Narrator: FOR MICHELLE BROOME AND HER HANDSOME PILOT, TOM,
THE SKY WAS THE LIMIT.
WE GOT TO TRAVEL EVERYWHERE. WE DIDN'T HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD.
TOM WAS THE MALE VERSION OF MICHELLE IN SOME WAYS.
THEY HAD A LOT OF FUN TOGETHER.
Michelle: HE WAS JUST SO FULL OF ADVENTURE.
Narrator: BUT TOM'S APPETITE FOR ADVENTURE TOOK A DARK TURN...
HE WAS WORKING FOR A MEXICAN GANGSTER.
Narrator: ...AND EVERYTHING MICHELLE THOUGHT SHE KNEW
ABOUT HER DASHING HUSBAND WOULD CRASH AND BURN.
THERE WAS NO MONEY. IT WAS GONE.
Renae: HE SEEMED LIKE HE WAS POSSESSED.
THERE WERE TIMES HE'D BE SITTING ON THE COUCH, TWITCHING.
HE WAS A TOTAL STRANGER TO ME. HE WAS NOT THE MAN I MARRIED.
Narrator: WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE AND MARRIAGE,
THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THEY SAY A GIRL NEVER FORGETS HER FIRST KISS.
FOR MICHELLE BROOME, THE MOMENT CAME WHEN SHE WAS JUST 14.
Michelle: WHEN I FIRST MET TOM,
WE WERE AT A CHURCH YOUTH-GROUP RETREAT,
AND WE WERE AROUND THE FIRE,
AND HE JUST KIND OF LEANED OVER AND PLANTED A BIG ONE
RIGHT ON THE MOUTH. [ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: IT WAS THE SUMMER OF 1982,
AND 17-YEAR-OLD TOM BROOME WAS THE CATCH
OF HIS SMALL JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FLORIDA, TOWN.
Renae: HE WAS JUST RUNNING WITH A POPULAR CROWD, VERY ATHLETIC.
EVERYBODY KNEW WHO HE WAS, AND HE GOT ALONG WITH EVERYBODY.
Narrator: BUT AS POPULAR AS HE WAS,
TOM ALSO HAD A BIT OF A DARK STREAK.
Michelle: HE HAD HAD A COUPLE OF RUN-INS WITH POLICE,
JUST DOING STUPID, PRANKISH THINGS...
NOTHING SUPER SERIOUS.
I WAS KIND OF IN AWE OF HIM,
'CAUSE HE WAS VERY POPULAR, VERY CUTE.
I WAS INCREDIBLY AWKWARD, BIG GLASSES.
AFTER THE KISS, I BARELY EXISTED IN HIS WORLD.
I WOULD KIND OF ADMIRE HIM FROM AFAR
AND JUST GO ON MY NERDY WAY.
Narrator: AND THAT WAS THE END OF MICHELLE'S TEENAGE CRUSH...
UNTIL ONE DAY IN THE FALL OF 1991.
Michelle: I HAD JUST GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE,
AND TOM WAS GRADUATING FROM FLIGHT SCHOOL.
WE RAN INTO EACH OTHER AT A MUTUAL FRIEND'S WEDDING,
AND JUST SPARKS FLEW.
I REMEMBER BEING REALLY IMPRESSED TALKING TO HIM.
I THOUGHT, "WOW.
"YOU KNOW, HERE'S SOMEBODY WHO CAME FROM A TOUGH SITUATION,
AND THEY'RE MAKING IT WORK."
Narrator: MICHELLE AND TOM QUICKLY BECAME AN ITEM.
Renae: HE AND MICHELLE CLICKED.
I REMEMBER THINKING THAT THIS COULD BE THE ONE.
THE GLITCH WAS THAT A COUPLE MONTHS FROM THAT TIME,
I HAD ALREADY DECIDED THAT I WAS MOVING TO L.A.
TO PURSUE MY CAREER AS A PERFORMER,
AND I TOLD HIM THAT AFTER LIKE THE THIRD OR FOURTH DATE,
AND HE IMMEDIATELY SAID, "WELL, SO AM I, THEN."
