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00:00A shy girl's sheltered life splits wide open when she's forced to grow up fast.
00:17It's going to be okay. I'm right here next to you.
00:19When I first found out that she was pregnant, I was terrified.
00:24When the one thing she loves most is taken from her, she nearly falls apart.
00:30I miss my kids every day.
00:32She meets a kindred spirit.
00:35I think he was just looking for some sort of happiness.
00:40But when his demons emerge, she has to choose.
00:45He totally turned into someone else.
00:48Run or fight.
00:50She was just like a psycho.
00:56Not all fairy tales have happy endings.
01:00When love goes wrong, a woman can do the unthinkable.
01:1516-year-old Tamara Quincy is starting her first year at a Native American boarding school in Oregon.
01:22It's the first time the shy teen's been away from home.
01:27From Alaska to Washington to Montana, a lot of the Native Americans went to school there.
01:33I really enjoyed it.
01:36Tamara grew up on a tiny reservation in rural Montana, 40 miles from the closest town.
01:41Overwhelmed by so many new faces, Tamara feels lucky that her older sister is also at the school.
01:50She introduces Tamara to her friends, including a handsome young man named Leo.
01:55Hey, Leo.
01:57Come here.
01:58Hey.
01:59This is my sister, Tammy.
02:01I'm Leo.
02:02She's a little bit shy.
02:04Can you show her around campus?
02:05Yeah, I'd love to.
02:06Awesome.
02:07Well, have a good time.
02:08Yes.
02:09Bye.
02:13Um, are you for your own lunchtime?
02:16Okay.
02:17Yeah?
02:18Yeah.
02:18All right.
02:19I'll see you then.
02:19Okay.
02:20Later.
02:21Bye.
02:21Leo and Tamara click instantly.
02:25He was just a really nice person, outgoing, friendly.
02:28He was very kind-hearted.
02:31What do you call a cow with no legs?
02:34Leo's drawn to Tamara's quirky sense of humor.
02:38Ground beef.
02:39She told bad jokes.
02:42You know, she tried to be funny.
02:44That's the worst joke I've ever heard.
02:46I played along with him.
02:48We got along really well and just kind of hit it off.
02:51I'd always figured I'd go into fishing one day.
02:55Leo hails from a family of commercial fishermen in Washington State and also grew up on a reservation.
03:02The two relate to their similar upbringings and soon become inseparable.
03:07She was really honest to me.
03:10She said what was on her mind and that's what I liked about her.
03:13She was my best friend.
03:14And like many close teenage friendships, Tamara and Leo share more than just secrets.
03:25We'd break the rules and we would sneak out and meet after hours.
03:29When they're caught, they're reprimanded by one of the teachers.
03:34I can recall him saying that, you know, if you guys keep this up, you're going to wind up pregnant.
03:40I can remember her laughing.
03:42We were young at the time, you know, 17.
03:44So we didn't care.
03:46We thought it was kind of funny.
03:47Tamara is a sheltered, naive girl who has not had very much exposure to the world outside of her reservation.
04:00Now that she's away from home, she's able to assert her independence.
04:03But she's also prone to making some very bad choices that could shatter her innocent view of the world.
04:13A few months later, at the start of the spring semester, Tamara wakes up too sick to go to class.
04:19I didn't feel good.
04:20I was getting really sick.
04:22Don't worry, you're not sick.
04:24But it's not a stomach bug that she's suffering from.
04:27You're pregnant.
04:30Do you remember the moment when they told you the news?
04:32I start crying, and I told him I was really scared.
04:36When I first found out that she was pregnant, I was terrified.
04:43It's going to be okay.
04:44I'm right here next to you.
04:46We're both young, and we really didn't know what to do.
04:50But he was supportive about it.
04:52And he said he'd be there for me.
04:55Tamara's parents are strict Catholics, and she knows they'll be furious.
05:00Hello?
05:01Hi, Mom.
05:02Hi, sweetie.
05:03I have something to tell you.
05:08I'm pregnant.
05:10She just said that she wasn't happy about me being pregnant, and I need to go home.
05:15This is a disaster.
05:16I'm sorry.
05:17Because I pretty much embarrassed her.
05:20Her mother was trying to be strict with her.
05:22She wanted to make an appearance to everybody else.
