Page 25 - Paperwork John News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

>> he scared a lot of people. he swindled a lot of people. >> the story of his "dirty deeds" riveted the nation in a hit podcast. >> announcer: this is dirty john. >> but dirty was about to turn dark. >> he's got duct tape, he's got all the tools ready to kidnap her. >> would this mom and her daughters learn the truth in time? >> she was in a panic. she said, "i saw john." "outside in a car." >> a story ending in savagery that would stun even police. >> there's no way he gets away with this unless he kills her. >> i'm lester holt, and this is "dateline." here's keith morrison with "the women &...

>> reporter: but that's all on that one side. on the other side, there's this rush of happiness and good feelings, right? >> yes. >> reporter: so debra's daughters, protective as usual, had no idea that their mother was a newlywed. the therapist debra had seen recommended that she keep her relationship separate from her family, but, of course, christmas was coming, and there were very important family traditions. like the one where terra would have her own special time with the nieces and nephews of her extended family. so they made a deal. john would stay in a different room, while terra had ...

John was in law school there. until he met her, that is, and said he had a kind of epiphany. >> he said, "you know, i'm not even sure i'll be happy being an attorney. i think i wanna be a nurse anesthetist" and i think my jaw fell to the ground, because i thought he was, you know, a second-year law student. >> reporter: in fact, he wasn't. he had been kicked out. though he didn't tell her that. >> all the days of my life. >> reporter: so, in her blissful ignorance, she married him in her family's church in 1990. >> mr. and mrs. john meehan. >> reporter: and she helped put him through nursing s...

>> reporter: debra's daughters were not about to be put off. >> one of her daughters is particularly suspicious. she doesn't know why he wears surgical scrubs everywhere. it seems to be a costume he's wearing. she thinks his fingernails are dirty, and this does not look to her like the hands of an actual doctor. >> reporter: and so they started digging. an investigation that would lead halfway across the country. to the depths of evil. to an appointment with death. coming up -- troubling revelations about john. >> they learned that he was not a doctor. >> discoveries that were about to go fr...

Claus or something. >> something like that. yeah. >> reporter: yeah. i mean, that kind of sort of role. >> yeah. >> reporter: did he do it on purpose? of course, thought terra. >> that made me so upset. >> terra was very emotional. i thought, "just suck it up. you know? it's christmas. have fun. >> reporter: instead she felt that that man had come and usurped something? >> yes. >> yes. >> reporter: he had not only stolen their christmas, thought the daughters, but both of them worried he was stealing their too trusting mother. taking advantage of her. she just let him drive her car. why would ...