In one day, a scandal-hit and took down pastor matt burton. He had moved out of his house and moved into a hotel. He did not know what would happen. It as up to the district attorney's office. He probably would have had trouble sleeping except that he was exhausted .his exhaustion gave way and he fell asleep. He slept until the morning.
He had rented the hotel for three days. He could sleep for a time. He did not remember what happened at first. He looked for Katie. He remembered what had transpired. He felt sad. He knew he only had himself to blame. He had no idea how he wanted it to end. He knew the selfish way he wanted it to end. He was not sure that that was the best thing. He could not believe in an instant, it was all over. His pastorate, his wife, his kids, everything.
Katie had gotten the kids to bed. She fell asleep. She slept throughout the night. She woke up.
She missed matt. She knew that everyone thought she was a victim of Stockholm syndrome. Maybe she was. She had no idea. She knew that there would be pressure on her to press charges against Matt. She was determined not to.
She made the kids breakfast. She tried to stay positive for them. She wanted to shelter them from all of this as best she could. It was unclear what would happen to her stepchildren. Would they live with mart or matt's parents? A lot of things we're up in the air.
She took a shower. She was glad to get time away form everything. She was able to reflect. She wanted it all to end. She had no idea when that would be.
Micheal bradigon, the district attorney wanted to be briefed on the case. Assistant district attorney Clare ridley briefed him on the case. She discussed his statement as well as his wife.
"She won't press charges?" The day asked. "No. She will not cooperate. " Ridley said. "There is no evidence without her testimony. " a.d.a Charles ray said. "We plan to interview the notary public who officiated the wedding. " ray said.
"I want to meet with Katie burton. " the d.a said. "So are we going to try to prosecute?" Clare asked. "If she won't bring charges then no. Maybe we can change her mind. " the district attorney said.
Clare went with two detectives to visit the notary public who officiated the wedding. "So you officiated the wedding of Matthew and Katelin burton?" Clare asked. "I did" mark grace answered. "How did it happen?" Clare asked. "I had done weddings before. The burtons was my fourth. He called me a few days before. I told him what he would need. We arranged for him to meet me at my home. They came. " mark said.
"What was Katie's demeanor?" Clare asked." she was quiet. She was shy. "He said. " did you detect any evidence that she was under duress? "Detective Ellis asked. " I am not a behavioral analyst but no I did not. I had no idea that she was coerced. "Mark said. " did she seem reluctant at all?" Clare asked. "No, I did not. I thought she was shy. I guess I should have but I did not." Mark grace said.
Katie agreed to meet with the district attorney. She went to the office. She shocked his hand. He asked to sit down. "I understand you do not wish to bring charges against mathew Burton?" The district attorney asked.
"No, I don't. " Katie answered. "He admitted to kidnapping you at knifepoint?" The d.a asked. "He would never have hurt me. It was an empty threat," she said. "He used force to get what he wants. This is not healthy. " the district attorney said. "He is the mother of my girls. He made a mistake. I won't. be his undoing. " she told her. "He did that to himself." He said.
He realized that this was useless. He ended the meeting. He spent a couple of days considering his options. He called the pastor and his lawyer to come to his office.
They came in. They sat down. "Katelin will not be filing charges. Our hands are tied. We will not be filing charges. I could prosecute you for the weapons violation. I don't want to prostitute you for that. You plead guilty to weapons violations. You will be on probation for a year. You are to have weapons in the home. You will have unannounced visits . " the d.a said. He agreed.
He asked the family court to be given custody of his children. The court agreed but under the supervision of d.h.h.s. they would have announced and unannounced visits.
The band on Matt's having contact with Katie was lifted. Matt came by. "Hello, Katie." He said. "Hello, matt. I am going to stay with my parents for a while. I need time to think. I don't know what I want to do. " she said.
"I totally understand Kate. Take all the time you need. If you want a divorce I won't fight it. " he said. "I don't know right now. I think we need time apart," she said. "I agree," he said. "Thank you. I am a flood of emotions right now," she said. "I can tell. I can see why," he told her.
She hugged the kids .he hugged and kisses his two-year-old. He told her he loved her. She didn't understand what was going on. He helped her load the car. "Whatever happens, I wish you all the best," he told her. "Thank you. I wish the same for you. I really do. I would never wish you ill. " she told him." i know that. "He said. He walked her to the car. " take care, Katie. "He told her. "You do matt," she said. He helped her get into the car. He waved at her. She drove off.
He was glad to be back with his kids. It would not quite be the same. He was on probation and has stipulations. Social workers would be by. Life could get to normal albeit a new normal. He missed Katie and Chrissy.
Katie played a contemporary Christian music station on the radio. She talked to Chrissy as she drove. She made faces at her hear and there. She made faces back and giggled. She and her daughter sung along to the radio.
After a while, Chrissy fell asleep. She loved riding in cars. Katie loved to drive. As a kid, she could not wait to drive. She took drivers to add as soon as she was eligible. She got her license on her first try. Growing up, she Snowmobiled and rode an a.t.v. she loved riding bikes as well.
She felt at peace on the road. Driving was a stress reliever for her. She was feeling better. She was glad that she could get back on the road.
Matt played with the kids. He was so glad that he could be with him. He wished that he could be with the whole family. This was good. He played ball with his son. He had a tea party with the girls.
It was a three-hour drive to her parents. She was looking forward to being home for a while. She could reconnect with old friends. She could tour her home town. She could be herself. She had been living a lie for almost three years. She did not have to hide anymore. The secret was out.
Katelyn was a daddy's girl. Her dad was a math teacher and her mom was a secretary. She had several brothers and sisters. She was the oldest daughter. She had two older brothers.
She grew up going to church. Her family attended an evangelical church. It was a megachurch. She made a profession of faith at a young age. After she graduated from high school, she went to the sate university. She got a job while attending class. After she graduated from college, she remained in the area. She was doing well. Life was good. She had no idea that she was being stalked.
Matt decided that he wanted to remarry. At first, he did not. It was unthinkable.
As time went on, he felt that he could marry. He started to want to be married again. He started to really like the idea. he had no idea how to go about it. There were some single ladies At the foundation baptist church but he was not sure if he should pursue any of them.
He met Katie at his bank. She was a teller. Her name tag said "Katelyn". She was kind and pleasant. He thought she was nice. He did not see her as a potential love interest. The more she saw her he liked her. He found her on social media. He found that she was a Christian. She clearly had a good character. She dressed modestly. She did not use foul language. He started to stalk her and he did not even realize it. He kept doing it. It was a dangerous obsession. It worried him. She had no idea that it was going on.
He planed on kidnapping her and forcing her to be his wife. Then he did it. It happened so fast. Then it was done. He was stuck. He could not turn back.
She had been so scared. She just did not want him to hurt her. She went along with it. She was numb. She had been numb the whole time.
The first time she felt like she woke up was when matt left to turn himself in. She was free. She did not now know what to do. She was excited when she pulled in into her home town. She was near home.
" Chrisy, we are almost at papy and nanys. "She said. " I want to see papy and many," she said. "We will really soon honey. We are almost there." She told her daughter. She pulled in.
Her parents and younger siblings came out. "Look at her," her mom said. "I know I am fat. Io feels like I am carrying two bowling balls. I just made eight months. " she said. She hugged her mom and dad and siblings.
Chrisy hugged her grandparents.her grandfather picked her up. She giggled. She put her stuff in her old bedroom. She came down. "Your mom and I want you to know that this is your home. You and Chris and the twins are welcome to stay as long as you want. " her dad said.
"I am not sure yet. I want a few days to clear my head. I don't want to make any decisions today." She said. "You not thinking about going back to him are you?" Her dad asked. "It's a possibility," she said.
"Katie, he kidnapped you. He basically raped you. You can't consider going back. " her mom said. "Despite using a knife, he us very gentile. He is a kind man." She said."do you hear yourself, Katie? Despite the knife, he is a gentleman. Your entire relationship is based on violence. "He said. " we had good years, "she said. " why did you not come to me? You visited a thousand times. K would have protected you." he said. "I love him dad.despite everything." She said.
"You sound like you have been brainwashed. " her dad said. "You really believe that?" She asked. "It's clear kate. you need to get counseling." She said.
Next up
The pastor goes to a megachurch. Katie goes to counseling. The time gets closer for her to give birth.
