Do they want to separate us? They won't even let me out to you. You have to come to me. >> AUSTIN, THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE ME somewhere safe. Let me have your stuff. Stop. Will you still take me TO OUR STAGE? AUSTIN, PLEASE. OW. IS IT BREAKING MY ARM? AUSTIN, >> STOP. >> PUT YOUR HAND BEHIND YOUR BACK, PLEASE. >> WHY? >> Just after the evening of November 23rd, 2023 in Ohio, officers were called to a home after a sister reported no contact with her brother, Austin. Shockingly, [music] this wasn't their first visit. His mother had already raised alarms about a woman named Tanya staying with him. But the scene that greeted them revealed something more. >> If I get to stay with him, >> listen, you two can step outside together. Come here. >> But everybody, Austin, protect our stuff. Make everybody come outside. Austin, everybody, don't leave anybody in here alone with your stuff. I'm trying to protect both of our stuff. >> Austin, they're trying to separate us. >> Let me take the sister. Okay. >> Let me take the sister. Come here. >> They're trying to separate us. Look, not separate us. Do me a favor. Step downstairs for me. I'll come back down here and talk to you in a minute. >> Isn't that bad that he won't get back his computer together? Plug it in. All they care about is your computer and your phone. Think about it. >> Because that's >> that's all mine. That's >> your sister. >> Why does care about your computer phone? Why did >> that's what you can have. >> You know, why do you tell them where I don't? Amid her desperate pleas, it became painfully clear why the confrontation had erupted. Tanya had seized his laptop and phone, hoarding them like a lifeline to control him. A classic overpossessive move that left him cut off from his family. Upon questioning, she first claimed the items were jointly owned. Minutes later, she outright denied having them. >> He was getting ready to plug it in. Why are you separated? >> Austin, you're protecting Austin. Austin. >> They're separating. >> Do you want her in the house with you? >> Austin, >> I wasn't trying to help her to get >> You want her to stay in the house with you? >> What the hell? What the hell is going on? [snorts] >> I need to figure out you want them to leave. >> Don't separate us, Austin. >> You want them to stay or do you want her to leave? >> Austin, your family didn't even want you to spend Thanksgiving >> this year. Thanksgiving together. Stop talking. Stop talking. >> You believed. >> Stop talking. >> But stop talking. >> Hey, listen. Listen. >> Last time. Stop talking for 5 minutes and let me talk to him. You got me. Listen. >> Stop. Can you talk to US TOGETHER? >> NO. I'M TALKING to Austin. >> Consumed by a raw, almost predatory desperation, she clung to the unshakable belief that nothing could come between them. [music] Her delusion was so absolute that his choices belong to her. And nothing, not his family or even Thanksgiving could break her hold. >> We can never be together. Why? >> Just wait. I ain't talking to him. I'm not trying to take >> I'm not trying to take him away. >> What's going on either? >> If you just wait. If you wait 5 minutes and let me talk to Austin. >> No, cuz he has to talk to him first. Fine. Austin here together. Stop. Calm down. >> This is your place. You tell me what you want. And that's what's going to happen. If I don't get her, >> you just don't know what you want. No, we're not. >> WHY DOES THIS INVOLVE PROPERTY? INVOLVES HIS SAFETY. ALL YOU GUYS CARE ABOUT IS PROPERTY and not his safety. >> Listen, I'm going to tell you one more time. Okay? >> I need you to calm down. All they care about is your property, not your safety. >> Think about it. That's all everybody's asking for is your property. >> Last name. Then >> by now her obsession had reached a near absurd intensity. Yet