VPD Interview of Desiree Capuano (2019-07-16)
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Recorded Interview with Desiree CAPUANO
July 16th, 2019
Incident #19-49074
- Seybold – Detective SP255 Amanda SEYBOLD (Sahuarita PD)
- Johnston – Detective JOHNSTON (Phonetic)
- Capuano – Desiree CAPUANO
Repetitive loud beep/buzz throughout
Short Pause
Seybold:
And it is recording right now, just to let you know.
Capuano:
'Kay.
Seybold:
But I'm just gonna make sure that it's good before we get started.
Capuano:
'Kay.
Short Pause
Seybold:
Awesome. So, I just have to start a second one and we'll be good to go.
Capuano:
(Chuckles)
Seybold:
Right? Yeah.
Johnston:
The other one should, just as long as we move, it should record.
Seybold:
This way we'll just have it complete. And I'm sorry...
Johnston:
I'm a little bit familiar with your case 'cause I was one of the original...
Capuano:
Oh, yeah, sure.
Johnston:
...police officers.
Capuano:
Right.
Johnston:
Um...
Capuano:
Back in late 2016.
Johnston:
Yeah, years ago, so...
Capuano:
It's been going on for a while.
Johnston:
I think at that time you notified Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Capuano:
Yeah, RCMP.
Johnston:
Right.
Capuano:
Yeah, and then the constables.
Johnston:
Yes.
Capuano:
And they took it.
Johnston:
Right.
Seybold:
All right, so it's not gonna let me record in here, so I guess it's gonna be (unintelligible).
Capuano:
(Chuckles)
Seybold:
So, just for formality sakes, I'm gonna have all of us introduce ourselves. Um, I'm Det. Seybold, SP255. It is July 16th at approximately 1028 hours. Also present is Det. Johnston and Desiree, how do you say your last name properly?
Capuano:
Capuano.
Seybold:
Capuano.
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
I think I've been butchering it this whole time.
Capuano:
That's okay. That's okay.
Seybold:
Um, so, I did get a new case number for us, for these purposes, so, before you leave, I'll give you a card with the case number and everything just so you're aware of it. Um, that way, if anything comes up, you have it.
Capuano:
Okay.
Seybold:
And Desiree, are you currently at the Placita Del Lago Mago?
Capuano:
Yes.
Seybold:
Okay. Did I get that completely wrong?
Capuano:
It's okay (chuckles). Placita Lago Del Mago.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Yes.
Seybold:
There we go.
Capuano:
Yes.
Seybold:
Um, and the 310 number, is that the best number to reach you at?
Capuano:
Yes.
Seybold:
Okay. Are you currently employed anywhere?
Capuano:
Yes.
Seybold:
Where are you employed at?
Capuano:
So, he, he doesn't know where I'm employed, so this will be made available to him, so, if I say it, then ...
Seybold:
So, I don't know what Canada's requirements are as far as disclosure goes.
Capuano:
He's already put the last video of me that they did up on the website.
Seybold:
Okay, what last video?
Capuano:
The, the, the one that we did when they came down and did the interview here, um, for the trial and, and for the case, he actually has video of, of that interview posted on the website, so, he will get it.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And, um, that would be really bad.
Seybold:
Yeah. So, what I'll do is I'll wait until we're stopped recording...
Capuano:
Okay.
Seybold:
...and then I'll get your employment at that time, does that work?
Capuano:
Thank you.
Seybold:
Okay. And if at any time you need a break and you need to take a minute...
Capuano:
(Makes noise)
Seybold:
...just let me know.
Capuano:
That's fine.
Seybold:
You can go outside, walk around...
Capuano:
(Shakes head)
Seybold:
...do what you need to do.
Capuano:
I've been doing this a while.
Seybold:
Okay. Um, so, you said the video from the last interview...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...he posted it.
Capuano:
Yeah, um, audio, and I don't know if there's video, I haven't looked, but yes, there's, there are clips from there...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...on it.
Seybold:
So, what was that interview, if you can tell me a little bit about that?
Capuano:
It was the history, it was everything leading up to that point in time, um, how we met, when we broke up, how that all went and how we had the common child and then when the harassment started, everything I've been through up to that point.
Seybold:
Okay, and who was that interview with?
Capuano:
Oh, I don't know, um, the RCMP's actually came down, so the Canadian police came down...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...and, um, and I forget who it was. I wanna say, it's not Brian but it's something like that, um...
Seybold:
That's okay.
Capuano:
...Bryant (phonetic), Cst. Bryant.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
I'm gonna say that was his name. We did it here.
Seybold:
Okay, and when was that, do you recall?
Capuano:
2016.
Seybold:
Okay. And what, um, website was that posted to?
Capuano:
(Sighs) It's now called desicapuano.com.
Seybold:
So, I've looked at that this morning...
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
...and it actually looks like it's been shut down again.
Capuano:
Really?
Seybold:
Yes.
Capuano:
Yay.
Seybold:
Because, um, Det. Fontana...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...had sent me that link.
Capuano:
Okay.
Seybold:
Um, so let me just make sure that it's the same link that I have here. Is it this one right here, the desicapuano?
Capuano:
Mm-hmm.
Seybold:
Okay. So, yeah, when I clicked on it earlier...
Capuano:
Yay.
Seybold:
...so, that has been taken down.
Capuano:
Okay. It's recent because it was up just last week with full...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
I know because somebody I work with.