Narrator: THE NEXT SPRING,
TOM AND MICHELLE HEADED WEST TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.
MICHELLE HAD SUCCESS SINGING WITH SEVERAL LOCAL BANDS,
WHILE TOM EASILY LANDED A JOB AS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.
TWO YEARS LATER,
TOM AND MICHELLE KNEW THEY WERE MEANT TO BE.
AND IN APRIL 1994, THEY TIED THE KNOT BACK HOME IN FLORIDA.
I WAS EXCITED THAT MICHELLE HAD FOUND HER GUY
AND THAT SHE WOULD BE WITH HIM FOREVER.
OUR WEDDING WAS HUGE.
WE HAD A BIG RECEPTION WITH A KILLER BAND,
AND IT WAS JUST A GIANT PARTY.
WE COULDN'T GET PEOPLE TO LEAVE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: BACK IN CALIFORNIA,
THE NEWLYWEDS QUICKLY EMBARKED
ON WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN ENDLESS HONEYMOON.
Michelle: WE HAD VARIOUS PLANES OF HIS CLIENTS
AT OUR DISPOSAL A LOT.
WE WENT TO FIJI, TO A PRIVATE ISLAND.
WE WENT DEEP-SEA FISHING IN ALASKA.
IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY FUN TIME IN OUR MARRIAGE.
Narrator: BUT THE HONEYMOON WOULDN'T LAST.
NEARLY 10 YEARS LATER,
THE COUPLE'S JET-SETTING LIFESTYLE
WOULD TAKE A TWISTED TURN.
BY THE SPRING OF 2005, MICHELLE WAS A MOTHER OF TWO,
AND HER GLOBETROTTING DAYS WERE MOSTLY BEHIND HER.
BUT TOM WAS OFTEN AWAY ON BUSINESS,
SO MICHELLE KEPT HER CELLPHONE HANDY,
AND ONE DAY SHE GOT A CALL
THAT WOULD CHANGE HER LIFE FOREVER.
Michelle: IT WAS MARCH 3, 2005.
I WAS AT THE CAR-REPAIR SHOP, AND I GOT A PHONE CALL.
I RECOGNIZED THE AREA CODE AS SOMEWHERE IN GEORGIA.
Narrator: AT FIRST,
MICHELLE THOUGHT THE CALL WAS FROM HER HUSBAND,
WHO WAS FLYING TO ATLANTA THAT DAY.
BUT THE VOICE ON THE OTHER END BELONGED TO A DISTRICT ATTORNEY,
AND HE HAD SHOCKING NEWS.
Michelle: HE WANTED ME TO KNOW
THAT THEY HAD HAD MY FAMILY IN SURVEILLANCE
FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
I WAS COMPLETELY CONFUSED.
I SAID, "I DON'T UNDERSTAND. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
HE SAID, "YOU NEED TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL,
"AND YOU NEED TO DO WHATEVER YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO DO
TO DISAPPEAR,"
AND HE HUNG UP.
Narrator: THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE AS PERPLEXING
AS THEY WERE TERRIFYING.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
Narrator: BUT AS MORE INFORMATION CAME IN,
MICHELLE SOON FOUND HERSELF ON THE RUN.
THEY WERE TELLING ME THAT HE WAS WORKING FOR THE MEXICAN MAFIA.
Narrator: IT SEEMED HER HUSBAND
HAD BEEN PLAYING A VERY DANGEROUS GAME.
HE WAS A PRIVATE PILOT,
BUT NOBODY KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING HALF THE TIME.
Narrator: IN THE SPRING OF 1996,
10 YEARS BEFORE THE PHONE CALL THAT WOULD CHANGE HER LIFE,
MICHELLE BROOME AND HER HANDSOME HUSBAND, TOM,
HAD THE WORLD AT THEIR FEET.
WE WERE VERY CLOSE. WE WERE IN LOVE.
Narrator: BUT ONE AFTERNOON TWO YEARS INTO HER MARRIAGE,
MICHELLE CAME ACROSS A DISTURBING SIGN
THAT THINGS WEREN'T ENTIRELY PERFECT.