to her it was unquestionable reality. Meanwhile, officers waited for a sliver of space for a brief opening to reach Austin. But in her sight, that opportunity didn't exist. >> Austin, please come back to me. >> She's probably going to get a little bit hairier cuz I'm going to take him downstairs. Come on. >> Let's go downstairs and talk. >> Don't separate. >> I'm not I'm not trying to take you away from your place. I just want to take you downstairs so then you can actually talk to me. >> Got her. Are you saying me? They come and if you settle down right now if you don't leave my side down. >> They come to me. Don't leave me. >> Don't go down there. Don't go down there. DON'T LEAVE ME. AUSTIN, please don't leave yourself there. Austin, don't do anything. >> Hey, listen. >> He's trying to block our sight. Austin, >> will you listen to me? >> Hey, Austin. Remember your dad wants to talk to you who you've been missing for 24 hours? >> Listen. If you want to get down there and talk, go ahead and go down and talk. Just don't quit freaking out. Settle down. And >> as long as you stay up, >> he's going to go talk to his dad on the phone. >> Why do they want to separate us? They won't even let me out, too. You You have to come to me. >> If you watch closely, you'd see her bouncing between property and safety. But it was never really about either. It was just another attempt at manipulation. >> Austin, look at me. >> Don't give it to them, Austin. Don't show them where it's at. >> Listen, >> don't show them yet. Can I come in? Austin. >> Austin. Austin, don't show them. You have to plug my phone in. Austin, your son. Austin, don't show them. DON'T DON'T SHUT THE DOOR. AUSTIN. AUSTIN. NO. AUSTIN. NO. AUSTIN. HE'S SMILING. LET ME IN. AUSTIN. JUST CALM DOWN. >> AUSTIN. AUSTIN. THEY'RE SMILING. LET ME IN. DON'T GET INTO NO, YOU'RE NOT. >> PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME. YOU'RE GOING TO GET [laughter] AUSTIN. AUSTIN, GET OUT. AUSTIN, YOU HAVE TO SAVE [screaming] ME. AUSTIN, DON'T GIVE HIM. WHAT THE is going on? >> Austin. Austin. You want to head this way? >> AUSTIN, COME ON. THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE ME AWAY. HE SAID I COULD STAY. I BRO DOWN. HE SAID I COULD STAY. >> LISTEN, just calm down. Calm down. >> Austin, open the door. >> OPEN THE DOOR, AUSTIN. I CAN'T SEE YOU. >> NOW, this is the perfect example of an abuser left unchecked. But here's what happens when someone like her pushes every [music] limit, risking control and blocking access to the victim, even just a moment of communication, edges straight into what US law defines as obstruction of justice. Countless others have stumbled here, paying the price with months in jail, steep fines, and criminal records that follow them for life. And she was dangerously close to joining that tally. >> Austin, please don't show THEM. AUSTIN, THEY JUST GOT US SEPARATED. THEY GOT ME ON THE OUTSIDE AND YOU ON THE END. >> AUSTIN, >> HEY, LISTEN. There's people sleeping. >> Austin, >> I'm going to need you to calm down. >> What is he doing? >> He's talking. >> Austin, they're going to arrest me. >> AUSTIN. >> HEY, >> STOP. >> STOP. >> YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THIS. YOU HAVE TO LET US SEE EACH OTHER. YOU'RE BREAKING THE RULES. AUSTIN. >> AUSTIN. >> OKAY. Watch out. I'm going to walk out. Austin, can I still say Austin? Can I come back in? Austin, can I come in? >> Austin, can I come in? >> Hey, listen. You're >> going to get me. No, Austin. Right. So, all you have to do is end this. >> Let come up here. >> Who's on the phone? >> Even love sometimes becomes a weapon. But that idea was contradicted the moment the door was shut. Not by chance, [music] but with Austin's deliberate choice. Outside, she sank to the floor, desperate and trapped, pleading for control, while the officers watched