Georgia guy who attacked, then rescued, ex-wife after violent house invasion was hoping to be her hero

When Morgan Metzer glimpsed a masked determine status in her bed room doorway in a while after nighttime on New 12 months’s Day 2021, she concept she may simply be seeing issues. However then —

Morgan Metzer: He is status there like a soldier, like together with his fist clenched and prefer he was once able to move. … He ran at me and jumped on most sensible of me. And that is the reason when he began pistol-whipping me.

Simply hours previous, she’d been able to ring within the new yr in Canton, Georgia, together with her perfect buddy, Nichole Stabasefski.

Nichole Stabasefski: That is what we had been having a look ahead to. … And I knew she was once exhausted.

It were an extended yr for Morgan. Not too long ago divorced, her 8-year-old dual son and daughter had been spending a couple of days together with her sister in Florida.

Nichole Stabasefski: I imply we are mothers. … We simply sought after to hang around for a moment. … We had deliberate for it.

However after arriving at Stabasefski’s, Morgan, feeling drained, made up our minds to make it an early night time.

Nichole Stabasefski: When she left, I did — I — I gave her some crap. I used to be like, “what are you doing?” … And I used to be like, “You loser, high-quality, no matter. Textual content me while you get house, blah, blah, blah, see you the next day.”

A VIOLENT INTRUDER DRESSED IN BLACK

Little may both buddy have guessed that a little while later, Morgan can be in worry for her existence. Her attacker had introduced zip ties with him, already pre-looped and intertwined. He put Morgan’s palms at the back of her again, slipped them on, and tightened them.

Morgan Metzer: It is an out-of-body enjoy.

Nikki Battiste: I will be able to’t consider what you are considering. What you feel.

Morgan Metzer: Inclined, uncovered. What is going to occur to my children? … I have never completed a will. … I have never talked to my circle of relatives about who will get them. … I used to be like … “they are no longer going to have a mother.”

Her assailant strangled her just about subconscious two times.

Morgan Metzer: It is the worst feeling on this planet to assume you are demise. And you’re feeling like you will be tortured previously.

Morgan’s attacker sexually assaulted her.

Nikki Battiste: Who did you assume was once attacking you? 

Morgan Metzer: I do not know. I simply felt love it was once some random individual. 

Along with the masks, the intruder had taken nice pains to conceal himself.

Morgan Metzer: Black … hoodie jacket. … Black pants, black gloves.

He mentioned little or no, but if he did, Morgan says her assailant gave the look to be disguising his voice — making it sound low and gravelly just like the Batman motion pictures. He additionally perceived to learn about Morgan’s private existence — particularly, her fresh divorce.

Nikki Battiste: He mentioned one thing about your husband.

Morgan Metzer: Sure. “You are going to leave out your husband.” I mentioned, “No, do not harm my husband.”

Morgan says her thoughts raced seeking to piece in combination why this was once taking place to her.

Morgan Metzer: I swear, I love went via my complete existence in my head. That is how my mind was once … simply all over. I imply, 50,000 tabs spread out at one time in my mind.

Her attacker demanded to understand the place Morgan saved her valuables.

Morgan Metzer: “The place’s your jewellery? The place’s,” you already know, “all your different great stuff?” And he’s ripping out stuff out of my, you already know, my drawers.

After which —

Morgan Metzer: The attacker requested for my telephone and the passcode to my telephone.

Morgan’s space had an alarm machine which she’d set ahead of going to mattress. An app on her telephone managed it, at the side of a number of safety cameras round her house and a lock at the door of her second-floor bed room which led out to a again porch.

Morgan Metzer: I wasn’t too positive what he was once doing on my telephone on the time till I heard a, uh, a door lock open, which was once for the again porch.

The attacker had unlocked the door remotely via that app on Morgan’s telephone. Morgan says he put a pillowcase over her head.

Morgan Metzer: He were given me out of the mattress, walked me out to the again porch. I used to be bare … nonetheless with my zip tie handcuffs at the back of my again.

Nikki Battiste: Did he simply depart you there?

Morgan Metzer: Sure.

Nikki Battiste: What did he say as he left?

Morgan Metzer: He mentioned, “don’t rise up till you listen two automobile honks or I’m going to kill you.”

Morgan’s belongings was once secluded, with little probability of a neighbor seeing or listening to her at the again porch. And with that pillowcase over her head and the attacker’s ultimate phrases of caution ringing in her ears, Morgan had no means of understanding if he — or somebody else — was once staring at her.

Morgan Metzer: I simply listened to the move and attempted to be as non violent and calm as I may.

40 mins handed. Then, a legitimate within the distance struck terror in Morgan all over the place once more.