05:24And Tammy just kind of disappointed her.
05:29How did you feel about going back home to Montana?
05:32I didn't want to.
05:33And you had to drop out of school?
05:35Yes.
05:36When school administrators hear about Tamara's pregnancy, they expel Leo.
05:44The soon-to-be father has a choice to make.
05:50Return to his family in Washington or join Tamara in Montana.
05:55We decided that I was going to go and stay with her and her family.
06:06Hi.
06:07Hello?
06:07Hello?
06:08Tamara's parents are relieved that Leo's stepping up to the plate.
06:13But they make it clear they're not happy about the couple's decision to have a baby out of wedlock.
06:19Come on in.
06:21Your room's in the back.
06:24They had put us two double beds in there.
06:28They tried to keep us separated.
06:30Were you thinking that you might want to be with this guy for the rest of your life?
06:33No.
06:34I didn't think that way.
06:35I was too young.
06:37My plan was just to try to finish out school and move off the reservation.
06:41So I can go to college.
06:44But for now, the young couple makes the best of things.
06:49Those beds were eventually pushed together.
06:51And pulled apart every day, of course.
07:01Even though Leo's willing to take responsibility for the baby, he isn't ready to call Montana home.
07:09Immediately, I know I didn't like it.
07:11But I knew that that's not where I wanted to be.
07:14What I wanted to be was a commercial fisherman.
07:16And I wasn't anywhere near any water in Montana.
07:23At the end of the summer, Tamara gives birth to a boy they name Mark.
07:27Was your family kind of over the embarrassment?
07:30Oh, yeah.
07:31They spoiled him.
07:32And they helped me out a lot with him.
07:40Even though they're thrilled with their new grandson, Tamara's parents are still determined
07:45to see the young couple tie the knot.
07:48She would look great in that.
07:51I just remember they were planning a wedding.
07:53And I said, I'm not getting married.
07:56And they said, yes, you are.
07:58I don't want to get married.
07:59I said I was too young.
08:00You just don't understand.
08:02But it was set up anyway.
08:06So they pretty much told you you had to get married?
08:08Mm-hmm.
08:09Because it's the Catholic way.
08:13Despite their hesitations, after a casual ceremony, Leo and Tamara settled into married life.
08:19Oh, my wedding day, I was nervous.
08:22You're so beautiful.
08:24Couldn't even say my vows.
08:25My dad was saying them for me.
08:29Even though they weren't gung-ho about marriage, they're very much in love.
08:34I believed at the time that I was going to be with her the rest of my life.
08:38I thought we're going to be together forever.
08:41That's the way I felt at the time.
08:43I loved her.
08:45And I know she loved me.
08:49But life on the rural reservation is rough for Leo.
08:54Most jobs go to the people in the local tribe.
08:58And the young father struggles to find anything stable.
09:02I worked on a pig farm for a while, and that was really hard work.
09:06But, you know, that was basically the only opportunity of work I had over there.
09:11Being forced into a marriage is not a guarantee of a happily ever after for Tamara and Leo.
09:16They are still kids, but they're already struggling with this grown-up challenge of just trying to make ends meet.
09:23And once all that puppy love wears off, this relationship is going to face some very serious obstacles.
09:31Late spring is the start of fishing season in Washington.
09:34Determined to focus on his fishing career, Leo lures Tamara to the West Coast.
09:41I told her that we're missing out on me making any sort of money.
09:47And she did agree.
09:50In Washington, the couple moves in with Leo's parents.
09:54While his family looks after their son, both quickly find jobs in the fishing industry.
10:04I start working out a fish hatchery.
10:08Can you describe the kind of work you were doing?
10:11It's called spooning fish.
10:12You just open them, you spoon all the guts and everything out of it, and just move it down the line.
10:17It's not glamorous work, but it's a decent living.
10:26Leo's finally working as a fisherman.
10:28But it means he's out at sea for weeks at a time.
10:32What is it, baby?
10:34It's only going to be for a couple of weeks.
10:37We had some stability.
10:39I thought maybe this is where both of us were going to stay the rest of our lives.
10:43But some unexpected news is about to shatter the newlyweds' plans for their future.
10:50I tried to give her an ultimatum.
10:5219-year-old Tamara Quincy and her husband, Leo, are living a simple but peaceful existence in Washington state.
