Jennair and Mark Gerardot had been married for 24 years and together for 28, with a relationship marked by its share of highs and lows. Mark, often passive, contrasted sharply with Jennair, who could be more assertive, even aggressive at times. The couple, without children or much family nearby, were content to focus on their pets, which they both adored. However, when Jennair lost her job and struggled to find a new one, her self-esteem began to take a hit. The couple’s dynamic shifted as Jennair’s sense of identity eroded.

When Mark landed a new job in Delaware, Jennair stayed behind in South Carolina to pack up their life and handle the logistics of their move. This gave Mark six weeks of bachelor-like freedom. During this time, he and his 33-year-old boss, Meredith Sullivan Chapman, began developing a “work crush” on each other, igniting an affair that would change everything. As we left off, Jennair, ever perceptive, had begun to sense that something was off with her husband, though she couldn’t yet put her finger on it. What began as quiet suspicions soon spiraled into an all-consuming obsession. Jennair’s fixation on Meredith would lead to a devastating conclusion — one that no one could have predicted.

Listen to part 2 today on Patreon

Today's snack: Brownies from Greyston Bakery (thanks Anne!)

Sources

• 20/20 episode
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbCY0mzb1DM&ab_channel=ABCNews
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_DloWsfpug&ab_channel=ABCNews
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXn4al0z-8A&t=354s&ab_channel=ABCNews
• Season 1 of the Bad Bad Thing Podcast
• Irreparable
• https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/husbands-affair-leads-to-murder-suicide-involving-mistress-and-wife-in-pennsylvania-home/507-545703243
• https://www.wyff4.com/article/former-upstate-mans-affair-leads-to-ambush-killing-of-lover-wifes-suicide-police-say/20065002
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43899187
• https://www.newspapers.com/image/422251929/?terms=Jennair%20Gerardot