The Third Man | EP 8

Stephani Young (0:04)

Hey, everyone. Before we start this episode, I want to let you know that this one includes some graphic descriptions of pregnancy loss, including both abortion and miscarriage. This episode also mentions suicide and includes allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence.

When Clayton Echard walked into the courtroom for his June 10th trial against Laura Owens, he wasn't alone. The room was packed with supportive family, friends and dedicated content creators like Dave Neal.

Dave Neal (0:40)

There were 50 people in the courtroom and 10,000 online.

Stephani Young (0:44)

Clayton says having that support actually calmed his nerves.

Clayton Echard (0:48)

I wasn't nervous because it's bigger than me.

Stephani Young (0:51)

It was bigger than him. There were two people in the courtroom that day who'd been in Clayton's shoes. They'd been subpoenaed to testify because they'd been through something similar with Laura Owens. The first?

Laura Owens (1:05)

Greg Gillespie.

Greg Woodnick (1:06)

Is he in the courtroom today?

Laura Owens (1:07)

Yes.

Stephani Young (1:08)

You already know Greg's story. But there was a third man in court supporting Clayton.

When Clayton got on the stand, his attorney took a moment to point out the two witnesses.

Greg Woodnick (1:22)

You're aware that she's filed orders of protection against two other individuals seated in the back of the courtroom, correct?

Clayton Echard (1:26)

That's correct, yes.

Greg Woodnick (1:27)

They are on the left, Greg Gillespie and Michael Marraccini.

Stephani Young (1:31)

Time ran out before Clayton's lawyers could call either witness. But that wasn't the point.

Clayton Echard (1:36)

All you need to do is just acknowledge that they exist. Because then the judge sees it and goes, these guys showed up, there's three of them. This corroborates the story that clearly this woman is at fault and she's not going to stop.

Stephani Young (1:48)

As you know, the judge sided with Clayton. She went so far as to recommend that the county attorney's office review Laura's actions to determine if they warranted criminal charges. It was a win for Clayton and for both of the men who'd come prepared to testify that day. One of them has been working to clear his name for almost a decade. And his story may be the most disturbing of them all.

Michael Marraccini (2:14)

My name is Mike Marraccini. I dated Laura for a year and a half.

Stephani Young (2:27)

I'm Stephani Young, and this is Love Trapped. Six years before Laura Owens met Clayton Echard, and four years before she met Greg Gillespie, she was living in San Francisco and was swiping on dating apps, which is how she met Mike Marraccini.

Michael Marraccini (3:11)

When I think back on what originally made me swipe, right, there was a photo of her in like a plaid shirt, jean shorts, she looks like almost like a little country girl. And she looked really cute. You didn't see a lot of that in the Bay Area. Her bio mentioned that she was a big animal lover, which I've always grown up around animals, and that was attractive to me.

Stephani Young (3:39)

So they started messaging and made plans to meet up for a drink.

Michael Marraccini (3:43)

Our first few dates were actually really fun. We had a lot in common. I actually thought, you know, maybe this individual is a little on the nervous side or timid side, but I give everybody an opportunity.

Stephani Young (3:56)

Within a few dates, they discovered they had mutual friends. Mike says he's not a bridge burner. He generally avoids conflict. Every woman he dated, he tried to leave on friendly terms with.

Michael Marraccini (4:07)

That's how I always viewed our relationship is, hey, if it doesn't work out as a loving relationship, maybe we can be friendly with one another because we did have a lot of similar friend groups.

Stephani Young (4:21)

Back then, Mike and Laura were both in their late 20s. He was dating around, hoping to find the right person to settle down with. During the early days of their relationship, Mike saw a side of Laura we haven't heard much about.

Michael Marraccini (4:35)

She was really thoughtful. She was always picking up baked goods and bringing them over. She was always just thinking about, you know, fun things to do and what we could possibly do. And then really asking a lot about my family.

Stephani Young (4:53)

But within a few months, that side of Laura was replaced by something else. Intense control, guilt trips, broken promises, and constant medical crises.

Michael Marraccini (5:05)

I know what this woman's capable of, and though she might be small in stature, she's got a pattern of behavior that is just diabolical.