a dangerous obsession play out in real time. [music] >> Can I come in, Austin? >> They're not letting me in. >> You don't shut the door. >> LISTEN, AUSTIN, AUSTIN, DON'T LEAVE. AUSTIN, DON'T SHUT THE DOOR. AUSTIN. >> HEY, STOP. NO, >> YOU JUST GRAB ME. ALL RIGHT. >> EVERYBODY'S BEEN HURTING ME AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. >> NO ONE'S TOUCHING ME. >> AUSTIN, DO NOT SHOW YOUR SISTER. >> WHAT THE GOING ON? WHAT IS GOING ON? >> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S going on with you. >> Me, too. >> Do you need help? >> There's something going on. >> No. >> So, everybody weeping. >> We're getting married. >> I'd like to talk to him, please. >> Reality has a way of hitting back, but she was sinking deeper into her own delusions. And in the middle of it all, marriage became her anchor. Was it another strand of fantasy or a desperate bid to reclaim power? In that moment, it remained impossible to tell. >> I have a lighter. Please do not. Ma'am, >> maybe >> Austin. What I'm going to tell you is, >> okay, >> you're not going to tell me what to do first. You got that. Okay. You understand? >> I'm looking for a lighter. >> Smoke a cigarette. >> All right. >> Go downstairs. Smoke a cigarette. >> I'm not leaving. Austin, >> right now you are. >> Why? >> Because I'm telling you, you're going to right now while they're talking. >> Okay. You are causing more of an issue right now than what needs to be. >> There's people in 10:03 is trying to sleep and they can't because you're out here yelling. >> Wait, time to get them up because they have kids stuff out here. >> At what point? The jacket. That's kid stuff. The only thing >> the rest of the stuff is a tire. >> They're trying to take me away. ONLY YOU CAN SAVE ME. AUSTIN, >> you said there's no reason for her to have it, so you took it out. >> Austin, look. Last night I can WALK THROUGH THE DOOR. I KNOW YOU BELIEVE. AUSTIN, YOU SAID you believe >> the second phone. >> And all this while, her cries didn't just stop at Austin's door. They spilled down the hallway, shaking families who had nothing to do with her fight. Under US law, that's more than noise. It edges into what's called disturbing the peace. A charge that has landed numerous others in holding cells overnight. >> Open the door. We are allowed to >> go in, >> Austin. Hey, >> what? Yeah, exactly. Austin, they're trying to take me away again. Don't you trust me, >> Austin? You can't do this. YOU HAVE TO OH MY GOD. >> Sit down. That's the best part. >> I have a lighter. >> Please. I don't know what the hell is going on. >> Austin. LILY AND ME AND YOU. AUSTIN, WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST NIGHT. >> HEY, you want to get downstairs? I'll give you a lighter. >> Stuff. I'll get my stuff. >> Listen. You want to get downstairs? I'll give you a lighter. >> How do you have a lighter? You don't have a lighter? I don't want to go downstairs. >> I do have a lighter. >> Austin. Austin. THIS COP IS TRYING TO MAKE ME GO DOWNSTAIRS. AUSTIN, ONLY YOU CAN MAKE ME LEAVE. >> Before you walk, >> what the >> Oh. >> The standoff should have ended when the door closed, but she wouldn't let it. A cigarette became her excuse. A lighter her demand. As if fire itself could keep a crumbling bond intact. >> I don't know what's going on. You tell me. >> Austin, YOU HAVE TO LET ME BACK IN, PLEASE. >> I can't tell you what's going on. >> But what I can tell you is you're really too close to me. If you would scoot back, >> can you get me a lighter? You >> Yeah, if you want a lighter, I'll get you a lighter. that. >> Austin, can I have my stuff? Hang on. >> Austin, please give me my stuff. Austin. >> Austin, they're taking me away. >> All right, let's go downstairs. >> Hi. >> Let's go downstairs. >> Come on. Let's go downstairs. >> My stuff. My dog. >> I'm going to ask you