11:14But some unexpected news is about to catapult their lives into chaos.
11:19After months of working in a fish factory, Tamara's suddenly revolted by the smell.
11:34So one day you're on the conveyor belt line, spoon and fish, and you feel sick.
11:38Yeah.
11:38But the smell of fish never made you sick before.
11:40Oh.
11:42And what was it?
11:44It was being pregnant.
11:44What's up, babe?
11:50I don't have a lot of time because I'm on break.
11:52This time, Leo's not so supportive.
11:56Are you serious?
11:57He didn't like the idea that I was pregnant again because, you know, we're still young and I'm going to be another child to take care of.
12:04Horrible.
12:04When she told me that she was pregnant again, I remember that I was more of a, oh, no type thing.
12:13We're struggling with one kid.
12:15How are we going to make it happen with two?
12:17But Leo has a deeper reason for being upset since he's been away at sea.
12:23How do I even know it's mine, huh?
12:26Trying to say it wasn't his.
12:27He was trying to say it was some other guy I've never even had any relationship with.
12:31Leo quickly comes around, but his accusation does serious damage to their relationship.
13:01See you later.
13:05Against Leo's wishes, Tamara decides to move back home to Montana to have the baby.
13:10She takes their son Mark with her.
13:14Leo stays behind in Washington.
13:17In my head, I just thought that you just need to stay here because there's nothing back there.
13:23You won't find a job.
13:24You won't find nothing.
13:25Hey.
13:33Hi, Leo.
13:35Separated by 700 miles, the couple's already fragile relationship disintegrates.
13:40I wanted to know if you were going to be here when the baby is born.
13:45Well, it was supposed to be just a separation for a while.
13:47You know I can't leave in the middle of the season.
13:50I tried to give her an ultimatum.
13:52At least here we can find work.
13:55You know, we can't do this.
13:58And I never thought about it through her eyes.
14:01We'll talk about this in a couple days, okay?
14:02Six months after moving home, Tamara gives birth to another baby boy.
14:14She names him Troy.
14:22I think the kids should stay with me.
14:25One year later, Leo files for divorce.
14:29It's probably for the best.
14:31The split is amicable.
14:34Bye.
14:36Bye.
14:40I wanted her to be happy, and apparently being with me wasn't making her happy.
14:48Tamara's heartbroken.
14:52But she decides to bury her heartache and focus on her future and getting her GED.
14:58I always want to be a nurse.
15:01Take care of people that were sick or handicapped, and that was always my dream.
15:09Over the next few years, Tamara has a third child from a casual fling, a daughter she named Sally.
15:16Shortly after the birth, Tamara makes a bold decision.
15:22Against her mom's wishes, she and her kids move to a town 80 miles away, where she enrolls in a nursing program and quickly finds a night job at a nursing home.
15:33It's her first time living alone and supporting herself, and it's not easy.
15:41Kids, I'm home.
15:43I go on shift about 10 at night and get off about 6 or something in the morning.
15:53Enough time to make it home to get my kids up for school.
15:56Three kids and working full-time and trying to go to college around your work hours.
16:03Yeah.
16:04That would crack the best of people.
16:05Oh, yeah.
16:06It was a struggle.
16:08Then I'd sleep.
16:09Then by the time my kids got home, I tried to get up so I could do their homework and feed them.
16:16How you doing?
16:17Despite her hectic schedule, Tamara excels both at school and at her new job.
16:23I loved it.
16:24I was doing really well.
16:25My teacher was very pleased with me because I was an A to B student.
16:29It would make you feel much better.
16:31She was always good at what she was doing.
16:33Any kind of job she had, she was always good at it.
16:37It's great that Tamara is finally focusing on her future, but she's also burning the candle at both ends.
16:43And no matter how hard she tries to make it work, Tamara is not doing herself or her kids any favors by shouldering this burden all alone.
16:54But by summer, the pressure of balancing work, school, and family starts taking a toll on Tamara and the children.
17:04It started really affecting their homework and also their eating habits.
17:09I had food all the time.
17:11I just didn't have time to cook.
17:13I just didn't have time to cook.
17:21Tammy, wake up.
17:25Mom.
17:26Money's tight, and her mom makes Tamara an offer she can't refuse.
17:30I think it's too much for you right now.
17:33Why don't you let the kids come with me for the summer?
17:36She said, well, I come up here to help you out so you don't have to have a babysitter.
17:40I said, oh, okay, and I thought they were going to go have a good summer out there where they didn't have to be home all the time while I work.
17:46As much as Tamara hates the idea of being away from her kids, it's a relief.
17:55But just a few days later, Tamara gets some news that sends her life careening out of control.
18:02After nearly caving under the pressure of raising three kids on her own, Tamara Quincy thinks her prayers are answered when her mom offers to take them for the summer.
18:27But just a few days later, she receives an unexpected letter from the Department of Family Services that changes everything.
18:37I get a letter from the DFS stating that somebody was making remarks that I wasn't a good mom, I wasn't taking care of my kids, and I was drinking a lot.
18:48Tamara can't imagine who would have filed the report.
18:57So I went up to the DFS department, and I went in there, and I started talking to this lady, and I said, who would do such a thing?
19:05Do you know when Annette Quincy?
19:07It's my mother.
19:09Well, she's the one that made the report on you.
19:14Excuse me, I have to take this call.
19:17Tamara's dumbfounded.
19:18Hello, DFS, this is Rose.
19:20How can I help you?
19:24She calls her mom, demanding an explanation.
19:28Hello?
19:29How can you take away my kids?
19:32Tammy.
19:33Tammy, calm down.
19:34She said, because you needed help.
19:36No, I don't.
19:36I got custody of them.
19:38And if you come on the reservation, I will have the cops pick you up.
19:43Every time I see you, you're drunk.
19:46Is that true?
19:46Were you drinking a lot?
19:47No.
19:48I didn't have time to drink.
19:50And so, I mean, that's what really upset me.
19:53But others who know Tamara claim she's prone to hitting the bottle.
19:58She drank a lot.
20:00I wouldn't say blackout drunk, but I would say drunk.
20:03Drunk enough to know that she's inebriated and can't drive.
20:07Your mom petitioned to the tribe that she should be made legal custodian of your children.
20:14Apparently.
20:15According to Tamara, the tribal council sides with her mother.
20:21And the tribe granted her custody?
20:25As far as I know, that's what happened.
20:29Tamara feels betrayed by her family and the tribe.
20:33It's really hard to know exactly where the truth lies.
20:38Petitioning to have Tamara's kids taken away from her is really harsh.
20:41But you have to wonder why her mother would go to such extremes.
20:45Did Tamara have a drinking problem that she just isn't willing to admit?
20:51She spirals into a deep depression and drops out of school.
20:55It tore me up.
20:59It totally tore me up and I just lost it.
21:02I just start drinking.
21:05You were seeking solace in a bottle.
21:07I just didn't know where to turn to or what to do.
21:10I miss my kids every day and I couldn't understand why she would do it.
21:14And it still hurts.
21:18Tamara's determined to win back her kids and her mom's trust.
21:22She pours her energy into her job and saves every penny she can.
21:27Every month, she sends money to her mother to prove she's being responsible.
21:32So you would try to regain at least a line of communication with your mom so you could speak to your kids, right?
21:38Yes.
21:39I was helping her out with them anytime they need anything.
21:42I'd make sure I sent money home for them.
21:44Hi, Troy.
21:45How's school, buddy?
21:46It's good, Molly.
21:47I'm on the soccer team.
21:49She eventually started letting me talk to them.
21:51And they were able to call me.
21:53Okay, hold on.
21:54I love you.
21:55Hi, Sally.
21:56It's Mommy.
21:57How are you?
21:59I'm good, Mommy.
22:00I just lost my first tooth and a tooth because I gave me a quarter.
22:03It was really hard, you know, because they really missed me.
22:06And they couldn't understand.
22:07I couldn't even tell them why.
22:09In 1998, Tamra's offered a part-time job at an elder care home near the reservation where her kids have been living with her mom.
22:21They told her that I'm coming home to see them and she was good about it.
22:26Her mom agrees to let her live with them, but only until she finds her own place.
22:33It's the moment Tamra's been waiting for.
22:37And that was the first time I got to see my kids, probably in a two-year period.
22:40Hey!
22:46Tamra hasn't been back on the reservation since she left nearly six years earlier.
22:51Hi, baby.
22:54I missed you.
22:55I missed you.
23:00Her sister catches her up on some mutual friends.
23:05She learns that one of her old classmates, a former football player named Marvin, is also going through a custody battle.
23:12Marvin!
23:12When Tamra reaches out to Marvin the next day, they make plans to meet up when he gets off work.
23:21Way to hustle!
23:22Hey, Marvin!
23:24Hey!
23:25Tammy!
23:26What time no see?
23:28He was the athletic director.
23:31He had a big heart.
23:32All the kids at the school looked up to him and they respected him.
23:39I can't remember the last time I actually laughed.
23:42When we started talking, he was feeling down and he was depressed because apparently he was going through a lot with his ex-wife and he wasn't able to see his sons.
23:51It's good to see my kids.
23:52He would tell us that I just can't handle being away from my kids.
23:58We'd just tell him, you know, just hang in there and I think he was just looking for some sort of happiness.
24:06Tamra relates to Marvin's struggle.
24:08There's an instant connection.
24:12Tamra starts spending evenings at Marvin's house with his sister, Anna Lee, and niece, Shaniqua.
24:18And I like hanging out with him.
24:22He's very musical.
24:24He liked to sing a lot and play the guitar.
24:27Sometimes we'd go outside and we'd sit there and they were always laughing, talking.
24:33After just a few weeks, Marvin asked Tamra to move in with him.
24:37We're spending all this time together.
24:39She accepts.
24:42She's felt pressure to move out of her mom's place anyway.
24:47It seems like a good idea, at least to them.
24:51Did you feel like you were in love with this guy and thinking maybe...
24:54I don't know if I could call it so much love.
24:57I think I felt more I'm sorry for him.
25:01I felt maybe I just needed to be there for him.
25:03Just because Tamra understands what Marvin is going through doesn't mean she has the power to heal him.
25:10Playing the rescuer could easily backfire on her.
25:14Tamra claims once her boxes are unpacked, her new man quickly becomes a monster.
25:20You're telling me that the outside world would see this big teddy bear, fun guy, but behind closed doors, he was still upset and angry about things.
25:31Mm-hmm.
25:33He tried to be happy, but there's a lot of things built up in him.
25:40According to Tamra, one day in August after meeting with his ex-wife, Marvin is angrier than ever.
25:47He was really upset, really mad.
25:49You think that's fair?
25:50Answer me, do you think that's fair?
25:52It's not, but I'm sorry. I can't do anything about it.
25:54I tried to talk to him and he said, you will never understand. It's none of your business.
26:01Don't tell me to calm down.
26:02Calm down, Marvin.
26:04They just started beating me up. Got on top of me and I couldn't move.
26:08After a whirlwind romance, 32-year-old Tamra Quincy moves in with Marvin, her boyfriend of two months.
26:26But according to Tamra, the shotgun relationship is quickly torpedoed by some serious demons.
26:34Don't tell me in again. You got that? Don't you dare tell me what to do.
26:43Don't you dare tell me what to do.
26:44After he beat me up and then he got up and walked out the door and left.
26:51I didn't know what to do.
26:55Tamra claims that a couple of hours later, Marvin comes back to beg for her forgiveness.
27:03Despite being terrified by the attack, Tamra says she feels bad for him and forgives him.
27:16I love you.
27:18I thought I could change him. I thought I could help him. I kept it in my head that I could.
27:23Tamra's fixer mentality is dangerous because it gives her false hope that she can cure Marvin's behavior.
27:30But the cold, hard truth is that if a person is abusive now, only a few months into the relationship, it's only going to get worse.
27:38And Tamra claims instead of going away, the abuse quickly ramps up.
27:49How often were you getting beat?
27:51At least twice a week.
27:53And all of a sudden, he'd explode.
27:57And you never knew what would set him off?
27:59Mm-mm.
28:10But Marvin's sister, Anna Lee, and niece, Shaniqua, tell a different story.
28:15Listen to me!
28:16The camera calm down, what's wrong with you?
28:18See?
28:19I never, ever witnessed any abuse on his part to her. Not even, like, an abusive word. Nothing.
28:28Look at me, you idiot!
28:29In fact, they say that if anyone's getting aggressive, it's Tamra.