Seybold:
Okay. Okay. Did they tell you about it?
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
What happened from there?
Capuano:
Um, well, apparently, uh, I work in IT...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...so, my user name has to be put into some things in order for them to run. So, he was trying to put it into an app but the app didn't come up until I put it into Google.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And when it came up, it came up to the website.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And so, he had no idea whether I put it up, if it was me, um, he, he didn't, uh, he t-, there's another girl there that, that knew the story...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...and so, she explained to him that this is what's going on, um, but now he's weird around me.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
He doesn't really know how to interact with me or what to say or.... He's like, I feel really bad but it's all awkward now.
Seybold:
Okay, and does he work in IT as well?
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
Is he a co-wor-, like a close co-worker?
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
He's somebody that I have to be able to go to and say I need you to do this, you need to go do this.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And so, he does it, he, he's, he's not impolite about it, but it's weird.
Seybold:
Okay. How was it before he saw the website?
Capuano:
Normal.
Seybold:
Okay. Were you, would you consider yourself friends before he saw the website?
Capuano:
No.
Seybold:
Not to...
Capuano:
Yeah, just co-workers.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Just co-workers.
Seybold:
But you were able to interact with him like you do with all of your other co- workers.
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Yes.
Seybold:
And then, after he saw the website, tell me a little bit about how things did or didn't change with him.
Capuano:
It's, it's, it's not, it's not anything tangible. It's just, uh, you know, he goes to say something and then pauses and doesn't.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
I'm like, yeah, and then he changes the subject.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
It's, it's that kinda stuff.
Seybold:
So, when you say he goes to chan-, he goes to say something, is it something that you guys would typically have joked about or...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...made comments about in the past?
Capuano:
Potentially, potentially, or it's like he wants to say something or ask about something but he doesn't know how or he, he isn't sure like it's okay.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And so, he just stops.
Seybold:
Okay. Has he mentioned it to any of your other co-workers that you're aware of?
Capuano:
(Shrugs)
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
I don't know.
Short Pause
Seybold:
So, I'm somewhat familiar, I read all the case reports that were in our system.
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
Um, I know, so, the trial that just happened back in, you said 2016 timeframe?
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
So, has there been any other courts or trials since then?
Capuano:
Yeah. He filed for appeal.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
So, that went to appeals court...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...in Vancouver. There were multiple hearing, um, on that. The last I heard from the appeals court is that it got thrown out...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...uh, because he didn't provide documentation that was required, I think, something like that.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, but that's the only other one that I'm aware of besides the trial that's coming up in August.
Seybold:
Okay. So, other than the trial that was in 2016, for the initial...
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
...there hasn't been a new trial other than the appeals.
Capuano:
No.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Not that I'm aware of.
Seybold:
So, what I'm gonna have you do is walk me from the trial that happened in 2016...
Capuano:
Okay.
Seybold:
...um, if you can tell me step by step...
Capuano:
What happened?
Seybold:
...um, if you can recall dates, if you can recall certain things that help you remember this is how I know this happened...
Capuano:
Well...
Seybold:
...at this point.
Capuano:
So, he, the trial happened in June.
Seybold:
All right.
Capuano:
It was a week long. I actually flew up to Canada, um, and testified in the, in court.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, and then, I flew back, jury deliberated, they found him guilty.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
So, he was sentenced to, um, jail time and then three years' probation.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
So, he was actually in jail up until December.
Seybold:
In?
Capuano:
Of this la-, past year.
Seybold:
And during that timeframe...
Capuano:
(Shakes head)
Seybold:
...so, June 2016 to December 20-...
Capuano:
Was great.
Seybold:
What ti-, December 2018 or 2019? 2018, it's not 2019.
Capuano:
(Nods head) (Chuckles)
Seybold:
I'm sorry...
Capuano:
(Laughing) It's okay.
Seybold:
...(unintelligible) today.
Capuano:
It's okay.
Seybold:
Okay, so June to December, he was in jail.
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
So, you had zero contact.
Capuano:
Zero contact.
Seybold:
Did you have any issues at all while he was in jail?
Capuano:
No, none.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
It was wonderful.
Seybold:
Yeah.
Capuano:
It was really good. He got out, uh, December...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...uh, um, 30th, 31st, something like that, it was like the last day of December.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, we, everybody just kinda made sure that we were watching everything that was going on, but he was required to check in every four days with his parole officer.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Part of the reason is because of the blog post that he wrote that said it would take him six to 10 days to get down here to kill me.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, and so, we figured four days was safe...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...because we should be able find him before he gets here with a four-day lead time, so...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, and so, from January through March, um, he went to his probation and checked in, there were no issues with that. Um, I believe he was going back to court in Vancouver trying to get the probation terms removed or released or relaxed.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, I believe at one point he went to the Canadian version of Immigration...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...um, and told them that he was in the country illegally and that they needed to deport him back to the United States. It didn't work. Um, uh, he's been using the Patrick Fox identity...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
... this whole time, um, but, uh, last month, I was actually contacted by the real Patrick Fox.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
So, I'm in contact with the real person whose identity he stole.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Uh, and he, the real Patrick Fox actually worked in the federal facility where Richard was held...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...when he was (unintelligible) back in 2007. Um, so, that happened, so between those three months, I got in touch with the person, he said he would work with law enforcement in either country to help clear his name and everything. Um, and then, I guess March, he, he got tired of doing all of that and, um, on the Friday, he went to court and asked the judge to relax the probation and they said no. Um, we knew that Wednesday that the website was back up, but nobody had told him that we knew yet. And when I say we, the constables...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...the Crown Counsel...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...knew that the website was back up.
