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When catfishing turns to murder

The Murder of Brian Barrett

MarineSniper was 46-year old Thomas Montgomery, a married father of two. In 2005, posing as a young, handsome Iraq-bound Marine, he entered a teen chat room the popular game site "Pogo."

When 18-year-old Talhotblond (Being Mary Sheiler a woman in her 40’s but using her daughters name Jessi and images) started instant-messaging him.

This lead to a full blown romance. It all fell apart a few short months later. One of his daughters was using the computer when a chat from Jessi popped up. She showed her mother and everything was revealed. His wife thought he was actually speaking with an 18 year old so she wrote Jessi a letter outing him.

Jessi was seemingly heartbroken so she reached out to one of MarineSniper’s coworkers (Thomas Montgomery.

This was 22 year old Brian Barrett, he confirmed that Thomas Montgomery was 46 year old man. Brian comforted Jessi (catfish) and started a relationship which angered Thomas Montgomery.

Brian and Jessi decided they would meet up on and that was the tipping point for Montgomery.

On September 15, 2006, Brian Barrett was leaving work when he was shot to death in the parking lot.

Everyone knew how jealous Montgomery was so the police figured it out quickly. They were worried about Jessi so they went to her house and found Mary Sheiler.

They figured out that it was Mary catfishing but she technically did nothing wrong. Her husband divorced her and her daughter went to live with relatives.

Thomas Montgomery was sentenced to 20 years in jail.

Catfishing can come with bad consequences. What do you all think?

Sources:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/online-love-triangle-deception-end-murder/story?id=14371076

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/web-user-sentenced-for-killing-online-rival-1.636158

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

DrWatson · 70-79, M

Well, that story made me cringe.

There is so much that I cannot fathom.

To begin with, I would think that after a while, it would be pretty obvious that the 18 year old you are chatting with does not talk like an 18 year old.

I also find it mindboggling to feel so violently jealous over a "relationship" with someone you never intend to meet, since doing so would expose the lie you are telling about yourself.

For that matter, what did she think would happen when she met with Brian and he saw she was not 18?

And I find it rather sick to use one's own daughter's pictures to encourage amorous conversation.

The only sane (although naïve) one was the guy who got killed. 🙁

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@DrWatson the exploration of her daughter is absolutely vile and there are no excuses for that.

As for the rest people will believe what they choose too. I have called out many catfish who give excuses and there are still some here who believe they are genuine and believe the lies they tell because they want to live in that fantasy world.

It’s so harmful and damaging but lots of people want to believe the lies they tell.

SW-User

That’s terrible and why would any woman in her 40s pretend to be 18 and use her own daughters photos? That’s just sick

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SW-User

@iamonfire696 That is seriously sick .I don't have facebook.

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@SW-User I know, there is no words

SW-User

@iamonfire696 I just can't imagine using my kids face to attract someone..i can't even fathom that .

TexChik · F

Omgosh some genius , a VIP member no less, threatened to rape and murder me this morning . 😂🤷🏻‍♀️

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iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@TexChik I am sorry he did that to you.

TexChik · F

@iamonfire696 oh that has happened before on EP . A detailed account of my abduction , how he was going to restrain me, my rape, and my murder .

I replied that there was counseling for men with tiny wieners now . He blocked me 😂

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@TexChik well that guy is such a creep

CookieCrumbs · F

We’ll never really know who is really at the other end of that online account.

It helps to be selective who we interact with and what we disclose.

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@CookieCrumbs I agree with you but there are people here who purposely come here to deceive people.

SkeetSkeet · 100+, F

This kinda reminds me of my brother's gf. Her mom always had two phone and one time she left it in the couch. It was ringing and she checked it out and it was all calls/messages from some dude saying he loved her. Her mom was also in a 3 year relationship at the time with someone else. She read their messages and her mom had been talking her pictures and cropping her head on her on her body. She even said her mom sent him bikini pictures with her head.

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iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@SkeetSkeet it’s very weird. I feel so bad for her that her mom would do that to her😢.

SkeetSkeet · 100+, F

@iamonfire696 yeah I guess her mom also told this guy she had no kids (she has 3) and her daughter was her roommate that she didn't like. It's crazy the stories people come up with when they catfish.

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@SkeetSkeet Why did this woman have kids? Just to exploit them?

I feel sorry for her.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

Holy shit. Just read the first linked story.