one more time to come downstairs. >> Can I have my stuff? >> Yes. You were going to >> talk about it. >> We're going to get your stuff here in a minute. In a minute. >> Yes. Let's go downstairs. >> THEY'RE MAKING ME LEAVE, AUSTIN. >> We're not making you leave. We're just trying to separate you and let you go down there, >> too. Okay, we're going to let you go downstairs and talk to the sergeant. >> I don't want to talk to that sergeant. >> That's what I want you to do. >> Why? >> Because >> Okay, in a minute, please. >> No, I want you to go downstairs. >> Let me get my drink and my lighter. I >> ask you one more time. >> Austin, COME AND SAVE ME. AUSTIN, >> COME ON. >> DON'T TOUCH ME, PLEASE. AUSTIN, YOU SAID THAT HE HAD TO MAKE ME LEAVE. >> In that moment, all the officers offered was the bare minimum. A measured separation, a chance to diffuse, a calm route to untangle the mess. But in her case, you could see the lesson. When someone's world shrinks, the tiniest things, a lighter, a dog, turn into battlegrounds. >> Who are you to this situation? I'm her ex-husband. >> His mom posted on Facebook that he had been missing for a FEW HOURS AND THAT SHE COULDN'T get a hold of him. I reached out to his mom and I've been talking on the phone with his mom. His mom's on the phone right now, right? She just wanted me to come over to make sure that nothing happened to her daughter while she came over here to check on him. >> Is she over here? Who's over here? Her daughter is. She's up there. >> My daughter is My daughter's not here. >> Austin, only you can see here with her so she doesn't come in and protect me. Austin, Austin, >> what is going on? >> Please get help. >> Stop it. He told you 15 times to sit right there. Just sit right THERE FOR 5 SECONDS. JUST SIT RIGHT THERE FOR 5 SECONDS. >> I just Okay. >> So I can talk to him and you can figure out what's going on cuz you don't know what's going on obviously cuz you're freaking out. So just give me a second. >> Give me a second. my friend in 2 years. >> Out of the blue, she mentioned an old friend. But let's rewind to the moment an unexpected [music] figure arrived. The ex-husband of the sister who wasn't here by chance, but had been summoned after a post from Austin's worried mother. And just when the situation was already tangled in multiple relationships, another one came into focus. A new presence that shifted the dynamics entirely. Tanya clawing at Austin's door wasn't just an ex drowning in obsession, but a [music] mother. The thought was jarring. Behind all that desperation, all that fixation lived someone raising a child. >> Stand back here. >> You're getting way too close. >> I am. >> AUSTIN, THEY TOOK MY STUFF. >> AUSTIN, THEY TOOK MY BAG. AUSTIN, THEY TOOK MY BAGS AND MY PASSWORD. AUSTIN, THEY DID NOT. >> YES, THEY DID. THEY'RE NOT IN HERE. AUSTIN. >> AUSTIN, MY JACK BAG. MY JACK BAG. MY RED BAG. >> What is the jack bag? >> Austin, look at me. Austin >> Austin, look. Austin, >> you want to smoke a cigarette? >> Austin, >> would you like to smoke a cigarette? >> Austin, he's smiling. Austin, you guys ARE DOING THIS TO HIM WHEN WE were sleeping. >> That's what I do best to smile. >> Austin, >> you would. >> I was your only friend at work. Look at me, Austin. >> Well, right now, you're not being a good friend. >> For Tanya, the officer's smile became the proof she feared. A single gesture that seemed to confirm her darkest [music] suspicions that everyone around her was conspiring. But without wasting any more time on her, officers secured her passport. [music] A catastrophe to her, but routine under US law for them. >> As soon as you PUT ALL MY STUFF OUT, ONLY YOU CAN STAY. I CAN STAY. Austin >> and I don't want to be taken. >> AUSTIN, YOU WON'T. IF YOU PROTECT ME, >> AUSTIN, YOU HAVE TO PROTECT ME. AUSTIN, >> MA'AM, WHAT IS YOUR NAME? WHAT IS your name? >> Austin. Austin >> Austin >> Tanya >> Austin >> you're not making your book >> Austin >> any of this any better >> Austin please >> can you make sure you got all your stuff >> and go WHERE HE CRASHED MY car >> right now just make sure you have it all >> take a blame in your car I don't >> I'm not Austin >> there's a book bag coming >> Austin stop >> in the same breath Tanya wasn't grieving but seething struck by what psy psychologists call a narcissistic injury, rejection that feels less like heartbreak and more like public defeat. Even if narcissism or obsession crossed into a diagnosible disorder, the law doesn't protect it. In the [music] US, insanity defenses arise in under 1% of felonies and succeed in only a quarter of those. For narcissistic abusers, it's a card that almost never pays out, which is exactly what happened in this case. >> Can I talk to him? Can I Why can't I talk to him? >> You're not Austin. Because you understand me. You're not. >> You are not. You might want to start taking your stuff down the steps. >> Austin, the best part. >> Austin, talk to me before you leave. I HAVE A HUG. AUSTIN, PLEASE TALK to me. >> Austin, stop. That is my best friend. >> Austin, you're throwing the stuff out. >> Austin, please. >> Austin, look. He's going whoop whoop. Austin, >> why are you smiling? THIS IS NOT FUNNY. EVERYBODY'S BEEN SEPARATING ME FROM MY BEST FRIEND. HE'S MY BEST FRIEND. CONNIE. AUSTIN. >> OKAY. You're you're you're treading on thin ice. >> Okay. >> Stop touching him. Don't get in his face. >> You're not getting back in the apartment. He done told you. So, quit trying to push PAST HIM. >> AUSTIN, I PUT GAS in your truck. Can I put my STUFF IN YOUR TRUCK, AUSTIN? AUSTIN, I cannot carry all this ant. Do >> you know where you're at right now? >> Yes, I do. Austin, I'm in Ohio. Austin, >> what day is it? >> Austin. Thursday. Austin. She could name the state, the day, but only when the answers didn't threaten her version of events. Tanya was cherry-picking reality, filtering out anything that confirmed Austin was gone. And that's exactly how minds wired for selective acknowledgement behave. >> Tanya, get off the force. Where do you want to go? >> Austin, can I put my stuff in your trunk? Can you take me somewhere safe? >> Where do you want to go? >> I want to take you. >> YES, AUSTIN. YES. SHE JUST SAID NO. >> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU one more time. He just asked. >> Don't touch me, >> Austin. Yes, I do. Can you unlock your truck, Austin, so you can take me somewhere safe, please? >> Austin, yes. I want you to take me somewhere safe. He said it. HE SAID YES. HE SAID YES. HE SAID YES. HE DID NOT. >> LET'S GO. >> LET'S GO, >> AUSTIN. I DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE ME SOMEWHERE SAFE. Will you still TAKE ME SOMEWHERE SAFE? PLEASE BREAK MY ARM. It was a painful sight to watch, yet impossible to look away as she clung to the fragile idea that Austin would deliver her somewhere safe. Reality proved otherwise. >> AUSTIN, LOOK WHAT THEY'RE DOING. WHY? YOU SAID YOU LOOK AT THIS. LOOK WHAT THEY'RE DOING. AUSTIN, LOOK what they're DOING IN THE AFTERLIFE. AUSTIN, PROTECT ME. AUSTIN, PLEASE LOOK AT ME. AUSTIN, LOOK AT ME. LOOK WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS. LOOK, AUSTIN. >> AUSTIN, LOOK. >> LOOK, AUSTIN. AUSTIN, >> AUSTIN, STOP my glasses. Austin. >> AUSTIN, YOU AUSTIN, LOOK AT ME. >> OUCH. AUSTIN, the steps. Okay, >> Austin, you said YOU KEEP ME SAFE, AUSTIN. YOU PROMISE, AUSTIN. Tanya's [music] obsession had been building for weeks with Austin navigating her manipulations at every turn. But unlike Austin, her actions with officers carried [music] real consequences. Roughly 15% of non-violent police interventions involve disorderly conduct or resisting lawful orders, often resulting in up to 6 months