Seybold:
So, that was the Wednesday before his court on Friday?
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Uh, and I can get the date for you, I just don't have my phone right now.
Seybold:
No, that's okay.
Capuano:
Okay. Um, I've been, I've been dealing with him a long time, s-, so I get, I, I can, I can feel anxious when he's like starting to, to move, and, and I really, really felt like he was gonna skip town, um, and I, that's why I called the Crown Counsel and I asked him if, if he knew for sure that he was there, and he said yeah. Are you sure? And he's like, yeah, 'cause I was just in court with him today.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
It's like, okay, right, safe.
Seybold:
Uh-huh.
Capuano:
But then, the following Tuesday, the following Monday or Tuesday, um, I got a call from Vancouver Police Department that said, uh, he had crossed the border four days previously and nobody knew where he was.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, and it took about two days, uh, for Canadian law enforcement to realize the United States had him.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And so, um, they turned around and gave him back to them.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, that was a very scary couple days.
Seybold:
Tell me a little bit about that.
Capuano:
Okay. W-, we, we all just stayed home.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
We all just stayed home, and I wouldn't go anywhere alone, um, and we just waited. We just waited to hear something from somebody that they knew where he was.
Seybold:
Okay. What made it a very scary couple of days?
Capuano:
Um, he, he went into explicit detail about shooting me, killing me, the type of gun he would use, the bullets being extracted from my body, the way it would look, the way he would look. It's, it, he's given it a lot of thought.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
A lot of thought, like planned it, organized it, orchestrated it, um, and he doesn't have a firm grasp on reality.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Like he really thinks that I'm this monstrous person that's lying and fooling everybody and just managed to lie so convincingly for so long, and it's his job to show the world the truth about me...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...um, which couldn't be further from the truth. And I, I just, I, I, I don't know what he would do.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
My biggest fear is him, is nobody knowing where he is. I don't expect that he would ever walk up to my front door and knock on it. I would expect that he would follow me, figure out where I'm going, watch me and then shoot me from a car and drive away...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...and I'd never see it coming.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
So, you'd expect him to follow you and...
Capuano:
Oh, yeah.
Seybold:
...pretty much ambush-type style.
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Just never be seen.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, I also believe that he has help in Los Angeles if he can get there of, uh, extended family in, uh, Les Palminos (phonetic), somebody there. So, if he can get down to Los Angeles, um, I'm afraid that he would be able to go to (unintelligible) and not be able to be found.
Seybold:
Okay. What do you mean by that?
Capuano:
They would give him rides, give him a car, give him a place to sleep, clothes, food, money, and that's all he would need.
Seybold:
How has this (unintelligible), sorry...
Capuano:
No, that's okay.
Seybold:
...I'm gonna let you take it on your timeframe.
Capuano:
Um...
Seybold:
Okay, so, he was missing for about four days.
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
Then, you got contacted by Royal Canadian Police saying we located him...
Capuano:
Yeah, he's...
Seybold:
...the US border has him, he's coming back to us.
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, as a side note, the last time he crossed the border was the fifth time he entered illegally...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...um, and I was told by Immigration and the US Border is that if he did it again, they would prosecute him or do an investigation or something, and they didn't. The United States refuses to do anything to this guy, and that's really, really frustrating because he will just continue to come back until the country says no. Uh, but the longer they just catch and release him, there's no punishment for doing it again and again and again, and it's really frustrating.
Seybold:
Yeah.
Capuano:
It is. Um, so, I was quite mad and, 'cause when they, when they called and told me that the United States had him, they said they were do a full investigation, they were gonna research his name, they were gonna research what he'd done, they didn't do anything.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
They didn't do anything at all, just turned him around. And, uh, from what I've been told, uh, he went back into court and pled not guilty.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Which also made me mad.
Seybold:
Pled not guilty to what?
Capuano:
Uh, everything.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Uh, putting the website back up, breaking probation charges, trying to cross the United, not guilty...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...and that's why there's a trial coming up. And that's basically where it's at, um, I'm just waiting. They're not releasing him on bail, uh, because he is a flight risk, and, um, just waiting for the trial.
Seybold:
So, from March until now, July, have you had any issues with him?
Capuano:
Uh, not except like the website being put back up, but nothing directly.
Seybold:
So, tell me a little bit about the website. When did you first, I mean, I know you said the Wednesday...
Capuano:
2014. 2014, April is the first time I knew about the website.
Seybold:
Okay. So, since he's been released in 2018, the first time you were aware of it was the Wednesday...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...before the trial...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...that he had it...
Capuano:
That it, it was back up.
Seybold:
Okay, and has it been up ever since then that you're aware of?
Capuano:
Uh, yeah.
Seybold:
Yeah.
Capuano:
He changed the name of the website. It was originally desireecapuano.com...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...um, but then he couldn't afford to renew that domain 'cause he was in jail, so, excuse me, I bought it.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
But then, he just bought desicapuano instead.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And it's the who-, old one plus all the new stuff.
Seybold:
Okay. Do you know if anything has been added...
Capuano:
Oh, yeah.
Seybold:
...between...?
