YT YouTube2Text

YouTube2Text → Transcripts → My Daughter-In-Law Locked Me To Steal 3B When They Came Home, I Was Waiting With

My Daughter-In-Law Locked Me To Steal 3B When They Came Home, I Was Waiting With — Transcript

by Diner Booth Confessions · 7,536 words · 1,210 segments · language en · Watch on YouTube

Open in transcriber Summarize with AI Download SRT/VTT

Full transcript

0:00Sleep well, sweetie," said my
0:02daughter-in-law, locking my door from
0:04outside. [music]
0:05Through the window, I watched them pour
0:07gasoline around the house. My son lit
0:09the match, smiling. Their plan: steal my
0:13$3 billion. But when they returned from
0:16their alibi dinner, [music] I was
0:18sitting in the living room with the fire
0:19marshal. Where are you watching from
0:21today? Drop your location in the
0:23comments below and hit that like and
0:25subscribe button. Let me tell you how a
0:27woman who built a tech empire from
0:29nothing discovered that her own family
0:31considered her more valuable dead than
0:33alive. Oh, and how spectacularly wrong
0:36they were about that. 6 hours earlier, I
0:39was lying in my hospital bed pretending
0:41to be heavily sedated while my son
0:43Michael and his wife Lauren whispered
0:46their murder plans 3 ft away. Funny
0:48thing about being 72 and worth $3
0:50billion. Everyone assumes your hearing
0:53is shot. Mine isn't. Neither is my
0:55memory. Despite what they'd been telling
0:57the doctors, "The pills aren't working
1:00fast enough," Lauren hissed. "She could
1:03live another 10 years at this rate,"
1:05Michael shifted uncomfortably. "We can't
1:08just speed things up. There's security
1:11footage, nurses checking on her every
1:13hour. Then we do it at home." Tonight,
1:16make it look like an accident. I kept my
1:18breathing steady, though my heart was
1:20racing. These two vultures had been
1:23feeding me increasing doses of dyin for
1:25months, disguising it as heart
1:27medication. They thought I was confused,
1:30forgetful. What I actually was furious.
1:34See, I'd built Pinnacle Technologies
1:36from my garage in 1987. By 2010, we were
1:41worth 50 billion. I sold to Microsoft
1:43for 3 billion, keeping enough shares to
1:46live comfortably forever. Michael had
1:48always been lazy, expecting inheritance
1:50to solve his problems. Lauren was worse,
1:53a former pharmaceutical sales rep who
1:56knew exactly which medications could
1:58mimic dementia in elderly patients. Fire
2:01would be perfect, she continued. Old
2:03house, faulty wiring. She's been
2:05forgetting to turn off appliances
2:07lately. Actually, Lauren, I'd been
2:09documenting every single one of your
2:11attempted poisonings. But thanks for the
2:13character assessment. The drive home was
2:16surreal. Michael helped me to my bedroom
2:18with such tender concern. You'd never
2:20guess he was planning my murder. Lauren
2:23brought me tea, more digitalis, no
2:25doubt, and kissed my forehead like a
2:27devoted daughter. We're going to dinner,
2:29Grandma Kate, she announced. JJeppes, we
2:32made reservations for 7:30. Jeppes was
2:3545 minutes away. They were establishing
2:38an alibi. The moment their car
2:40disappeared, I got to work. First, I
2:42called my private security company. This
2:44is Catherine Matthews. I need fire
2:47department and police at my residence
2:48immediately. Code 7. Code 7 meant family
2:52threat, imminent danger. Then I gathered
2:54evidence. The fake medication bottles
2:57Lauren had been using. The financial
2:59documents showing Michael's gambling
3:01debts, $2 million I hadn't known about.
3:04The insurance policy they'd taken out on
3:06me 6 months ago with them as
3:08beneficiaries. By the time I heard
3:10footsteps on the front porch 40 minutes
3:12later, I was ready. The smell hit them
3:14first. Gasoline poured liberally around
3:17the foundation while I watched from
3:19upstairs. Then they saw the smoke
3:21detectors Michael had disabled blinking
3:23red again. I'd reconnected them all.
3:25Lauren pushed open the front door,
3:27expecting to find my charred remains.
3:30Instead, she found me sitting calmly in
3:33my favorite armchair, very much alive
3:35with Fire Marshal Robert Chen and
3:37Detective Sandra Mills flanked beside
3:40me. Grandma Kate," Michael exclaimed,
3:42his face a mask of relief and terror.
3:45"Thank God you're safe. We smelled smoke
3:47from the street." "How thoughtful of you
3:49to notice," I replied. "Especially since
3:52you're the ones who started it." The
3:54silence that followed was delicious. You
3:56know what's better than seeing a plan
3:58backfire spectacularly? Watching the
4:00planners realize they've walked into
4:02their own trap. Lauren recovered first
4:05because sociopaths always do. Kate,
4:08sweetie, you're confused. We just got
4:10back from dinner. Look, we have the
4:13receipt. She fumbled in her purse with
4:15shaking hands. Fire marshal Chen stepped
4:17forward. Ma'am, we found accelerant
4:20poured around the entire perimeter of
4:22this house. The pattern indicates
4:24someone intended to trap whoever was
4:26inside. His voice was professional, but
4:29his eyes were hard as granite. Michael's
4:31face had gone gray. That's impossible.
4:34Who would do such a thing? Detective
4:36Mills consulted her notepad. According
4:39to Mrs. Matthews, she observed two
4:41individuals from her bedroom window at
4:43approximately 8:15 p.m. They appeared to
4:46be pouring liquid from red containers
4:48around the foundation. But we were at
4:50Jeppes, Lauren insisted. The staff will
4:53remember us. I'm sure they will, I said
4:56pleasantly. Since you made such a point
4:58of being seen there, tell me, how did
5:00you manage to order dinner, drive 45
5:03minutes home, attempt to commit arson,
5:05and still have time to notice smoke from
5:07the street? You're either remarkably
5:09efficient criminals or terrible at math.
5:11Michael's mouth opened and closed like a
5:14fish. Mom, you're not making sense. Why
5:17would we hurt you? $2 million in
5:19gambling debts might provide some
5:21motivation, Detective Mills noted,
5:23pulling out Michael's financial records,
5:25along with a recent $2 million life
5:27insurance policy on your mother. The
5:30color drained from Lauren's face. How
5:32did you get those records? I finished
5:34for her. Darling, when you're worth $3
5:37billion, you don't just assume your
5:39family loves you for your sparkling
5:41personality. I've had investigators
5:43monitoring both of you for months.