In the beginning you have two middle aged peeps catfishing each other and it's like whatever, just another day online. Right? But then the younger guy gets involved and ends up dead?!?! That's crazy. He was the only one being honest. 😔

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@sarabee1995 I know, it’s so crazy. He was the only honest one in the triangle and he died.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@iamonfire696 😔

SW-User

What a horrible mess of delusions all around.
And even when it does not lead to murder, this kind of pretending can mess with people's emotions very badly. I've seen that happen.

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@SW-User it’s awful that young man lost his life in all of that mess and lies.

You’re right, I have seen the same thing.

windinhishair · 61-69, M

Wow. So many people were hurt by something that should never have been done in the first place. What kind of person catfishes? How can it be meaningful if it is based on a lie?

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@windinhishair That’s what I think too. How can any relationship like that be meaningful when it’s all based on a lie.

It’s too bad it ended the way it did and that innocent young man was killed.

brain163 · 61-69, M

Just wow..................it pays to be who you are.

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brain163 · 61-69, M

@iamonfire696 He fell badly, so deeply. It is easy to be misled.......I think most of us have had experience with that in the past. 😪

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@brain163 that’s so sad though

brain163 · 61-69, M

@iamonfire696 Very very sad...................he was so in love he had no chance. 😪

robingoodfellow · M

There's so much wrong going on here but what's most unthinkable to me is a mother using her daughter's pictures to lure in men.

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@robingoodfellow I know, how could she do this to her own daughter. Exploit her that way.

I feel bad for her daughter.

SmileOnYourBrother

There are more fake marines on social media than there are real soldiers in the armed forces.

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@SmileOnYourBrother There is so many fake ones. I get so many requests on Facebook from these “marines”. I report them and delete the request.

SW-User

JC that is scary

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SW-User

@iamonfire696 keep doing what you're doing ! Yes there are .

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@SW-User Thank you 💖

SW-User

@iamonfire696 No! Thank you for calling people out .

Canuckle · 51-55, M

I can see it happening.

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iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@Canuckle I completely agree with you. There are people on this website that I could see this happening too.

Canuckle · 51-55, M

@iamonfire696 it’s very true. I can very well see it happen here. I always wondered how many people took a wrong turn due to EP. I can see if a person doesn’t manage things self harm or other harm is of great potential.

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@Canuckle the internet can be filled with very supportive people but it’s also filled with very hurtful and damaged people.

Hurt people do exactly that, they hurt others. I have experienced it myself here and I have seen it happen to many others.

This happened 17-18 years ago and now catfishing is even more prominent than it’s ever been.

Ghostinthemachine · M

Scary and effed up. I’m closing my account.
All 9 of them

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@Ghostinthemachine some people might start believing you when you keep making comments like this.

Ghostinthemachine · M

@iamonfire696 🤷

FutureIdol · 31-35, M

omg I remember watching that tallhotblonde movie on lifetime it was scary.

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@FutureIdol I don’t think I have seen it. I will look it up, thanks.

GJOFJ3 · 61-69, M

There is no accounting for online stupidity

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@GJOFJ3 this is very true. That’s what happens when you dangle a fantasy like this in front of someone who is unhappy with their current situation.

They see this as an opportunity to get out of their current circumstances or at least an escape. When that fantasy/escape ended this man lost it completely and a young man died.

People get mad at me for calling out liars like this but these are the kinds of things that can happen.

GJOFJ3 · 61-69, M

@iamonfire696 I applaud you

Ferric67 · M

that's fucked up

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@Ferric67 isn’t it so messed up. That’s why I think people shouldn’t do these things.

Ferric67 · M

@iamonfire696 its why i endorse you calling people out. I've actually considered reaching out to you in an effort to legitimize certain users. Keep up the good work

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@Ferric67 Well thank you. Some people hate it so much that I do it.

Starchild1983 · 41-45, F

Damn..

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@Starchild1983 There’s a few people here that I could see doing this honestly.

We do enough crappy things when we are just being ourselves but doing this is just so deceitful IMO.

BeefySenpie · M

Both parties of the original couple need a psychological assessment. Well just her now I guess, since he’s locked up

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@BeefySenpie Of course they do but this is what can happen when you match two mentally unwell people together.

eMortal · M

Brian got too much involved.

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@eMortal I agree but he thought she was real.

DDonde · 31-35, M

What the hell

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@DDonde I know, it’s insane isn’t it.

You get someone who is in an unhappy living situation and then dangle the prospect of a very young beautiful woman in front of them and then when that fantasy/escape implodes they do insane things.

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