Capuano:
Oh, well, uh, not since he's been in jail.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Not, not since he got picked up in April but, um, yes, there was a lot of additional new stuff added from between the original one and this one. My victim impact statement...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...um, uh, clips, audio clips of, um, my first, um, this thing...
Seybold:
Interview?
Capuano:
Thank you, yes (chuckles), the one from back in 2016. Um, legal documents filed in the court case up in Canada, information about my attorney, information about the Crown Counsel, information about the court-appointed attorney. Um, his release letter from his previous company that said if you post this, everything is null and void and he posted that. Um, more blog posts.
Seybold:
So, there's been quite a bit more added.
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
How has that affected you?
Capuano:
To have to think about it.
Seybold:
What happens when you think about it?
Capuano:
(Gestures) Um, i-, there's not much I can do about it. Um, it's down now, which is awesome, um, but if it's up, it, it's a lot of work to get it taken down, and, um, every time I take it down, he gets, actually puts it back up. So, I just, I know it's there, so, I just hope people don't see it because, just, or about me.
Seybold:
Ha-, do you feel like it has affected you in any way as far as socially?
Capuano:
Yeah, I can't have social media.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, most of social media, like, uh, my son is in therapy and she wanted to do a Skype therapy session. I can't do Skype...
Seybold:
Yeah.
Capuano:
...because Skype wants access to your phone and your video. If he hacks my Skype account, he now has access to my phone and my camera. I can't do that.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, I can't leave reviews for things that I buy and places that I go because if he sees my name, he'll start tracking where I'm going.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
I can't talk about where I work 'cause if he finds out where I work, he'll do the same thing he did last time (unintelligible).
Seybold:
What happened last time?
Capuano:
He got the email addresses for everybody that I worked with and he started sending them emails pretending to be me.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, things with like my income statement that I had to supply for the custody case, um, emails that he and I had sent back and forth, court documents, um, links to the website, um, and it was just massive, he would just send out these emails to.... At one point, one email went out to 650 employees. I didn't even know that many people. They know me.
Seybold:
Yeah.
Capuano:
He sent an email to the board of directors of my company that said, I smoke pot and there's not an effing thing you can do about it, signed my name. There was the Desiree situation at work, and I had to go in all the time and meet with people and it was a security breach (unintelligible).
Seybold:
Yeah. When was that?
Capuano:
2014. He, he, he got into my LinkedIn account, uh, he accessed my Facebook account. I can't, I can't have any of that. I try not to make friends because if I make friends, I have to explain the whole situation to them, and then they become traumatized because if he knows about any friends that I have, (unintelligible).
Seybold:
Okay. When did he hack your LinkedIn and Facebook?
Capuano:
2014.
Seybold:
So, he definitely has the means...
Capuano:
Oh, yeah.
Seybold:
...and the ability to hack into...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...Skype or any of those.
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
Okay. How does he have the, that means?
Capuano:
Because he's an IT person, he, he writes code. He's a (unintelligible) software programmer.
Seybold:
Okay.
Short Pause
Capuano:
James and I started dating just a couple months after the website started sending out stuff and by July, he was on the website being attacked as well. And I told him, you don't wanna get into a relationship, it's not gonna be good, but he didn't go away, so...
Seybold:
And he's still here.
Capuano:
And he's still here.
Seybold:
So, as far as social impact, you feel like you can't have friends...
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
...you can't have social media, you can't do a lot of things that most people do because of...
Capuano:
The risk.
Seybold:
...the risk and his ability to access information through all this.
Capuano:
And even if he's in jail right now, whenever he gets out, that stuff is still there, and he's just gonna find it all, put it all together and start profiling what I've been doing the entire time he's been in jail.
Seybold:
So, I know it's gonna be hard to kinda car-, compartmentalize, but if you can, as much as you can, um, how has it affected you, or has it affected you financially since December of 2018 when he got released?
Capuano:
So far, it hasn't affected me financially.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, in that respect, I just, I, every day, I'm scared that, like, I'm not in any danger of losing my job, I'm not, right? But a lot changes, things happen, right? Um, if I had to get another job right now, it's really, really hard.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Truly, because all jobs look at social media. They do a Google search of your name, and they never call me back.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
They just don't.
Seybold:
So, how long have you been working in your current job, if you're comfortable saying that?
Capuano:
It's okay, uh, since 2017.
Seybold:
Since 2017 .
Capuano:
And, uh, the hiring manager, manager, he knew everything. So, he'd already researched my name, he'd already found everything. He had people telling him not to hire me, he had people telling him to hire me. Um, he, he made the call.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
So, I didn't have to explain anything to him when I started working.
Seybold:
Okay. So, had he gotten all this information from social media or...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...how did he get that?
Capuano:
He, he had found it all.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Yeah, just googled my name. It's all there.
Seybold:
Yeah. Um, prior to you getting that job in 2017, uh, had you, were you going from one job to another job...
Capuano:
I, uh...
Seybold:
...had you not been employed for a period of time?
Capuano:
I was in, I was at Apollo, uh, in Phoenix from 2008 until 2014.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
2014 was when he started everything...
Seybold:
With...
Capuano:
...and I was at Apollo then.
Seybold:
So, 2007 to 2018?
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And, um, he, uh, all the emails that went out were to people at Apollo, um, the board of directors was the board of directors from Apollo, and they started going through massive layoffs, um, and I'm pretty sure that the issues and the security problems were one of the reasons I got laid off. So, I moved to Tucson and, um, I submitted 90 applications...
