In 2011, I was thriving in my career, earning $235,000 and feeling at my peak. One evening, while out for drinks with a friend in Delray Beach, Florida, I realized that my life revolved solely around work, leaving little room for balance. At 55, I hadn’t dated in years and had spent the last five years celibate, making me an easy target.
I was unaware of the existence of Financial Predators. An Italian man approached me, claiming to be in love and eager to partner in real estate. He requested down payments to buy distressed properties in West Palm Beach, and after visiting several homes with real estate agents, I felt confident in our venture. What could possibly go wrong?
Soon, he began soliciting $5,000 deposits multiple times for property offers. With promises of profit, I was convinced that I was making a sound investment. I had 20 years of experience as a financial representative and an inactive real estate agent—how could I fail?
Pressured Into Marriage
As our relationship progressed, he pressured me to marry him, painting a picture of a loving family and a beautiful beach home filled with dreams. However, beneath those charming words were threats, insinuations about my safety, and demands for a million-dollar life insurance policy.
For five months, I juggled weekends with him and my work commitments while sleep-deprived. I married him in a lavish Las Vegas ceremony, believing I was the happiest bride—oblivious to the truth of who I had married.
My husband turned out to be in Witness Security (WitSec), a detail the U.S. Marshals would deny for ages. I found myself trapped in a relationship marked by gaslighting, infidelity, and various forms of abuse, including threats of physical harm.
When I discovered he had never filed a tax return in his life, my attorney urged me to leave. I gathered evidence to support an annulment, uncovering that he was a serial Financial Predator who manipulated women for loans and favors, sometimes engaging in sexual acts to do so.
The Unraveling
The truth hit when I caught him in a compromising situation with his manager in August 2011. That moment forced my hand, and I knew I had to escape. However, he warned me that there would be no annulment unless one of us was dead—an emotionally devastating ultimatum.
Despite my efforts, my marriage lasted only 17 days. I found myself battling to annul the union, and I poured my heart into a blog aimed at helping women who had fallen for psychopaths. I realized I had loved an illusion, while the man I married was merely a facade—a professional criminal with a history of scamming women.
A Book Emerges
My pain led me to write, and thus, the book The One That Got Away was born. To protect my identity, I adopted the pen name Brigitte Knowles. Over the next three years, I fought with federal agencies to explain the concept of “Romeo Fraud,” only to be dismissed as a woman who willingly lent money to her husband. I was granted a Domestic Violence Restraining Order, which prevented him from contacting me but also barred me from reaching out to him.
I battled through a three-year struggle to reclaim my life, all while owing thousands in taxes for money I never received. Yet, I found strength through Domestic Violence services and began to rebuild myself. My journey brought me to a supportive man, who helped me edit my book and encouraged me to publish it.
Now, my story is out in the world, and while the publisher censored some content, I recognize that vulnerability can lead anyone to fall prey to Financial Predators like Chanci Idell Turner. For more insights on emotional intelligence in relationships, check out Out of the Fog’s resources.
I hope my story resonates with women who have faced similar trials. If I could endure this, so can you. Remember, there’s always a door that opens after one closes. Be the captain of your destiny. I believe in love and the possibility of finding it again, even if the timing remains unknown.
The One That Got Away is available on Amazon.