Michelle: I WAS GOING THROUGH SOME PAPERS,
AND I CAME ACROSS A BILL FOR AN ATTORNEY,
AND IT WAS A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL BILL... THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
SO I CALLED THE NUMBER ON THE BILL.
IT TURNED OUT TO BE AN ATTORNEY
THAT DIRECTLY DEALS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN D.U.I.s.
Narrator: MICHELLE WAS STUNNED.
TOM HAD NEVER MENTIONED A D.U.I.,
BUT HE HAD OBVIOUSLY GOTTEN ONE A MONTH BEFORE.
HE CAME HOME, AND I JUST HELD THE BILL OUT TO HIM,
AND I SAID, "WHAT IS THIS?"
AND HE WAS LIKE, "UGH. I'VE BEEN MEANING TO TELL YOU.
"I GOT A D.U.I., AND I'M GETTING OUT OF IT.
THIS GUY'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF IT FOR ME."
I WAS FURIOUS. I WAS REALLY UPSET.
Narrator: STILL, IT WAS JUST ONE MISTAKE.
MICHELLE DECIDED TO LET THE INCIDENT GO.
FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, LIFE CARRIED ON AS USUAL,
AND BY THE WINTER OF 2001,
MICHELLE AND TOM REALIZED THEY WERE READY
FOR THEIR NEXT ADVENTURE... PARENTHOOD.
I'M ENTERING MY 30s. THE BIOLOGICAL CLOCK IS TICKING.
SO WE DECIDED, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE IT A SHOT,
AND I GOT PREGNANT ALMOST RIGHT AWAY.
TOM WAS JUST OVER THE MOON... SO, SO HAPPY.
Narrator: TO PREPARE FOR THE BABY,
MICHELLE TOOK A STEADY JOB AT A RECORD LABEL,
AND TOM BEGAN FLYING FOR SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE CLIENTS.
THE JOB MEANT TOM WAS OFTEN GONE,
BUT HE WAS ALSO PULLING IN SIX FIGURES.
Michelle: WE WERE BOTH VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR LIVES
AND CAREERS AND THE BABY COMING.
Narrator: BUT AS MICHELLE'S PREGNANCY WORE ON,
SHE QUICKLY REALIZED
THAT TOM HAD NO INTENTION OF SLOWING DOWN.
Michelle: HE WAS STILL TAKING OFF AND TAKING HIS SURF TRIPS
AND HIS GOLF TRIPS AND HIS SKIING TRIPS,
IN ADDITION TO THE TRIPS THAT HE WAS DOING FOR HIS JOB.
HE WOULD GET HOME FROM TRIPS, COME BACK, SPEND AN HOUR,
AND THEN OFF HE WOULD GO TO BE WITH HIS MATES, OFF TO THE BAR.
Narrator: MICHELLE SOON NOTICED THAT TOM WAS DRINKING HEAVILY.
AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
HE SEEMED TO BE DEVELOPING ANOTHER BAD HABIT.
Michelle: I OVERHEARD HIM ON THE PHONE,
AND HE THOUGHT THAT NOBODY COULD HEAR HIM.
BUT HE WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY ABOUT PLACING A BET ON TEAMS
THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE.
I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT.
I WAS LIKE, "WELL, THEN, WHO WERE YOU BETTING WITH?"
"OH, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, MY BUDDY'S BOOKIE."
I'M LIKE, "BOOKIE?"
Narrator: CONCERNED,
MICHELLE ASKED TOM TO CUT BACK ON THE GAMBLING,
AND TOM PROMISED HE WOULD REIN IT IN.
IN JANUARY 2002, AFTER THE BIRTH OF THEIR SON,
HE KEPT HIS WORD.
Michelle: HE WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH OUR SON,
AND I BELIEVED AT THAT TIME THAT
"OKAY, YOU KNOW, OUR LIVES HAVE CHANGED, AND HE GETS IT."
AND HE WAS HOME MORE, THE FIRST MONTH OR TWO.
Narrator: BUT WHEN THEIR SON WAS JUST 3 MONTHS OLD,
THINGS TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE.
Michelle: TOM WAS IN MEXICO ON A BUSINESS TRIP,
AND HE SOMETIMES HAD TROUBLE GETTING THROUGH
THE PHONE CONNECTIONS TO CHECK HIS VOICEMAIL FROM THERE.
SO HE CALLED ME AT ONE POINT AND SAID,
"I CAN'T GET MY VOICEMAIL."
Narrator: TOM ASKED MICHELLE TO CHECK HIS MESSAGES,
AND WHEN SHE DID,
SHE HEARD SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED.
THERE WAS A MESSAGE FROM A WOMAN.
SHE WAS, "HEY, SWEETIE, I'M SO SORRY I MISSED YOU.
"CALL ME WHENEVER YOU CAN,
AND WE'LL ARRANGE TO SEE EACH OTHER."
SO I CALLED TOM, AND I SAID, "WHO IS THIS WOMAN?"
I SAID HER NAME, AND THERE WAS DEAD SILENCE.
Narrator: TOM REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE MATTER OVER THE PHONE.
BUT THE NEXT DAY, HE CAME HOME AND CAME CLEAN.
Michelle: HE WAS WHITE WHEN HE WALKED IN THE DOOR,
AND HE SAID THAT HE'D ONLY SEEN HER A COUPLE OF TIMES,
AND SHE WAS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT,
AND THEY WOULD OCCASIONALLY CONNECT
IF THEY WERE IN THE SAME CITY.
I JUST LOOKED AT HIM, AND I THOUGHT,
"OH, MY... WHAT ARE YOU...
"I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE EVEN CAPABLE OF THIS.
I WOULD NEVER DO THIS."
Narrator: MICHELLE WAS DEVASTATED,
BUT SHE WASN'T READY TO THROW IN THE TOWEL.
FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE...
I WAS BROUGHT UP IN THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE MARRIED.
YOU TAKE A VOW,
AND YOU GO THROUGH TRIALS, AND YOU MAKE IT WORK.
Narrator: MICHELLE INSISTED ON COUNSELING,
AND FOR A WHILE, THINGS GOT BETTER.
IN 2004, JUST AFTER THEIR 10th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY,
MICHELLE REALIZED SHE WAS PREGNANT AGAIN.
Michelle: MY THOUGHT WAS,
"I DON'T KNOW IF I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING," YOU KNOW?
"BUT, OKAY, WE'RE HAVING A BABY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS WORK."
Narrator: BUT JUST ONE MONTH INTO HER PREGNANCY,
MICHELLE'S HOPES FOR A RENEWED MARRIAGE WERE SHATTERED
AS TOM REVERTED BACK TO HIS OLD WAYS
AND MUCH, MUCH WORSE.
TOM'S DRUG USE WAS JUST AS BAD AS HIS DRINKING.
HE WAS SCARY. HE SEEMED LIKE HE WAS POSSESSED.
Michelle: I JUST HAD THIS OVERWHELMING FEELING
THAT HE WAS HIDING SOMETHING.
Narrator: BY THE SPRING OF 2004,
10 YEARS INTO HER ROLLER-COASTER MARRIAGE,
MICHELLE BROOME COULD ONLY WATCH
AS HER HUSBAND'S SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR
ESCALATED.
EVERYONE WAS CONCERNED.
TOM WAS NOT IN A GOOD PLACE. HE WAS DRINKING A LOT.
HE WAS AWAY A LOT. HE WASN'T COMFORTABLE.
AND IT WAS REALLY HARD TO WATCH.
Narrator: THAT DECEMBER,
MICHELLE WENT INTO LABOR WITH HER DAUGHTER.
WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A JOYFUL TIME
SEEMED ALMOST AGONIZING FOR TOM.
IT WAS LIKE HE WAS JUMPING OUT OF HIS SKIN BEING THERE.
HE COULDN'T SIT STILL. HE WAS CONSTANTLY ON THE PHONE.
HE WAS PACING, EVEN AFTER THE BABY WAS BORN.
Narrator: IT WAS DISTURBING BEHAVIOR.
BUT MICHELLE WOULD SOON LEARN
THAT TOM WAS HIDING A MUCH DARKER SECRET.
ON MARCH 3, 2005,
NINE WEEKS AFTER THE BIRTH OF THEIR DAUGHTER,
TOM WAS FLYING TO ATLANTA ON BUSINESS.
MICHELLE WAS AT THE MECHANIC'S WHEN SHE GOT AN ALARMING CALL
FROM A DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN GEORGIA.
Michelle: HE SAID, "YOUR FAMILY'S BEEN UNDER SURVEILLANCE
"FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW NOTHING."
AND HE SAID, "YOUR HUSBAND HAS BEEN ARRESTED.
"WE HAVE HIM IN CUSTODY.
HE WAS FOUND WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF COCAINE ON HIS AIRPLANE."
Narrator: THE D.A. COULDN'T GIVE MICHELLE
ANY MORE DETAILS OVER THE PHONE,
BUT HIS FINAL WORDS WERE CHILLING.
AND HE SAID, "YOU AND THE KIDS ARE IN DANGER.
YOU NEED TO DISAPPEAR."
Narrator: FRANTIC AND CONFUSED,
MICHELLE RACED TO PICK UP HER CHILDREN.
SHE THEN MADE A BEELINE FOR THE BANK,
AND THAT'S WHEN SHE GOT ANOTHER HORRIBLE SURPRISE.
I WENT TO TRY AND WITHDRAW MONEY,
AND IT WAS GONE.
THERE WAS NO MONEY IN THERE. IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
I CALLED MY SISTER, RENAE.
SHE WAS WORKING,
AND I JUST SAID, "DROP EVERYTHING."
Renae: WHEN I GOT TO MICHELLE,
SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS IN A COMPLETE FOG.
EVERYONE'S MAIN CONCERN
WAS GETTING HER TO A PLACE WHERE NOBODY COULD FIND HER.
WE WENT TO MY YOUNGER SISTER'S HOUSE,
BECAUSE SHE LIVED IN A GATED COMMUNITY.
Narrator: TWO HOURS AFTER SHE ARRIVED AT HER SISTER'S,
MICHELLE GOT A PHONE CALL FROM TOM.
HE WAS AT THE COUNTY JAIL, AND I'M TRYING TO ASK QUESTIONS.
"WHAT HAPPENED? WHO WERE YOU FLYING WITH?
"WHO WAS THE PERSON THAT CALLED ME?
WHY WERE WE UNDER SURVEILLANCE?"
Narrator: TOM REFUSED TO GET INTO IT OVER THE PHONE.
Michelle: HE KEPT SAYING,
"I CAN'T TALK TOO MUCH, 'CAUSE THEY'RE LISTENING.
"GET ME HOME SO THAT WE CAN SORT THIS OUT,
AND I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING."
Narrator: TOM'S BAIL HAD BEEN SET AT $250,000.
MICHELLE WAS FORCED TO BORROW THE MONEY FROM FRIENDS.
THREE WEEKS LATER, TOM BROOME WAS BACK IN CALIFORNIA.
Michelle: A FRIEND OF OURS PICKED HIM UP AT THE AIRPORT
AND BROUGHT HIM OVER TO MY SISTER'S APARTMENT,
AND HE WALKED IN THE DOOR.
HE HAD THIS LOOK ON HIS FACE,
LIKE A SHEEPISH LOOK ON HIS FACE LIKE, "I GOT CAUGHT.
I'M REALLY DREADING HAVING TO TELL YOU THIS."
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
HE SAID THERE WERE DRUGS.
THE GAMBLING WAS JUST OUTRAGEOUS.
AND HE SAID THAT THE MONEY WAS GONE.
HE HAD GAMBLED IT ALL AWAY.
Narrator: DESPERATE TO REPLACE THE COUPLE'S SQUANDERED SAVINGS,
TOM BEGAN TAKING FLIGHTS FOR SOMEONE HE HAD MET IN L.A.
Michelle: THIS GUY HAD OFFERED HIM CASH
TO FLY THESE FLIGHTS FROM LOS ANGELES TO ATLANTA AND BACK.
