Florida mom describes rescue after being held captive by estranged husband: “I’d been pulled from hell”

This story initially aired on April 22, 2023.

Florida man Trevor Summers manipulated his kids into believing he simply wished to get again collectively together with his estranged spouse, Alisa. He even inspired one in all his daughters to depart a window open in Alisa’s residence so he might slip in claiming he wished to speak to her about making the household entire once more. That daughter had no manner of realizing the pretend reconciliation would flip right into a horrific 55-hour ordeal that involving kidnapping, assault and tried homicide.

Sgt. Christopher Steele: That is … the bed room window that Trevor Summers was allowed into the house by means of.

Sgt. Christopher Steele is with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Workplace.

Peter Van Sant: And who opened that window for him?

Sgt. Christopher Steele: His eldest daughter would have been with — within the residence unlocking and making it prepared for him to enter.

Arden Summers: My dad had sat me … down and mentioned … reconciling with my mother and fixing the wedding and bringing our household again collectively.

Arden Summers was keen to assist her father make her household entire once more. Her dad and mom, Alisa and Trevor Summers, had separated after 15 years or marriage and there was a restraining order protecting them aside. Arden and her 4 siblings had been residing with their dad.

Arden Summers: He wished me, my … youthful siblings, to go over to my mother’s home and spend the evening … After which I’d let my dad within the window … after my siblings and my mother went to mattress.

Arden thought her dad might then speak her mother into getting again collectively. However Trevor Summers supposed try at reconciliation was really an act of manipulation — utilizing his kids as pawns — in a plot involving kidnapping, assault and tried homicide that will go on for 55 hours.

Alisa Mathewson: The clock, it was a digital clock and it mentioned precisely 3 a.m. I used to be startled awake.

Alisa Mathewson, previously Alisa Summers, will always remember the disorienting concern that started within the early morning hours of March 11, 2017. She was woke up in her pitch-black bed room. Two of her kids had been mendacity beside her: 7-year-old Bryn and 5-year-old Grady.   

Alisa Mathewson: And I felt my face was moist … And I began screaming, “who’s in my room? What are you doing right here?” …  I am in a panic, an absolute panic.

Her estranged husband Trevor had entered her residence in Valrico, Florida, dripping water on her head and was standing over her.

Alisa Mathewson: I am nonetheless screaming, and he says, “Settle down, it is simply me.” … I simply begin in full panic throwing issues from my finish desk at him. And he grabbed my ankles and pulled me off the tip of the mattress.

Peter Van Sant: This have to be terrifying.

Alisa Mathewson: It is terrifying. … Bryn and Grady are operating out of my room screaming, “Daddy, daddy, do not kill mommy!”

However how did it come to this? The couple first met in 1995 in highschool in suburban Philadelphia and began courting three years later.

Alisa Mathewson: He was spontaneous and charming and simply appeared that he at all times put me first.

The couple married in 2001, keen to start their life collectively.

Alisa Mathewson: He wished to start out a household instantly. … Once I had Arden … It was the whole lot I envisioned for my life. I envisioned myself being a stay-at-home mother.

Peter Van Sant: After which through the years, it was Arden instances 5. You had 5 youngsters, proper?

Alisa Mathewson: (Laughs) Sure.

After Arden, got here Landen, Bryn, Grady, and Cooper.

Alisa Mathewson: The extra youngsters, it appeared that the extra love, the extra happiness. … I wished to have this picture-perfect life.

Alisa says Trevor initially began a panorama and pool design firm, and he dabbled in actual property. However he actually fancied himself as an entrepreneur.

Alisa Mathewson: He would open up companies … for a short time after which he would transfer on to a brand new enterprise.

The household moved a number of instances, says Alisa, as Trevor chased alternatives: from Pennsylvania to Florida, to Vegas, to California, and finally again to the Sunshine State, the place the youngsters had been residence schooled.

Arden Summers: We might fairly often host folks, have sleepovers, mates over birthday events, all types of stuff.

Arden, now 20, remembers good instances.