5:45Lauren's mask finally slipped
5:47completely. "You paranoid old witch.
5:50You've been spying on your own family.
5:52Lucky for me," I replied. "Since my own
5:55family has been trying to murder me."
5:57Fire Marshall Chen held up an evidence
5:59bag containing an empty gasoline
6:01container. "We found this in the bushes
6:03by your front gate, fresh fingerprints
6:06on the handle." Michael stared at the
6:08container like it might bite him.
6:09Lauren, however, was calculating. I
6:12could practically see her scrambling for
6:13a new strategy. This is all a
6:15misunderstanding, she said suddenly.
6:18Kate's been having episodes, paranoid
6:20delusions. We've been trying to get her
6:22medical care, but she refuses treatment.
6:25Medical care like the digitalis you've
6:27been slipping into my tea? I asked
6:30conversationally. The room went dead
6:32silent. Lauren's eyes widened in shock
6:35before narrowing with rage. Detective
6:37Mills leaned forward. Ma'am, are you
6:40saying you've been poisoned?
6:42systematically for approximately 4
6:44months. I confirmed I have hair samples,
6:47blood work, and video surveillance
6:49showing Lauren adding medication to my
6:51food and beverages. Michael found his
6:53voice. Mom, that's insane. Lauren's been
6:56taking care of you. The medication is
6:58for your heart condition. What heart
7:00condition would that be, Michael? I've
7:02never had heart problems in my life. But
7:05digitalis poisoning mimics dementia
7:07symptoms beautifully, doesn't it,
7:09Lauren? Lauren's silence was answer
7:11enough. Detective Mills stood up. Mr.
7:14and Mrs. Matthews, I'm going to need you
7:16both to come with me for questioning.
7:18This is ridiculous, Michael protested.
7:21She's a scenile old woman making up
7:23stories. That's when I smiled. My
7:25sweetest grandmother smile. Oh, honey,
7:28there's nothing scenile about $3 billion
7:30and a very detailed will that as of this
7:33morning no longer includes either of
7:35you. The next morning brought reporters
7:38to my front door like vultures to
7:39roadkill. Billionaire tech pioneer
7:42survives murder plot. Family greed turns
7:45deadly. Silicon Valley grandmother
7:47outsmarts killers. I made coffee and
7:50watch the circus from my kitchen window.
7:5230 years of carefully guarded privacy
7:55gone overnight. But frankly, I'd rather
7:58be a living headline than a dead
8:00footnote. My attorney, James Harrison,
8:02arrived at 900 a.m. sharp, looking like
8:05he'd aged 5 years since yesterday. Kate,
8:08this is a legal nightmare. The media
8:10attention alone could complicate
8:12everything. Good, I said, pouring him
8:15coffee in my favorite mug. The one that
8:17says world's most dangerous grandmother.
8:20I want Michael and Lauren to know
8:22exactly what they've lost. The police
8:24are charging them with attempted murder,
8:26arson, and conspiracy. Lauren's also
8:29facing charges for drug trafficking.
8:31Apparently, the digitalis she used
8:34requires a prescription. She stole it
8:36from her old pharmaceutical contacts. I
8:38explained. I had my investigators trace
8:41the serial numbers. Very sloppy for
8:43someone who thought she was so clever.
8:45James shook his head. Kate, they're your
8:48son and daughter-in-law. Are you certain
8:50you want to pursue this to the full
8:52extent? I set down my coffee cup harder
8:54than necessary. James, they tried to
8:57burn me alive. They've been slowly
8:59poisoning me for months. Exactly how
9:01much family loyalty should I show to
9:03people who see me as a walking dollar
9:05sign? I understand your anger, but
9:07consider the implications. Michael is
9:10your only child. If he goes to prison,
9:13then maybe he should have considered
9:14that before trying to murder his mother
9:16for money. My phone buzzed with a text
9:18from Detective Mills. Lab confirms
9:20digitalis in all food samples. Video
9:23evidence admissible. Case is solid.
9:26James, I said, showing him the message.
9:29I didn't survive the tech industry by
9:30being sentimental. I survived by being
9:33smarter than the people trying to
9:34destroy me. There was a knock at the
9:36front door. Through the window, I could
9:38see my neighbor, Mrs. Rodriguez, holding
9:41what looked like a casserole dish.
9:43Behind her stood three other neighbors,
9:45all with concerned expressions and
9:47covered dishes. "Kate, dear," Mrs.
9:50Rodriguez said when I opened the door.
9:52We heard about the terrible incident. We
9:54brought food. Within minutes, my kitchen
9:57was full of neighbors I'd barely spoken
9:59to in 15 years. They'd all seen the
10:01news, of course, but more importantly,
10:04they'd all had their suspicions about
10:06Michael and Lauren. That boy never
10:08visited unless he needed something,
10:10observed Mr. Patterson from two houses
10:12down. And that wife of his. He shook his
10:15head disapprovingly. Always asking
10:17questions about your business, added
10:19Mrs. Chen. Last month, she wanted to
10:22know if you'd mentioned updating your
10:23will. It was fascinating, really. My
10:26neighbors had been watching my potential
10:28murder unfold in real time, recognizing
10:31the warning signs I'd been too close to
10:33see clearly. Mrs. Matthews, said young
10:36Sarah from next door. I recorded some of
10:38their arguments. They were loud enough
10:40to hear through the walls. Should I give
10:42the recordings to the police? 20 minutes
10:44later, Detective Mills arrived to
10:47collect what amounted to a
10:48neighborhood's worth of evidence against
10:50Michael and Lauren. Apparently, I wasn't
10:53the only one who'd been documenting
10:54their behavior. As the neighbors finally
10:56left with promises to check on me daily,
10:59I found myself feeling something
11:01unexpected. Gratitude. Not for
11:04surviving. I'd never doubted I would,
11:06but for discovering I wasn't as alone as
11:09I'd thought. My phone rang. James
11:12calling from his office. Kate, I have
11:14news. Michael and Lauren's bail hearing
11:16is tomorrow. The prosecutor is asking
11:19for $2 million each. Perfect. I said
11:22they don't have $2 million. That's why
11:25they tried to kill me in the first
11:26place. Kate, his voice held a warning
11:29note. Voice held a James, I want you to
11:31attend that hearing. I want you to look
11:33my son in the eye and tell him that his
11:36mother, the woman he tried to murder,
11:38hopes he enjoys his time in jail to
11:40think about what family really means.
11:42The bail hearing was a masterclass in
11:44cosmic justice. I sat in the front row
11:47wearing my best navy suit and the pearl
11:50necklace Michael's father had given me
11:52for our anniversary. If my son was going
11:54to see his mother for possibly the last
11:56time, I wanted him to remember exactly
11:59what he'd thrown away. Michael looked
12:01terrible. Orange jumpsuit, hollow eyes,
12:05hands shaking slightly from what the
12:06jail doctor had diagnosed as withdrawal.
12:09Apparently, his gambling addiction had
12:11expanded to include cocaine. Lauren sat
12:14beside him, her usual polished
12:16appearance replaced by the harsh reality
12:18of county detention center beauty
12:20standards. The prosecutor, a sharp woman
12:23named Patricia Valdez, laid out the case
12:26with surgical precision. Your honor,
12:28these defendants systematically poisoned
12:30an elderly woman for 4 months, then
12:33attempted to burn her alive to cover
12:34their tracks and collect insurance
12:36money. Michael's public defender, a
12:39tired-looking man who clearly drew the
12:41short straw, attempted a weak defense
12:43about family misunderstandings and
12:45stress related poor judgment. Lauren's
12:48attorney, expensive, private, tried to
12:51paint her as a devoted daughter-in-law,
12:53driven to desperation by my alleged
12:55mental deterioration. That's when Judge
12:58Patricia Williams asked the question I'd
13:00been waiting for. Mrs. Matthews, you're
13:02present in court today. Would you like
13:05to make a statement regarding bail for
13:06the defendants? I stood slowly, using
13:09the cane I didn't actually need for
13:11maximum dramatic effect. Your honor, I
13:14spent 40 years building a technology
13:17company from nothing. I employed 3,000
13:20people, paid millions in taxes, and
13:23donated over $50 million to various
13:25charities. I did this as a single mother
13:28after my husband died when Michael was
13:3012. The courtroom was silent except for
13:33the whisper of the court reporter's
13:35fingers on her machine. I loved my son
13:38unconditionally. I paid for his
13:40education, his wedding, his house, his
13:42car. When he developed a gambling
13:44problem, I paid those debts, too, hoping
13:46he'd learn from his mistakes. I turned
13:49to look directly at Michael, who
13:50couldn't meet my eyes. When he married
13:53Lauren, I welcomed her like the daughter
13:55I'd never had. I trusted her with my
13:57health, my home, my life. My voice
14:01hardened. They repaid that love by
14:03trying to murder me for money they were
14:05too lazy to earn. Your honor, these
14:08people saw a 72year-old woman and
14:10thought she'd be easy prey. They were
14:12wrong. I sat down to absolute silence.
14:16Judge Williams reviewed her notes for
14:17what felt like 10 minutes. Bail is set
14:20at $5 million each, she announced
14:23finally. These defendants attempted to
14:25murder a vulnerable elderly person for
14:27financial gain. They pose a clear danger
14:30to the victim and the community. 5
14:33million. Even if they'd managed to steal
14:35my money, they couldn't have afforded
14:37that. As court security led them away,
14:40Lauren turned and mouthed something at
14:42me that looked distinctly like a threat.
14:45Michael, on the other hand, was crying.
14:47Outside the courthouse, reporters
14:49swarmed like angry bees. Mrs. Matthews,
14:53how do you feel seeing your son
14:54arrested? Relieved, I answered honestly.
14:58For months, I thought I was losing my
15:00mind. Turns out I was just being
15:02murdered. There's actually something
15:04comforting about knowing the difference.
15:06Will you visit them in jail? I paused,
15:08considering the question seriously. I
15:11spent 72 years being the kind of woman
15:13who forgave everything and forgot
15:15nothing. It nearly got me killed. I
15:18think it's time to try being the kind of
15:19woman who remembers everything and
15:21forgives nothing. That quote made every
15:24evening newscast in the country. But the
15:26real satisfaction came 3 hours later
15:28when James called with an update. Kate,
15:31I have interesting news. Apparently,
15:34Michael's cellmate is a gentleman named
15:36Rodriguez, who was convicted of killing
15:38his mother for insurance money. How
15:41poetic, I murmured. Rodriguez has
15:44already explained to Michael exactly
15:45what happens to people who murder their
15:48mothers. In very colorful terms, I'm
15:50told. I smiled for the first time in
15:52months. James, I think I'm going to
15:55sleep very well tonight. Two weeks
15:57later, I was standing in the empty shell
15:59of what had been Michael's house,
16:01watching the moving company load my
16:02belongings into trucks. The bank had
16:04foreclosed when his gambling debts came
16:06to light. Apparently, my son had been
16:09more creative with other people's money
16:10than I'd realized. Mrs. Matthews. The
16:13moving foreman approached hesitantly. We
16:16found this in a bedroom safe. He handed
16:18me a manila envelope marked insurance
16:20policies. Inside were documents that
16:23made my blood run cold. Not just the
16:26policy on my life, but additional
16:28policies on my property, my car, even my
16:31jewelry. Lauren had been quite thorough
16:33in her planning. But there was something
16:35else. A handwritten letter in Michael's
16:38scroll. Lauren, I can't do this anymore.
16:41She's my mother. Find another way. M
16:44dated 2 days before their arrest. So, my
16:47son had grown a conscience at the last
16:49minute. How touching. Too bad it was
16:52approximately 4 months too late. My
16:54phone rang. Detective Mills. Mrs.
16:57Matthews. We've had a development.
16:59Lawrence agreed to cooperate in exchange
17:01for a reduced sentence. Cooperate how?
17:05She's claiming Michael was the
17:06mastermind. Says she was coerced, afraid
17:09for her own safety if she didn't go
17:10along with his plan. I laughed,
17:13surprising myself with how bitter it
17:15sounded. Of course she is. Lauren's
17:17always been smarter than Michael. She's
17:19probably figured out which one of them
17:21is more likely to get the death penalty.