NO PASSENGERS ON THE PLANE, JUST SUITCASES,
NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
AND EVERY TIME HE MADE ONE OF THESE FLIGHTS,
HE WOULD MAKE A GIANT CHUNK OF CASH,
LIKE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
Narrator: DURING HIS LAST FLIGHT,
TOM HAD BEEN STOPPED BY CUSTOMS.
Michelle: THEY STARTED QUESTIONING HIM.
HE GAVE THEM ALL THE PAPERWORK ON THE PLANE
AND HIS LICENSE AND EVERYTHING
LIKE IT WAS JUST A ROUTINE CHECK.
AND THEY SAID, "IS IT OKAY IF WE SEARCH YOUR PLANE?"
THEY ASKED HIM TO OPEN A CERTAIN COMPARTMENT ON THE PLANE.
HE SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE THE KEYS TO IT.
THEY BROUGHT OUT DOGS,
AND THE DOGS IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THAT SECTION OF THE PLANE
AND STARTED GOING CRAZY.
THINK IT WAS LIKE FOUR SUITCASES FILLED WITH PURE COCAINE.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT EVEN CUT WITH ANYTHING.
HE WAS CAUGHT WITH 65 KILOS,
WHICH HAS A STREET VALUE OF A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS.
Narrator: TOM INSISTED HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE SUITCASES.
BUT HE DID HAVE ONE MORE HORRIBLE ADMISSION TO MAKE.
THE MAN HE WAS FLYING FOR WAS ALSO A MEMBER
OF THE NOTORIOUS AND DANGEROUS MEXICAN MAFIA.
Michelle: OBVIOUSLY, I UNDERSTOOD AT THAT POINT
WHY OUR LIVES WERE IN DANGER.
BUT IMMEDIATELY I THOUGHT,
"WELL, HOW DO I KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT STILL?"
Narrator: TOM INSISTED THE DANGER WAS OVER.
Michelle: HE SAID, "OH, NO. YOU'RE FINE.
"THE MAIN GUY, THE KINGPIN, HE'S LONG GONE.
THEY'LL NEVER GET HIM."
Narrator: BUT THERE WAS NO RELIEF.
THINGS WERE ABOUT TO SPIRAL COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL.
THE FEAR OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING JUST GRIPPED HIM.
Michelle: HE WAS GOING OFF THE DEEP END.
HE WAS A TOTAL STRANGER TO ME. HE WAS NOT THE MAN I MARRIED.
Narrator: IN MARCH 2005,
MICHELLE BROOME'S ENTIRE WORLD HAD BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
HER HUSBAND, TOM, STOOD ACCUSED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING
AND WAS ON HOUSE ARREST.
HIS CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE WERE STARTING TO RING HOLLOW.
I SAID, "YOU KNOW IF SOMEBODY'S OFFERING YOU THAT MUCH CASH
"TO FLY A PLANE WITH NO PEOPLE ON IT WITH LOCKED SUITCASES,
SOMETHING'S GOING ON."
Matthew: THE STRESS WITH MICHELLE WAS TANGIBLE.
SHE TRIED TO HOLD IT TOGETHER, BUT IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HARD.
Narrator: THE COUPLE NOW NEEDED
TO HIRE AN EXPENSIVE DEFENSE TEAM,
BUT TOM'S IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR HAD LEFT THEM PENNILESS.
Michelle: WE WERE LOOKING AT FINANCIAL RUIN, BASICALLY.
Narrator: ON THE ADVICE OF AN ATTORNEY,
MICHELLE STARTED DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS.
Michelle: IT WAS UNCLEAR YET WHETHER OR NOT
THE GOVERNMENT WAS GONNA COME IN AND SEIZE ANY OF OUR ASSETS.
I WAS TOLD THAT IF I FILED FOR DIVORCE,
IF WE HAD ANY MONEY LEFT OVER,
I COULD POSSIBLY ALLOCATE IT AS CHILD SUPPORT.
Narrator: IT WAS A HEARTBREAKING SCENE,
BUT IT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING.
