Dr Phil: I’m Scared of My Sister’s Boyfriend
Dr Phil’s guest Tracy was worried that her sister Shelly’s boyfriend Jason might be abusing the granddaughters Shelly is raising. Unsurprisingly, Shelly and Jason denied that any of this was going on. In fact, they believe that Roxy, mother of the girls, has fed them lies in hopes of winning back custody.
Tracy wanted Shelly to dump Jason, and not just because she believes he abused the two girls, who are 7 and 9 years old. She said the girls told her over Christmas break that Jason acted inappropriately around them. “This is the second time the girls have accused Jason,” Tracy said, adding that she contacted CPS about what the kids said, landing her in trouble with Shelly.
Dr Phil: Coached To Lie?
Tracy is concerned that her sister’s boyfriend Jason is abusing her grandchildren. But did their mother promise them a pony to get them to lie for her? (Julia Remezova / Shutterstock.com)
Jason admitted that he has his flaws, including drinking and ‘emotional cheating.’ However, he strongly denied any instances of abuse, saying just the accusations made him “feel angry, brokenhearted, frustrated….”
Shelly also defended Jason and insisted that the girls’ claims are untrue. When they made similar accusations in October, she contacted the police. But she said a social worker concluded that the girls had been coached to lie.
Dr Phil: Why Would Young Girls Lie About Abuse?
Who would have a motive to ask the girls to lie? Shelly and Jason suspect that her daughter Roxy, mother of the girls, is behind the scheme, and that she bribed the girls with promises of a pony. “Jason can rot in hell,” Roxy said, denying that she has manipulated her children.
Dr Phil asked Jason some hard questions about the accusations against him. He denied ever touching them inappropriately, and Shelly jumped in to say that she handles all the bathing and dressing for the girls.
Dr Phil: Excessive Drinking + Infidelity
Jason also said that he has gotten his excessive drinking under control recently. Dr Phil was worried about the risk factors, since children who live with a non-biologically related family member have a risk 31 times greater of being abused than those who do not.
Dr Phil also got Shelly to admit that Jason has been unfaithful to her during the course of their relationship, all while he insisted that he was not accusing anyone of anything. Why is Roxy so concerned about the girls? She said that Shelley called her in October to say that Jason had touched the children.
Dr Phil: Timeline of Abuse Claims
Dr Phil started poking holes in Roxy’s story, pointing out that the girls spoke up to her in May 2014. Why did she wait to report what happened to her? She said that Jason also made an advance toward her. But Dr Phil questioned her about the timeline, citing another incident involving CPS in May 2014.
“You’re telling me a different story now. You’re all over the chart,” Dr Phil said. “I’m curious why you’re fuzzy about this.” He also talked to Shelly about that October phone call; she said she took the girls to the police department. They issued a letter in late November concluding that the report was “unsubstantiated.”
Dr Phil #SeekingFacts: Lying for a Pony?
When the girls spoke up to Tracy in December, she contacted authorities as well. The girls were removed from the home and a new investigation was opened and was presumably ongoing at the time of this episode’s taping.
Dr Phil also shared some information from the children themselves, including a note written by the 7-year-old indicating her potential plan to lie in exchange for a pony. He attempted to analyze the writings, and they did suggest that Roxy attempted to influence the girls. “I am sorry, but I never coached the girls and I have never promised them a pony,” Roxy said. “I don’t know why they’re saying this stuff.”
What did you think about this episode? Share your thoughts about this family and who should have custody of the young girls. Use the hashtag #SeekingFacts to chat on social media.
Dr Phil: Child Abuse Red Flags
Should you be worried that your child has been abused? Some common signs to watch for include:
- Behavioral Changes
- Nightmares or Night Sweats
- Unexplained Injuries
- Unusual Display of Affection
- Behavioral Regression
- Changes in Appetite
- Reluctance To Be Alone with Certain People
If you are worried about a situation involving a child’s safety, don’t hesitate to contact authorities. Call 911 or your local emergency number for immediate assistance.
Other resources include the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4ACHILD or online at childhelp.org and the National Domestic Violence/Abuse Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or thehotline.org.
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