Seybold:
Right.
Capuano:
...to Tucson and all I could get was a contract job.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And, um, I worked there and they renewed it for another six months, so, I had a job there for a year and then, um, and then I, I found this job.
Seybold:
Okay, so, from 2015 to 2017 you were employed for that time...
Capuano:
Mm-hmm.
Seybold:
...and when you say a contract job, what do you mean by that?
Capuano:
Um, it's not a full-time employment, like you go through a contract firm and then I, so, I was contracted through a, like a temp agency, not a temp agency but a contract agent.
Seybold:
Contract.
Capuano:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, um...
Seybold:
That farms out...
Capuano:
Exactly.
Seybold:
...employees, essentially.
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And so then, they held a competition for the job here.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, but it was like a six-month contract, and then they extended it for another six months.
Seybold:
Okay. So, it was only a year.
Capuano:
(Nods head). And then, by that time, he was back in jail. Um, it was, I actually, um, I was offered a position at Pima, um, Community College, and, uh, good starting salary, great job. I was super, super excited, I had my start date, I had my confirmation letter, and then they pulled the job away because they went to the website and, uh, he tracks everybody that goes to the website. And so, he saw the people from Pima were going to the website, and he figured out that I was applying for a job there. So, he actually had a whole log post at work for Pima Community College when they went there, and they were like, we can't do it.
Seybold:
Yeah. When was that?
Capuano:
2000 and 15, 2016.
Seybold:
Was that brought up in the trial?
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Yeah. Um, so, I've lost many jobs.
Seybold:
Yeah.
Capuano:
That's the, that's the biggest thing is, um, being able to stay employed, so.... And there, um, there's so many awesome things like that happen in life that I can't share in now. I can't, I'd love to let friends and family know, wish happy birthdays and I can't.
Seybold:
You just can't.
Capuano:
(Shakes head) So, I just live quietly.
Seybold:
So, it sounds like emotionally it's taken quite a toll.
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
So, again, I'm gonna ask you to compar-...
Capuano:
It's okay.
Seybold:
...compartmentalize and I know it, I can only imagine how difficult it's gonna be to try and compartmentalize, but if you could tell me, emotionally, how this has impacted you since the end of the last trial, so June 2016...
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
...until now.
Capuano:
Um, through 2016 to 20, um, 18, most of 2018, um, I didn't let it affect me. He was out of the picture, I knew where he was, and I knew he couldn't reach me. And that one is the first time in four, five, six years that I could actually just take a breath...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...and then I was safe. So, it was wonderful. It was really great. Um, I just got up every day and didn't have that weight, you know? Um, I started back at school and, uh, took care of the kids. I was happy, you know, just minimal stress, it was just really low stress. Um, by October 2018, October last year, I was starting to, I knew it was coming. So, um, you know, everybody tells you just don't think about it, there's nothing you can do about it so just put in the back of your mind and just focus on other things, so, I just kept trying to do that. Um, but there's a lot of anxiety. Um, the boss that, that hired me, that told me no matter what he did I would have a job, they let him go.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
So then we had a new boss in. I had to tell him the whole story, um, and then he left, got a new boss, and it's just, um, it was really bad. It was really hard.
Seybold:
Mm-hmm.
Capuano:
Just the, the unknown, um, it's, it's, it (unintelligible) your life knowing that not everybody likes you and there's people that probably hate you, right? Especially in your guys' line of work, I know (laughs).
Seybold:
Right?
Johnston:
Why...?
Capuano:
I don't even know what you're talking about, what?
Johnston:
Why would you think that?
Capuano:
Yeah, right?
Seybold:
Everyone loves us, firefighters, right?
Capuano:
Yeah, obviously. Apparently, they're.... Um, but to, to have somebody that is just so hell bent on your destruction, like just single focussed, it, I know what he's done and what he can do, and I guess what I don't know is what he's capable of and that's what scares me. And, um, I know that no matter what rules he's given, he's not gonna follow them. So, if he doesn't care about what he's told he can and cannot do, (unintelligible), you know, you just don't know. And while I, I've gotten better, I'm still not really good at just watching over my shoulder all the time, doing all the things that you're supposed to do. I don't want to live like that, I don't, that's why I fight, you know? 'Cause if I run, then I'm always gonna be running from him and I don't want to. I'm standing ground, I wanna make him stop. Nobody should be allowed to have that much control over someone else's life. Um, I was really, really scared when he first got out in December, um, I was just making sure that I got updates every time he checked in. Um, Victim Services was really good about letting me know, he checked in, he's still here, we know what's going on, um, and I, I, at that point, probably end of January, um, it was just like a (unintelligible), see how this goes. As long as he's checking in and I know where he's at, I don't care. But, uh, and, um, I, I knew it wasn't gonna last long, there's no way. There's no way he could abide those terms and conditions, um, but, um, and like I said, I, I had a, I had a gut feeling that he was gonna skip and that he was not there anymore, and he left, tried it. So, some of it was, um, I've been doing this a long time and, uh, I've been scared for most of it, so, when he does things like go into Immigration and says that they have to deport him, that makes me laugh, it just does, you know?
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Because I know what the truth is, um, I know who he is, and I know that that's a lie. So, if I have to go in there and try, you know, to, to make that happen again.... I just feel like he's slipping, like he's, he's not logically thinking through things anymore, he's just, now he's just acting, which also scares me because before there was always a plan, he had a plan. Nobody knew what it was, you know, but it was layers deep, it, and he had it, you know. I'm not sure there's a plan anymore.
Seybold:
Okay. Why does that scare you?
Capuano:
Um, because, uh, anything's possible with him. I-, i-, the end goal is to hurt me.
Seybold:
Right.
Capuano:
Even before, he had, he, he had it figured out how he was gonna do it, but now, if there's no plan, there's no way for anybody to (unintelligible). And he used telegraph what he would do, like he, he would literally put on the website that it's a good thing we're all in America two days before he crossed the border. He telegraphs what he's gonna do, right? So, if he doesn't have a plan, then he's not telegraphing, and if he's not telegraphing, there's no si-, there's no clues. There's nothing to be like he's getting ready to make a move, right, so now we just sit and wait 'cause there, there, there's nothing.
Seybold:
So, when he's not telegraphing, it makes it that much harder...
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
...for you to know. Okay.
Capuano:
Yeah, he'd usually tell me all the things he was gonna do, hire people to have sex with me so he could get pictures to put on the website, um, taking out billboards so that he could put my personal information on there, getting my social security number so he could just abuse it. Like he would tell me things that he was planning on doing, right? Now, he doesn't feel like he has to tell me what he's doing, but it still felt like he had a plan, and now I don't believe that there's a plan.
Seybold:
What changed between when you felt like he last had a plan and now where you feel like he's slipping?
Capuano:
I-, he keeps trying to use the same argument with the same people to get the same results that never worked.
Seybold:
Okay. Right.
Capuano:
And, and, and it feels like he's just trying to scream louder and thinking that that's gonna make a difference, but it's not. And so, if that's, his plan's not gonna work, then he's like, now he's going to Immigrations and he trying to get picked up at the border and.... Here's the thing, like I really think that he thinks 100 per cent that he is that guy from the United States. That's why I think that, because I always felt like in the back of my mind, like he knew that he was Richard Riess, right? He stole that identity so he could get into the United States. Then, he legally changed his own name to that so it'd be harder to differentiate. I get that, right, but like if he goes to the border to be picked up, hoping for an interview, it's because Patrick Fox is a citizen and they're gonna see that Patrick Fox is a citizen and let him stay, but he is not that person.
Seybold:
Mm-hmm.
Capuano:
Like he has fully assumed this guy's identity and he's like if he can just make it sound as convincing as possible, everybody's gonna believe that he's that guy. That was never part of the plan (makes noise), it was never part of the plan, um, and, and that's, that's why I'm not sure he's, he's, he's fully here anymore. Like I always thought that there was that, that thing in the back of his head, it's like he's just pushed it so far he can't stop now, but he knew, like he knew, but I'm not sure he does now.
Seybold:
So, what do you think he used to know that he doesn't know now?
Capuano:
That he's actually Richard Riess.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
That he's not a United States citizen.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
That, that he actually was born in Canada, that, that he's who he is.
Seybold:
So, you think he's gotten so consumed being Patrick Fox...
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
...that he's just lost touch with...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...anything prior.
Capuano:
I do.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And that scares me.
Seybold:
What about that scares you?
Capuano:
Well, when you know I have.... Whe-, when, when you believe something that's totally false or there's just no boundaries...
Seybold:
Mm-hmm.
Capuano:
...what's okay, what's not okay to do...
Seybold:
Right.
Capuano:
...for the sake of making that real, what will you do?
Seybold:
One second, I wanna make sure we're not missing anything. Um, their list.... Okay, so, so, you said your son's in therapy, correct?
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
Okay. Um, was that due to...?
Capuano:
No, no. Um, the common child, uh, okay, insofar as the way that my having to deal with this situation has impacted my son, yes, because, uh, for many years I was so consumed with how to do custody and battle, my trips and everything else, my little boy was seven years old and I was never home. I was, I was working full time and I would, I'd literally leave work to drive overnight to Compton, California (unintelligible) I would have a court date that morning, Tuesday morning, get through my court, drive back, sleep and go back to work on Wednesday. Couldn't stay overnight 'cause I didn't have any time. So, there was lot where I was not involved. I, I wasn't there for him, you know, um, and then we had to move and he got ripped away from all his friends, you know, and for a little kid, and then just as you go home, constantly, you're upset, constantly. I, I didn't know which way was up. And so, there was factors and then we did, those impacted him growing up, yes. We have had to deal and work through a lot of that with him. Um, for the common child, no, he's (unintelligible). Uh, he's actually doing really well. He graduated...
Seybold:
Yay.
Capuano:
...yes, from Walton (phonetic).
Seybold:
Awesome.
Capuano:
Mm-hmm. Uh, he got accepted to a university and in two weeks, I move him out to his own state.
Seybold:
Nice.
Capuano:
Yeah, and I'm not gonna say where that's going...
Seybold:
No.
Capuano:
...because I don't want him to know.
Seybold:
Understandable.
Capuano:
So, but he's college bound in another state.
Seybold:
Awesome. Um, how has from June 2016 to now affected your family? Has there been any hardships...
Capuano:
No.
Seybold:
...in your family because of this?
Capuano:
No. We, um, we are very close and everybody is really supportive of, um, everything that's going on. Whenever stuff comes up, everybody's kinda there. We all just wait it out as it's going on.
Seybold:
I...
Capuano:
It's, it's been hard, but everybody's been super supportive.
Seybold:
Okay. Um, has there been any, I know you said not for you, but has there been any financial hardship for you or your husband, or is he husband or boyfriend?
Capuano:
Just boyfriend.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Yeah. No, no, um, any financial hardship came from having to fight him directly or when I had to get lawyers to fight him...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...but, um, since the Canadian authorities have gotten involved, thankfully, I get to be removed from that situation. Um, so besides being able to not find a job, that was the only financial, and then, of course, James had to help cover me during that time.
Seybold:
Mm-hmm.
Capuano:
Um, but since that time, everything's been okay.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
So.
Seybold:
Has the website caused any hardship for or James or your kids?
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
Since 2016?
Capuano:
Um, not so much since 2016 specifically, um, uh, and getting the job in 2017, I mean, I've had, I've definitely caused issues. Um, James has, uh, security clearance, so any time there's issues, he has to file paperwork, report it, go through briefings, explain what happened, and it's a big mess for him. So, any time the website comes up, anytime anybody, it's a lot of work for him.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
And then, uh, yeah, the kids in school, people see, they see it, and then they can't have regular social media accounts, either, um, and, uh, you know, if, if kids happen to stumble upon it and they see his picture, they see his name on there, yeah, they, they, (unintelligible) kid, they had to deal with that, too. If they do do social media, they have to use fake accounts, fake names, hide it. Everything has to be super locked down.
Seybold:
Have there been any significant examples that you can recall of your kids having to deal with fallout from the website...
Capuano:
(Shakes head)
Seybold:
...or any issue from the website that you can...
Capuano:
They probably wouldn't tell me.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
They're really good. They know (unintelligible).
Seybold:
Do you think they would tell James or do you think they'd keep it amongst themselves?
Capuano:
You can a-, he may have more information on that than I do (chuckles).
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
There's a very likely possibility of that. He may know some things that I don't.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Yeah, that's, that's possible.
Seybold:
Okay. Do you wanna read this and make sure we're not missing anything? That was just a email from Det. Fontana...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...uh, requesting some information she needed. Is there anything that you can think of that I have not asked, that I have missed, that you think would be important for, uh, me to know, for Det. Fontana to know, that would be important for the court to know?
Short Pause
Capuano:
He's never gonna stop.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
He's never gonna stop. Anything that happens to him, he blames on me. So, anything additional, any jail time or charges or anything that happens to him, it's all gonna be my fault anyway, and it's not gonna make him like me any more, and I really feel that he's just biding his time until he can get his revenge.
Seybold:
Okay. Has he had any contact with you since December of 2015?
Capuano:
No.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
No. And he's had no contact with his son, either.
Seybold:
Okay. Has he had any like third-party contact with you?
Capuano:
No.
Seybold:
Okay. Other than just the website.
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Uh, Liz Munoz was his contact in LA, she is the one that helped with everyone, but after the firearms were found at her house and then, she, her house got raided and, uh, um, not everybody in her family is legal, and so, she got, they got very scared. And so, she stopped communicating, as far as I know, she stopped communicating with him, um, but she definitely stopped communicating with us.
Seybold:
Okay, and when was the last time you had contact with her?
Capuano:
2016, 2015/16.
Seybold:
Okay, so she hasn't tried to reach out...
Capuano:
(Shakes head)
Seybold:
...to you for him or anything?
Capuano:
No.
Seybold:
Okay. Um, between October 2018, when you started to get a little anxious about him getting released...
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
...and things of that nature, up until right now, did that cause any lifestyle changes? Did that cause any change of...
Capuano:
Well...
Seybold:
...what had become a normal routine?
Capuano:
We had to put security cameras up around the house.
Seybold:
And when was that?
Capuano:
That was October.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
October/November. We had to tell all of our neighbours...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...because, um, some of them are home, they're older, so they like to watch what's going on in the neighbourhood.
Seybold:
You can use that to your advantage.
Capuano:
Right? Yup, I figured they, they, they're always nosey and, uh, they'll know if somebody's lurking around.
Seybold:
Yeah.
Capuano:
So, um, yeah, um, I had to tell my bosses and the people that I work with because some days I just can't go to the office.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Some days it's just too hard, um, so they'll let me work from home.
Seybold:
Okay. What about going to the office is too hard?
Capuano:
Uh, sometimes when like, um, I just can't, I just can't focus on work. I just can't, I can't think about the things that I'm supposed to be thinking about, and sitting at my desk, trying to think about them, not being able to and more consumed with just like not thinking about him, it just gets too hard.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
I just stay home and do my work from there and be distracted, so....
Seybold:
Okay. Um, how else maybe, how else did your lifestyle change, if it did change, other than the cameras, talking to neighbours, talking to bosses, would there be times before October of 2018 where you couldn't go into work?
Capuano:
No.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
No, no. No. When he was in jail and I knew he wasn't going anywhere, it was great. I was happy every day.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Every day.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Even, even the normal stress that you get, uh, being late for work or running out of milk or, you know, not having the thing that you wanna make for dinner or, you know, kid's got a last-minute thing that he didn't tell you about 'til five minutes ago, like these are normal. I'd pray for that kinda stress, yeah. So, when that was all I had to deal with, I was so happy, like yeah, bring it on. I got your milk (unintelligible), week, um, 'cause I didn't have to deal with this, you know? It was a normal life. It, it had been so long since I had a normal life, I just enjoyed every single minute of it for as long as I could.
Seybold:
Was there any other changes since October of 2018 that you can think of?
Capuano:
I, um, I, I, I, I wanna, I wanna be a person that's out there in the moment, that's like making a name for myself, um, and when he's, he's away, I feel like I can. I feel like I can get out there and be me and people can know who I am and it's okay, but it's not. Yeah, I, I, I don't wanna end (unintelligible). So, they only see me for that. And I don't wanna give him anything that he can use.
Seybold:
You had mentioned, um, sorry, one second, you had mentioned that when you found out that he had possibly crossed the border that you guys pretty much stayed home.
Capuano:
Um, we didn't really have anywhere else to go.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Um, and we figured it was safer with all of us together...
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
...than anybody out there on their own.
Seybold:
Okay. Um, so, did you and James miss work because of that?
Capuano:
I worked from home and I off, too.
Seybold:
Okay. What about James?
Capuano:
Yeah, he stayed home, too. He worked at, uh, he had to take time off.
Seybold:
Okay, and what about the kids, did they go to school?
Capuano:
They did, but I picked them up and dropped them off every day, and...
Seybold:
And was that normal?
Capuano:
No.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
No. Uh, we also had to tell the school and the police d-, uh, officer at the school so he was fully aware, too, um, and yeah, I dropped them off and I picked them up. I had a, I had an exam at school, and , um, they all came with me and waited for me. I got an 'A' on the exam, by the way.
Seybold:
That's pretty badass.
Capuano:
Right (laughs)? Thank you, I have a 4.0, just sayin'.
Seybold:
That is awesome.
Capuano:
Thank you. I try to, I try to stay busy, as busy as I can.
Seybold:
Mm-hmm.
Capuano:
So, I'm at school full time and I work full time days, so, I really feel like if, if he hadn't taken away those years of my life, I would be so much further ahead, and it kills me that like I don't have the things that I wanted to have because I've spent so much time just trying to fight this. I feel blocked. But it just makes me work that much harder to get it back.
Seybold:
Mm-hmm. Is there anything else you want to say?
Capuano:
I don't think so.
Seybold:
Is there anything that you've got?
Johnston:
No, think I'm good.
Seybold:
I got an email from her, so really quickly...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...I wanna make sure that I...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...I'm not missing anything.
Capuano:
I'm so sorry guys that you have to deal with Vancouver and multiple police officers and people there (chuckles).
Seybold:
Hey, you know what, if we can make it so you have to go there less...
Capuano:
Right?
Seybold:
...and stress a little bit less...
Capuano:
Yes, that would be nice, yes.
Seybold:
...we're all for that.
Capuano:
I am so grateful. I tried so hard in Phoenix to get somebody to pay attention and make it stop and nobody could do anything to help me (unintelligible), and you guys have, and I appreciate it.
Seybold:
Well, it sounds like the Royal Canadian Police have helped...
Capuano:
Yes.
Seybold:
...significantly, as well.
Capuano:
Well, yeah.
Seybold:
You know what I mean?
Capuano:
But...
Seybold:
They got the front line. They're the ones handling that front line for us.
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
Yeah.
Capuano:
Um, you guys helped out a lot and, and I appreciate it.
Seybold:
Yeah, (unintelligible).
Capuano:
Yes.
Seybold:
Um, so, we went over everything that was added to the website.
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
We went over how that's affected you guys. Is there anything that you can recall about the kids since March of 2019 with the new website?
Capuano:
They were terrified, not, not at the website.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
No, um, that doesn't really affect them unless somebody finds pictures or, you know, googles their name or finds them on social media and like, but again, they use fake names, so, a lot of times that they still (unintelligible).
Seybold:
Yeah, yeah.
Capuano:
Um, but I mean, just besides the fact that like he was out and not, we had no information, and yeah, they were terrified. We all were.
Seybold:
Um, my guess, and if I'm wrong please tell me, is that you don't wanna be in here when I talk to James...
Capuano:
No (chuckles).
Seybold:
...to know if he knows anything?
Capuano:
No.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
No. No...
Seybold:
Just...
Capuano:
...I'll let him handle that.
Seybold:
Okay. So, I'm gonna talk with him...
Capuano:
Yeah.
Seybold:
...for a few minutes just because, uh, if they have had any fallout since the new website came up or anything like...
Capuano:
(Nods head)
Seybold:
...I just wanna make sure that I get all the information that I can.
Capuano:
And he'll be able to give you so much more, he's so much better at this than I am.
Seybold:
No, he just has a different experience than you.
Capuano:
Thank you, yeah.
Seybold:
He's a little bit more removed from it.
Capuano:
Yes (chuckles), yes.
Seybold:
Um, so, I'm gonna talk with him for a few minutes...
Capuano:
Sure.
Seybold:
...and then, uh, we can step outside and I'll get the additional information...
Capuano:
Okay.
Seybold:
...I can get from you that we had talked about and that will, um, so, I'll tell you more when we're outside...
Capuano:
Okay.
Seybold:
...to tell you about how that information is stored and all that...
Capuano:
Okay.
Seybold:
...so that way you know.
Capuano:
Okay.
Seybold:
Okay.
Capuano:
Thank you.
Seybold:
So, I'll stop the recording and start a new one.
Capuano:
Thank you.
RECORDING ENDS
END OF INTERVIEW
Transcribed By: VA5343/2019-09-25
Transcript Proofed By: Det. 2671 Fontana/2020-06-10