A woman who was attacked by a man wearing a mask has described how she found out that it was her ex-husband.
Morgan Metzer, a survivor of the harrowing ordeal, recounted the terrifying moments she endured to the Sun.
Her ordeal unfolded in the early hours of New Year's Day 2021 when she awoke to the presence of a masked intruder, wielding a voice distortion tool that echoed something out of a superhero movie.
With her twins away on vacation, she found herself alone, and vulnerable, as the nightmare commenced.
"I screamed so loud, it’s a scream that I don’t think I can ever do again. It was so painful," she recounted. "Soon enough, he was on top of me."
What followed was a brutal assault, with the intruder subjecting her to vicious beatings, restraints, and sexual assault.
Metzer, recalling the moment when her life hung by a thread as the assailant began to choke her, described it as "the worst feeling in the world."
"At that point, I knew I was going to die," she told the outlet.
Even in the midst of the horror, Morgan couldn't shake off a gut feeling about the attacker's identity.
The mask, reminiscent of Batman, and a chilling remark about her family from the assailant fueled her suspicions.
"That's when I went, 'Wow, it's him,'" she recalled. "Why would somebody randomly say you're going to miss your husband?"
Bound and left half-naked in the freezing cold, Morgan struggled to stay conscious, fearing the worst.
However, a glimmer of hope emerged when help arrived in the form of her ex-husband, Rodney Metzer, who rushed to the scene after being alerted by a stranger.
Despite Rodney's apparent concern, Morgan's doubts intensified. Accusations flew as they awaited police, with her accusing him of the heinous act - a claim he vehemently denied.
Morgan's resilience and quick thinking ultimately led to Rodney's arrest, as investigators uncovered damning evidence, including surveillance footage and incriminating purchases.
Rodney's facade of innocence crumbled as investigators exposed his manipulative tactics, including faking a cancer diagnosis and forging documents in a desperate bid to regain control over Morgan's life.
Assistant District Attorney Rachel Ashe shed light on Rodney's calculated scheme, revealing a twisted plot that veered from murder-suicide to a staged rescue attempt.
"Fortunately, sheriff’s office investigators saw through this scheme and quickly arrested the defendant," Ashe stated, per the New York Post.
In a courtroom confession, Rodney pleaded guilty to a litany of charges, including kidnapping and sexual battery.
As part of a plea deal, he was sentenced to 70 years behind bars.
Despite the traumatic ordeal she went through, Morgan finds solace in sharing her story, advocating for awareness and support for survivors of domestic abuse.
"I want to raise awareness for people who are suffering silently," Morgan asserted. "I want women to learn to speak in a circle together of people they trust. I didn't realize how toxic my situation was, and how much lighter life could be."
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or rainn.org in the US, or contact rapecrisis.org.uk or call 0808 500 2222 in the UK.
.jpg_exlGSq?tr=h-184)
.png_MFNSM9?tr=h-184)