in jail and fines reaching $1,000. But Tanya was unaware of the path she was headed towards. >> Get in the car. >> TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON. RIGHT IN THE CAR. >> I WILL DO IT RIGHT NOW. >> AUSTIN. AUSTIN, PROTECT ME. >> YOU GOT the >> Austin. Austin, >> STOP. >> JUST STOP. >> Then let me sit down. >> Well, YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT YOU IN THE CAR. >> I'M ABOUT TO PUSH BACK. >> I'm about to pee. I'M SERIOUS. I DON'T want to piss my pants and be in the car. >> I just need to go and piss. We're not pissing you. >> I have to pee. >> When all other cards were played, she resorted to her final tactic. Physical urgency. Repeatedly citing her need, she leveraged it to delay compliance, a hallmark of high stress obsessive or paranoid states. >> I need to pee now. >> Give us a second. >> I'M GOING TO PISS MY PANTS. I'M GOING TO PISSY PANTS. Let me pee right here. >> Give us a second. >> Please let me pee. >> Would you sit in my car? >> No. >> Sit right here. I did nothing wrong. You're going to jail for disorderly condom. >> For what? >> Disorderly cond. >> Let me pee. I won't move. I won't fight. We're going to have >> Let me pee. Peace. >> Let me pee. Please let me pee. Please let me. >> We can't even talk to people on the radio cuz you're yelling so loud. >> Imagine how the neighbors feel right now. >> Please let me pee. I'm not going to play. >> You've already fought us the whole entire pee. Let me >> stop. pee. >> Give me a little bit OF BREAK. >> I'M TRYING TO PEE. >> OW. >> Give me a nice >> Let me pee, please. I got to pee. >> When she fixated on her demands, stubbornness bled into obsession. But officers moved carefully, steadying the moment, aware that even small missteps could escalate the situation. >> I got to fix. >> Your hands are handcuffed behind your back. It's your purse. >> Give me Give me that. >> Will you stop it? >> All right. In the car. In the car. >> You want to get in? >> Yes. Come on. >> I'm about to piss my pants. >> Go pee. Go pee. PEE YOUR PANTS. I HAVE TO PUT MY PANTS. IF >> YOU WANT TO PEE, PEE. >> I HAVE TO PULL MY PANTS THROUGH. >> NO. PEE RIGHT HERE. >> I CAN'T. I'M GOING TO PEE. >> WELL, THEN HOLD IT. >> I >> And quit acting like a 2-year-old so we can get you in the car. >> Let me pee right here. I can't run nowhere, can I? I can't run anywhere. I can't run anywhere. I've done nothing. >> Just roses in the truck exit. >> Are you done? AUSTIN. AUSTIN, [screaming] >> PLEASE. >> NO, you can't put out. You're going to expose yourself and that's enough. >> I don't care. >> No, please let me. >> This was the moment the standoff hit its limit. With her [music] relentless chanting of Austin's name, officers finally secured Tanya in a hobbled [music] restraint and moved her into the patrol car, beginning the transport. And there, her obsession hit its final stage. The doors of the courtroom now [music] open, waiting for the consequences to finally catch up. Right where they're at. >> Way to go. >> Where's her car at now? >> Add a T tooling/mp wreck a lot cuz she was trying to have tell me I wrecked her car and that's cuz I the one driving which I was not. >> She was driving and we were she trying get to somewhere where she had to go and she was saying that trying had put the blame on me that I wrecked her car which I did not. getting her car. >> Yeah. Like Yeah. Like she tried to get down after >> I'm going to recall my insurance a lot. >> Tanya's manipulations had carried her this far, but not anymore. This time though, it caught up and she was formally charged with resisting arrest in the second degree and four counts of disorderly conduct and her case still ongoing. But the main question still stands. Will she ever learn her lesson? Let us know your thoughts below. 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