Juggling her university studies, a job and a toddler certainly kept Bethany Decker busy. The 21-year-old was motivated and full of energy, with a bright future.
She was studying global and economic change at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, working as a waitress to support herself through classes.
While at university, Bethany met Emile Decker, an Army National Guardsman. She became pregnant and the couple married in 2009. Six months later, their son was born.
Emile would be deployed to Afghanistan for months at a time. His parents would help care for the couple's son in Columbia, Maryland while Bethany continued her studies and worked at an Italian restaurant.
Bethany admitted to friends that she was lonely when her husband was away. At the restaurant, she met Ronald Roldan and they started an affair.
Roldan was originally from Bolivia and had children with several women. It's unknown whether Bethany knew he also had a criminal record.
In 2010, Bethany and Emile started to have marital problems and Bethany moved out to an apartment of her own in Ashburn, Virginia.
She continued to date Roldan and he moved in.
Bethany's loved ones were concerned about the relationship. Roldan was possessive and controlling.
He would make Bethany send a picture of herself on her mobile, several times a day, to prove who she was with.
Bethany's family called domestic violence helplines to try to help get her away. By the end of 2010, Bethany was pregnant. She was still in touch with her husband, and when he returned from deployment for a month's leave in January 2011, they tried to make their marriage work.
THE DISAPPEARANCE
The spouses went to Hawaii for a week. They returned on 28 January and stayed at Bethany's grandparents' home in Maryland.
Esta historia es de la edición January 01, 2024 de New UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 01, 2024 de New UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
A TASTE OF KOREA
Quick and easy meals to bring a touch of Asia to your table
"Womb Raider' killed pregnant teen and sliced out her baby
A mother and daughter teamed up to murder
'Bodybuilding changed my life at 50'
Wife and mother Nicola Shaw had lost her identity and self-esteem until she took up weight training and started entering competitions
'My dad's even more excited than me!
Soap star Bobby Brazier is being put through his paces by his ex-footballer father as he prepares for Soccer Aid
"I want us to embrace our individuality'
Love Islander Liberty Poole celebrates her newfound confidence as she calls for urgent action on body shaming
'I'm so beside myself that I got picked
Singer and actress Alexandra Burke on her TV acting debut, family life and keeping her mum's memory alive
'I was single for nine years-I'm fussy!
Sinitta opens up about juggling romance with motherhood and shares her views on Celebrity Big Brother’s last explosive series
Dan'kept on his toes' by Jac's male admirers
Dan Osborne appears to have been put out by online attention from fans prompted by wife Jacqueline Jossa's swimwear selfies, a source tells new
It was a very sad, hard and testing time'
Made In Chelsea's Ruby Adler on raising awareness about ovarian cancer following her aunt's death from the disease
Stacey sorts out a getaway with her girlfriends
As Stacey Solomon's career continues to go from strength to strength, sources say the busy mum-of-five is desperate for a blow-out break with her pals this summer