PRETEND

A 911 call in Madison County, Arkansas reported what sounded like a violent attack. It should have remained confidential. But when LaDonna Humphrey got involved, that caller’s life was turned upside down.

Now she is caught in a web of harassment, conspiracy theories, and public exposure that puts her safety at risk.

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LaDonna Humphrey has spent years trying to overturn a $3.57 million judgment. But in a rare legal move, her right to appeal was sold in bankruptcy court — to the very person she was fighting, Anthony Christopher.

In this episode, you'll hear directly from Anthony Christopher as he reacts to the latest court decision. I also spoke with law professor Joshua M. Silverstein from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Mark Friedman from Arkansas Business, who explained how this type of sale is even possible.

If you want to hear my full bonus conversation with Professor Silverstein, you can find it here:
👉 https://www.patreon.com/posts/yes-person-who-135873336

And if you’re just now joining the story, binge the entire series:
🎧 Who’s Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey on Spotify
👉 https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2LOnqAGe8D4JQ4bAwjGn9P?si=2a376d2f740443ee

Stick around — next week in Part 18, we dig into new allegations of harassment. This time, the alleged victim is a 911 caller and a key witness to a murder case. You don’t want to miss it.

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This week on PRETEND, we’re bringing you something special: a feed drop from Nobody Should Believe Me, an award-winning investigative true crime podcast created by author Andrea Dunlop.

With over 15 million downloads and a spot on The New York Times' radar as “a rich and harrowing chronicle of the condition,” this show dives deep into one of the most disturbing forms of abuse—Munchausen by Proxy. Told through the voices of survivors and leading experts, Nobody Should Believe Me pulls back the curtain on cases that are as heartbreaking as they are eye-opening.

Season Six unpacks the devastating saga of the McDaniel family—a true Southern Gothic story of generational trauma and medical child abuse that has haunted those involved for decades.

And here’s some exciting news: PRETEND is now part of Andrea Dunlop’s new true crime podcast network, True Story Media. We're proud to be joining forces with storytellers who aren’t afraid to dig into the darkest corners of human behavior.

Listen to Season 6 of Nobody Should Believe Me now:

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Melanie dies. Jayson takes control of her estate. Then he moves in with her mother.

Her children are stunned. They suspect something isn’t right, especially as questions about Melanie’s will and health begin to surface. Jayson was the last person caring for her before she passed.

Just when we think the story is over, another woman comes forward. We’re calling her Julie. She says she was seeing Jayson during this same time.

In this episode, we unravel what really happened after Melanie’s death and why her family is still looking for answers.

Written and Produced by: Javier Leiva & Mackenzie Ames
Editor: Puneeth Shenoy with https://podcastpundits.com/
Theme Music: by Thechicken.net

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In the year 2000, the merger of AOL and Time Warner seemed like the

moment that the pendulum shifted from offline to online media. But the

megamerger went off script fast. In-fighting, cooked books and incompatible

corporate cultures would turn it into a marriage from hell, one that would scar

both companies. But before any of that could happen, AOL had to overcome

the odds…to take America online. In this season of Business Wars, we

explore why the biggest merger in US history turned into a corporate

catastrophe. Listen to Business Wars: The AOL Time Warner Disaster right

now wherever you get your podcasts: Wondery.fm/BW_IFD

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In Part 2 of The Playwright, we shift focus to the show at the center of it all: The History of Now.

Written and directed by Jason Bartlett, the play was billed as a bold, political drama. It was a plan meant to honor a woman he claimed to love. But former cast members and collaborators started noticing red flags. Was this play ever really meant to open? Or was it all just a front?

Was The History of Now a sincere artistic project...or just another performance?

Written and Produced by: Javier Leiva & Mackenzie Ames
Editor: Puneeth Shenoy
Theme Music: by Thechicken.net

Episode Credits:

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In this episode, we investigate the mysterious Jayson Bartlett and the many women whose lives he upended.

Emma was a single mother in England who fell for Bartlett’s charm and artistic persona. At first, everything seemed perfect. But soon, she realized she was being gaslit, lied to, and emotionally manipulated.

Then there’s Melanie. She lived in North Carolina and had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. She thought she had found love and a creative partner. Instead, Jayson took control of her finances and disappeared.

Episode Credits:

Written and Produced by: Javier Leiva & Mackenzie Ames
Editor: Puneeth Shenoy
Theme Music: by Thechicken.net

🔓 Get Early Access:

Hear the next episode early and unlock bonus content by subscribing to:Pretend Plus on Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/pretend/id6443456985

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/pretendradio

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What if your phone could place you at the scene of a crime—years later?

In this bonus episode of PRETEND, we uncover how nearly 200 mobile devices that visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island left behind invisible data trails. Using just a free trial from a location data broker, an outsider was able to map those devices back to homes, offices, and even gated communities across the U.S.

This episode dives into how mobile advertising IDs—those “anonymous” trackers buried inside your apps—are being used to surveil people without their knowledge. It’s not just Epstein’s guests. Similar tactics were used to target abortion clinic visitors in Wisconsin… and the law hasn’t kept up.

Sources and Further Reading:

WIRED: Location Data From Phones Used to Track Epstein Island Visitors

https://www.wired.com/video/watch/we-tracked-every-visitor-to-epstein-island

Motherboard (VICE): A Data Broker Was Selling Location Data on People Who Visited Abortion Clinics

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/02/meet-abortion-bans-new-best-friend-your-phone/

EPIC.org: Data Broker Helped Anti-Abortion Group Target Planned Parenthood Visitors

https://epic.org/data-broker-helped-anti-abortion-group-target-planned-parenthood-visitors-wyden-letter-reveals/

U.S. Congress: American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Data_Privacy_and_Protection_Act

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David Crow says he was his father's criminal accomplice.

In today's episode, we delve into the extraordinary story of David Crow, author of the book titled "The Pale-Faced Lie." It's the story of a father and son entangled in a life of crime.

David recounts his experiences as his father's criminal accomplice, always by his side. And what it was like growing up with a violent and convicted felon who used the Native American reservation as a refuge to evade his enemies.

This episode is the story of a young boy grappling with his place in the world, torn between his father's influence and his desire for a different path.

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Rick Fernandez—yes, the same Rick who thought he’d escaped six felonies—just got slapped with brand-new criminal charges in Phoenix Municipal Court. I flew in a court-runner to watch the hearing, dug through fresh police files, and pieced together how a self-published book and two midnight phone calls may blow up Rick & Tanya’s “clean-slate” diversion deal.

🎧 New to this saga?

Binge the entire 20-part series first: The Stalker — Season 12 playlist on Spotify. Start there, then come right back.

🗂️ Docs & extras

PDF of the new criminal complaint

Snippet from Layers of Attack

All available for Pretend + supporters

🤝 Support the Show

Patreon / Apple Pretend + for early drops, bonus tapes, and deep-dive documents.

Rate & review PRETEND on your favorite app—helps new listeners find the show!

Host / Reporting: Javier Leiva
Court-runner: Tore Lynn
Theme: TheChicken.net

© 2025 Creative Babble

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