Episode 9: Selena Roth: The Advocate

08/21/24 • 26 min

Do you have a story you’d like to share on TWTDNH or are you a subject matter expert who would like to shed light on any of the topics I cover? Shoot me a message!

The youngest of nine, Selena was a force of nature—a talented violinist, star athlete, and dedicated military intelligence analyst.

But behind her achievements lay a dark secret: a troubled marriage marked by manipulation and control. Just weeks after advocating for victims of domestic violence, Selena became a victim herself.
This disturbing look at domestic violence in the military makes you think: How did a woman so full of life fall prey to such a tragic fate?
This episode paints a full picture of Selena—not just as a victim, but as a cherished sister, friend, and mother whose life was tragically cut short.
What You’ll Learn:

Who is Selena Roth?
Selena's military career and family.
Her relationship with Raul Hernandez Perez.
Why coercive control is the top predictor of an abuser killing their victim.
Patterns leading up to Selena’s death.
The aftermath and advocacy.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

“If you're looking for signs of abuse in a marriage, very often the abuser is so talented at hiding their instability and abusive side that you have to look more at the spouse to see changes in them.” - Tressa Brady
“Statistically, physical violence is not the top predictor of whether or not an abuser will kill their victim, but rather, being coercively controlling is the top predictor.” - Tressa Brady
"When you’re dealing with the repercussions of any disagreements with an abuser, you bend and compromise yourself to keep them from getting angry.” Tressa Brady

Resources
Podcast: “True Crime Date Night”

Hosted by: Married couple KC Witzens (audio engineer) and wife Nicole Friday (True Crime Expert).
Guest Expert: Erin Roth (Selena’s older sister)

Facebook Memorial Page:

Media Article:

Hawaii-based soldier gets 62 years in prison for bludgeoning wife to death | Stars and Stripes by WYATT OLSON STARS AND STRIPES • September 15, 2021

For Social Media Platforms/contact:

Do you have a story you’d like to share on TWTDNH or are you a subject matter expert who would like to shed light on any of the topics I cover? Shoot me a message!

The youngest of nine, Selena was a force of nature—a talented violinist, star athlete, and dedicated military intelligence analyst.

Who is Selena Roth?
Selena's military career and family.
Her relationship with Raul Hernandez Perez.
Why coercive control is the top predictor of an abuser killing their victim.
Patterns leading up to Selena’s death.
The aftermath and advocacy.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

“If you're looking for signs of abuse in a marriage, very often the abuser is so talented at hiding their instability and abusive side that you have to look more at the spouse to see changes in them.” - Tressa Brady
“Statistically, physical violence is not the top predictor of whether or not an abuser will kill their victim, but rather, being coercively controlling is the top predictor.” - Tressa Brady
"When you’re dealing with the repercussions of any disagreements with an abuser, you bend and compromise yourself to keep them from getting angry.” Tressa Brady

Resources
Podcast: “True Crime Date Night”

Hosted by: Married couple KC Witzens (audio engineer) and wife Nicole Friday (True Crime Expert).
Guest Expert: Erin Roth (Selena’s older sister)

Facebook Memorial Page:

Media Article:

Hawaii-based soldier gets 62 years in prison for bludgeoning wife to death | Stars and Stripes by WYATT OLSON STARS AND STRIPES • September 15, 2021

For Social Media Platforms/contact:

Previous Episode

Episode 8: Honor Walk: The Meghan Santiago Story

Do you have a story you’d like to share on TWTDNH or are you a subject matter expert who would like to shed light on any of the topics I cover? Shoot me a message!

What happens when the system designed to protect fails those who need it most?

In this episode, I will share with you the tragic story of Meghan Santiago, a devoted mother and military spouse who endured unimaginable abuse at the hands of her husband, Joseph Santiago, a Special Forces soldier. Through detailed court records, personal testimonies, and chilling recounts of the abuse Meghan faced, I will uncover the systemic failures that left her and her children vulnerable.

Meghan's story is one of love, sacrifice, and a planned escape that came just days too late. I hope this episode serves as a call to action and urges you to recognize the signs of abuse and understand the complexities faced by victims trying to leave dangerous situations. Let’s honor Meghan’s memory and explore how we can better protect those most vulnerable in our society.

What You’ll Learn:

Personal reflections on Shel Silverstein’s ‘The Giving Tree.’
The tragic story of Meghan Santiago.
Prevalence of femicide in America and its connection to domestic violence.
How the justice system handles military domestic violence cases.
Complexities and challenges faced by victims of domestic violence in military families.
Impact of childhood trauma on adult behavior.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

“Femicide is an epidemic in this country, across the world, actually. Three women a day die in America.” - Tressa Brady
“If you're going to bring on recruits who already have grown up in toxic environments, you have to preemptively give them the support and mental health resources that they will need.” - Tressa Brady
"Women are dying across this world from intimate partner abuse, and the military and the justice system in this country are culpable.” Tressa Brady

Resources:

Next Episode

Episode 10: Moral Injury, Mistreatment, and Murder: The Tragic Story of Private John Needham and Jacqwelyn Villagomez

Do you have a story you’d like to share on TWTDNH or are you a subject matter expert who would like to shed light on any of the topics I cover? Shoot me a message!

John Needham was a decorated soldier, an artist, and a man battling demons after serving in the Iraq War.

Despite surviving the horrors of war, his battle with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and moral injury led to a tragic outcome—taking the life of the woman he loved, Jacqwelyn Villagomez. Their story reveals the devastating failures in the military’s mental health care system.

This episode talks about the long-lasting impact of untreated mental health issues and the moral injuries that soldiers like John endure.

How did someone so full of potential end up in such a dark place? Could better mental health care have saved both John and Jackqwelyn?
What You’ll Learn:

Who are John Needham and Jacqwelyn Villagomez?
John’s military career and deployment to Baghdad.
The mental health decline that led to tragedy.
The concept of moral injury and how it affects soldiers.
The tragic incident involving Jacqwelyn.
How military failures contributed to John's fate.
The ripple effects of trauma, both in John's life and for those around him.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

“The military makes these combat warfighters weapons. They make them weapons and they don't care when they are broken because, quite frankly, it doesn't always affect their ability to be good in combat.” - Tressa Brady
“What happens when these men don't get the help they need and the men stop compartmentalizing, and they come home and they can't turn off the war? Women die.” - Tressa Brady
“Many warfighters experience moral injury when they're in combat, when they're involved in events that just go against their moral code while they're deployed.” - Tressa Brady

Resources

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