🩸 “I was the victim. I called 911. They believed her.”
On October 1, 2004, Bruce Whealton was violently assaulted in his own home. He called 911, bleeding, terrified, and disoriented. First responders treated his injuries, documented the scene, and began interviewing witnesses. While officers were still investigating, the woman who attacked him—Ana—walked into the police station and claimed to be the victim.
The system believed her.
Despite Bruce’s visible injuries, corroborating witnesses, and evidence at the scene, detectives sided with the attacker. Bruce was arrested, charged, and coerced into a guilty plea two years later. Diagnosed with PTSD, Major Depression, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder prior to the plea, Bruce was in no psychological state to withstand the legal pressure. His court-appointed attorney—who had once said, “No jury would believe you did this”—pressured him to plead guilty to a crime he didn’t commit.
This episode is a turning point in the podcast series—a transition from memoir to legal reckoning. Bruce presents his case for post-conviction relief through North Carolina’s Motion for Appropriate Relief (MAR), drawing from newly organized evidence, legal research, and a detailed briefing document.
🔍 In This Episode:
The disappearance of the original 911 police report, raising serious questions about a cover-up
A timeline of events on October 1, 2004, including Ana’s husband's earlier complaint—suggesting premeditation
Ana’s criminal record for prior assaults, likely pleaded down to “simple assault”
Bruce’s federally recognized disability status, which invalidates the plea
His lawyer’s failure to protect him—and the moment Bruce muttered in court: “That’s what he told me to say.”
This episode is not just about one man's trauma—it's about the trauma inflicted by a justice system that gets it wrong, punishes the innocent, and then refuses to listen.
🎙️ “I don’t need a second chance. I never broke trust. I am not who they said I was—and I won’t carry their shame anymore.”
📘 Read the memoir:
bit.ly/ThreeTimesAVictimMemoir
🌐 Author’s website and legal background:
bit.ly/ThreeTimesAVictimBook
🎧 Full podcast series and YouTube episodes:
bit.ly/ThreeTimesPodcast
📣 Support the campaign for justice:
https://gofund.me/0965cdce
Tags (for Spotify/RedCircle/YouTube):
#ThreeTimesAVictim #FalseAccusation #WrongfulConviction #TraumaSurvivor #MotionForRelief #NarrativeTherapy #MentalHealthAdvocacy #JusticeFailed #CPTSDRecovery #BruceWhealton #YouAreNotAlone #VictimNotPerpetrator #TruthMatters #SystemicInjustice