PRETEND

Doctor and Husband Cleared as Suspects in Rodriguez Stalking CaseThe Rodriguez family has been the target of a cyberstalker for over three years. Despite their efforts to involve the police and find help, the stalking has continued until this day. In fact, the detectives and postal inspector assigned to their case have even accused their oldest daughter of being the perpetrator, despite their claim of her having a solid alibi. However, the stalker has identified himself as Dr. Gressman's husband, John Gressman.Recently, the Rodriguez family received a voicemail from a detective working on their case. The detective stated that Dr. Gressman was the actual victim in this investigation and that the threatening phone calls made by the cyberstalker were produced inside Rodriguez's home. The detective also mentioned that the investigation is ongoing and that Dr. Gressman and her husband are not suspects.Despite this, the Rodriguez family is convinced that John Gressman is behind the Stalking. Claudia Rodriguez stated, "He scares me. He scares me, and they already think I'm the one doing it. And I feel I'm one step away from having the cops visit here."In the latest episode of the "Pretend" podcast, the tension between the Gressman and Rodriguez families reaches a boiling point. The host even attempts to go toe-to-toe with the stalker to provoke a reaction and potentially reveal their identity. However, as the case continues, it becomes increasingly clear that this situation is complex, confusing, and far from over.BINGE ALL 10-EPISODESPatreonListen to the first 10 episodes. Plus...Get Member-only bonus episodes, t-shirts, stickers, and more.Support PRETEND on PatreonPRETEND+ on Apple PodcastBinge the entire season with ad-free episodes plus bonus interviews that didn't make it on the showSubscribe to PRETEND+ on Apple PodcastFollow Pretend on social media:TwitterTikTokYouTubePRETEND is consistently in the top True Crime Podcasts about con artists in U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia. It has been featured in the New York Times, the BBC, & New York Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cyberstalker Resumes Harassment of Rodriguez Family, Targets Infant DaughterAfter months of peace, the cyberstalker who has been tormenting Claudia and David Rodriguez for years has returned. This time, the stalker has directed his rage toward his own infant daughter, causing great concern and fear for the child's safety.Rodriguez Family Reports Alleged Abuse to Child Protective ServicesIn response to this disturbing development, the Rodriguezes have reported the alleged abuse to child protective services. They've also contacted the medical board in hopes of stripping Dr. Gressman from her medical license. This situation is maddening. The Rodriguezes hoped to find a sense of normalcy and safety. Instead, more fear and uncertainty have consumed everyone's lives.It's unclear at this time what actions child protective services will take, but it is clear that the Rodriguez family is not backing down. BINGE ALL 10-EPISODESPatreonListen to the first 10 episodes. Plus...Get Member-only bonus episodes, t-shirts, stickers, and more.Support PRETEND on PatreonPRETEND+ on Apple PodcastBinge the entire season with ad-free episodes plus bonus interviews that didn't make it on the showSubscribe to PRETEND+ on Apple PodcastFollow Pretend on social media:TwitterTikTokYouTubePRETEND is consistently in the top True Crime Podcasts about con artists in U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia. It has been featured in the New York Times, the BBC, & New York Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Stalker part 5Claudia and David Rodriguez have five children, four of whom are adults, and most have severe medical or mental health issues. Two of their adult children are so disabled that the Rodriguezes have guardianship over them, meaning they have no rights. One child has undergone multiple surgeries, including spinal cord surgery, brain surgery, and stomach stoma surgery.The Rodriguez family has faced accusations from their daughter's neurologist, Dr. Grisman, accusing Claudia of having Munchausen by proxy, a disorder in which a caregiver intentionally causes or exaggerates the medical symptoms of someone in their care. Claudia vehemently denies these claims, stating that she is a mother who would do anything for her children and that others shouldn't judge her unless they have been in her shoes.Despite their claims of innocence, the authorities suspect that Rodriguez's oldest daughter, Logan, is the one sending the Stalking messages. However, Claudia and David say this is impossible as Logan was in a mental health facility without access to any devices when the Stalking started up again.In this podcast episode, we discuss this complex and confusing case that poses the question, who is behind these threatening messages?BINGE ALL 10-EPISODESPatreonListen to the first 10 episodes. Plus...Get Member-only bonus episodes, t-shirts, stickers, and more.Support PRETEND on PatreonPRETEND+ on Apple PodcastBinge the entire season with ad-free episodes plus bonus interviews that didn't make it on the showSubscribe to PRETEND+ on Apple PodcastFollow Pretend on social media:TwitterTikTokYouTubePRETEND is consistently in the top True Crime Podcasts about con artists in U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia. It has been featured in the New York Times, the BBC, & New York Magazine.