About this episode
This week on The Dating Detectives , we meet Sandra, an accomplished counselor whose relationship began with friendship, trust, and late-night heart-to-hearts during the pandemic. But what started as a slow-burn romance with a charming EMT quickly spiraled into a web of lies, emotional manipulation, financial devastation, and ultimately, physical violence. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Sandra bravely walks us through the gradual erosion of reality that left her questioning everything, including her own sanity. It’s a textbook case of how abusers groom, isolate, and control, layer by layer, and a powerful reminder that trusting your instincts isn’t just important, it can be life-saving. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes descriptions of emotional, financial, and physical abuse Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page. And now for $9 a month you can get all of that, plus ad free episodes! If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this link This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Ava. Rebuild your credit fast with no interest, no credit check, with AVA. Download the AVA app and use promo code. This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Simpli Pop. Find your favorite new prebiotic soda at CokeURL.com/SimplyPop . Take control of your data today. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan by visiting joindeleteme.com/datingdetectives and using the promo code TDD at checkout. ***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances. If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .