abandoned by her husband:
MARY AND JOSEPH
LOUISVILLE, KY
2006: Mary met her husband Joe’s sisters before she met Joe himself, back in 2006 at a Bible study group.
Six months later when Mary decided to open a café, Joe’s sister offered Joe’s help as he was in town from Texas. He dedicated time and hard work to help Mary with the construction and opening of the café. They became close throughout this process.
Once the café opened, Mary and Joe began dating and it was only a couple months before he asked her to marry him and she said yes. It was such an easy answer for her because they shared a faith, and had so many other things in common (which Mary now feels might have been orchestrated by Joe.)
Mary and Joe were married on May 16, 2012. They enjoyed 10 years of partnership before things went South. They raised her children together, worked together, did everything together. They were best friends, and she remembers the time fondly.
Joe helped Mary grow her counseling business from one to six offices.
When the kids grew older and out of the house, Mary and Joe were ready enjoy time for themselves. In June of 2019 Mary and Joe closed the businesses and left on a carefree trip to travel, enjoy themselves and not work.
Joe seemed uncomfortable with the constant change of travel. Mary thinks that the travel triggered something inside of him.
In Oklahoma, Mary was prescribed permission for medical marijuana for PTSD issues leftover from a rough childhood. They met a friend who helped supply her with a significant amount of marijuana which was illegal in the state at that time. When Mary and Joe returned to Tennessee, the police were tipped off about her stash and showed up at her home, only to find Joe’s firearm on the night stand along with the marijuana. He had an open carry permit and usually travelled with a firearm. Mary was arrested on felony charges.
In hindsight, Mary remembers Joe leaving his firearm out on the nightstand for a week leading up to the arrest which was unlike him. He was not home at the time of her arrest. Mary’s working theory is that her husband set her up to be arrested because he wanted to get out of the marriage and was too uncomfortable to express his feelings face-to-face.
Once in jail, Mary’s bond was so high that Joe maintained he could not afford to get her out. She stayed for 10 nights in prison.
In late November of 2021 when Joe eventually did come to pick Mary up in jail, she thought it odd that he also brought her son and his (Joe’s) car. When the two arrived, Joe got into her son’s car, and Mary was left on her own. Minutes later, Joe sent Mary a text that only said “I’m Done.” And that’s the last time she’s ever heard from him… Her son doesn’t know where his father went after they went home.
Mary was in a state of shock and denial for the next two to three months. She started to pick apart all the warning signs, because she previously was completely blindsided. Up until Joe left, Mary still considered him her best friend.
Joe’s mom has always had severe mental health issues and Mary had heard about the abuse he suffered from his mother during childhood. While Mary had marveled at how “well-rounded” Joe was despite his upbringing, she started to think that maybe wasn’t the case.
Mary has no idea of Joe’s whereabouts but she believes he would still be in Tennessee, because she knows he values stability and still keeps in touch with the kids (although they do not know where he is.)
Mary has tried to reach out to Joe via call and text but he doesn’t respond.
Mary hasn’t pursued divorce because it’s not an emotional toll she’s ready to take on. Candidly Mary plans to collect his social security as they are still legally married.