAM DATE.
Martilynn: I DIDN'T FEEL THAT I DID ANYTHING WRONG.
THAT MADE IT ESCALATE TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
DON'T TOUCH ME!
LARRY!
I WAS IN COMPLETE SHOCK THE FIRST TIME LARRY EVER HIT ME.
Narrator: HER PAIN IS NOTHING COMPARED TO HER OUTRAGE.
[ YELLS ]
MARTI FIGHTS BACK.
BUT THIS ISN'T THE TYPICAL TUSSLE WITH HER BROTHERS.
AAH!
Martilynn: I BARELY WEIGHED 100 POUNDS.
IT WAS A VERY MISMATCHED FIGHT.
AAH!
AAH!
Narrator: MARTI FINDS A MIRACULOUS BURST OF STRENGTH,
BUT ADRENALINE IS A FICKLE ALLY.
[ POUNDS ON DOOR ]
AS IT FADES AWAY,
MARTI REALIZES WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS AN ESCAPE...
IS REALLY A TRAP.
THERE WAS NO WAY OUT OF THE BATHROOM -- NO WINDOW.
LARRY BEGINS HITTING THE DOOR AS HARD AS HE CAN TO GET IN AT ME.
I'M SCRAMBLING, LOOKING FOR ANYTHING IN THE BATHROOM
I COULD USE TO DEFEND MYSELF.
I KNEW THE SECOND THAT DOOR OPENED,
I WAS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.
Narrator: BUT WHAT COMES THROUGH THAT DOOR IS MORE TERRIFYING
THAN MARTI EVER COULD'VE IMAGINED.
Narrator: MARTI'S DREAM DATE
HAS DETERIORATED INTO AN ALL-OUT ASSAULT,
AND HER RETREAT TO THE BATHROOM
HAS ONLY POURED FUEL ON THE FIRE.
NOW HER WEAPONS-COLLECTING BOYFRIEND
LITERALLY HOLDS HER LIFE IN HIS HANDS.
LARRY WAS STANDING THERE HOLDING A MACHETE.
IT WAS VERY TERRIFYING TO SEE THAT.
HE THREATENED TO CUT MY HEAD OFF,
AND THEN GO AFTER MY FAMILY.
I REMEMBER THINKING LIKE, "I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE."
Narrator: MARTI IS OVERPOWERED, UNARMED, AND OUT OF OPTIONS.
BUT SHE HAS A MOMENT OF CLARITY.
IT WAS MY FAULT.
THE KEY TO GAINING CONTROL
MAY BE MAKING HIM THINK SHE HAS NONE AT ALL.
Martilynn: I JUST AGREED AND AGREED WITH HIM
ON EVERYTHING HE WAS SAYING --
ANYTHING TO MAKE HIM PUT DOWN THE WEAPON.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS GONNA WORK OR NOT.
YOU WERE RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING,
AND I PROMISE I WON'T -- I WON'T LOOK AT ANYBODY ELSE.
Narrator: MARTI PRAYS SHE'S FOUND THE MAGIC WORDS.
[ Voice breaking ] LARRY, PLEASE PUT THAT DOWN.
[ BREATHES HEAVILY ]
I'M SORRY.
IT WAS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY.
HE WAS JUST THE GUY FROM BEFORE --
VERY SWEET, VERY LOVING.
COME HERE.
[ BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY ]
Narrator: MARTI IS DESPERATE TO END HER NIGHTMARE DATE.
SHE SEIZES ON LARRY'S SUDDEN MOOD SHIFT
TO ASK FOR A RIDE HOME.
I JUST WANTED OUT OF THAT CAR, AWAY FROM HIM.
JUST -- COME HERE.
I'M SORRY.
I MADE HIM THINK THAT HIS APOLOGY WAS GREAT
AND EVERYTHING WAS GONNA BE FINE.
BUT THE SECOND I GOT OUT OF THAT CAR, THAT WAS IT FOR ME.
I WAS DONE.
Narrator: AS FAR AS MARTI'S CONCERNED,
SHE AND LARRY ARE BROKEN UP.
Martilynn: ANYTHING THAT WAS HIS, ANYTHING HE'D GIVEN ME,
I PUT IT IN A BOX.
I DIDN'T EVEN WANT IT IN MY HANDS, IN MY HOME.
I JUST WANTED RID OF IT.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
Narrator: BUT GETTING OUT OF THIS DATE
IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
Martilynn: LARRY WANTS TO KNOW HOW I'M FEELING,
WANTS TO TELL ME THAT HE LOVES ME,
WANTS TO APOLOGIZE AGAIN.
I WAS VERY ANGRY, AND I WAS VERY COLD.
DON'T CALL ANYMORE.
I TOLD HIM THAT IT'S OVER.
IF HE WANTED HIS BELONGINGS, THEY'D BE IN A BOX ON THE PORCH.
Narrator: LARRY'S NOT ABOUT
TO LET THINGS GO WITH MARTI END LIKE THIS,
AND HE'S GOT A DOZEN REASONS WHY.
HE DRIVES ALL NIGHT, COLLECTING HIS THOUGHTS.
LITTLE DOES MARTI KNOW, THE DATE STILL ISN'T OVER.
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING,
SHE'S HOME WITH HER TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS --
14-YEAR-OLD CARL AND 12-YEAR-OLD ADAM.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
WE HAD A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
IT WAS LARRY.
HE WOULD NORMALLY COME BY,
SO MY LITTLE BROTHER LET HIM IN THE HOUSE.
I FIGURED IT WAS ONE OF THE BOYS ASKING FOR SOMETHING.
[ SIGHS ]
I DIDN'T REALIZE, WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR,
THAT IT WAS GONNA BE LARRY.
HE HAD NO EXPRESSION AT ALL.
I THINK RED ROSES MEAN, TO PEOPLE, LIKE A SIGN OF LOVE.
TO ME, THEY RESEMBLE DEATH.
I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH YOU.
LEAVE ME ALONE.
YOU GET THAT?
MY BACK WAS TO HIM,
AND I COULD HEAR A GUT-WRENCHING SOUND.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE NAILS ON THE CHALKBOARD.
[ METAL SCRAPING ]
AAH!
Narrator: MARTI CHECOTS IS STILL REELING FROM A GHASTLY NIGHT,
WHEN HER DATE, LARRY, SHOWS UP FOR ROUND TWO.
Martilynn: I HEARD A VERY DISTINCT SOUND,
SOMETHING THAT WILL BE WITH ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
[ METAL SCRAPING ]
Narrator: THE SOUND OF METAL ON METAL.
Martilynn: I SAW LARRY HOLDING A SWORD.
THERE WAS NOTHING IN HIS EYES BUT DARKNESS.
HE WAS STARING RIGHT THROUGH ME.
HE LUNGED AT ME, AND I TOOK OFF.
AAH!
THE SCREAM ITSELF WAS PRETTY BLOODCURDLING.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE SOUNDS THAT,
ONCE YOU HEAR, YOU -- IT REGISTERS.
YOU DON'T FORGET IT.
I DELIBERATELY WENT FOR MY PARENTS' ROOM.
THERE'S A WINDOW I COULD'VE GOTTEN OUT OF,
BUT HE KEPT UP WITH ME NO PROBLEM.
I FIGURED MY BEST BET WAS TO GET AS FAR INTO THE BEDROOM
AS POSSIBLE BY JUMPING OVER THE BED.
BUT I HAD CAUGHT MY FOOT UNDER THE BOX SPRING.
[ SCREAMING ]
Narrator: AND THEN...
...THE UNTHINKABLE.
Martilynn: HE HAD RAN THE SWORD ALL THE WAY THROUGH MY BODY.
Narrator: ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO THE MATTRESS.
Chronis: THE SAMURAI SWORD WAS DESIGNED
TO HACK THROUGH ARMOR PLATE,
THROUGH FLESH AND BONE AND TO INFLICT MAXIMUM DAMAGE.
Carl: I SEEN MARTI LAYING ON HER BACK
AND LARRY STANDING OVER HER WITH A SWORD.
I INSTANTLY WENT INTO ATTACK MODE.
GOUGING, KICKING, PUNCHING --
ANYTHING THAT I POSSIBLY COULD DO TO GET HIM OFF OF MY SISTER.
RIGHT AFTER HE RAN IT THROUGH MY BODY,
CARL CAME IN THERE WITHOUT ANY REGARD FOR HIMSELF.
GET THE HELL OFF HER!
HE GOT IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING.
Narrator: MARTI WATCHES HELPLESSLY
AS LARRY TURNS THE SWORD ON HER LITTLE BROTHER.
INCHES AWAY FROM TAKING ME FROM TEMPLE TO TEMPLE.
Narrator: MARTI'S BLOOD SPLATTERS EVERYWHERE.
ON ME, ON THE WALL, ON THE CEILING.
IT TOOK A SPLIT SECOND FOR HIM TO RAISE THAT SWORD AT ME.
Narrator: JUST ENOUGH TIME
FOR MARTI TO MAKE THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION OF HER LIFE.
I WENT LIKE THIS.
HE'D CUT THROUGH BOTH OF MY HANDS.
MY RIGHT HAND WAS COMPLETELY AMPUTATED
ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE INDEX,
AND MY LEFT HAND WAS AMPUTATED HALFWAY.
Narrator: WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND MORTALLY WOUNDED,
LARRY HEADS FOR THE DOOR.
*** DESERVED IT.
I THINK HE HAD ALREADY ACHIEVED WHAT HE HAD COME FOR.
OH, MY GOD.
Narrator: MARTI IS LOSING BLOOD FAST.
AS ADAM CALLS 911,
CARL DESPERATELY TRIES TO KEEP HIS SISTER ALIVE.
Carl: I SEEN THE CONDITION SHE WAS IN.
IT WASN'T GOOD.
GRABBED EVERY SINGLE DISH TOWEL IN THAT HOUSE.
Martilynn: WATCHING MY YOUNGER BROTHER
KEEP ME ALIVE WAS HEART-WRENCHING.
PLEASE, PLEASE.
HE KEPT TELLING ME IT WAS GONNA BE OKAY AND I WAS GONNA BE OKAY.
I DID NOT STOP TALKING TO HER AND MAKING HER RESPOND TO ME.
LIKE, SHE NEEDED TO RESPOND TO ME.
SHE JUST KEPT REPEATING TO ME, "CARL, PLEASE DON'T LET ME DIE."
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
NO, NO.
IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
I THOUGHT THE WHOLE TIME I WAS GONNA LOSE HER.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: POLICE AND PARAMEDICS SOON ARRIVE AT THE SCENE.
MARTI IS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL, BARELY CLINGING TO LIFE.
Chronis: THEY OPERATED ON HER FOR 14 HOURS.
THERE WERE FOUR SURGEONS THAT WORKED ON HER HANDS,
AND THERE WAS ALSO TWO OTHER SURGEONS
WHO TOOK CARE OF THE OTHER WOUND,
WHERE SHE WAS RUN THROUGH WITH THE SWORD.
THEY SAVED HER LIFE, AND THEY ALSO SAVED HER HANDS.
Narrator: AS FOR LARRY,
HE NEVER MAKES IT BACK TO HIS PRIZED WEAPONRY COLLECTION.
WHEN HE RETURNS TO HIS PLACE, IT'S SURROUNDED BY POLICE.
LARRY SEES ONLY ONE WAY TO ESCAPE ARREST.
HE TOOK THE SAME SWORD THAT HE ATTACKED ME WITH
AND PUT IT ON THE STEERING WHEEL OF HIS CAR
AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND RAN IT THROUGH HIS CHEST.
Narrator: INCREDIBLY, HE SURVIVES.
MORE SHOCKING STILL,
LARRY IS ACQUITTED
OF A FIRST-DEGREE ATTEMPTED-*** CHARGE
AFTER HIS LAWYER ARGUES THAT LARRY'S PLAN THAT MORNING
WAS TO APOLOGIZE, NOT TO ATTACK.
THE PROOF OF INTENT?
THAT BOUQUET OF RED ROSES LARRY BROUGHT WITH HIM.
AFTER SERVING ONLY 12 YEARS IN PRISON
ON A SECOND-DEGREE CHARGE, LARRY IS NOW A FREE MAN.
I AM ON GUARD EVERY SINGLE DAY,
CONSTANTLY LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER,
WONDERING WHEN HE COMES BACK, HOW BAD IT'S GONNA BE.
I HAVE NIGHTMARES ALMOST EVERY NIGHT.
Narrator: 14 YEARS LATER, MARTI'S WOUNDS ARE STILL FRESH.
Martilynn: EVERY DAY IS A CHALLENGE FOR ME.
I'M SO LIMITED, AND SOMETIMES I FORGET WHAT I CAN AND CAN'T DO.
A JAR I CAN'T OPEN, SOMETHING I CAN'T LIFT,
THE FACT THAT I CAN'T PUT GLOVES ON.
Narrator: AS FOR HER INTERNAL INJURIES,
DOCTORS TELL HER SHE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN.
Narrator: THAT WAS VERY HEARTBREAKING.
I WANTED TO HAVE AT LEAST FOUR KIDS.
I WANTED A BIG FAMILY, JUST LIKE MY PARENTS.
Narrator: BUT SIX YEARS AGO, AN AMAZING TWIST OF FATE.
Martilynn: MY SON'S NAME IS LELAND.
IT'S A BIG BLESSING
TO HAVE A CHILD WHEN YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO.
HE'S QUITE THE LITTLE MIRACLE FROM GOD.
NOT BEING ABLE TO KIDS
AND HAVING A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY, LITTLE BOY
THAT HAS AN ATTITUDE JUST LIKE HIS MOM,
SO HE'S A LITTLE FIRECRACKER,
AND I NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM HIM.
TO SEE THE LOVE OF LIFE COME BACK INTO MY SISTER'S EYES,
TO SEE THE JOY OF LIFE COME BACK INTO MARTI
WHEN SHE HAD HER SON -- PRICELESS.
Narrator: MARTI NOT ONLY SURVIVED HER DATE FROM HELL,
SHE CAME AWAY FROM IT WITH LIFE'S GREATEST MIRACLE.