Though she's got some physical and mental scars from this experience, Terra Newell is thriving and living her best life. JACQUELYN (VERONICA IN THE SERIES)Debra Newell has said in interviews that her family talked about doing the series before agreeing to do it, and they took part in the making of it too. He was a master manipulator who convinced her what the private investigator found was about another John Meehan., 'GHOST HUNTERS' REVEAL WHAT THEY HOPE WILL HAPPEN TO MANSON MURDER HOUSE, Eric Bana as John Meehan AND Connie Britton as Debra Newell in Bravo's "Dirty John." So I was just like, well, Im Terra and Ill tell them what I did. 20K views 2 years ago Terra Newell survived a brutal attack at the hands of John Meehan aka "Dirty John". Now shes a social media star. #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #podcast #thesurvivorsquad #survivorsquad #survivor #truecrimereallife #entertainment". Debra, who had already been married multiple times, thought John was the man she had always been looking for. "That means that they lost, like a sense of their self. On August 20, 2016, Terra's sister Jacquelyn warned her that she had spotted John in town. When you're on the ground it's important to use all of your legs because they have the most power in your body. Terra opens up about the fatal attack. Meehan posed as an anesthesiologist whod just returned to Southern California after a year in war-torn Iraq while volunteering with Doctors Without Borders. All of this led up to my attack and the moment that forever changed my life.. He covered my mouth. Pinned to the floor, she had, at first, thought he was punching her. Dirty John, created by Alexandra Cunningham, brings to life the true first-hand accounts from the 2017 Los Angeles Times . Now 27 years old, Terra has more than 20,000 followers on her Instagram account, as well as a popular blog, where she writes about her struggles with PTSD. They talked about the fact that they had been in fear, and that they were OK with what Terra had done. However, back when John was still alive and had started to make entry into Debras life, Newell was dating somebody. The ex-EDMR patient is now spreading awareness about gaslighting, manipulation, and relationship red flags. Really do that. When her mothers ex-boyfriend, John Meehan, viciously attacked her in the parking garage of her apartment complex with a concealed knife, Terra fought for her life. Newell is one of the four daughters of Debra, Terras sisters are Jacquelin, Kim, and Nicole, the eldest. To learn more about Terra check out her podcast Time Out With Terra. DLTFis released Wednesdays on all audio streaming platforms, including ApplePodcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Stitcher and more. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. She kicked her way free from his punches and stabs, and the knife fell to the ground. Aussie supermarket giant Woolworths is introducing a major change in three more states as it works towards eradicating plastic from its checkouts. Just a moment before the incident, the life coach was reportedly in the parking lot on August 20, 2016. Theres also some couple of $100,000 thanks to Terras life rights deal with the LA Times story. It was too difficult to deny new claims against him, and she knew she had to get away, but thats a lot easier said than done. After being diagnosed with PTSD, I had to learn what had happened to me. She landed 13 blows of her own, finally killing him with a knife to his eye. It's been awhile. It was Terra who first got suspicious of John. For years, Meehan pretended to be a successful doctor so he could prey on lonely middle-aged women, including Terras mother Debra, whom Meehan married. I don't realize that he was stabbing me at first because the knife is in a Del Taco bag, she explained. He stabbed her, but. But the last two to the head, I actually gave those two some thought,. In an exclusive interview for The Voluntourist, Terra Newell talks about her terrifying experience and gives tips on how to fight back in a knife attack that might help save your life. 'Dirty John' Survivor Terra Newell | Pool House - YouTube Real life survivor of "Dirty John", Terra Newell joins the ladies of The Pool House. In just 32 seconds, my life changed forever. (Oxygen). Though someone did call 911. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Meehan's long trail of abuse of women subsequently came to light, as the notorious conman and sociopath was profiled in the Los Angeles Times podcast, Dirty John, and later a scripted Bravo series of the same name. It's the best spot to kick because you don't want to kick the knife or the upper arm. Terra Newell talks about killing stepdad John Meehan in self-defense, as depicted in Netflix's 'Dirty John'. Meehan jumped back into his car and sped away. All rights reserved. Meehan first met the 27-year-olds mother, Debra Newell, on an over-50 dating website. John also barely made eye contact with Terra and often cut her questions short. Though the only thing that is in the mist is the how-much of her net worth. John Meehan pinned his stepdaughter, Terra Newell, to the ground in her sister's driveway, but he dropped his knife, which she grabbed and then used to stab him 13 times. Terra now utilizes her past experiences to help others confront their own likewise by-gone incidents while residing in her native Orange County. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Mines more combat trauma, so Im doing things that war veterans have to do in order to reverse their trauma, said Newell in a phone interview. You have more of a chance of making them let go of the knife because there's a lot of nerves in the forearm. After Debra finally split with John, he began to threaten to kill the family. And I was just like, how do I say this?, she says. Then She Became a Meme, Succession: How Dagmara Domiczyks Karolina Became Stealth MVP, TikTok Is Obsessed With Water. Arlane Hart, Debra Newell, Terra Newell, Dirty John. The most important thing I have learned is to keep going and stay positive! So that's how they're able to get away with things online. Terra says her life since the incident has changed drastically. When you're unable to run you're going to do everything you can in your power to fight back. All rights reserved. She had just returned to her apartment building in Newport Beach, California when John attacked her out of nowhere. Everything happens in a matter of seconds in a fight. 'Dirty John' victim Debra Newell recalls daughter screaming she killed con man: 'The guilt overwhelmed me', King Charles' coronation: Prince Harry to be 'snubbed,' seen as a 'pariah' among royal family, expert claims, Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos criticized for 'painful' new show as viewers tune out post-Ryan Seacrest, John Rich on new song 'Im Offended! And even Jimmy, too, had met John. Newell largely dismisses these critiques. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The hero of the real-life true-crime story is Terra Newell, a soft-spoken dog groomer who was attacked by her sociopath stepfather one night when she and her dog were coming home from a day working at a shelter. The first thing I did in my attack was John tried to grab me and I tried to flee from him right away because you have the most success rate of trying to run away from them. Ive never had such clarity on what Im supposed to do in my life.. I tried to get back into a normal life, but couldnt. terra newell @terranewellsurvivor 147 subscribers 45 videos Survivor * 1/2 of The Survivor Squad Podcast * Make Up Vlog * Trauma Toxic Relationship Life Coach Subscribe Home Videos Shorts. Unlike her sister Terra, Jacquelyn maintains no known social media presence, and there aren't many photos of her -- not even in the Los Angeles Times story that birthed this whole thing, and not even from the premiere party she was said to be at -- although I found one by doing some sleuthing but I won't link to it. Toss the knife as far away from the body and then get away and start screaming for help. His triceps. It was at this point that, Terras dog Cash attacked his ankles. Despite her daughters' objections, Debra and Meehan had a Las Vegas wedding in December 2014 without any guests and had three months of wedded bliss before a family member alerted Debra to Meehan's past criminal history. His shoulder. Newell said she and Meehan were separated at the time. Pinned to the floor, she had, at first, thought he was punching her. The Aussies lover says she worked at the dog kennel for so long that she knew all the rules of a service dog, ESA, and a therapy dog. You're going to kick and pedal kick as hard as you can. said the trauma survivor. He has years of experience writing content, especially in the entertainment niche. Terra nevertheless had also convinced her family to hire a private investigator to know more about John. What Happened To Larry Birds First Wife Janet Condra? As a refresher, Terra Newell is the heroine of this terrifying true story. An irate Meehan attempted to abduct Terra Newell (as played by Julia Garner in the series) in a parking lot in 2016, leading her to fatally stab him in self-defense. I bite as hard as I can. All of this led up to my attack and the moment that forever changed my life. According to the Los Angeles Times, on August 20, 2016, Meehan, equipped with a kidnap kit including duct tape, cable ties, injectable testosterone, kitchen knives and a passport attacked Terra in the parking lot of her apartment building. She tells how she often wondered why someone as good as John was still single when she first saw him. log in. Aug. 20, 2019, marks the three-year anniversary of my attack. After moving in with Debra, Meehans behaviour became more erratic, and the Newell family uncovered his lies. I'm the baby of the family. After a short breakup due to the private investigators findings, John was able to convince Debra to visit a lawyers office with him, where he set out to prove that the former allegations against him (he had a record of stealing prescription painkillers when he worked as a nurse) were in fact charges that belonged to ANOTHER John Meehan. Terra may be currently single or at least that is what her socials tell, be it Instagram, Tiktok, or her Facebook. I want to send the message and let them know that theyre supported. She sees herself as a representative for family members of survivors of domestic abuse: I really want people to know that this is my reality, she says. Growing up, Terras mother, Debra was an interior designer while her biological father worked in the building industry. The case of John Meehan was the subject of an Oxygen special, "Dirty John: The Dirty Truth." That's one thing that really saved me because instead of getting stabbed in my chest, I got stabbed in my arm. People need to know that bad things can happen and you should never let those things hold you back or get you down. (Oxygen). TikTok video from Terra Newell (@terranewell): "Part 6: A Short Story About My Attack. Terra questioned why John would have a nursing degree but instead claimed to be a doctor. I've never had such clarity on what I'm supposed to do in my life. Now she's sharing her tips on how she survived. An irate Meehan attempted to abduct Terra Newell (as played by Julia Garner in the series) in a parking lot in 2016, leading her to fatally stab him in . You get to learn, Oh, I could survive this way if Im ever in this situation, and you get to learn empathy. "John didnt want to look me in the eyes. Emergency services arrived and Meehan was taken to hospital but died four days later aged 57. "He grabbed me by the waist. An injured Terra,. She kicked the knife from his hand, grabbed the weapon and stabbed him multiple times. Legal Statement. "People need to know that bad things can happen, and you should never let those things hold you back or get you down. Following that, John, however, would stalk Debra and even turned to Terra. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Ultimately, Debra realized she couldn't spend the rest of her life with a manipulative con artist. Terra says the last one was in the eye because she thought that was the softest point of entry and that she also wanted to kill his brain. Terra Newell is still dealing with PTSD, but is trying to help others see the red flags and warning signs of someone like John Meehan. My mother, Debra Newell, met him on a dating website. While I was meeting with my mom, my sister would pop in, drop a tracker on Johns car and not even make it known that she was there.. The show majorly contains a dramatization of Johns relationship with Terras mother and how he was embezzling from her, his disgust towards Debras daughters including Terra, how he died, and the aftermath. or redistributed. A Sydney council will take a positive decision to remove gender-based signage on public amenities in a push for inclusivity. In that moment, I wasnt really like thinking about how many times I was stabbing him. Terra grew up in Orange County, California. ARLANE HART, DEBRA'S MOMHanging in there and looking good at the premiere last year! His Career, Girlfriend, & Life At Present, Paul Lieberstein His Married Life, Relationship, Children, and More, Terra is crime TV shows obsessive; the former dog kennel worker has often stated how shows like. Nearly four years after that interview, she said, there are still times when a chain of events could trigger a spiral, like dogs barking, hateful comments on social media or a TV scene in which a survivor fends off an attack. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time The knife lands into an ice pick position, she said. She and Debra did an interview on the Today Show in January of last year, where she recounted memories of the scars on her arm and her chest where John tried stabbing her. And although financial winnings of Newell are yet to be sized up, looking at her Instagram lifestyle one may have a hard time saying that she is just your average paycheck-to-paycheck employee. Terra had further seen John hitting, threatening, and screaming at her mother. Leaving someone who is dangerous like that, you have to be so careful, said Newell. With all of these media opportunities, so many people have come forward saying that our story helped them see red flags in their relationships, better manage their PTSD and develop self-defense techniques. Of course, this is a real story with real people left behind, and with a story as wild (but not uncommon, unfortunately) as this one, it's only natural to wonder where everybody is now. John then fell on top of the then 25-year-old blonde woman. They got back together, and thats when Terra noticed Johns grip on her mother tighten. When she. You deserve it., To join the conversation, please If they have a knife, control it in the fight. She regularly posts photos of her travelling to different countries, whipping up food in her kitchen, or moving into her sprawling new apartment in Long Beach, California. Eventually my mother realized he was evil, and left him for good, Newell explained. I started to go to therapy, which didn't help until I found a great "EMDR" therapist [Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a form of therapy that addresses trauma] in Austin, Texas, and took the time to heal. An irate Meehan attempted to abduct Terra Newell (as played by Julia Garner in the series) in a parking lot in 2016, leading her to fatally stab him in self-defense. I also work to promote PTSD awareness and share my knowledge on self-defense. Do you have any questions or comments for The Voluntourist staff? He was a fraud. Crime Scene Cleaners Inc. Twenty years before the events of Dirty John, Debra Newell's sister Cindi was shot and killed by her husband, Billy Vickers.The . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, His shoulder blade. My name is Terra. After two months of dating, the couple got married. He looked me in the eyes and said, Do you remember me? And I looked up at him and didn't say anything because I immediately tried to run away from him," Terra said. The most important thing I have learned is to keep going and stay positive," Terra said. They later learned Meehan had gone to jail several times, many women had restraining orders against him, was a heavy drug user, and was also an infamous stalker. Meehan had also told Debra one of his sisters had died of cancer. Her Inside Details, 5 Interesting Facts About Gabriel Basso Parents Louis J. Basso Jr. and Marcie, Gabriel Basso Ethnicity, Family Background, And Nationality, Truth About Steelo Brims Wife? While she tried to get back to normality, Terra wasnt able to function as usual. Just a coincidencesome guy with the same name. 2.1K Likes, 52 Comments. Dirty John comes to its grim but satisfying conclusion this weekend, with -- this isn't really a spoiler -- Debra Newell's (Connie Britton) daughter Terra (Julia Garner) ending John Meehan's (Eric Bana) terror campaign by plunging the very knife he was trying to attack her with into his dome. The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History Debra, a wealthy and successful interior designer ready for romance after four failed marriages, was impressed by what she read and saw. She also went into hiding. There are many, many people out there that are going through what I went through, maybe in a different way. Editors picks Then, on Aug. 20, 2016, Meehan waited for Newell's youngest daughter, 25-year-old former Las Vegan Terra Newell, in the parking garage of her Newport Beach apartment complex and attacked her . Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. "I liked that he was a doctor, that he had been successful helping people, and then when he said he had been to Iraq, Doctors Without Borders, that impressed me also," she added. She also questioned why John as a doctor had no cars. The now self-defense mentor discovered the truth about John a day before Thanksgiving when she found a nursing certificate in Johns name in a closet. At first we were all in shock. She additionally explains the tips on how to defend oneself in a knife attack that could save their life. By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. DIRTY JOHN VICTIM DEBRA RECALLS SHOCKING RELATIONSHIP WITH CON MAN. Terra Newell killed her moms husband in self-defense, stabbing him 13 times while her dog Cash bit his ankles trying to protect her. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! "My mom left him for the second time. Terra was also nonconfrontational; her family often described her as sweet.. Albeit unfortunate, there was money coming in for Newells family from different avenues; especially those closely related to the case. Things You Should Know About Her. Ignoring her family's concerns, the pair got hitched in Las Vegas weeks later. Owner Neal Smither Tells All, You're the Detective NowHelp Solve the Kurt Sova Cold Case at CrimeCon's CrowdSolve, Catching up with Terra Newell from Dirty JohnHow She's Healing Now. She suffered several blows to her ribs she originally thought were punches. I killed my stepdad in self-defense. I just wanted to do a short, simple video.. I am so happy I am alive to share this message, to reflect on all the amazing opportunities that have come about from such a traumatic event and to celebrate another year of living life to the fullest. All rights reserved. The saga led to Terras unlikely fame began when her mother, Debra Newell, had married the conman after a four-week whirlwind romance. 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