When the Kidnapper Interrogates His Own Victims | The Case of Alisa Mathewson

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"Are the little kids asleep?"

March 11th 2017 – 14 year old Arden Summers drives her younger siblings back to her mother's home, following her dad’s secret orders. Hours later, an employee of a nearby Walgreens calls 911 after seeing a tied up woman run out of a car: the woman is Alisa Mathewson – Arden’s mom. Before the police can arrive, the car drives away with Alisa. Nobody knows where they are heading to, and with who, but Arden, who is home alone with her other siblings, might be able to solve the case in time.
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YT review: this is an educational documentary on the story of Alisa Mathewson and the Summers family.
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Credits:
Researched by Tianyi Zhang
Directed, Written, and Edited by Hannah Duncan
Voiceover by William Akana
Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader

External Footage:
CBS
48 Hours - Alisa Mathewson’s Night Terrors

Law&Crime Network
Watch Live: FL v. Trevor Summers - Dad On Trial For Kidnapping, Attempted Murder Of Mom
Watch Live: FL v. Trevor Summers - Dad On Trial For Kidnapping, Attempted Murder Of Mom Day 1 Part 2
Watch Live: FL v. Trevor Summers - Dad On Trial For Kidnapping, Attempted Murder Of Mom Day 2
CONFESSION: Trevor Summers Admits to Tying Up Ex-Wife, Being 'Manipulative'
Defendant Asks Judge If He Can Represent Himself Mid-Trial
Man Cross-Examines Ex-Wife Who Accused Him of Kidnapping, Trying to Murder Her
Ex-Wife Testifies Kidnapper Husband Said 'This Is What Love Is' When He Sliced His Own Throat
‘You Raped Me!’: Woman Confronts Ex-Husband During Surprise Cross-Examination
'I Put the Pillow on Her Face': Police Interview Accused Kidnapper Trevor Summers
Trevor Summers Guilty of ALL CHARGES in Kidnapping, Attempted Murder, and Sexual Assault of Ex-Wife
Trevor Summers Sentenced to Life in Prison for Kidnapping, Attempted Murder of Ex-Wife

FOX 13 Tampa Bay
Daughter to testify against father accused of kidnapping, raping estranged wife
Florida man accused of kidnapping estranged wife wants another new attorney
Trevor Summers grills ex-wife in Florida courtroom as attempted murder trial gets underway
Kidnapped woman: 'Prayers got me through it'
Florida man accused of kidnapping estranged wife wants another new attorney

Inside Edition
Husband Accused of Rape, Kidnapping Cross-Examines Ex-Wife

WFLA News Channel 8
Alisa Summers speaks out
Kidnapped Valrico mother found alive

Alisa Mathewson
My Story for Marcy's Law
Clarity on 48 hours episode additional information

Matt Orchard - Crime and Society
He Who Defends Himself: The Legal Manoeuvres of Trevor Summers

Motion Array
Getty Images

Music License: MB014SJDMBMUVY9
Music Content ID: Identifyy

[CBrown]

Suspects should not be allowed to question their own children or any other child. If a child needs to be put on the stand, the suspect on trial needs to allow a court appointed attorney or one of their choice for the questioning. Have we learned NOTHING from CPS interviewing kids in front of their parents?? The terror of the possibility of being forced to to back with the abuser is enough for any child to say whatever the suspect wants them to.

[Alisamathewson]

Alisa here. Thank you Unseen for a great video. I find it interesting how the story is covered from different views as it is summarized.

The question asked a lot in the comments was about the all male jury. I was able to sit in on jury selection and witnessed it happen. When the judge read all 11 charges and asked if there was reason someone could not sit on this jury, almost every hand that went up was a woman. SA victims, DV victims, or having experience with a narcissist, made women not able to sit on this jury.

Arden being manipulated…you must remember this man manipulated the police and the courts. Those grown adult professionals trained to protect us. Arden didn’t have a chance. For 16 years, he manipulated me and twisted my reality. I could never blame her.

Anyway, thanks again for great coverage of the case. And the supportive comments from your community. ❤

[violagentsch]

Stop abusing children by allowing their abusers interrogate them in court. Wtf?

[mushroom]

The daughter driving her siblings and making them breakfast in the morning... She's so sweet, and her monster of a father preyed on her young age and naiveness. I hope those kids do well in life and remain as close and loving towards each other.

[angeliccreeper]

I saw Matt Orchard cover this case a while ago. To quote his video: “if a life well-lived is the best revenge, then it’s Alisa Mathewson who truly gets the last f**k you.”

[Angela-necy]

I can't imagine how helpless (and hopeless) this woman felt. Nobody is listening. Nobody cares. I'm so glad she finally got the justice she deserves.

[geraldstamour]

As a sexual trauma survivor myself, I give Alisa Mathewson all the credit in the world for her courage in exposing the evil that she experienced!

[layswors]

He is the definition of EVIL! The fact that he was allowed to mentally torture his victims (ex-wife + children) for HOURS in a courtroom is insane. I hope the family, excluding that monster, is healing the best they could.

[denisenoles]

Allowing a perpetrator to question a victim is condoning retraumatization. The criminal system needs to change that. This is horrible!!!

[jesusisGod]

That’s horrific. There should be a law that victims should never have to be questioned by their assailants.

[bigs]

I watched this trial and that woman is so strong and despite what he said and did she had the upper hand in that courtroom. She refused to look at him and answered with such strength - she did an interview with an attorney afterwards and was so generous with her time so others could learn from her.

[Kez_h]

He recorded his confession, in her home and still didn't plead guilty? Jesus, he's peak narcissist.

[Lrkkk]

I'm so happy it wasn't a murder case.. i can't imagine the trauma the eldest daughter would've gone through if it had been one since she already regretted helping her evil father, so happy she got her justice.❤

[justinbehrenshausen]

Another narcissist claiming everything is biased against him trying to manipulate everyone and everything around him? I am SHOCKED!

[Brooklyn-cgnj]

3 life sentences + 224 years in prison is crazy. But he absolutely deserves it! Good on momma!

[LordVlax]

The judge summarized it perfectly, monster in all the sense of the word. How could he be so low by manipulating his own children into helping him to that to their mother... He almost killed her... At least the judge saw through his lies and delusions and put him in his rightfull place.

[cjmchugh]

I’ll never understand how a defendant representing themselves in court and questioning victims/witnesses/etc isn’t witness intimidation.

[pggrootde]

I applaud the judge for asserting Arden she should not feel guilty and telling this man he’s a monster ….! Good job, judge…😊!

[krys]

How many times has this happened?! Some clueless judge with no real insight into a case, allows a father access who then commits horrific crimes against children, wife etc. Poor woman was ignored, made out to be a liar, forced to send her kids to him, forced to watch him manipulate the children against her. Then using his daughter to try & kill her mother, shockingly disgusting. Judge should feel shamed. All his delay tactics, narcissist behaviours etc to hols up the trial...who allowed this to happen??? So lucky it didn't turn out with all of them dead, he obviously was on that path.

[PosionousMoonflower]

"I was able to sit in front of an all-male jury, knowing that real men would never tolerate you."
👌👏👏👏👌 Queen.