17:23There's more. She's also claiming you've
17:25been mentally abusive for years. That
17:27Michael felt trapped by your financial
17:29control. Financial control? I could feel
17:32my blood pressure rising. I paid for
17:34everything in their lives without asking
17:36for anything in return. Exactly what
17:38control was I exerting. According to her
17:41statement, you held money over their
17:43heads, threatened to cut them off
17:44whenever they disagreed with you, made
17:46them feel worthless. The audacity was
17:49breathtaking. Detective Mills, I have 30
17:52years of bank records showing every
17:54gift, every payment, every bailout I
17:57provided to my son. Find me one instance
18:00where I demanded anything in return.
18:02That's actually why I'm calling. The
18:04prosecutor wants to meet with you.
18:06Lauren's defense strategy is shifting to
18:08paint you as a manipulative matriarch
18:10who drove your family to desperation.
18:12When? Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. after
18:15hanging up. I stood in Michael's former
18:18house, surrounded by the detritus of his
18:20failed life, and felt something I hadn't
18:22experienced in months, uncertainty. Not
18:25about my innocence, that was absolute,
18:28but about whether a jury would see
18:29things the same way. How easy would it
18:32be to paint a wealthy, childless widow
18:34as controlling? How simple to convince
18:36people that $3 billion came with strings
18:39attached? I walked through the master
18:41bedroom where Lauren had carefully
18:43planned my death. In the attached
18:45bathroom, I found prescription bottles
18:47she'd apparently missed when fleeing.
18:49All heart medications, all with my name
18:52on them, all containing digitalis
18:54according to the labels. But here's what
18:56Lauren didn't know about being a
18:58successful businesswoman. You always
19:00keep detailed records. Every
19:02transaction, every conversation, every
19:05decision. I pulled out my phone and
19:07called James. I need you to access my
19:10private files. Security code 7749.
19:14There's a folder marked family financial
19:17history. Bring everything to the
19:19prosecutor's office tomorrow. Kate, what
19:21are we talking about here? 30 years of
19:24documentation showing every penny I ever
19:26gave Michael. Every conversation about
19:28money, every time I bailed him out of
19:31trouble. If Lauren wants to play the
19:33victim, let's show the jury exactly what
19:35kind of victim tries to burn her
19:37benefactor alive. How extensive are
19:39these records? I smiled, thinking of my
19:42decades in the tech industry, where
19:44documentation could make or break a
19:46company. James, I didn't become a
19:48billionaire by trusting people's
19:50memories. I have everything. That night,
19:53I sat in my new temporary apartment, a
19:56penthouse suite downtown with security
19:58that would make the White House jealous,
20:00and reviewed 30 years of being the
20:02mother I thought I should be. Bank
20:04statements showing Michael's college
20:05tuition, $180,000.
20:08His wedding, $75,000.
20:11Three cars, $95,000.
20:14Credit card debt, paid five separate
20:16times, $340,000.
20:18Gambling debts, $2,100,000.
20:21Total given to my son in his adult life,
20:232,00 $190,000.
20:25Total requests for repayment, zero.
20:28Total expressions of gratitude. I'd need
20:30Lauren's cooperation to count that low.
20:32The prosecutor's office felt like a
20:34battleground. And I was ready for war.
20:36Patricia Valdez had spread my
20:38documentation across every available
20:41surface. bank statements, receipts,
20:43recorded phone calls, even photographs
20:46from family gatherings with timestamps
20:48showing Michael's various expensive
20:50gifts. Mrs. Matthews, she said,
20:53reviewing a particularly damning bank
20:55transfer. This is remarkable. You've
20:58documented every financial interaction
21:00with your son for 30 years. In my
21:03business, you learned that people's
21:05memories become very selective when
21:06money is involved. I preferred facts to
21:09feelings. She held up a recording device
21:12and these phone conversations. I
21:14recorded all our discussions about money
21:16after his first gambling incident in
21:182019. Michael had a tendency to forget
21:22the terms of our agreements. We listened
21:24to several recordings. In one from just
21:276 months ago, Michael was practically
21:29weeping as he begged for help with a
21:32$400,000 debt to some very unfriendly
21:35people in Atlantic City. Mom, I'm dead
21:38if you don't help me. They're serious
21:40people. Michael, this is the fourth time
21:43you've said never again. What am I
21:45supposed to believe? I know. I know. But
21:48I've learned my lesson. This is it. I
21:50swear. After this, I'm done. No more
21:53gambling, no more debts, no more asking
21:56you to clean up my messes. You said that
21:58last time and the time before that. Mom,
22:02please. I'm your son. And then my voice
22:05tired and resigned. Transfer the money,
22:08James. All of it. Patricia paused the
22:10recording. You paid it every penny as
22:13always. And here's Lauren's recorded
22:15statement from yesterday, she continued,
22:18playing a new recording. Michael was
22:20under constant pressure from his mother.
22:22She used money to control every aspect
22:24of our lives. We felt like prisoners in
22:27our own home. The irony was staggering.
22:30She's describing a prisoner who drove a
22:32BMW I bought him and lived in a house I
22:34paid for while wearing clothes I funded.
22:37This next recording is particularly
22:39interesting, Patricia said. It's from 3
22:42weeks ago. Michael's voice filled the
22:44room again. Mom, I need to talk to you
22:47about something serious. Lauren thinks
22:50we think maybe it's time you considered
22:52assisted living. Assisted living?
22:55Michael, I'm perfectly capable of
22:57managing my own affairs, but you've been
22:59forgetful. The bank called because you
23:02missed a payment on the charity fund.
23:04You never miss payments. Of course, I'd
23:06missed the payment. I was being slowly
23:08poisoned, and my thinking was getting
23:10foggy. But Michael's voice on the
23:12recording held something I hadn't caught
23:14at the time. Satisfaction. Mrs.
23:17Matthews, Patricia said gently. They
23:20weren't just trying to steal your money.
23:22They were systematically destroying your
23:24reputation and cognitive abilities to
23:26make the theft look justified. The
23:29sophistication of their plan was
23:31actually impressive in a sociopathic
23:33way. Create dementia symptoms through
23:35poisoning. Document my resulting
23:37confusion. Build a case for
23:39incompetence. Then remove the
23:41inconvenient witness. There's something
23:43else. Patricia continued. We found
23:46Lauren's computer. She'd been
23:47researching inheritance law,
23:49specifically how to accelerate the
23:51probate process for deceased persons
23:53with substantial assets. She showed me
23:56printouts of Lauren's search history.
23:58How long does probate take for murdered
24:00persons? inheritance rights when primary
24:02heir is in prison. Life insurance
24:04payouts in cases of natural disaster
24:06deaths. She was planning for multiple
24:09scenarios. I realized if the fire didn't
24:11work, she had backup plans, including
24:14one where Michael took the fall and she
24:16inherited everything as his surviving
24:18spouse. That hit me like a physical
24:21blow. Lauren hadn't just been trying to
24:23kill me. She'd been positioning herself
24:25to betray Michael, too. My phone buzzed
24:28with a text from an unknown number. You
24:30can't hide behind lawyers forever, old
24:32woman. Patricia saw me reading it, Mrs.
24:34Matthews. That's witness intimidation.
24:37We can trace that number. Don't bother,
24:40I said, already calling my security
24:42company. Laurens's out on bond through
24:44some connection her lawyer found. I
24:47expected this. What do you mean? I
24:49smiled grimly. Patricia, I didn't
24:52survive 40 years in the tech industry by
24:55underestimating people who wanted to
24:56destroy me. Lauren thinks she's playing
24:59chess while I've been playing
25:00three-dimensional chess. She's about to
25:02learn the difference. Mrs. Matthews,
25:05what aren't you telling me? That I've
25:06been recording everything since the day
25:08they moved into my house, including
25:10several conversations where they
25:12discussed backup plans if their first
25:14murder attempt failed. Patricia's eyes
25:17widened. You have recordings of them
25:19planning contingencies? Three months
25:21worth. Lawrence thorough. I'll give her
25:24that. She covered every angle except the
25:26possibility that her intended victim was
25:28smarter than her wouldbe killers. Lauren
25:31made her first mistake 12 hours later.
25:34My security company called at 3:00 a.m.
25:36to report someone attempting to break
25:38into my old house, the one she'd tried
25:40to burn down with me in it. She's been
25:42watching the place, Detective Mills
25:44explained over the phone. Apparently,
25:46she hid something there and came back to
25:48retrieve it. What kind of something? A
25:51second insurance policy. This one for
25:53$10 million. Taken out last week under
25:56your forged signature. The audacity was
25:58breathtaking. Even after arrest, trial,
26:01and potential life imprisonment, Lauren
26:04was still trying to profit from my
26:05death. I arrived at the house to find
26:08Lauren in handcuffs, screaming at the
26:10officers about police harassment and
26:12wrongful arrest. She saw me and her
26:15expression shifted to pure hatred. "This
26:18isn't over," she snarled. You think
26:20you're so smart, but I know things about
26:22you that would destroy your precious
26:24reputation. Really? I asked
26:26conversationally. Do tell. Your precious
26:29husband's death wasn't as natural as
26:31everyone thinks. The accusation hung in
26:34the air like smoke. Several officers
26:36turned to stare at me. Lauren, I said
26:39carefully. David died of pancreatic
26:41cancer. There were four doctors present,
26:44a hospital full of witnesses, and a
26:46thoroughly documented medical history.
26:48documented by you. How convenient that
26:51he died right after signing his will,
26:53leaving everything to you instead of
26:55Michael. Detective Mills stepped
26:57forward. Ma'am, are you making an
26:59accusation? Lauren's lawyer, who had
27:02apparently been roused from bed to deal
27:04with his client's latest stupidity,
27:06grabbed her arm. Don't say another word.
27:09But Lauren was beyond reason now. She
27:11poisoned him just like I poisoned her.
27:14The only difference is she got away with
27:15it. The lawyer's face went white.
27:18Several officers exchanged glances. And
27:20I felt something I hadn't experienced in
27:2330 years. Genuine fear. Not because the
27:26accusation was true. David had died
27:29surrounded by medical professionals
27:31after a six-month battle with cancer,
27:33but because Lauren had just demonstrated
27:35how easily someone could plant doubt
27:38about the past when the only witnesses
27:40were dead. Detective Mills, I said
27:43calmly, I assume you'll want to examine
27:45my late husband's medical records. Mrs.
27:47Matthews, that won't be necessary. We
27:50have extensive documentation about your
27:52husband's illness and death. This
27:54appears to be a desperate attempt to
27:56create reasonable doubt, but I could see
27:58the seed of uncertainty in some of the
28:00officers faces. Lauren had found my
28:03weakness. The one person I couldn't
28:05protect from her lies was dead. However,
28:08Detective Mills continued, Mrs.
28:10Patterson, your accusation against Mrs.
28:13Matthews has been recorded. If you'd
28:15like to make a formal statement, we can
28:17arrange that." Lauren's lawyer
28:18physically put his hand over her mouth.
28:20My client declines to make any further
28:22statements. As they let her away, Lauren
28:25managed to pull free long enough to
28:27shout, "Check her medicine cabinet.
28:29Check what she keeps in her bedroom.
28:31She's not the innocent victim she
28:33pretends to be." Back in my car, I sat
28:36in the darkness and tried to process
28:38what had just happened. Lauren had
28:40crossed a line from attempted murder to
28:41character assassination of a dead man.
28:44But she'd also revealed something
28:45crucial. She'd been in my house long
28:47enough to go through my personal
28:49belongings. I called James immediately.
28:51I need you to meet me at my house now.
28:54Kate, it's 4:00 in the morning. James,
28:57Lauren just accused me of murdering
28:59David. She also specifically mentioned
29:02my medicine cabinet and bedroom. She's
29:04been searching my house for something to
29:06use against me. 40 minutes later, James
29:09and I stood in my bedroom with two
29:11police officers examining what Lauren
29:13might have been looking for. My medicine
29:15cabinet contained exactly what you'd
29:17expect from a 72-year-old woman. Blood
29:20pressure medication, vitamins, and an
29:22old prescription for sleeping pills from
29:24after David's death. But in my bedroom
29:27safe, we found something that made my
29:29blood freeze. An envelope marked for
29:31Catherine in case anything happens to
29:34me. David. Inside was a handwritten
29:37letter from my husband dated 1 week
29:39before his death. Kate, if you're
29:42reading this, I'm gone and you're
29:43probably grieving. But there are things
29:45you need to know about Michael and
29:47Lauren. They've been asking questions
29:49about my will, about your finances,
29:52about what would happen if something
29:53happened to both of us. Lauren
29:55specifically asked about medication
29:57interactions, and whether certain drugs
29:59could accelerate illness. I didn't tell
30:02you because I hoped I was wrong. But if
30:04I'm not, please be careful. Our son may
30:07not be the man we thought we raised. D.
30:10I sat on my bed, staring at my husband's
30:13final warning and realized that Lauren
30:15and Michael's plan had been in motion
30:17for over 2 years. They'd been plotting
30:19this since before David died. "Mrs.
30:22Matthews," one of the officers said
30:24gently, "this letter suggests your
30:26husband suspected your son and
30:28daughter-in-law might pose a threat to
30:29you." Yes, I whispered. He tried to warn
30:32me from the grave. The trial began on a
30:35Monday morning in October with a media
30:38circus that would have made PT Barnum
30:40proud. Tech billionaire versus killer
30:42family. Mother's love turns deadly. The
30:45ultimate inheritance battle. I sat in
30:47the front row wearing my best black
30:49suit. The one I'd worn to board meetings
30:51when I needed to project absolute
30:53authority. If a jury was going to decide
30:55my son's fate, I wanted them to see
30:57exactly who they were dealing with.
30:59Michael had lost weight in jail. He
31:01looked smaller somehow, diminished in
31:04his orange jumpsuit. Lauren, seated at a
31:07separate defense table, had gone the
31:09opposite route, playing up her youth and
31:11vulnerability in a conservative blue
31:13dress that probably cost more than most
31:16people's monthly rent. The prosecutor's
31:18opening statement was a masterpiece.
31:21Ladies and gentlemen, this case is about
31:23greed so profound that it transformed a
31:26son into a would-be killer and a
31:28daughter-in-law into a calculating
31:29poisoner. The defendants didn't just
31:31want Catherine Matthews money, they
31:33wanted her life. Michael's attorney
31:36tried the broken family approach.
31:38Michael Matthews is a troubled man who
31:40lost his way. But wanting your mother's
31:42approval and inheritance isn't the same
31:44as wanting her dead. Lauren's lawyer
31:47went for the jugular. My client was
31:49manipulated by an older, more
31:50sophisticated criminal, Katherine
31:52Matthews herself. The evidence will show
31:55that Mrs. Matthews has a history of
31:57using money to control people. And when
31:59that control was threatened, she
32:01orchestrated this entire scenario to
32:03eliminate threats to her fortune. That
32:05was interesting. Lauren was positioning
32:07herself as my victim rather than
32:09Michael's accomplice. The first week of
32:12testimony established the basic facts:
32:14poisoning, financial manipulation, the
32:17fire. But during cross-examination,
32:19Lauren's lawyer began his real strategy.
32:22"Mrs. Matthews," he said, approaching
32:24the witness stand with a predatory
32:26smile. "You recorded conversations with
32:28your son without his knowledge, correct?
32:30I documented our financial discussions
32:32for legal protection. You spied on your
32:35own family. I protected myself from
32:37people who were stealing from me."
32:39Stealing or taking what they believe
32:41they were entitled to inherit? The
32:43prosecutor objected, but the damage was
32:46done. The lawyer was painting my
32:48documentation as paranoia rather than
32:50prudence. Mrs. Matthews, in 30 years,
32:54how many times did your son ask you to
32:56stop giving him money? I paused,
32:58understanding the trap. He never asked
33:01me to stop. He never said, "Mom, I don't
33:04want your help anymore." No, he never
33:07said, "I want to be independent." No.
33:10So, he accepted your money willingly.
33:13Yes. And in exchange, you expected what?
33:16Nothing. Nothing. You expected no
33:18gratitude, no visits, no inclusion in
33:21family decisions, no say in how the
33:23money was spent. Each question hit like
33:25a scalpel. He was making my generosity
33:28sound like manipulation. My love sound
33:30like control. Mrs. Matthews, when your
33:33son developed a gambling problem, did
33:36you seek professional help for him? I
33:38suggested it, but you continued giving
33:40him money to pay his debts. Yes. Didn't
33:43that enable his addiction? I was trying
33:45to protect him or control him. That
33:48night, I sat in my hotel room and
33:50replayed the cross-examination. Lauren's
33:53lawyer had done something brilliant and
33:55terrifying. He'd taken my love for my
33:57son and twisted it into something
33:59sinister. James knocked on my door at 10
34:02p.m. Kate, we need to talk about
34:04tomorrow's testimony. They're going to
34:06make me sound like a monster, aren't
34:08they? They're going to try, but we have
34:10something they don't expect. He handed
34:12me a manila folder. Remember when you
34:14had your investigators following Michael
34:16and Lauren? They recorded more than just
34:19financial meetings. Inside were
34:21transcripts of conversations I'd never
34:23heard. Michael and Lauren in their car
34:26after visiting me in the hospital.
34:28Lauren, she's weaker than I thought. A
34:31few more doses and she won't be able to
34:32sign her name. Michael, what if someone
34:35notices the symptoms? Lauren, who's
34:38going to notice? You're her only family
34:40and you're helping me dose her. Perfect
34:42plan. Michael, I feel sick about this.
34:45Lauren, you'll feel sicker if those
34:47Atlantic City people kill you for the
34:49money you owe. This is survival, not
34:52murder. Michael, it's exactly murder.
34:55Lauren, no, it's evolution. She's old,
34:59she's alone, and she's in our way. This
35:02is just nature taking its course with a
35:04little help. I stared at the
35:05transcripts. James, this conversation
35:08happened 3 weeks before the fire and
35:10gets worse. Look at page four. Lauren's
35:13voice. The fire has to look accidental.
35:16Make sure the gasoline burns off
35:18completely. If there's any residue,
35:20we're finished. Michael, what if she
35:23wakes up? What if she tries to get out?
35:25Lauren, she won't. I gave her double the
35:28usual dose tonight. She'll sleep right
35:30through it. I set down the transcript
35:32with shaking hands. They were planning
35:34to burn me alive while I was
35:36unconscious. Kate, this is firstdegree
35:38murder with premeditation. The death
35:41penalty is still on the table outside my
35:43hotel window. The city sparkled with
35:46lights from families having dinner,
35:48watching television, living normal lives
35:50where sons didn't plot their mother's
35:52deaths. James, I said quietly, play
35:55those recordings in court tomorrow. All
35:57of them. I want that jury to hear
35:59exactly what my loving family thought of
36:01me. The courtroom erupted when the
36:04recordings played. Michael actually
36:06vomited into a trash can when he heard
36:08his own voice planning my murder. Lauren
36:11sat stone-faced, but I could see her
36:13calculating, probably trying to
36:15determine if this evidence could be
36:17challenged or if her only option was
36:19complete denial. The prosecutor let the
36:21recordings speak for themselves, then
36:23called her final witness, Dr. Sarah
36:26Chen, the toxicologist who had analyzed
36:28my blood samples. Dr. Chen, what level
36:31of digitalis did you find in Mrs.
36:33Matthews system enough to cause serious
36:36cardiac episodes in someone her age.
36:39Another few weeks of exposure and she
36:41likely would have died of apparent heart
36:42failure. Was the poisoning detectable?
36:45Not without specific testing. Digitalis
36:48mimics age related cognitive decline and
36:50heart problems. Most doctors would have
36:52attributed her symptoms to natural
36:54aging. In your professional opinion, was
36:57this poisoning sophisticated? Extremely.
37:00Someone with pharmaceutical knowledge
37:02carefully calibrated the doses to create
37:05maximum confusion while avoiding
37:07immediate detection. Laurens's lawyer
37:09cross-examined aggressively, but Dr.
37:11Chen destroyed his attempts to suggest
37:14accidental contamination or medical
37:16error. Then Michael's attorney made a
37:19desperate gambit. Dr. Chen, is it
37:22possible that Mrs. Matthews poisoned
37:24herself to frame my client? The question
37:26hung in the air like smoke. Several
37:29jurors looked at me with new interest.
37:31Counselor, Dr. Chen replied with
37:33professional ice. Are you suggesting a
37:3672-year-old woman poisoned herself for 4
37:38months, documented the evidence, then
37:41set up an elaborate arson scenario to
37:43frame her own son? That would require
37:46the kind of criminal sophistication
37:48typically associated with master
37:50manipulators or sociopaths. Is that your
37:53professional opinion? My professional
37:55opinion is that the poisoning pattern
37:57indicates external administration by
38:00someone familiar with pharmaceutical
38:01protocols. The victim showed classic
38:04signs of unwitting ingestion, but the
38:06seed was planted. I could see it in some
38:08of the juror's faces, doubt about
38:10whether I was victim or mastermind.
38:13During the lunch recess, Lauren's
38:15attorney approached me in the hallway.
38:17Mrs. Matthews, my client is prepared to
38:19testify that this entire scenario was
38:21orchestrated by you. Really? And how
38:24exactly did I orchestrate my own
38:26attempted murder? You discovered
38:28Michael's gambling debts and decided to
38:30eliminate him as an heir. You poisoned
38:33yourself to create evidence, then
38:35arranged the fire to make him look
38:36guilty. The audacity was breathtaking,
38:39and my motivation for this elaborate
38:41self-destruction would be to protect
38:44your fortune from a son you'd come to
38:46see as worthless. That afternoon, Lauren
38:49took the stand in her own defense. She
38:51was polished, tearful, and utterly
38:54convincing as she painted herself as a
38:56victim of both Michael's desperation and
38:58my manipulation. "I loved Catherine like
39:01a mother," she testified, dabbing her
39:03eyes. "But she was controlling,
39:05demanding, impossible to please. She
39:08held money over our heads constantly."
39:10"Can you give the jury an example?" When
39:12Michael wanted to change jobs, she
39:15threatened to cut off our support. When
39:17we talked about starting a family, she
39:19said she wouldn't help with expenses
39:21unless we moved closer to her.
39:23Everything came with strings attached
39:25and the poisoning. I never poisoned
39:28anyone. Catherine had been acting
39:30strangely for months, forgetting things,
39:32accusing people of stealing from her,
39:34paranoid about her food. I think she was
39:37having mental health issues and
39:38medicated herself. What about the fire
39:41here? Lauren's composure cracked
39:43slightly. I don't know what happened
39:45with the fire. Michael and I were at
39:47dinner. We came home to find the police
39:49there. It was terrifying. The
39:51prosecutor's cross-examination was
39:53surgical. Ms. Patterson, you testified
39:56that you never poisoned Mrs. Matthews.
39:58Are you familiar with digitalis? No.
40:01You've never handled digitalis in your
40:03pharmaceutical career. I sold
40:05medications. I didn't manufacture them.
40:08But you would know how digitalis affects
40:10elderly patients. I Yes. I would have
40:14basic knowledge and you would know how
40:16to obtain it. Objection. Lauren's lawyer
40:19called. I'll allow it. Ms. Patterson.
40:22You testified that Mrs. Matthews was
40:24acting paranoid and forgetful. Did you
40:26encourage her to see a doctor? Yes,
40:28several times. But you didn't mention
40:31the possibility of poisoning to any
40:33medical professional. Why would I? I
40:35didn't know she was being poisoned. Yet
40:38you had the training to recognize
40:39digitalis poisoning symptoms. Lauren's
40:42silence stretched too long. I It never
40:45occurred to me, never occurred to you,
40:47despite your pharmaceutical background,
40:49that her symptoms might indicate drug
40:51toxicity. Objection. Sustained. But the
40:55damage was done. Lauren's medical
40:57knowledge had betrayed her. As the court
41:00recessed, I watched my son being led
41:02back to his cell. He looked broken,
41:04defeated, like a man finally
41:06understanding the full consequences of
41:08his choices. Lauren, however, caught my
41:11eye as she passed my row. Her expression
41:13held no remorse, no regret, just cold
41:16calculation, and the promise that this
41:18wasn't over. Tomorrow would bring
41:20closing arguments and a verdict that
41:22would determine whether my son spent his
41:24life in prison or whether his wife's
41:26manipulation had successfully painted me
41:29as the real villain. Either way, I'd
41:32already won the only victory that
41:33mattered. I was alive to see justice
41:37served. The jury deliberated for 18
41:39hours. I spent that time in my hotel
41:42room staring out at the city where I'd
41:44built my fortune and nearly lost my
41:46life, trying to make peace with whatever
41:48verdict they reached. James brought
41:50updates every few hours. They've asked
41:53for the recordings to be replayed. They
41:55want to review the financial documents.
41:57They're asking about the insurance
41:58policies. At 300 p.m. on the second day,
42:01we got the call. Verdict reached. The
42:04courtroom was packed with reporters,
42:06curiosity seekers, and a surprising
42:08number of people who'd followed the
42:10trial obsessively. I took my seat in the
42:13front row, wearing the same black suit
42:15I'd worn throughout the proceedings, and
42:17waited to learn my son's fate. Has the
42:19jury reached a verdict? We have, your
42:22honor, on the charge of attempted murder
42:24in the first degree against Catherine
42:26Matthews. How do you find? Guilty.
42:29Michael's shoulders slumped. His lawyer
42:31put a hand on his arm, but Michael was
42:34staring at me with an expression I
42:35couldn't read. On the charge of
42:37conspiracy to commit murder, how do you
42:39find? Guilty. On the charge of arson in
42:42the first degree, how do you find?
42:45Guilty. Laurens's verdicts came next.
42:48Guilty on all counts, plus additional
42:50charges for poisoning and fraud. The
42:52jury had seen through her manipulation
42:54completely. Judge Williams set
42:57sentencing for the following week, but
42:59the prosecutor's office had already
43:01indicated they would seek life without
43:03parole for both defendants. As court
43:05officers approached Michael to escort
43:07him back to custody, he turned to me one
43:09final time. Mom, he called out across
43:12the courtroom. I'm sorry. For the first
43:15time in months, I looked at my son and
43:17saw the boy I'd raised instead of the
43:19man who' tried to kill me. But sorry
43:22wasn't enough to undo four months of
43:24poisoning and attempted murder. I know
43:26you are, I called back. But sorry
43:28doesn't bring back the mother you threw
43:30away when you decided money was worth
43:32more than my life. That evening, alone
43:35in my hotel room, I did something I
43:37hadn't done since the night they were
43:38arrested. I cried, not for Michael or
43:41Lauren. They'd made their choices and
43:44would live with the consequences. I
43:46cried for the family I'd thought I had,
43:48for the love I'd believed was real. For
43:50the 30 years I'd spent loving people who
43:53saw me as nothing more than a bank
43:54account with a pulse. My phone rang.
43:57Detective Mills. Mrs. Matthews. I wanted
44:00to call personally to tell you that
44:02justice was served today. Was it? I
44:04asked. My son will spend his life in
44:07prison. His wife will too. I'm alive,
44:10but I'm also alone. I'm not sure anyone
44:12really won. Mrs. Matthews, you survived.
44:16You fought back. You proved that wisdom
44:18and preparation can beat youth and
44:20greed. That's victory by any definition.
44:24After hanging up, I walked to the window
44:26and looked out at the city lights.
44:28Tomorrow, I would return home to rebuild
44:30a life that no longer included the
44:32people I'd loved most. I had $3 billion,
44:36a mind still sharp enough to run circles
44:38around people half my age, and the rest
44:40of my life to figure out what happiness
44:42looks like when it's not tied to family.
44:44The irony wasn't lost on me. Michael and
44:47Lauren had tried to steal my fortune by
44:49taking my life. Instead, they'd given me
44:52the greatest gift imaginable. They'd
44:54shown me exactly who they were before it
44:56was too late to protect myself. 6 months
44:59later, I was sitting on the deck of my
45:01new house in Santa Barbara, watching the
45:03sunset paint the Pacific in shades of
45:06gold and red. The house was smaller than
45:08my old one, but infinitely more
45:10peaceful. No family members plotting my
45:13death. No hidden cameras watching my
45:15every move. No medications being slipped
45:18into my food. Just me, my billions, and
45:21a future I got to write myself. My
45:23neighbor Elellaner brought me a glass of
45:25wine and settled into the chair beside
45:27me. She was 75, widowed, and had become
45:31the closest thing to family I had left.
45:33"Any regrets?" she asked, as she did
45:36most evenings. I considered the question
45:38seriously about surviving? not for a
45:41second about the family I lost every
45:44day. But then I remember that the family
45:46I thought I lost never actually existed.
45:49And the money, the money was never the
45:51point. Michael could have had every
45:53penny if he'd simply waited for me to
45:55die naturally and treated me with basic
45:57human decency in the meantime. Instead,
46:00he chose greed over love and lost
46:02everything. Do you think he understands
46:04that now? I think he understands that
46:07actions have consequences. whether he
46:09understands the difference between love
46:11and manipulation. I shrugged. That's not
46:14my problem anymore. As the sun
46:16disappeared below the horizon, I raised
46:19my glass in a private toast to the woman
46:21I'd been forced to become. Survivor,
46:24fighter, and proof that sometimes the
46:26best revenge against people who want you
46:28dead is simply refusing to die. Michael
46:31and Lauren had wanted to inherit my
46:33fortune by eliminating me from the
46:34equation. Instead, they'd eliminated
46:37themselves and left me with something
46:39far more valuable than money. The
46:41knowledge that I was strong enough,
46:43smart enough, and stubborn enough to
46:45outmaneuver anyone who mistook my love
46:48for weakness.
46:50Thanks for [music] listening. Don't
46:51forget to subscribe and feel free to
46:53share your story in the comments. Your
46:55voice matters.

About this transcript

This page contains the full transcript of My Daughter-In-Law Locked Me To Steal 3B When They Came Home, I Was Waiting With by Diner Booth Confessions, generated from the public captions YouTube serves with the video. The transcript has 7,536 words across 1,210 segments, with the original timestamps preserved so you can click any line to jump to that moment in the embedded player.

What you can do with it

Use the transcript to take notes, quote the speaker, build a study guide, generate a summary with ChatGPT or Claude via the YouTube Summary tool, or export it as a timed subtitle file with YouTube to SRT. You can also re-open it in the transcriber to choose a caption track available on the video.

Free YouTube transcript tool

YouTube2Text is a free YouTube transcript generator — no signup, no daily limit. Paste any YouTube link and get the full transcript instantly, with timestamps, click-to-jump, caption language selection, AI prompts for ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, and exports to TXT, SRT, VTT, or Markdown.