Photo: Courtesy Nikki Ryan Photography
Meehan’s long trail of abuse of women subsequently came to light, as the notorious conman and sociopath was profiled in theLos Angeles Timespodcast,Dirty John, and later a scripted Bravo series of the same name.
In an exclusive guest column for PEOPLE, the 27-year-old Newell opens up about her harrowing experience with Meehan, living with PTSD and his abuse of her mother.
My heart is pounding, I’m kicking and screaming as hard as I can. It lasted seconds but felt like hours. In just 32 seconds, my life changed forever.
The man grabbed me from my waist and said, “Do you remember me?” I did and knew he was there to kill me.
If you’ve seen the show or have listened to the podcastDirty John, you know what happened next. I survived and killed my attacker.
Aug. 20, 2019, marks the three-year anniversary of my attack. My attacker was John Meehan, my estranged stepfather. My mother, Debra Newell, met him on a dating website. She fell for him and quickly married him. He wasn’t who he claimed to be. He wasn’t a good man and my mother couldn’t see that.
Terra Newell.Courtesy Nikki Ryan Photography
Those close to us had suspicions. My family ended up hiring a private investigator and the information we learned terrified us: He had been arrested several times, had restraining orders from many women, was a hard-core drug user and so much more.
When my siblings told my mom this, she left him. But a few months later, she was back in his arms. He was a master manipulator who convinced her what the private investigator found was about another John Meehan.
Eventually, my mother realized he was evil, and left him for good. Then he spiraled out of control. Doing malicious things and making her life miserable. He tried to sabotage her company, lit her car on fire, stalked my family and sent us threats. All of this led up to my attack and the moment that forever changed my life.
Three years later and this day is now a celebration of my life. A day to show other women they can fight back. A day to educate others on the red flags from master manipulators. A day to show others there is life after a diagnosis of PTSD.
John Meehan.California Department of Corrections
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The positive response from the public has encouraged me to make it a life goal to help others encountering relationship red flags. I also work to promote PTSD awareness and share my knowledge on self-defense. I’ve never had such clarity on what I’m supposed to do in my life. I’m doing everything I can to spread the word now with interviews, speaking to college students and starting my very own podcast,Time Out With Terra.
Even though I am still struggling with PTSD, I have healed so much. People need to know that bad things can happen and you should never let those things hold you back or get you down. The most important thing I have learned is to keep going and stay positive! I am so happy I am alive to share this message, to reflect on all the amazing opportunities that have come about from such a traumatic event and to celebrate another year of living life to the fullest.
Terra Newell’s new podcast,Time Out With Terra, launched this week.
source: people.com