Morgan Metzer: I listen any person strolling up.

Not able to look, she feared her attacker had returned to complete the activity.

Morgan Metzer: I listen them shuffling, strolling and so they hit the steps. … And I knew they had been on the most sensible when he hit the primary board and it creaked in reality loud.

That is when Morgan heard an overly acquainted voice.g

Morgan Metzer: “Oh honey, what took place?”

Morgan’s grueling ordeal was once in the end over. And who would transform her rescuer? Her ex-husband Rod Metzer.

A HERO TO THE RESCUE?

When Morgan’s ex-husband Rod Metzer became up at her space, he instantly known as 911.

911 DISPATCHER: Cherokee County 911.

ROD METZER: Anyone — any person broke in over right here.

ROD METZER: She was once at the again porch. Uh, and — and the again door was once broad open.

ROD METZER: She was once tied up with a hood over her head.

As they waited for assist to reach, Rod attempted to console Morgan. Their dialog heard at the 911 name.

MORGAN METZER (911 name): Please do not depart, Rod.

ROD METZER: I will be proper right here.

MORGAN METZER: Please.

ROD METZER: I will depart the door open, OK?

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: He got here up and — and rescued her at the again porch.

Nikki Battiste: Stored her.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: Stored her.

Nikki Battiste: Her hero.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: Completely.

Sergeant Dakota Lyvers was once a detective with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Division in 2021. He had a large number of questions. Precisely why had Rod long gone to Morgan’s house in the midst of the evening?

Rod moved out of Morgan’s house and into his personal condo in a while after the divorce, mentioned Lyvers.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: He was once … getting able for mattress. He was once brushing his tooth when he heard knocking on his window. Um, that knocking was once accompanied via a voice during which he may handiest decipher the phrase “Morgan” was once being mentioned.

Involved, Rod mentioned he attempted calling Morgan, however she did not solution.

Nikki Battiste: What did he say he was once considering? I imply, somebody knocks on his window within the early morning hours of New 12 months’s Day.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: He clearly went to the worst. Um, he concept that that one thing was once, uh, gonna occur to Morgan or one thing may well be taking place to Morgan.

Rod instructed investigators he’d gotten in his automobile and made the 12-minute force over to his ex-wife’s space. In spite of being divorced, Rod mentioned he was once nonetheless having a look out for Morgan. Their courting stretched again just about two decades.

Nikki Battiste: How previous had been you while you met Rod?

Morgan Metzer: 14 years previous.

Nikki Battiste: Used to be it love in the beginning sight?

Morgan Metzer: Sure, it was once. It was once — it was once horrifying how briskly it was once.

Kathy Metzer: He was once 17 at the moment.

Kathy Metzer is Rod’s mom.

Kathy Metzer: We had been on a baseball (generic term) and he mentioned, “Mother, you are gonna meet Morgan this night.” And I mentioned, “Who is Morgan?” “That is my female friend.” And I mentioned, “What?” He mentioned, “Be great.” (laughs)

Nikki Battiste: Did Rod alternate in any respect when he was once courting Morgan?

Kathy Metzer: Oh, yeah. … There was once not anything that she may point out that she did not get.

Nikki Battiste: How did he deal with you?

Morgan Metzer:  Wonderful. … He known as me “princess.” And so he actually handled me like that.

Nobody was once stunned when the couple married in 2009. Morgan was once 21 years previous.

Kathy Metzer: Morgan was once probably the most beautiful brides I have ever noticed in my existence.

Kathy Metzer: Climate was once highest. It was once out of doors, so thank goodness for the elements.

Morgan Metzer: It was once the entirety I dreamed of. My dad gave me the entirety I may need, you already know. … It was once simply valuable.

Nikki Battiste: What was once marriage like within the very starting?

Morgan Metzer: It was once simply superior. … It is simply you two. … You might be mourning the lack of your, like, marriage ceremony being over (laughs) and your honeymoon. And it is like, “I wanna pass once more!”

Sadly, their newly wedded bliss can be short-lived. 8 months after the marriage, Rod’s more youthful brother Kevin, who needed the couple “unending years of affection, well being and happiness,” at their marriage ceremony, misplaced his fight with leukemia on the age of nineteen.

Kathy Metzer: It in reality hit Rod arduous. I imply, it — I don’t believe he was once ever the similar after that. … He relied on Morgan at that time, greater than he did any one. I don’t believe he left her aspect for greater than an hour or two.

However the following yr would deliver some just right information to rejoice.

Morgan Metzer: We were given pregnant with our son.

Morgan says selecting his identify was once simple.

Morgan Metzer: Kevin all the time sought after to be an uncle. He all the time mentioned it, how a lot a laugh he would have.

Kathy Metzer: They named him Kevin after my Kevin, Rod’s brother. (cries)

However the circle of relatives would endure a moment, and devastating, loss. Child Kevin was once born early, with a congenital center defect. He lived simply 18 days.

Morgan Metzer: He in fact died on his due date.

Nikki Battiste: The loss of a kid is unthinkable and I might consider tricky for you and Rod. 

Morgan Metzer: Very tricky. … Do not in reality take into accout a large number of it. It is a huge blur with all of the feelings. 

So it appeared like a miracle when, simply 3 months later, Morgan came upon she was once pregnant once more. Kathy recollects the instant Rod confirmed her the ultrasound image.

Kathy Metzer: He says, “what do you spot?” I mentioned, “a child.” He mentioned, “No. Glance, what do you spot?” And I simply screamed on the most sensible of my lungs, “two small children,” you already know. (laughs)

Nikki Battiste: Twins.

Kathy Metzer: Twins. They had been gonna have twins.

Morgan gave delivery to a wholesome boy and lady in 2012. It must had been a cheerful time however no longer lengthy after, the wedding started to switch.

Morgan Metzer: Most likely a few yr when they had been born, which is true across the time that Rod misplaced his activity, is when it began taking place south from there.

Nikki Battiste: What did Rod do for paintings?

Morgan Metzer: He, he had such a lot of jobs. His primary one, when he misplaced all of his cash, was once he was once being an afternoon dealer for himself.

Rod’s activity loss took place to return on the similar time Morgan’s occupation was once beginning to flourish.

Morgan Metzer: I began my very own inside design trade and it took off. … I simply did not be expecting it to increase and blow up.

Morgan’s corporate, Shiplap and Sugar, turned into such a success she requested Stabasefski to enroll in her.

Nichole Stabasefski: She was once pronouncing, you already know, like “I want assist, I am beaten.”

Nikki Battiste: So that you turned into trade companions?

Nichole Stabasefski: Yeah. … Earning profits. … Running our tails off, doing what we adore.

Morgan says her skilled luck, and Rod’s loss of it, made for a perilous aggregate. She says he started to abuse her — each bodily and mentally. She recollects one Hard work Day weekend. She and Rod had been celebrating on a ship with pals and had simply returned to their cabin.

Morgan Metzer: I suppose we had gotten into an issue about one thing, … that is the first evening he beat the — he beat me.

Nikki Battiste: Did you assume, he hit me. I have gotta get out of right here?

Morgan Metzer: Sure. I had my dad come and get me.

Shockingly, Morgan says Rod attempted to persuade her, and the folks closest to her, that she was once guilty for her accidents.

Morgan Metzer: He satisfied my folks that I used to be the person who did it.

Nikki Battiste: What did he say?

Morgan Metzer: “You had been simply out of regulate. You — you — you could not stay your mood. You had been simply whaling in every single place.”

Morgan says Rod claimed she were given harm as a result of he was once compelled to bodily restrain her.

Morgan Metzer: And I am like, OK, neatly, perhaps that is my fault. … And my pals stopped chatting with me then as a result of he had no marks on him. It was once all me.

Morgan says that is when a brand new segment within the marriage started, one during which she began to doubt her personal truth as a result of, she says, Rod was once gaslighting her — making her assume each and every warfare Rod instigated in fact started together with her.

Nichole Stabasefski: I feel she concept she was once loopy. , you get programmed to assume that you are loopy, love it’s all for your head.

Morgan says Rod even concerned their youngsters in his deception.

Morgan Metzer: He pretended I driven him down the steps and he actually rolled down the steps. , he in fact were given harm and mentioned to the children, “Glance, Mommy driven me downstairs. Are you able to imagine that?”

Morgan says Rod sexually abused her as neatly, even though she says it took some time for her to acknowledge what it was once.

Morgan Metzer: A large number of instances he is very competitive and would not take the phrase no. And so now having a look again on it, I suppose he did sexually abuse me.

Morgan filed for divorce in 2020.

Nikki Battiste: When Morgan made up our minds to … undergo with the divorce, how was once she dealing with it?

Nichole Stabasefski: , it was once the primary time I feel I noticed her have peace.

The divorce was once ultimate in December and Morgan was once able to transport on. However now, within the early morning hours of New 12 months’s Day, it seemed Rod had come again into her existence as her hero.

CRITICAL CLUES IN THE INVESTIGATION

Sergeant Lyvers and Sergeant Robert Haugh recall that once they first arrived at Morgan’s space at 3 a.m. Rod’s conduct had struck them as peculiar.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: So, as we had been strolling up … Rodney was once, um, seated in his automobile proper right here … with every other deputy.

Nikki Battiste: Did he say anything else?

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: Yeah, he did. … He requested, “Hiya guy, are you the man that we now have been ready on? And I mentioned, “uh, sure, sir, I’m.” After which he spoke back, “do your f****** activity.”

Nikki Battiste: What did you assume?

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: I used to be stunned. I in reality was once.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: This man simply had discovered his spouse certain, um, and overwhelmed at the again porch. And you could possibly assume that my arrival to assist discover a answer to this, uh, can be welcoming.

In an instant, Morgan’s look startled the investigators.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: Her eye was once swollen close, black and blue. … She nonetheless had the, uh, zip tie round her one wrist. And I used to be surprised, and I had noticed so much in my occupation. And, uh, I used to be stunned that any person would — can be so harsh.

Nikki Battiste: What did it make you assume?

Sgt. Robert Haugh: Anyone was once mad.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: Completely. It was once an emotional assault.

Morgan was once no longer handiest bodily injured; investigators may inform she had suffered psychologically after the attacker left her.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: She was once in worry that she was once — somebody was once nonetheless again right here staring at her and that they had been gonna kill her if she moved. And so she laid right here and waited.

Morgan was once out of doors for 40 mins ahead of Rod arrived, however first of all she concept it was once simply part that.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: Morgan believed it to be someplace round 15 to twenty mins, max. Um, that was once her belief of time.

Nikki Battiste: Fascinating. I might’ve concept the other, that may’ve felt longer for her.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: I agree. … When their adrenaline’s going, you already know, folks understand issues in a different way.

The very first thing Lyvers and Haugh did was once separate Morgan, Rod and Morgan’s father and brother — who came visiting after she known as them. Then Lyvers recorded his dialog with Morgan within the home.

Safely out of earshot of her ex-husband, who was once status simply out of doors, Morgan instructed investigators that she suspected her attacker was once the person pretending to be her hero.

MORGAN METZER: I simply concept it was once him.

SGT. DAKOTA LYVERS: While you say “him,” you are speaking about your ex-husband?

MORGAN METZER: Mm-hmm.

Morgan mentioned she had no concept who her assailant was once when the assault started, however then got here one crucial second.

Morgan Metzer: When he mentioned … “you will leave out your husband,” I mentioned, “no, do not harm my husband. I really like him very a lot.” And I do not know what made me do this. However at that specific second is when … the temper of the room modified. I knew I used to be going to are living.

After which there was once every other, even larger clue, when her attacker lifted Morgan out of bed to put her out of doors.

Morgan Metzer: That is after I in reality knew it was once him.

Morgan remembered one thing from years previous.

Morgan Metzer: I used to be pregnant with my children, my twins. And every so often you need to get assist out of the mattress. … The best way he gently held me and were given me off the bed, it was once so acquainted that I used to be like, that is him. I comprehend it’s 100% p.c him.

Morgan Metzer: I wasn’t going to let him know that I knew it was once him. As a result of if he did then he — I did not know what he was once going to do.

She instructed them the assault had adopted a chaotic week which started with very troubling information.

Morgan Metzer: He thinks he is were given pancreatic most cancers.

Morgan Metzer: He simply known as me …  and mentioned, “I have were given pancreatic most cancers.” And so I rushed to move see him. … I mentioned, “you are the father of my youngsters. … I am right here for you.”

Morgan Metzer: He confirmed me physician’s notes and whatnot.

Rod had instructed nobody else and Morgan defined that she’d been letting him keep at her space.

Morgan Metzer: He’d been dozing on my settee as a result of he were in reality freaked out and dissatisfied clearly.

Morgan instructed the investigators that Rod had spent the week seeking to reconcile together with her.

Morgan Metzer: He saved begging me to get again along with me. … Simply continuously haggling me.

However Morgan says she had no pastime. By way of the morning of Dec. 31, she’d had sufficient. Feeling the power of being his sole emotional beef up, Morgan insisted Rod proportion his well being information together with his folks.

Morgan Metzer: He mentioned, “no, completely no longer. I am not telling any one.” And that is the reason when I used to be like, “OK, get out.”

Morgan says Rod spent the day texting her.

Morgan Metzer: “You wish to have to get again with me. I’m going to make sufficient cash. You’ll be able to give up your activity at the moment.”

Bored stiff with all of it, Morgan lied and instructed Rod she’d be dozing somewhere else that New 12 months’s Eve evening.

Morgan Metzer: “Staying at my folks’ space this night. I am turning my telephone off.” Like, give me some house.

As Morgan shared her suspicions with investigators, she did not know if they’d settle for what she was once telling them.

Morgan Metzer: I have been mentally, emotionally, bodily abused.

As a result of Rod made her really feel like she was once guilty for years.

Morgan Metzer: That is what he is in-built my mind.

However that each one modified when Lyvers instructed her he believed her.

Morgan Metzer: And I simply melted. … He heard me. I’ve no longer been heard in years. No one listened. No one heard me and he heard me.

Rachel Ashe: That began the investigation into Rodney Metzer.

Rachel Ashe is the Deputy Leader Assistant District Lawyer for Cherokee County. She works completely on home violence circumstances. Parker, an emotional beef up canine, is regularly together with her to convenience sufferers. Ashe says investigators had been at a loss for words that Rod had come to Morgan’s space that evening after she’d instructed him she’d be at her folks’ house.

Rachel Ashe: Why did you even come right here? Why did not you pass to her folks’ space? Why did not — why did not you test together with her folks?

Sgt. Robert Haugh: He claimed it was once simply dependancy, commonplace.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: “It is what I might do.”

Nikki Battiste: Have been you scratching your heads?

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: Yeah.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: Just a little bit.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: We wondered him on it.

Rod mentioned that when listening to that knocking on his window, and somebody pronouncing Morgan’s identify, he attempted phoning Morgan to warn her. Haugh sought after to test.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: I feel that is what induced, “howdy, the place’s your telephone?”

Rod passed his cell phone to the investigators.

Rachel Ashe: Gave them permission to appear via his telephone.

And what they discovered got here as a wonder.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: It was once an Apple iPhone, and it had a hidden folder. … And within the hidden folder had been photographs of Morgan — um, partly dressed.

Rachel Ashe: A large number of pictures of Morgan nude and the ones pictures of Morgan nude, it was once lovely obvious that she did not know he was once taking the ones pictures of her.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: She was once moderately alarmed.

Investigators additionally came upon Rod had snapped footage of Morgan’s cell phone appearing textual content messages between her and every other guy. They regarded as those and the pictures of Morgan to be an invasion of privateness.

SGT. DAKOTA LYVERS: You did not have that permission. Y’all wouldn’t have that courting. She’s f****** baffled that you’ve got that. That is stalkerish.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: We knew we needed to … get him in custody … whilst we began doing seek warrants and began investigating … to stop him from destroying proof.

ROD METZER: Folks make errors, guy.

SGT. DAKOTA LYVERS: I feel you made a large number of errors.

SGT. ROBERT HAUGH: Giant, huge errors.

Nikki Battiste: So that you arrested him for having taken the ones pictures secretly?

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: That is right kind.

SGT. DAKOTA LYVERS: Rise up.

ROD METZER: You might be kidding me?

SGT. DAKOTA LYVERS: Nope, we aren’t kidding you. Rise up. This isn’t a comic story. C’mon.

However may investigators end up that Rod had attacked Morgan that evening?

ZIP TIES AND ALARMING INTERNET SEARCHES

Morgan Metzer: Watched him get, uh, arrested, stroll to the automobile, and be installed. It was once roughly like, is that this in reality taking place?

Nikki Battiste: Used to be any a part of you unhappy?

Morgan Metzer: No, no longer on the time. It was once offended and simply sore.

Whilst they booked Rod for taking the ones footage of Morgan and her texts, Haugh and Lyvers had already evolved a idea about why Rod may have attacked her.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: I imagine, he concept he was once going to return in and — and rescue her and be the savior and, uh — and win her again.

Investigators was hoping house safety cameras would beef up their idea. However they briefly discovered that all of the video from the time of the assault were erased during the app on Morgan’s telephone that the assailant had used to release her again porch door when he left. Morgan’s attacker took her telephone with him. It was once by no means recovered.

Nikki Battiste: Have been you ever ready to retrieve the ones lacking movies from the safety corporate?

Sgt. Robert Haugh: No. … As soon as movies are deleted, they are deleted from their cloud.

However since Morgan had a house safety machine, how did the attacker get in with out atmosphere off the alarm? It didn’t take lengthy to determine.

Nikki Battiste: That is the window the attacker entered?

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: That is right kind. Proper this is the, uh — the window that we discovered the display screen was once in fact got rid of.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: That basement window … had an alarm sensor that was once got rid of from the window and put in combination at the windowsill. So, if the window was once to open, it will seem, you already know, to the alarm machine that the sensor remains to be making touch.

Investigators believed Rod had disabled the sensor whilst he was once staying at Morgan’s space that week.

Morgan Metzer: I used to be dozing. It was once in the midst of the evening.

Even though the house safety movies were erased, there was once different video from previous to the assault. The digital camera on Morgan’s entrance porch stuck Rod previous that night time.

Morgan Metzer: He had despatched me an image of a test…. And he is like, “it is beneath your entrance porch.”

Sgt. Robert Haugh: It was once for $56,000 and alter.

Morgan says the message Rod despatched with the image of the test made it appear to be he was once seeking to make a grand gesture.

Morgan Metzer: “You’ll have all of the cash. You deserve the entirety,” just about in a nutshell.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: I feel it was once to get her to return again to the home that night time as a result of … she instructed Rodney she was once gonna be at her folks’ space for New 12 months’s.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: Morgan returned to the home, retrieved it, and roughly made some type of a — uh — of a gesture and she or he walked again into the home and put it at the kitchen countertop.

Morgan’s attacker took that test with him. It was once by no means discovered.

Nikki Battiste: What did you know about Rod’s price range?

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers:: That test would’ve bounced.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: Yeah, he was once broke.

The day after his arrest, investigators accomplished seek warrants on Rod’s automobile and his condo. Once they walked during the door, they discovered a key piece of proof.

Rachel Ashe: They positioned this bag of zip ties in his condo. And … a portion of a zipper tie.

Earlier than arriving at her space, Morgan’s attacker had pre-looped the zip ties he’d placed on her wrists.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: He was once operating in the dead of night. He was once handcuffing any person. You by no means know the way a lot battle that individual’s going to place up.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: Some of the zip ties in fact, um, was once lovely distinctive as it had two, um — different zip ties that were, uh, ratcheted onto it after which lower. And so principally what we had been having a look at was once a — a zipper tie that had two further heads.

Haugh and Lyvers had to in finding out if that portion of a zipper tie, necessarily a tail, present in Rod’s condo, covered up with one of the crucial further heads on Morgan’s restraints. They headed to their crime lab.

Nikki Battiste: So those are the zip ties that had been in fact discovered on Morgan?

Sgt. Robert Haugh: Sure, they’re.

Melanie Thrasher is against the law scene technician.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: She was once ready to check the — this tail to one of the crucial heads at the zip tie for Morgan’s wrist.

The striations at the tail present in Rod’s condo covered up precisely with the ones on Morgan’s zip tie. A “highest fit” mentioned Haugh.

Nikki Battiste: What did you assume while you noticed this?

Sgt. Robert Haugh: That we had been going to be including fees to his, uh, current reserving. … And we had our man. … I might’ve by no means, you already know, imagined, uh, having a work of proof like this.

However the seek warrant of Rod’s condo yielded much more. There was once a ebook —

Sgt. Robert Haugh: “7 Tactics to —

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: “To Be Her Hero.”

Sgt. Robert Haugh: — “Be Her Hero,” to — to win any person again.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: That gave us the reason. … It added to that reason.

Investigators tested Rod’s browser historical past.

Rachel Ashe:  The searches … had been very anxious.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: He was once researching “find out how to alternate your voice.”

Rachel Ashe: “How lengthy to choke any person subconscious.”

The searches additionally incorporated “The best way to crack an iPhone password,” “The best way to get sympathy out of your ex” and person who was once particularly appalling.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: He Google searched … “most cancers prognosis letters.”

Investigators searched Rod’s outgoing emails. There they discovered Rod had arrange a pretend e mail account to create the pancreatic most cancers prognosis letter he’d proven Morgan. And there was once extra.

Rachel Ashe: He had created a invoice for a health care provider’s place of business to turn that he was once being handled for pancreatic most cancers. … All of this to be able to persuade Morgan that he had pancreatic most cancers.

Nikki Battiste: He wasn’t in poor health in any respect?

Rachel Ashe: No. … He didn’t have most cancers.

Nikki Battiste: Do you assume that he faked the most cancers prognosis as some way to take a look at to get you again or so that you could get get right of entry to to your home ‘reason he had this plan?

Morgan Metzer: I feel it was once to get me again. It will had been each.

On Jan. 3, two days after the assault, Lyvers and Sergeant Tom Harris interviewed Rod. They talked to him about his well being.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: You mentioned you are diabetic

ROD METZER: Sure.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: What different roughly well being problems do you may have?

ROD METZER: Not anything so far as I do know of but.

SGT. DAKOTA LYVERS: I assumed you had most cancers.

Lyvers faced Rod concerning the most cancers prognosis he’d faked to Morgan.

SGT. DAKOTA LYVERS: How did you inform her that … this — this most cancers factor?

ROD METZER: I do not know if I must communicate to you guys anymore. I am beginning to get a in reality dangerous feeling. What perspective you guys are coming from.

Then Rod attempted to show the tables — via making an attempt to take the higher hand within the interview.

ROD METZER: I have already discovered one thing about you, that your facial expressions.

SGT. DAKOTA LYVERS: Inform me.

ROD METZER: And also you stay scratching your self, and also you get agitated via what I say.

SGT. DAKOTA LYVERS: I am a 100% no longer agitated.

ROD METZER: Mm-hmm.

The investigators additionally wondered Rod about his web searches.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: Has there been a time just lately the place you had been concerned about how you’ll be able to alternate the sound of your voice?

ROD METZER: Perhaps.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: Inform me about that.

ROD METZER: I felt like I wasn’t — my voice wasn’t manly sufficient.

Then Harris reduced the increase.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: The, uh, most vital factor that we discovered for your condo was once a choice of zip ties.

ROD METZER: Zip ties?

SGT. TOM HARRIS: Black zip ties.

ROD METZER: I wouldn’t have zip ties.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: I do know you do not. We’ve got ’em now.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: Those are just like those that had been, uh, binding Morgan’s wrists.

ROD METZER: That is simply beginning to get squirrelly.

Harris instructed Rod about that zip tie tail they would recovered.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: We when put next that microscopically to the zip ties that had been on Morgan’s wrists when the deputies discovered her. And would not you comprehend it? This is a highest lower.

ROD METZER: There is something humorous occurring right here.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: Did any person ruin in and put ’em there?

ROD METZER: There is something humorous occurring right here.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: Like what?

ROD METZER: I do not know.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: What do you assume’s occurring?

ROD METZER: I did not have some big-ass f****** zip ties in my condo.

However new proof was once about to mention in a different way.

ROD METZER PLEADS GUILTY

Hours after the interview with Rod Metzer concluded, he was once charged with 10 counts associated with the assault on Morgan Metzer — together with house invasion, kidnapping, irritated attack, and sexual battery.

MORGAN METZER: Once I felt that gun proper right here in my head, I used to be like —

SGT. TOM HARRIS: So, you concept —

MORGAN METZER: “All proper, Jesus, I am coming.”

The next day to come Morgan, together with her buddy Nichole via her aspect, talked to investigators once more.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: You concept you had been gonna die?

MORGAN METZER: Yep. I assumed I used to be lifeless. However then additionally a part of me was once like, no, I am not gonna, I am not gonna let myself die. … I’ve gotta battle for my children.

Harris instructed Morgan they would watched the house safety video of Rod arriving at her space after her assault. He rang the entrance doorbell but if there was once no reaction, headed round to the again.

SGT. TOM HARRIS: I assumed it was once roughly fascinating that he known as out your identify as he is strolling across the aspect of your home.

MORGAN METZER: Sure. … Like, why would you assume I used to be out of doors.

Nikki Battiste: What was once your response while you discovered Rod were arrested for violently attacking Morgan?

Kathy Metzer: Oh, that — that completely threw me below the bottom. … There needed to be a mistake. Rod wasn’t able to that.

Two days after Rod was once charged he talked to his mother Kathy at the telephone.

ROD METZER (prison telephone name): Why is she doing this to me? She is aware of it wasn’t me.

However the proof saved mounting. When investigators recovered the ones zip ties from Rod’s condo, the bag they got here in was once discovered as neatly.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: I introduced up a — a, uh, my Lowe’s app on my telephone and scanned the UPC code and the UPC code got here again that they had been in reality offered at Lowe’s.

Rachel Ashe: The sheriff’s place of business then went to the 2 Lowe’s that we have got right here in Cherokee County. … They usually began in search of transactions.

It did not take lengthy. Rod Metzer had bought the ones zip ties on Dec. 30 — about 36 hours ahead of the assault; simple to seek out as a result of he paid together with his debit card. Investigators received the safety video from Lowe’s.

Rachel Ashe: This was once all the way through COVID and this was once all the way through a length the place everyone was once dressed in a masks, with the exception of for Rodney Metzer. So the surveillance photographs and the movies that had been recovered from Lowe’s of him buying the ones zip ties … his face is true there within the digital camera.

Subsequent got here the safety video from Rod’s condo development.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: There is in fact one throughout the, uh — the breezeway there, which results in Rodney’s condo particularly.

Lyvers says there was once no video of Rod leaving after he mentioned somebody knocked on his window.

Sgt. Dakota Lyvers: What we do see is after the time of the incident that Morgan was once attacked, Rodney are available in, raveled, in a rush.

Simply 4 mins later, Rod is stuck on digital camera once more, leaving the development, dressed in utterly other garments and footwear, and sporting a plastic bag. The time stamp was once 1:24 a.m.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: We by no means discovered that bag in his automobile after we did the quest warrant.

Rachel Ashe: We simply do not know the place that went.

Investigators cannot know needless to say what was once in that bag however imagine it had proof Rod discarded on his force again to Morgan’s space. The attacker’s masks was once by no means discovered. However Deputy Leader Assistant District Lawyer Rachel Ashe says they’d greater than sufficient to end up Rod was once responsible.

Rachel Ashe: This can be a prosecutor’s dream to place up for the reason that proof on this case was once overwhelming, overwhelming.

However Ashe says she sought after to provide Morgan a chance for sooner closure than a tribulation would deliver within the type of a plea deal for Rod.

Rachel Ashe: We went during the professionals and cons of letting him plead responsible, letting him settle for accountability. … We agreed, um, we must check out. He took it briefly.

On Aug. 4, 2021, Rod pleaded responsible to a complete of 14 counts associated with Morgan’s assault and the pictures discovered on his telephone.

Sgt. Robert Haugh: He agreed to serve 25 years on a 70-year sentence. So, when he will get out in 25 years, he will serve every other 45 years of probation.

Nikki Battiste: I feel you even described it as like a loss of life.

Morgan Metzer: This is a loss of life. I have misplaced my husband. He is lifeless to me.

At Rod’s sentencing, Morgan delivered a sufferer affect commentary a number of pages lengthy.

Morgan Metzer: After I were given began, it simply began pouring outta me.

There have been no cameras within the court docket. “48 Hours” requested Morgan to learn her commentary. Here is a portion of it.

Morgan Metzer (studying her sufferer affect commentary): Rod, no longer handiest will this commentary be to my attacker, however it will even be my remaining phrases to whom I assumed was once the affection of my existence. … The remaining 4 years being married to you was once like residing with a monster that continuously attempted to damage me down and fence me in. … It was once a blessing in conceal. … I will be able to now stroll with the boldness understanding the ache you may have given me is was energy.

Morgan Metzer: I walked off that stand with 1000 kilos off of my shoulders. It felt so just right. It felt empowering. And I were given the ultimate.

Nikki Battiste: How was once it to concentrate in your perfect buddy learn this extremely tough commentary?

Nichole Stabasefski: It was once superior as a result of she didn’t cry. … Her voice didn’t shake … and she or he mentioned the entirety she had to say, and when she was once completed, she was once completed.

Rachel Ashe: She was once laying to leisure this courting. She was once telling him this: “I am by no means going to be yours,” proper? “I am by no means going to be yours.”

Rod’s movements that New 12 months’s Day proceed to have an effect on everybody.

Nikki Battiste: Have you ever been ready to talk over with Rod in individual in any respect?

Kathy Metzer: He hasn’t sought after me to.

Nikki Battiste:  Why?

Kathy Metzer: He is frightened of my response.

Rod has from Sort 1 diabetes and Kathy says his well being is swiftly declining in jail.

Nikki Battiste: You might be anxious he may die.

Kathy Metzer: Oh, I am completely anxious he’ll die.

Morgan says as soon as the ordeal was once at the back of her, she needed to take steps so she may get better, looking for treatment to assist her cope.

Morgan Metzer: The whole thing occurs for a reason why. God has the entirety occur for a reason why. And I am beginning to see that at the moment. There is simply a large number of good stuff which can be taking place with us.

She says she is thinking about elevating her youngsters, and serving to others who in finding themselves in an identical cases.

Morgan Metzer: I am seeking to elevate consciousness for … narcissism and gaslighting. … I wish to assist ladies understand they are in a scenario ahead of it will get too dangerous.

Nichole Stabasefski: I am simply excited to look who she continues to develop to turn into. … She’s … gorgeous and robust and resilient. So that is only a steppingstone in her adventure.

Rod Metzer’s sentence prevents him from contacting Morgan and their youngsters by any means.

“48 HOURS” POST MORTEM PODCAST

“48 Hours” correspondent Anne-Marie Inexperienced, contributor Nikki Batiste and affiliate manufacturer Mike Loftus delve into the case, analyzing Rod Metzer’s manipulation techniques, together with gaslighting and a pretend most cancers prognosis. In addition they talk about his 911 name and why investigators concept it was once suspicious.  

Produced via Susan Mallie. Ryan N. Smith is the improvement manufacturer. Michael Loftus is the sphere manufacturer. Annabelle Allen is the affiliate manufacturer. Marlon Disla, Michelle Harris, and Greg Kaplan  are the editor. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior manufacturer. Nancy Kramer is the chief tale editor. Judy Tygard is the chief manufacturer.