WHEN THE COUPLE MET WITH TOM'S DEFENSE TEAM THAT APRIL,
MICHELLE REALIZED THAT HER HUSBAND HAD NO CHANCE.
Michelle: THEY COULD LINK HIM TO DOZENS OF THESE FLIGHTS,
AND IT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME...
OVER A YEAR AT LEAST.
THEY HAD CONVERSATIONS RECORDED.
THEY HAD INSTANCES WHERE HE WAS FLYING
AND WOULD CHANGE THE TAIL NUMBER OF THE PLANE MID-ROUTE
OR CHANGE THE DESTINATION OF THE PLANE MID-ROUTE,
WHICH IS A COMMON THING THAT DRUG RUNNERS DO.
Narrator: EVEN WORSE,
TOM HAD ALSO HAND-DELIVERED THE SUITCASES
TO THEIR RECIPIENT IN GEORGIA.
Michelle: HE KNEW THE GUY'S NAME THAT HE WAS MEETING WITH.
HE HAD A REGULAR MEETING POINT WITH HIM.
I WAS BLOWN AWAY.
AT ONE POINT, I LOOKED UP,
AND I HAD THIS FEELING LOOKING AT HIM, LIKE,
"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE."
Narrator: IN JULY OF 2005,
AFTER MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF MARRIAGE,
MICHELLE AND TOM'S DIVORCE WAS FINALIZED.
MEANWHILE, TOM, STILL ON HOUSE ARREST,
WAS FALLING APART.
IT'S LIKE THE DEMONS THAT WERE INSIDE OF HIM JUST TOOK OVER.
EVERYTHING JUST CAME BACK TO THE SURFACE,
ALL OF THE ADDICTIONS, ALL OF THE ANGER,
ALL OF THE ANXIETY, THE NEED TO ESCAPE FROM IT ALL.
Matthew: HE WOULD GO ON THESE DRINKING RAMPAGES
AND HAVE DRUGS DELIVERED TO THE HOUSE.
HE WOULD GO ON THESE BINGES, TAKE PILLS.
THERE WERE TIMES HE WOULD BE SITTING ON THE COUCH, TWITCHING.
MICHELLE CAME TO THAT POINT, AND SHE REALIZED
SHE HAD TO REVOKE BAIL ON TOM.
HIS BEHAVIOR WAS SO ERRATIC.
Narrator: JUST BEFORE THANKSGIVING 2005,
TOM BROOME WENT BACK TO JAIL.
THAT WINTER, HE PLED GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS
WITH AN INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE.
THERE WAS NO TRIAL, AND TOM WAS GRANTED LENIENCY
FOR COOPERATING WITH THE INVESTIGATION.
HE WAS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.
Michelle: IT'S HEARTBREAKING ON MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS,
BOTH WATCHING HIM AS A HUMAN BEING, SOMEBODY I CARE ABOUT,
WATCHING A MARRIAGE COMPLETELY DISAPPEAR.
Narrator: MICHELLE HAS TRAVELED A LONG, HARD ROAD
SINCE THAT FIRST KISS ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO.
TODAY, SHE'S A SINGLE PARENT,
AND WHILE SHE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY,
SHE HAS AN UNWAVERING SUPPORT SYSTEM IN HER FAMILY.
THE BOND THAT I HAVE AND THAT MY KIDS HAVE NOW
WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS AND MY SISTERS
AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAWS IS INCREDIBLE.
I COULD NOT HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THIS
WITH MY SANITY SOMEWHAT INTACT WITHOUT THEM.
Narrator: AND NOW WITH STRENGTH AND COURAGE,
MICHELLE IS READY TO FACE HER NEXT HURDLE...
TOM'S RELEASE.
I'VE TALKED TO HIM AT LENGTH ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN
WHEN HE GETS OUT.
I WANT HIM TO BE A PART OF THE KIDS' LIVES,
BUT I WILL DEFINITELY BE IN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION
AS FAR AS MONITORING HOW HEALTHY HE IS.
I HAVE FORGIVEN TOM. IT'S A WASTE OF ENERGY NOT TO.
BUT I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN. [ CHUCKLES ]