28:34Tamra!
28:35The first time I was visiting with them and they were drunk. And she got mad at him because he spilled something on the floor and she started calling him names. Sloppy pig and things like that.
28:44The sober version of her was quiet. She kept to herself. But as soon as she had alcohol in her, then she would change. She was loud.
28:55This is none of your business!
28:57Obnoxious. Mouthy.
29:00Why do you put up with this?
29:02Shaniqua repeatedly tells Marvin to ditch his girlfriend.
29:06She's not right for you.
29:08I tell him all the time, you need to find somebody else.
29:11He was probably scared to be left alone again. That's my theory anyway. That's why he put up with the abuse.
29:19Maybe he loved her. Maybe he really did love her.
29:23We may never know who the aggressor really was in this relationship, but this isn't the first time someone has called out Tamra on her drinking.
29:31The reality is, they probably both behaved very badly towards each other. And one of them has to leave before it's too late.
29:44So where have you been? I haven't seen you in a long time.
29:46Tamra claims that when she confides in her friend Donna about Marvin's abusive behavior, she learns he's got a history of anger issues.
29:55I think his ex-wife had to put a restraining order on him.
29:59He hits me? I'm not surprised. His divorce was really messy.
30:05And then we had to go to anger management.
30:09It sounds like the system was trying to get him help, but why do you think it never had any sticking power?
30:14I don't know. I wish in my heart and soul he would have been able to get help.
30:18Because I knew he needed really severe counseling at one time. He had a lot of issues.
30:23Over the next year, Tamra continues to work part-time as a caregiver and visits her children every week.
30:31Were you thinking in terms of maybe someday soon, I can have my kids back full-time and I won't have to just see them at my mom's house?
30:40Mm-hmm. Yeah.
30:42Yeah.
30:43You were pretty sure you'd get custody of them again.
30:46You'd go over to the house and see them.
30:48When he'd let me.
30:49Hi sis, how's it going?
30:51She claims Marvin does what he can to cut her visits short.
30:55For you.
31:00Hello?
31:01I'd say hi to everybody and he'd call and say, come back home now.
31:07So I didn't get a chance to sit down.
31:10That was Marvin. I gotta go.
31:13But the kids will be here any minute.
31:15I can't wait.
31:23Tamra keeps hoping things will get better.
31:26He'd try to talk nice to me, that he would never put his hand on me again.
31:31He promised me he'd get more counseling and I'd fall for it.
31:35I'm sorry I lost my temper, babe.
31:37But she claims that after almost two years together, Marvin's still full of empty promises.
31:44You know people are going to say, Tammy, you're the strong, independent woman.
31:49You're the woman who didn't even want to get married when you were pregnant.
31:52Mm-hmm.
31:53You went to college, you got your CNA, you're working two jobs, you've got your babysitting covered.
31:58You know, where's that strong, independent Tammy now?
32:02Why are you putting up with this?
32:05I don't know.
32:06I don't know how he got me so down.
32:08My self-esteem just went, he made me believe that I was no good.
32:13So, you're telling me that he not just beat you, but he tore you down psychologically?
32:18What would he say to you that would make you feel so bad?
32:21That I was fat and ugly, nobody would want me, even if I left him.
32:28In December 2000, Tamara tells Marvin she wants to spend the holiday with her kids.
32:35For the first time in their relationship, Marvin agrees to have them over.
32:40Say Merry Christmas.
32:41Merry Christmas.
32:42Oh, come on.
32:44Oh, come on.
32:45The evening starts off picture perfect.
32:48I was camcording my babies and they were having fun.
32:51They were giggling, they were thanking me.
32:53He started putting his hand in.
32:55Merry Christmas.
32:57It seems like a Christmas miracle.
33:04Until suddenly, Marvin's dark side comes out, full force.
33:09This isn't fair.
33:11How come your kids are here and mine aren't?
33:14Hear your voice.
33:15On the blue, he said, when F did your kids can be here and I can't see mine for Christmas?
33:21Is that fair?
33:22Everything's gonna be okay.
33:23No, everything's gonna be okay.
33:24Because your kids were happy, opening their presents, full of joy.
33:29And he wants to steal this moment from you by saying it's not fair that you have your kids with you on Christmas and I don't have my children with me.