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rodriguez Family Fights to Prove Daughter's Innocence in the face of Stalking AccusationsFor over three years, Claudia and David Rodriguez have been dealing with the terror of being stalked. Despite their efforts to involve the police and get help, the Stalking has continued to this day. In fact, the detectives and even the postal inspector assigned to their case have accused their oldest daughter of being the perpetrator, despite her claiming to have a solid alibi.BINGE ALL 10-EPISODESPatreonListen to the first 10 episodes. Plus...Get Member-only bonus episodes, t-shirts, stickers, and more.Support PRETEND on PatreonPRETEND+ on Apple PodcastBinge the entire season with ad-free episodes plus bonus interviews that didn't make it on the showSubscribe to PRETEND+ on Apple PodcastFollow Pretend on social media:TwitterTikTokYouTubePRETEND is consistently in the top True Crime Podcasts about con artists in U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia. It has been featured in the New York Times, the BBC, Discovery+, & Netlfix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Victims to Suspects: The Bizarre Turn of Events in the Rodriguez Family's Cyber Stalking CaseIn the world of cyberstalking, it's not uncommon for victims to have an idea of who their perpetrator might be. It could be an ex-partner, a disgruntled employee, or even an obsessed friend. But for Claudia and David Rodriguez, the situation was much more complex. For the past three years, they've been the victims of a cyber stalker who claims to be the husband of their daughter's doctor, a man they've never even met. The messages started off benign but quickly turned sadistic and threatening. Despite their efforts to report the harassment and seek help from the authorities, the Rodriguez family faced disbelief and suspicion. In this podcast episode, we'll explore the mysterious case of the Rodriguez family's cyber stalker and how a simple IP address couldn't provide all the answers.BINGE ALL 10-EPISODESPatreonListen to the first 10 episodes. Plus...Get Member-only bonus episodes, t-shirts, stickers, and more.Support PRETEND on PatreonPRETEND+ on Apple PodcastBinge the entire season with ad-free episodes plus bonus interviews that didn't make it on the showSubscribe to PRETEND+ on Apple PodcastFollow Pretend on social media:TwitterTikTokYouTubePRETEND is consistently in the top True Crime Podcasts about con artists in U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia. It has been featured in the New York Times, the BBC, & New York Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harassed by a Cyber Stalker Claiming to be the Doctor's Husband: The Strange Story of Claudia and David RodriguezClaudia and David Rodriguez claim they have been the victims of a cyber stalker for the past three years. The person behind the messages claims to be the husband of Claudia's daughter's doctor, a man they've never even met. As bizarre as this situation sounds, it's been a constant source of harassment and anxiety for the Rodriguez family. In this podcast episode, we'll delve into the strange story of Claudia and David Rodriguez, including their ongoing battle with a mysterious cyber stalker and the surprising twist that led to them being accused of stalking.BINGE ALL 10-EPISODESPatreonListen to the first 10 episodes. Plus...Get Member-only bonus episodes, t-shirts, stickers, and more.Support PRETEND on PatreonPRETEND+ on Apple PodcastBinge the entire season with ad-free episodes plus bonus interviews that didn't make it on the showSubscribe to PRETEND+ on Apple PodcastFollow Pretend on social media:TwitterTikTokYouTubePRETEND is consistently in the top True Crime Podcasts about con artists in U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia.It has been featured in the New York Times, the BBC, & New York Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Couple terrorized by a sadistic cyber stalker for yearsFor more than three years, Claudia and David Rodriguez (not their real names) have been the targets of a sadistic cyber stalker. Despite their attempts to involve the police and stop the stalking, it has continued to this day. In fact, the couple has faced accusations from the very detectives assigned to their case. One detective suggests that Claudia may have a split personality and is causing the stalking herself.BINGE ALL 10-EPISODESPatreonListen to the first 10 episodes. Plus...Get Member-only bonus episodes, t-shirts, stickers, and more.Support PRETEND on PatreonPRETEND+ on Apple PodcastBinge the entire season with ad-free episodes plus bonus interviews that didn't make it on the showSubscribe to PRETEND+ on Apple PodcastFollow Pretend on social media:TwitterTikTokYouTubePRETEND is consistently in the top True Crime Podcasts about con artists in U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia. It has been featured in the New York Times, the BBC, & Netflix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the story about a Christmas con artist pretending to be Santa Claus.Brian Earl, the host of the Christmas Past podcast, joins me to tell a little-known true-crime holiday story.Christmas PastThe seventh season of Christmas Past is out. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Brian shares the fascinating backstories behind our favorite holiday traditions.Looking for a last-minute gift idea? Buy the Christmas Past book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Prank series inspired the new Netflix documentary series "Don't Pick Up the Phone." This docuseries follows the investigation into a hoax caller who talked managers into strip-searching employees at fast food businesses across the US.Binge the entire series on Netflix starting December 14th:https://www.netflix.com/title/81576846 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry Douglas Jones is not your typical fugitive. He had a wife and three kids. And to be honest, he's not a dangerous man. He became overwhelmed with life and decided to run away.This is the first in a series of stories about fugitives. In season 4, we explore how abandoning your old identity leads to a whole set of complications. How do these criminals assume a new identity? What strategies do they use to avoid getting caught?_______________This episode was 100% funded by you. I was able to travel to Gulfport, MS for this story using funds raised on Patreon. So if you’d like to see me to take the show on the road, consider chipping in a buck or two on our Patreon page. Plus, you’ll get access to early episodes and bonus content. So, thank you so much for the support._______________Lies, lies, and more liesA few seasons ago, I asked you to submit stories about lies. Either lies that you’ve told or lies that have impacted you personally. And boy, was the response crazy! I ended up making a whole episode dedicated to lies. I want to try it again. Email me a voice memo. Chances are your story could make it on the show.-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this, visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes, go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices