Haley Bertolet

I remember my mom. She was amazing. She was so intelligent and so wise and eloquent.

I remember my mom. She was amazing. She was so intelligent and so wise and eloquent.

I definitely knew that something was wrong. Everyone was acting so weird to me, and I didn't know what was happening.

I definitely knew that something was wrong. Everyone was acting so weird to me, and I didn't know what was happening.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

That moment was horrible. And right after, he didn't want me to cry about it. He told me not to cry. He told me that people would be watching.

That moment was horrible. And right after, he didn't want me to cry about it. He told me not to cry. He told me that people would be watching.

I thought there must have been some mistake because he would never do that, right?

I thought there must have been some mistake because he would never do that, right?

My name is Haley Bertolet. I'm ready now to tell the story that happened behind the scenes.

My name is Haley Bertolet. I'm ready now to tell the story that happened behind the scenes.

We love you. We love you. We love you. I remember my mom. She was amazing. She was so intelligent and so wise and eloquent.

We love you. We love you. We love you. I remember my mom. She was amazing. She was so intelligent and so wise and eloquent.

We always watched movies together and we played together and I remember her taking me on trips sometimes. I remember her always being a warm and loving presence in my life. I just really, really loved her.

We always watched movies together and we played together and I remember her taking me on trips sometimes. I remember her always being a warm and loving presence in my life. I just really, really loved her.

Yes. All of the memories that I have of me and my mom together with Harold were I was always with him and she was separate. He was always holding me and she was standing there. The only times that I really got to experience my mom in her full capacity was when he was away. All she ever wanted was a baby. And when she finally got me, she just was ecstatic.

Yes. All of the memories that I have of me and my mom together with Harold were I was always with him and she was separate. He was always holding me and she was standing there. The only times that I really got to experience my mom in her full capacity was when he was away. All she ever wanted was a baby. And when she finally got me, she just was ecstatic.

And I think he wanted to squeeze her into a box. Not really let her be the mother that she wanted to be for me.

And I think he wanted to squeeze her into a box. Not really let her be the mother that she wanted to be for me.

I was at a soccer game and I remember I was picked up by his friends and we went to their house and I definitely knew that something was wrong. Everyone was acting so weird to me and I didn't know what was happening. After a while they took me to a park where I met up with Harold. He sat me down and he told me that she had lost consciousness forever, is how he put it to me.

I was at a soccer game and I remember I was picked up by his friends and we went to their house and I definitely knew that something was wrong. Everyone was acting so weird to me and I didn't know what was happening. After a while they took me to a park where I met up with Harold. He sat me down and he told me that she had lost consciousness forever, is how he put it to me.

I just remember that moment was horrible. Right after, he didn't want me to cry about it. He told me not to cry. He told me that people would be watching.

I just remember that moment was horrible. Right after, he didn't want me to cry about it. He told me not to cry. He told me that people would be watching.

He told me not to cry about it, yes. As we walked out of the park, he wanted me to be fine. I remember feeling shameful that I wasn't supposed to cry. Like, something must be wrong with me if I do cry. Because Harold told me not to.

He told me not to cry about it, yes. As we walked out of the park, he wanted me to be fine. I remember feeling shameful that I wasn't supposed to cry. Like, something must be wrong with me if I do cry. Because Harold told me not to.

Yes, but for some reason I thought she was coming back because of the way he phrased it, unconscious. You know, in my mind I thought that she might just be out there somewhere and maybe they hadn't found her yet. And I'd pray at night that she would come back.

Yes, but for some reason I thought she was coming back because of the way he phrased it, unconscious. You know, in my mind I thought that she might just be out there somewhere and maybe they hadn't found her yet. And I'd pray at night that she would come back.

We had one funeral in Colorado and one in Mississippi, and that time was the time that I really felt like, you know, oh man, she's really gone.

We had one funeral in Colorado and one in Mississippi, and that time was the time that I really felt like, you know, oh man, she's really gone.

I mean, when I usually was alone, when he wasn't there, it was just a lot, and I didn't understand. that it was okay to be emotional and it was okay to show that you're not okay. I mean, I don't think anybody normal is okay after the passing of their mom. And I certainly wasn't. Did he ever talk about your mom after all of this happened?

I mean, when I usually was alone, when he wasn't there, it was just a lot, and I didn't understand. that it was okay to be emotional and it was okay to show that you're not okay. I mean, I don't think anybody normal is okay after the passing of their mom. And I certainly wasn't. Did he ever talk about your mom after all of this happened?

He never talked to me about her passing after that one conversation in the park. We never spoke about her.

He never talked to me about her passing after that one conversation in the park. We never spoke about her.

He definitely wanted to keep me acting normal. Like, everything that we were up to was just as life was before, except now my mom wasn't there.

He definitely wanted to keep me acting normal. Like, everything that we were up to was just as life was before, except now my mom wasn't there.

I don't remember taking this, but it looks like this was right after the funeral.

I don't remember taking this, but it looks like this was right after the funeral.

Yeah, I mean, that definitely could be some of the subconscious tension, you know.

Yeah, I mean, that definitely could be some of the subconscious tension, you know.

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely, yes. How often did he actually hold you like this? Not ever when we were alone. I can't remember a time that he ever hugged me if it was not in public.

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely, yes. How often did he actually hold you like this? Not ever when we were alone. I can't remember a time that he ever hugged me if it was not in public.

Yeah. Looking at that picture, I can't imagine that that wasn't staged.

Yeah. Looking at that picture, I can't imagine that that wasn't staged.

Not in the moment. I mean, I thought that was normal. I thought that's what all parents did for their kids. I couldn't get food or snacks or water for myself without asking for permission. I couldn't play with my toys without asking for permission. He had to be there when I was playing with my toys.

Not in the moment. I mean, I thought that was normal. I thought that's what all parents did for their kids. I couldn't get food or snacks or water for myself without asking for permission. I couldn't play with my toys without asking for permission. He had to be there when I was playing with my toys.

And he had a baby monitor in my room watching me. And so he would know if I came downstairs to get anything before he said it was allowable. When he did allow me to socialize with other girls my age, it was always in a very strict setting where he could watch. I never spent probably an hour without him during my daytime, if it was a Saturday or a Sunday. Were you scared of Harold? Absolutely.

And he had a baby monitor in my room watching me. And so he would know if I came downstairs to get anything before he said it was allowable. When he did allow me to socialize with other girls my age, it was always in a very strict setting where he could watch. I never spent probably an hour without him during my daytime, if it was a Saturday or a Sunday. Were you scared of Harold? Absolutely.

And I thought that was normal to be scared of your parents too.

And I thought that was normal to be scared of your parents too.

The day that he got arrested, I was at school and I remember that I got called down to the principal's office. At that point, my principal and the lady that worked in the office told me that my father had been arrested. I just remember feeling just so cold and detached because I didn't know what was going on and I didn't know what was happening to me.

The day that he got arrested, I was at school and I remember that I got called down to the principal's office. At that point, my principal and the lady that worked in the office told me that my father had been arrested. I just remember feeling just so cold and detached because I didn't know what was going on and I didn't know what was happening to me.

And at this point, I thought there must have been some mistake because he would never do that, right?

And at this point, I thought there must have been some mistake because he would never do that, right?

I stayed with a lovely family called The Headaches and they helped me to see that he was not the person that I thought he was.

I stayed with a lovely family called The Headaches and they helped me to see that he was not the person that I thought he was.

Little did I know that in the background, people were fighting for me from all over. From Mississippi, my family, the Bertolais, were fighting for me. Beth Schott, special agent, was fighting for me.

Little did I know that in the background, people were fighting for me from all over. From Mississippi, my family, the Bertolais, were fighting for me. Beth Schott, special agent, was fighting for me.

Oh, we love you. That day was a really good day because I knew that I'd be going to live with my aunt and uncle.

Oh, we love you. That day was a really good day because I knew that I'd be going to live with my aunt and uncle.

At that point, I felt like they were my family and that I belonged with them in Mississippi.

At that point, I felt like they were my family and that I belonged with them in Mississippi.

Not at all. And I don't regret that decision.

Not at all. And I don't regret that decision.

Maybe, but ultimately no. Because I know that I'm saved by Jesus Christ and that my personality comes from my mom. I'm just like her. And I know that no part of him is in me.

Maybe, but ultimately no. Because I know that I'm saved by Jesus Christ and that my personality comes from my mom. I'm just like her. And I know that no part of him is in me.

I do dye my hair blonde, but I think that me and her in pictures that I see of me now, you know, I feel like I look so much like her. And I think that

I do dye my hair blonde, but I think that me and her in pictures that I see of me now, you know, I feel like I look so much like her. And I think that

All the time, but I think that she is here with me. Being who I am is not something that came from easiness. I had to go through something terrible to become as powerful as I am today. I want to use my story to good because I know that my story is similar to what happens to a lot of people.

All the time, but I think that she is here with me. Being who I am is not something that came from easiness. I had to go through something terrible to become as powerful as I am today. I want to use my story to good because I know that my story is similar to what happens to a lot of people.

And I want them to know that regardless of what they've been through, there's always a way out of the darkness. And everything that I am, everything that I do, I want to do for the glory of God and for the legacy of my mom.

And I want them to know that regardless of what they've been through, there's always a way out of the darkness. And everything that I am, everything that I do, I want to do for the glory of God and for the legacy of my mom.

I love you. I don't think anybody normal is OK after the passing of their mom. And I certainly wasn't.

I love you. I don't think anybody normal is OK after the passing of their mom. And I certainly wasn't.