Arden Summers: We might go the seaside. We had a seaside pretty near our home … play video video games as a household and board video games, stuff like that.

Arden says whereas she was near her mom, she had a particular bond along with her father.

Arden Summers: I used to be positively the definition of a daddy’s lady … We might exit on little dates collectively, exit for dinners, simply him and I.

In the meantime, Alisa says her relationship with Trevor was altering. With every transfer and beginning of one other little one, she says her husband was slowly taking management of her life.

Alisa Mathewson: I needed to put on what he … would choose … I could not have males on my Fb web page.

She could not even sit subsequent to a person in church — or wherever.

Alisa Mathewson: I could not trip in a automobile alone with a person. … I used to be to don’t have any communication with any males aside from Trevor.

Alisa was additionally overhearing snippets of Trevor’s enterprise conversations.

Alisa Mathewson: There have been some issues that simply … weren’t including up.

Alisa says Trevor was continuously in monetary hassle — not paying money owed and bouncing checks. He was arrested a number of instances. However she says he at all times blamed his issues on others and the disaster would appear to move.

Alisa Mathewson: Each single time it will occur, it will be “it is a misunderstanding.”

Peter Van Sant: He is having these incidents with — with the legislation … What are you pondering?

Alisa Mathewson: Yeah, on the identical time, I used to be strolling on eggshells … Do not query him, OK, and smile and nod.

Peter Van Sant: Did he have a mood?

Alisa Mathewson: So long as we stayed in his good graces … then it was high quality.

In 2016, Alisa lastly had sufficient, and requested for a divorce. Trevor begged her to remain, wanting to maintain the household collectively. Alisa agreed, however, she says, Trevor’s possessive habits worsened.

Alisa Mathewson: He took my cellphone. He took my automobile. … I used to be being held in my own residence … as like a prisoner. … It turned very obvious that that is home violence, that is home abuse. I want to start out engaged on my plan.

She wished to flee. However Trevor Summers had his personal plans for Alisa.

CONTROL AND FEAR

Alisa Mathewson: I had been simply caught staying in the home with him watching me.

By October 2016, Alisa says she felt like an inmate in her own residence, along with her husband Trevor monitoring her each transfer.

Alisa Mathewson: He was at all times with me for a number of weeks.

Till sooner or later Trevor lastly left to go to work. That is when Alisa referred to as a home violence group.

Alisa Summers: And I mentioned, you realize,” these are the issues which have been occurring: my husband hadn’t gone to work in weeks, that is the primary time I have been alone.” … And the an increasing number of I requested them, and I talked to them about this, they mentioned, “your scenario could be very critical.”

However earlier than Alisa might get out of the home that day, Trevor burst by means of the door.

Alisa Mathewson:  He got here in and he attacked me … And he — each time I’d attempt to get away from him, he’d block me from leaving.

Alisa says that after a while, Trevor reluctantly agreed to let her go away with the youngsters. She sought refuge within the residence of a buddy.

Alisa Mathewson: He was going loopy over this, and he — he came upon the place I used to be, and he can be exhibiting up there.

After every week there, she felt safer shifting along with her kids to a shelter for abused girls, leaving the whole lot behind.

Alisa Mathewson: We had nothing. We had the garments on our backs.

Over the course of a number of months, Alisa began rebuilding her life.

Alisa Mathewson: Once I bought out of the shelter … I bought myself a house and a automobile and a job as nicely.

She filed for divorce, and even tried on-line courting. However Trevor was not out of her life, as they shared custody of the youngsters.

Alisa Mathewson: I used to be pressured to see him twice every week to alternate kids with him.

By January 2017, Alisa says Trevor appeared resigned to the very fact their marriage was over. And a few month later, Alisa she says she agreed to go by Trevor’s residence to signal the divorce papers.

Peter Van Sant: So, you are in the home. What occurs?

Alisa Mathewson: (Sighs) He mentioned that he simply wanted to speak to me. … He was like “I’ve to — I’ve to get the whole lot off of my chest so we are able to get divorced. I’ve to inform you I’ve had a number of affairs. … I actually tousled.”