33:35This is fair.
33:36Look.
33:37Tamara claims Marvin becomes threatening in front of her kids.
33:40Let me see him.
33:41It's okay.
33:42It's okay.
33:43Please stop.
33:44No, I'm not gonna stop.
33:45Don't tell me what to do in my house.
33:46He started coming towards me and I grabbed the phone.
33:48I called my brother.
33:49I said, come and get me now.
33:50And I want my kids to see me beat up by him.
33:53Rick, I need you to come now.
33:56I'll explain later.
33:57Come now.
34:02Christmas is over.
34:03Get your coats.
34:04Just stop.
34:06Stop.
34:07You want me to stop?
34:08You ruined it.
34:09Yeah, Christmas is over.
34:11Merry Christmas.
34:12And he started throwing things around in the kitchen and I told my kids to run outside and wait.
34:17Go.
34:18Go.
34:19Get out of here.
34:20Merry Christmas.
34:21Minutes later, Tamara's brother Rick comes to the rescue and drives Tamara and her kids to her mom's house.
34:29What were you feeling at that moment?
34:31I was hurt.
34:32I was mad.
34:33I just couldn't believe that he would do that.
34:36Take it out of me because he couldn't see his kids.
34:39You ruined my Christmas.
34:40He threw the food and started yelling.
34:43Marvin's violent behavior cuts Tamara to the core.
34:47Back at her mother's house, she tells her family she's leaving Marvin for good.
34:52I need to get away.
34:54Tamara fears that confronting Marvin in person will lead to a vicious fight.
34:59She decides to sneak out of town and stay with a friend until Marvin's had a chance to cool down.
35:05Were you afraid that he would follow you?
35:07Oh, he would.
35:08He's hurt me quite a few times in the relationship.
35:11He's went to the point where he was going to kill himself or he was going to kill me.
35:16Her brother offers her a ride that night.
35:22At 4 a.m., Rick and Tamara take off.
35:29On the way, she convinces Rick to stop at Marvin's house so she can grab some clothes.
35:34That's a good idea.
35:36It's fine.
35:37He's probably passed out.
35:38But Marvin's family suspects Tamara and her brother were plotting something much more sinister.
35:43Wait here.
35:44All right.
35:45I'm going to go around back.
35:47I think her and her brother really had something, like, planned.
35:51In my head, I just think that they knew what they were going to do.
35:55Is Tamara sneaking away or making sure Marvin's never able to lay a hand on her again?
36:0433-year-old Tamara Quincy is living with a man she claims has been viciously abusing her for the last two years.
36:25With the help of her brother, Rick, she's finally devised a plan to escape.
36:30While Rick waits outside Marvin's house, Tamara quietly enters to collect her things.
36:39What do you think you're doing?
36:42She claims Marvin immediately flies into a rage.
36:45Oh, your things.
36:46Took the salt and pepper shaker and he threw them at me.
36:50He missed me.
36:51Get your things.
36:53Marvin!
36:55What are you doing?
36:56All that glass went over on top of me and he said he was going to beat the F out of me.
36:59See this?
37:00He's going to kill me.
37:01It's going to be your head.
37:03Tamara's terrified, but she's too close to freedom to back down now.
37:08I was scared.
37:09I was frightened.
37:10I didn't want him to touch me anymore and I was scared he'd get a hole in me.
37:13Then I grabbed that knife and I held it up and I said, you're not touching me anymore.
37:18And he stood in front of me and I said, no more.
37:21You're not going to touch me.
37:22You're not going to be with me anymore.
37:23I'm tired of it.
37:24Then, according to Tamara, Marvin does something completely unexpected.
37:29And he just didn't even say nothing.
37:32He just went that quick.
37:34Didn't look like he stabbed himself.
37:36Marvin!
37:37Why would he stab himself?
37:38He probably didn't even intentionally mean to.
37:39I think he was just going to try to play like, you know, suicidal.
37:40Were you going to stab him?
37:41No.
37:42No.
37:43I just wanted to get the heck out of him and I didn't want him coming around and trying
37:44to grab me back by the hair and put me on the ground to beat me again.
38:01But Marvin's family claims that Tamara meant to stab him all along.
38:12There was no way that he would have been able to stab himself like that.
