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The First Wife: John Meehan's Reign of Terror

Written by: Tonia Bales, Laura Richards, AYR Media
Narrated by: Rachel Louise Snyder
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  • Summary

  • Many listened to the Dirty John podcast, which introduced the world to John Meehan, a dangerous serial predator who infiltrates the life of Debra Newell and ultimately dies at the hand of her daughter, Terra. But there was an overlooked story that’s now being told, in full, for the first time. In The First Wife: John Meehan’s Reign of Terror, Tonia Bales recounts her harrowing experiences as John’s wife of 10 years and the mother of their daughters, Emily and Abby. Highlighting new details and revelations, Tonia shares the abuse she suffered from the man she once believed to be her soulmate, but who ultimately revealed himself as a coercive and controlling terrorist. Through exclusive archival materials and all-new interviews with the people who knew her and John best, uncovering long-held secrets and including perspective from their daughters, Tonia embarks on a re-investigation of the man she thought she knew. The multiple bombshells she unearths include one that will change her and her daughters’ lives forever.
    ©2021 AYR MEDIA, LLC (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC
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True Crime
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Episodes
  • Trailer

    Trailer
    Jul 12 2021

    You can listen to The First Wife: John Meehan's Reign of Terror full podcast on Thursday, July 22.

    Many people listened to the Dirty John podcast, about a scheming psychopath who infiltrates the life of a woman and ultimately dies at the hand of her daughter. But there was an overlooked story, now being told in full, for the first time. Tonia Bales, John Meehan’s first wife, recounts the harrowing story of her life as John’s wife and mother of his two daughters. Tonia reveals the abuse she suffered from the man who started as her soulmate and became a terrifying emotional terrorist. Through new interviews with the people who knew her and John best and exclusive archival materials, Tonia learns that there’s a lot about her traumatic marriage that she never knew, including one bombshell that will change her and her daughters’ lives forever.
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    1 min
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  • Episode 1: Filthy John Meehan

    Episode 1: Filthy John Meehan
    Jul 22 2021
    As Tonia prepares to begin the podcast about her life with John Meehan, her daughter Abby gets a Facebook message from a man claiming to be John’s long-lost son, allegedly conceived during Tonia and John’s engagement. The revelation prompts Tonia to re-investigate her marriage to John, and discover what else she doesn’t know about him and their relationship. She remembers their storybook courtship and marriage, and how it began to fall apart.
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    37 mins
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  • Episode 1: Bonus Episode

    Episode 1: Bonus Episode
    Jul 22 2021
    Criminal Behavioral Analyst Laura Richards joins Tonia Bales for a deep dive into "Episode 1: Filthy John Meehan".
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    15 mins
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Profile Image for Marie Roy

Excellent! Great follow up to Dirty John

I loved this podcast, and the bonus episodes with Laura Richards are honestly amazing. Thank you for covering this POV!

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Profile Image for Happy Feet

A thorough look into the machinations of a psycho

After knowing the story of Debra Newell and John Meehan, this podcast reaches further back in time to his first family. Hearing the contempt in his voice on the telephone recordings gives me chills and yet it’s helpful to actually hear the manipulation happening in real time. If anybody needs a reminder of how abuse doesn’t always sound like abuse and that these types will go to any lengths to destroy lives without limits or remorse, this is for you. The bonus episodes with the coercive control expert deconstruct the sometimes confusing and continually destructive words and behaviour are helpful in identifying problematic and dangerous behaviour. Thank you Tanya and family for doing this podcast. You’re helping a lot of people.

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