Trevor was additionally in critical authorized hassle – dealing with actual jail time. In line with courtroom information, he was awaiting sentencing after pleading responsible to wire fraud costs for one in all his failed enterprise ventures. His completely managed life was rapidly imploding.

Alisa Mathewson: As I used to be leaving … he mentioned “you are not going wherever” …  with one hand holding me down, he used the opposite hand and pulled a knife … and held it proper up at my chest by my throat.

Peter Van Sant:  How lengthy was the blade?

Alisa Mathewson: It was a machete.

Peter Van Sant:  And he is bought this machete proper underneath —

Alisa Mathewson: Proper at my neck. … And he says, “I will not tie you up when you simply keep nonetheless and hearken to me” … after which he held me there for just a few hours.

Finally, Alisa says Trevor agreed to let her go, after she calmed him down and promised to not name the police. A promise she didn’t hold.

Alisa Mathewson: I instantly referred to as 911 once I left his residence.

However when investigators interviewed Trevor, he denied threatening Alisa’s life.

Alisa Mathewson: The police did not consider me. … I wasn’t left with any marks. There was no proof of what I used to be saying.

Sgt. Christopher Steele: The Sheriff’s Workplace handled it as a priority from the start

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Sergeant Christopher Steele was not concerned in responding to the 911 name, however says investigators had been trying into the case.

Sgt. Christopher Steele: It is not like we might have merely arrested him that day primarily based on the statements of simply the 2 that had been concerned. We wanted extra.

Each Alisa and Trevor filed for restraining orders towards one another, and Alisa says Trevor used the incident to show their kids towards her.

Alisa Mathewson: He informed the youngsters I lied to the police … “She is making an attempt to get me thrown in — in jail.”

He informed them their mom was chargeable for the wedding falling aside. 

Arden Summers: He would always speak about how she was supposedly dishonest on him. … he, you realize, acted so heartbroken.

Peter Van Sant: What did you consider your mom?

Arden Summers: I felt like she was terrible.

Then, simply two days later, Alisa arrived residence to search out the place vandalized.

Alisa Mathewson: There was graffiti everywhere in the partitions … There was Kool-Assist poured on my mattress.

Arden Summers: The Kool-Assist was his thought. The chalk and writing on the partitions was my thought.

Peter Van Sant: What had you written on the partitions?

Arden Mathewson:  I had written issues like “traitor” …  I wrote “thanks for being an ass****.” Proper above the mattress.

Alisa was incredulous when she discovered Trevor had satisfied Arden to participate.

Alisa Mathewson: It was devastating. … my youngsters had a key to my residence, and so they used … their key … and did this.

A couple of weeks later, Alisa bought an unexpectedly cheery telephone name from Arden.

Alisa Mathewson: And Arden says, “Mother, we actually miss you. I — I’ve simply. I am sorry. I have been pondering of you. I need to come over and simply you and I speak issues by means of, hang around like previous instances.”

Inside days, Arden, Bryn and Grady had been again visiting Alisa, whereas Cooper and Landen had been at Trevor’s home.

Alisa Mathewson: I particularly was feeling like Arden was beginning to come round.

Alisa says she and Arden had no thought they each had been being manipulated by Trevor.

Arden Summers: He had talked about earlier than that he was actually hoping to reconcile along with her and to place the household again collectively and be nearly just like the savior of the household.

Peter Van Sant: The purpose was one thing noble in a manner —

Arden Summers: Sure.

Peter Van Sant: — that you simply had been taking part in? That possibly they will get them again collectively … and we is usually a household once more.

Arden Summers: Sure.

So, on the night of March 10, 2017, as Alisa was in mattress with Bryn and Grady, Arden was in one other room, secretly texting her father —

Arden Summers (studying textual content): “simply checked … she’s quick asleep…”

— letting him know the coast was clear for him to enter Alisa’s residence. 

55 HOURS OF TERROR

Simply after midnight on March 11, 2017, Trevor Summers left his 3-year-old son Cooper residence alone, asleep in mattress, and drove with 12-year-old Landen to his estranged-wife’s home the place Arden was already ready.

Arden Summers: He informed me that he was going to speak to my mother.

Following his directions, Arden had left a window open for Trevor. They handed one another as she went out to attend within the automobile with Landen. That is when Alisa says she remembers waking as much as water dripping on her face.

Alisa Summers: At that time, it is full-on terror.

Alisa says Trevor dragged her to the lounge. Grady and Bryn, the 2 younger kids who had been in mattress along with her, awakened and screamed.

Alisa Mathewson: He seems to be proper at them, and he says, “get again in your mom’s room. Do not come out.”

Alisa says they struggled as she tried to flee.

Alisa Mathewson: And I would get my hand onto the door, and he’d seize me and throw me backwards.

Peter Van Sant: Are you questioning “the place is Arden?”

Alisa Mathewson: Sure. I am pondering – Arden’s going to listen to this, Arden’s going to name 911. Like, the place is she?

Arden was sitting within the automobile, hopeful that her dad and mom would come out after speaking, and they might all return to Trevor’s home collectively. However round 5 a.m., Trevor despatched a textual content that the plan had modified.

Alisa Mathewson: She walks in and would not even have a look at me. And that is once I realized she’s not going to name 911. … She desires him to be there.

Arden says her dad informed her to drive Landen, Bryn and Grady again to his home and wait. Then 14 years previous, Arden’s solely driving expertise had been in a parking zone.

Arden Summers: It was very terrifying. … I used to be doing precisely the pace restrict, and I simply adopted all of the site visitors legal guidelines to not get pulled over.

Alisa Mathewson: As soon as the youngsters had been out of the home, that is when it even escalated additional … He … threw me onto my mattress and took these scarves and wrapped me — my arms, my wrists collectively. … he’s tying me to the mattress body with the Christmas lights and crisscrossing them throughout my physique to carry me down.

That is when Trevor informed her why he was there.

Alisa Mathewson: “I got here to say goodbye. I’m leaving. I’ve chartered a ship. I am going out into worldwide water. … And I’ll disappear.”

Alisa says he claimed he had thousands and thousands of {dollars} in offshore financial institution accounts. Alisa did not consider any of it. She says she had a plan: keep quiet, and maybe he would let her go.

Alisa Mathewson: I do not need to infuriate this man. … simply sitting again, listening, and letting him do the speaking.

She says over the course of a number of hours, Trevor raped her — twice.

Peter Van Sant: Did he have any form of a weapon on him?

Alisa Mathewson: He did. … A razor blade.

Alisa says she felt drowsy as a result of Trevor made her take chilly drugs.

Alisa Mathewson: He had been utilizing NyQuil all through the day to maintain me sedated.

Alisa says Trevor tied her ankles and wrists behind her with the scarves, and a nylon rope.

Alisa Mathewson: I used to be in excruciating ache.

He used her thumb to unlock her cellphone and recorded these movies.

TREVOR SUMMER CELLPHONE VIDEO: I’m right here with Alisa at her home. … she’s just about unhurt. She’s bought a few bruises at this time however — from the — tying her up.

Alisa says Trevor informed her he was making the movies so she might show to authorities he was there earlier than taking the boat journey. However Trevor did not instantly go away. It was round 5:40 p.m. when he got here again into the room.

Alisa Mathewson: He put a pillow over my face, and he pushed down with all of his higher physique … And I thought of my youngsters. … and I — and I misplaced consciousness.

Moments later, Alisa says she remembers the pillow being eliminated.

Alisa Mathewson: He checked out me. And I mentioned … “Please, I am going to do something. Please do not kill me.” He says, “You comply with go along with me?” I mentioned, “Sure, I am going to go along with you.” …

Peter Van Sant: To the boat? To the islands?

Alisa Mathewson: Sure.

Alisa says she nonetheless thought the boat story was a lie however agreed to go along with him to purchase time. Along with her arms tied, Alisa says Trevor loaded her into her SUV. Later, he went into that Walgreens to purchase extra chilly drugs. It was the second she’d been patiently ready for.

Alisa Mathewson (with Peter Van Sant exterior Walgreens):  I pulled the door deal with to open the door. … and, so, I am operating and I am stumbling … by means of this parking zone … and I might hear him coming at me and grabbed me.

Peter Van Sant: Did he carry you off the bottom?

Alisa Mathewson: — and lifted me off the bottom, pushed me again to the automobile.

That is when a Walgreens worker referred to as 911.

911 CALL: She ran out of the automobile screaming “assist me” … making an attempt to get the license plate. … it is a dark-dark blue SUV … he is pulling out proper now.

The worker managed to get that license plate quantity. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies realized it was Alisa’s automobile and commenced a statewide search. As they sped into the evening, Alisa says Trevor was irate.

Alisa Mathewson: He is screaming at me … “you agreed to go along with me, why are you doing this?” … he minimize from over right here, all the way in which throughout, over to right here (tracing the scar on her left wrist). … He mentioned, “that is for getting out of the automobile on the Walgreens.”

Alisa says Trevor spent hours driving alongside backroads down the Tampa Bay coast. They stopped a number of instances, together with at a secluded rural space the place they hid out for over a day.  Right here he wrote letters detailing what he accomplished: a confession, and a chilling farewell to their kids. Alisa learn an excerpt:

Alisa Mathewson: “We must always have by no means gone down the highway of divorce that tore our household aside … So, we have now ended it on your sake … and will probably be watching you from heaven.”

Alisa says Trevor raped her two extra instances.

Alisa Mathewson: I simply wanted to remain alive. I simply want to remain alive.

On the morning of March 13, Trevor drove to Little Harbor, a resort space the place they used to go as a household. Alisa says Trevor pulled the SUV over, parked proper behind a dumpster, and climbed into the again seat.

Alisa Mathewson (in a automobile with Van Sant): And a rope came visiting my head and got here round my neck.

Peter Van Sant: Is there any doubt in your thoughts what he is trying to do at that second?

Alisa Mathewson: No — he’s killing me behind a dumpster. … immediately, he is behind me and he lets go, and he dove by means of the automobile, jumped into the driving force’s seat, and took off.

Alisa Mathewson: There is no speaking. He’s laser targeted and he’s driving.

Trevor believed he’d been noticed. Panicked, he pulled into a house’s carport.

Alisa Mathewson: He pulls out the razor blade and he begins slitting his throat. … I am screaming at him to cease. … And at this level, the police come up round … weapons drawn, screaming.

Alisa remembers an officer serving to her.

Alisa Mathewson: He places me proper into the entrance seat and he will get in and he takes off and goes down this highway.

Peter Van Sant: Simply takes off and growth? You are out of right here.

Alisa Mathewson: Growth. That quick. … Immediately, I am saved. … I would been pulled from hell.

Following Alisa’s rescue, investigators took pictures. Whereas nonetheless receiving medical consideration, Alisa informed her story.

ALISA MATHEWSON (to investigators): My arms had been behind my again, and he slit my wrist …  And I simply saved begging and begging, “please do not kill me, please do not kill me.”

Trevor Summers additionally spoke to investigators from his hospital mattress, the place his wounds had been stitched up. Regulation enforcement says it amounted to a confession:

INVESTIGATOR: What did you tie her up with?

TREVOR SUMMERS: Just a few rope. Nylon rope. … I grabbed a pillow and put it over her face …

However bizarrely, Trevor additionally claimed Alisa voluntarily went together with him.

TREVOR SUMMERS (to investigator): She willingly let me tie her up.

Trevor was later charged with 11 counts, together with tried homicide, kidnapping, sexual battery, and little one neglect. Trevor pleaded not responsible. However Alisa’s ordeal was removed from over. She would come face-to-face with Trevor but once more, at his trial.

A TRIAL TWIST

Alisa Mathewson: I am not afraid of him anymore. And I’ll say that is what occurred. And that is what you probably did.

By 2022, 5 years had handed since Trevor Summer time’s arrest on costs together with tried homicide, kidnapping and sexual battery. Throughout that point, the couple’s divorce was finalized. Now, after authorized and COVID-related delays, a jury would resolve if Trevor’s mission had been to kill Alisa or to reconcile along with her.

Anthony Marchese: There was no murderous intent. … he stopped. In any other case, she can be useless.

Anthony Marchese, Trevor Summers’ court-appointed lawyer, says his shopper believes he did nothing unlawful.

Anthony Marchese: So, in his thoughts … he might see consent … He would assume that he might present everybody that no crime was dedicated.

Peter Van Sant: Although she is tied up. … although there’s been alleged bodily violence — he nonetheless believed that the intercourse that they had was consensual?

Anthony Marchese: Sure, I imply … in his thoughts, if this tying up or different issues occurred, these had been momentary. Then from there she would consent. … I’ve by no means had a shopper like Mr. Summers … He was at all times a gentleman, at all times very well mannered … very clever. … However — he would not perceive the excellence between consent and acquiescence.

Marchese was the newest of seven totally different attorneys who had been on and off the case.

Jennifer Johnson: Trevor Summers’ plan was at all times to take Alisa and to hurt her that evening.

Jennifer Johnson and Jessica O’Connor, prosecutors with the Hillsborough County State Legal professional’s Workplace, constructed the case towards Trevor Summers.

Jennifer Johnson: The strongest proof that we have now was the post-Miranda assertion, the handwritten confession, in addition to the videotaped confession. 

TREVOR SUMMERS CELLPHONE VIDEO: And I woke Alisa up and I’ve been holding her towards her will. 

These items of proof would play an important position as Trevor Summers’ trial started in August 2022.

JENNIFER JOHNSON (in courtroom): Alisa Summers thought she was residing out the previous few days of her life. She believed that the defendant Trevor Summers was going to kill her.

ANTHONY MARCHESE (in courtroom): The testimony from Mrs. Summers will probably be that she was tied up … that she had no different, however there’s some inconsistencies.

Peter Van Sant: This case, in some ways, rests in your shoulders, your means to ship, in order you are taking the stand what is going on by means of your thoughts?

Alisa Mathewson: Oh, gosh. What is going on by means of my thoughts was …simply inform them what occurred.

ALISA MATHEWSON: He used the Christmas lights to tie me to the mattress rails … and used the vacuum wire to go beneath the mattress.

Over the course of a number of hours, the prosecution questioned Alisa concerning Trevor’s actions.

ALISA MATHEWSON: Being hogtied. The ache was so unbelievable … He pushed down the pillow on my face.

The prosecutors anticipated the protection would query if Alisa was raped or consented to having intercourse, so that they raised it first, with Alisa detailing the alleged assaults.

ALISA MATHEWSON (in courtroom): He began to take away my bottoms and proceeded to have intercourse with me.

JENNIFER JOHNSON: Did you inform him no?

ALISA MATHEWSON: No.

JENNIFER JOHNSON:  Why is it that you simply didn’t inform him no or battle again?

ALISA MATHEWSON: As a result of I did not need to get damage.

Peter Van Sant: You end your testimony. And now it is time for the protection lawyer to cross-examine you. What occurs?

Alisa Mathewson: So, we’re taking a break to then do cross-examination. And Mr. Marchese stands up and will get the choose’s consideration

Marchese knowledgeable Decide Christopher Sabella that he had simply been fired. His alternative to now cross-examine Alisa can be the person on trial for trying to kill her: Trevor Summers himself.

Peter Van Sant: The person you consider kidnapped you, on at the very least two events … tried to homicide you, is now going to do what?

Alisa Mathewson: Stand in entrance of me and ask me questions.

Jennifer Johnson: That was his strategy to manipulate and to abuse her once more, to characterize himself.

Protection lawyer Marchese was permitted to stay as stand-by counsel, however he was not permitted to talk with Trevor whereas courtroom was in session.

Alisa’s questioning by her ex-husband — her alleged tormentor, went on for greater than 4 hours, a lot of it targeted on the difficulty of consent.

TREVOR SUMMERS (in courtroom): Did I threaten you or pressure you to have intercourse with me?

At instances, Alisa refused to take a look at Trevor, focusing as an alternative on the jury, and objects within the courtroom.

Alisa Mathewson: I used to be in my head beginning off. … Him standing in entrance of me and questioning me in regards to the issues he did to me, how, how is that this doable? … After which because it went on, my confidence constructed.

ALISA MATHEWSON (in courtroom): You probably did tie me up. You probably did assault me. And you probably did break into my residence once I was sleeping. You raped me.

TREVOR SUMMERS: So, you are calling it rape?

ALISA MATHEWSON: It’s. That’s the definition of rape, to return into somebody’s residence and assault them and tie them up after which have intercourse with them. That’s the definition of rape.

Jennifer Johnson:  That was the in all probability essentially the most highly effective incident — scenario in your complete trial.

Trevor additionally questioned a few of his personal kids in regards to the occasions that evening. Bryn was 13 years previous on the time of trial.

TREVOR SUMMERS (in courtroom): Do you keep in mind, Miss Bryn, if I used to be yelling something again at mommy?

BRYN SUMMERS: No.

And Arden was 19 on the trial:

TREVOR SUMMERS: Arden, did you ever see us bodily preventing within the residence whenever you got here in?

ARDEN SUMMERS: Not bodily, no.

Sergeant Edward Remia was requested about that hospital interview he carried out with Trevor after he was handled for the self-inflicted knife wound.

Summers argued that, regardless of seeming coherent, and agreeing to be interviewed, he was not in secure sufficient situation to have been questioned.

TREVOR SUMMERS (in courtroom): Did you see me earlier than the surgical procedure?

SGT. EDWARD REMIA: I’m not conscious that you simply had any surgical procedure.

TREVOR SUMMERS: Did you discover a big minimize and stitches and bandages on my neck?

SGT. EDWARD REMIA: Right. Once more, I feel we’re in all probability going to vary on our definition of getting stitches and surgical procedure.

Peter Van Sant: Now, the person that you simply interviewed is cross-examining you. Had you ever had that occur in your profession earlier than?

Sgt. Edward Remia: I’ve by no means had that occur earlier than.

Peter Van Sant: By no means?

Sgt. Edward Remia: By no means. … it simply poses, you realize, a singular set of circumstances when he is interviewing together with his personal kids, when he is interviewing his ex-wife — what’s his purpose? … Is that this his last-ditch effort to trigger any psychological anguish he can probably do or is it his last-ditch try to point out everyone that the whole lot was OK, that I used to be accountable for the entire scenario, and that I am not responsible of a criminal offense.

NEW BEGINNINGS

After three days of testimony in Trevor Summer time’s trial, closing arguments started.

JESSICA O’CONNOR (in courtroom): What this comes right down to is a scorned lover. The defendant was not keen to return to grips together with his divorce.

Trevor had determined to not testify. Now, his life was in his personal arms, as he must counter the prosecution’s claims.

TREVOR SUMMERS (in courtroom): We spent a whole lot of time that weekend simply speaking, simply making an attempt to determine issues out. … I am in a confused mind-set, we’re going by means of a divorce, we do not know what is going on on.

Trevor tried to solid doubt that he was violent with Alisa in her residence.

TREVOR SUMMERS: There was not damaged glass or dents in partitions. There’s not scratches on counter tops or blood splatter. 

And he questioned the legitimacy of that interview he gave to police on the hospital.

TREVOR SUMMERS: If you happen to had been in that place, you’d really feel weak. You are feeling taken benefit of. … I used to be captive and probably coerced. 

Trevor additionally disputed Alisa’s description of being tied up and held towards her will on the Walgreen’s parking zone. 

TREVOR SUMMERS: How do you get out of the automobile together with your arms tied behind your again?

Within the prosecution’s rebuttal, Jennifer Johnson returned to the video Trevor had recorded.

TREVOR SUMMERS CELLPHONE VIDEO: I’ve spent a whole lot of time with mother the previous few hours and the issues she has informed you about me being good about manipulation and management and mendacity is true … and tying her up.

JENNIFER JOHNSON (in courtroom):  That’s Trevor Summers in a nutshell —manipulative, mendacity, controlling.

It was now as much as the jury to resolve Trevor Summer time’s destiny. And about 5 hours later, that they had.

Peter Van Sant: The decision is learn. Inform us what you heard.

Alisa Mathewson: It was simply responsible all the way in which throughout, all 11 costs, a responsible. … It is emotional

By Alisa’s facet to assist her was Jeff Mathewson, whom Alisa had met shortly earlier than the 2017 assault.

Alisa Mathewson: I simply had my hand on his shoulder, and I used to be holding his hand.

All through all of it, Jeff stood by Alisa. And so they stood up collectively, getting married in 2018.

Jeff Mathewson: I feel Alisa is aware of as long as I am round her, she’s secure. And — and I’ll, you realize, defend her with my life, and the youngsters.

One other step towards defending the household would come a few month after the decision, at sentencing.

ALISA MATHEWSON (in courtroom): I suffered horrific ache throughout the 55-hour ordeal.

Alisa spoke in regards to the impression of Trevor’s actions, as did a number of of their kids, together with Arden, who had been manipulated by her father into letting him into the home that evening.

“48 Hours” requested Arden to learn from her sufferer impression assertion. 

Arden Summers: “For five-and-a half years, I’ve struggled with what occurred to my household, particularly for the half I took in it… Whereas nobody else blamed me for what occurred, I did.”

The guilt, all misplaced, has triggered Arden profound ache. 

Arden Summers: I’ve had so many points with trusting folks after what occurred and simply the guilt that I lived with for therefore lengthy earlier than I lastly informed myself that this is not my fault, however … most of my teenaged years I spent simply completely traumatized due to him.

Arden’s trauma was not misplaced on the choose, who addressed her immediately as he ready to present his sentence.

JUDGE SABELLA: To Arden, you shouldn’t really feel responsible for something that you simply did on this case. I guarantee you of that.

Decide Sabella’s tackle to Trevor Summers had fairly a unique tone.

JUDGE SABELLA: The testimony and proof that I heard clearly make you a monster in each stretch of the creativeness. … Mr. Trevor Summers will spend the remainder of his life in Florida State Jail.

Jessica O’Connor: The choose sentenced him to a few life sentences … after which adopted by 224 years of jail.

Peter Van Sant: And what a sentence. I’ve by no means heard of a sentence of that size. Have you ever?

Jessica O’Connor: I’ve not.

Alisa Mathewson: My focus, when that sentence came visiting, had been the youngsters, and my focus was shifting ahead with them.

The household as soon as so damaged, is entire once more. The therapeutic, says Alisa, is a course of – and ongoing.

Alisa Mathewson: We have already come to this point.

Alisa now hopes to lift consciousness of home abuse, sharing her expertise — and restoration— with different victims. And she or he works fulltime as an insurance coverage agent. What she doesn’t do, is dwell on Trevor Summers.

Alisa Mathewson: I have been dealing … with him since I used to be 19 years previous. … That man means nothing to me. And I am shifting ahead with my life.

Alisa Mathewson:  Now we have the life, greater than I’ve ever envisioned us to have now.

Jeff Mathewson: We’re on the highway to youngsters’ happiness. 

Bryn Summers: A healed household.

Alisa Mathewson: This can be a blissful ending. This can be a blissful story.

Trevor Summers declined “48 Hours”‘ request for an interview, citing his determination to attraction his convictions.

If you happen to or somebody you realize is a sufferer of home violence, contact the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Produced by Ruth Chenetz, Murray Weiss and Lauren Clark. Elena DiFiore is the event producer. Iris Carreras is the sphere producer. Marlon Disla, Jason Schmidt, Ken Blum, Grayce Arlotta-Berner and Phil Tangel are the editors. Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast producer. Nancy Kramer is the manager editor. Judy Tygard is the manager producer.

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