38:18And I kept saying, how could he do that to himself?
38:22You know, like that's not possible.
38:25I'm done.
38:30There was no doubt in my mind that she murdered him.
38:51Rick rushes in, sees Marvin collapsed and calls 911.
38:59Later, an ambulance arrives.
39:02Oh my God.
39:03The first EMT to enter the house is Marvin's niece, Shaniqua.
39:08Holy , that's my uncle.
39:11That's what my reaction was.
39:15He is in the doorway, covered in blood.
39:19And he was just laying there in a puddle of blood, turning purple.
39:22Okay, Marvin.
39:23Stay with me.
39:24Marvin, stay with me.
39:25Oh my God.
39:26Take positions.
39:29Tamara appears looking dazed.
39:31What the hell did you do?
39:33Tell me what happened?
39:35What happened?
39:36She had like this gloss over her eyes.
39:39I can't explain it.
39:40It's like a look that is unexplainable.
39:43There was darkness in her eyes.
39:46She acted like I wasn't even there.
39:49Tribal police arrive and question Tamara.
39:52Ma'am, you need to tell me what happened here.
39:55I don't know.
39:58Miss, what happened?
40:01I don't know.
40:02I don't know.
40:03He stabbed himself.
40:05You lying bitch.
40:07My uncle would never do that.
40:09I had to get held back by the police officer.
40:12Hey, you would never do that.
40:14Police let Tamara ride with Marvin in the ambulance.
40:17I just kept praying.
40:20Praying he'd be okay.
40:21And I'd cry.
40:22And that was about all I could do.
40:25By the time they get to the hospital,
40:28Marvin has died from his wounds.
40:32Tell me what happens the moment when the doctors come out
40:36and you see that look on the face.
40:38Please tell me he's going to be okay.
40:41He's come out and told us I couldn't save him.
40:46He lost too much blood before he got to the hospital.
40:51I don't know what happened.
40:54All I remember is kept staring at her feet
40:56because his blood was all over her white tennis shoes.
41:00And I kept asking her, how did he get stabbed then?
41:03Who stabbed him?
41:04I don't know.
41:05I don't know what happened.
41:07I don't know.
41:08I'm sorry.
41:09What happened, Tamara?
41:10You weren't there.
41:11Tell me what happened.
41:12She just kept saying, I'm sorry.
41:14I'm sorry.
41:16Due to the seriousness of the crime,
41:19the case is outside the jurisdiction of the tribal police
41:22and it's handed over to the FBI.
41:25They later speak with Tamara's relatives.
41:28He told me that they talked to my family members
41:31and then family members said he was abusive
41:34and that if I wrote a statement saying that I stabbed him,
41:36then I'd get out of it and I wouldn't have to go to jail.
41:39Nevertheless, she's ultimately indicted for murder.
41:44Were you shocked?
41:45I was very bad shocked.
41:47I couldn't believe it.
41:50After talking to a lawyer, Tamara takes a plea deal.
41:54He said if I take it to trial, I'd get 10 to 25 years max.
41:58The charges are reduced to voluntary manslaughter and she's sentenced to three years in federal prison.
42:06No.
42:07I don't think that was a fair enough sentence at all.
42:11She took my brother's life.
42:13She should have got life.
42:16Let me just clarify.
42:17Do you think it was self-defense or an accident?
42:21I don't know.
42:23Because I know I didn't stab him.
42:26There was no way, shape or form that I would have wanted him dead.
42:30I just wanted him to leave me alone and get away from me.
42:33So much of Tamara's story just doesn't make sense.
42:37I mean, why would Marvin grab the knife and try to kill himself?
42:41There were only two people in the room when it happened and one of them is dead.
42:46Hindsight is always 20-20 and in Tamara's case, it's just full of regret.
42:53Fifteen years after Marvin's death, Tamara claims she's finally found the man of her dreams.
42:59My husband's been supportive, very supportive.
43:05The couple lives in rural Montana, miles away from the reservation and the ghosts of her past.
43:13In a long run, I'm saved now, I know that.
43:18He can't touch me.
43:20You know, I can enjoy my kids now.
43:22Now I've got grandkids I can enjoy.
43:26I feel bad that he's gone.
43:27I can't take that back.
43:32But no more abuse.
43:34No more hurt.
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