Chapter 9 part 2: Valerie Markowski

Now I know you have said to like you've It's not like you're just sitting here complacent. Oh you'd have. I believe you had nothing to do with Bethany. You have questioned him, you have pushed him, and he did arguments about it. It's not like you haven't thought or brought it up or or even pushed against it, you. Know, right, I have. I mean not to the extent that some like somebody you know, like Johnny Wood or you know, yeah, or his daughter. You know, it's not because I don't have no reason to go to that extent. You know, if I was experiencing the getting the shit beat out of me constantly or then I would be like hmm. But like I was telling Jenny, like Larry is into family, you know, he's like the family man. And that's why I'm like, it's when I'm talking to Jenny and she's telling me all this, I'm like, Wow, this isn't the same man, you know, hearing her stories and I'm like, well that never happened. Now, I said, I can relate to, you know, maybe a little bit of control like over the you know, the money sometimes you know, just acting like everything is his. We have you know tangled up a few times. When you say tangled is this like does he start it and so you're fighting back because you're not going to take it? Or what do you mean by tangled? Well, like if you're arguing and hey, it seems like it hasn't done in years. But he used to like just push me or whatever. Well, when he pushes me, I'm coming out him. Okay, So he would start it and you would come back, yeah. Or sometimes you know, I'd start it and then he'd getting after. And he always liked to like put his forehead online, you know, and like push me with his forehead. It's weird. Well, no, that doesn't work with me. Yeah, then you know the fight's on. If I knew, if I knew anything whe he hurt Bethany or I'm not even gonna say, I don't even want to. I don't even what the world if he's done anything with Bethany, then he longs in prison. This is missing in Hushtown Season two, Bethany Markowski and this is Chapter nine, Part two, Valerie Markowski. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains a series of clips from my five hour interview with Larry Markowski's wife, Valerie Markowski, We wanted to provide a window into her world being married to Larry. After Bethany went missing. M h m hm m hm h m hmm, he would call TBI and asked, you know, is there any you know information? You know, I'm Bethany. And they were nasty. They would be like, where's Johnny's daughter? We know you killed her? And I was like, whoa. And it got to the point where I just I told Larry, I said, just quick call on them. You're not getting anywhere. You know, they're talking to you like you're a dog. Just you're not getting anywhere. Just quit calling. So we we went and spoke to a detective in loud and and I can't remember his name because it's been years. So we just spoke to him. He was outside of the police station and Larry asked him. He's like, what can I do? You know, where do I start? Where do I begin? You know? What do I do? And he told Larry he said, there's really not much you can do beside to sit back and wait. So I was there for that. I heard that, and I've heard the conversation, you know, between him and TBI. I wanted to know more about Larry's experience with the TBI over the years since Bethany's disappearance. Did TBI come to you and ask you to divorce Larry or something? It will? They ended up, We were split up. That's back when I was dating the car Okay and Larios with that Kathy lit Lady. Valerie is referring to the first five to seven years of their marriage, likely around two thousand and six, when they were separated, the years when Valerie says most of the toxic events occurred between them. I actually moved and got my own place because I was staying in my mom's. Actually at my own place. I went by my mom's for something and told my mom I was going grocery shopping. And I think I just left the grocery store or something, and my mom called me and she's like, teenye I was here. You had it here. So I know it was Valerie Trout and there was a guy with her, and I don't remember who he was. She was just I don't know not what I thought, but she's she said if I if I divorced Larry, she would pay for it, that they would pay for it, and I just looked at her like and I that's when I said, I gotta go. Yeah, you know, I gotta go. This is I'm going home. And she's like, you're going home. You're not. You're you're going home by yourself because it was way out in the country and she's like, you're not scared. I'm like, no, no, I'm not. And even Larry, like when he finally found out where I live because we kind of got back together and everything, and he's like, the power went out out there and it was pitch black, and he's like, I can't believe that you actually stay out here by yourself. But yeah, what I was leaving. She's like, you're not scared being out that far. You're not scared of Larry. I'm like, no, I'm not, Like so I was. I just had enough. Years later, the TBI would return to her home. I know TBI. They also came to our house. It was her. I don't even know. I hate to throw updates because if I'm not right, I just know they came to the house and Larry wasn't there, and I'm trying to thank my grandson. I'm not sure if he was born then it might be like twenty eleven, two thousand and twelve. I could be wrong. It's somewhere in that area that they knocked on the door and Larry went't there, and I thought him. I was like, I called Larry. So I called Larry and told him that tb I was there, and he's like, I'll tell him to hang on, I'll be right there. And Larry came home and they didn't really have much to say. They just wanted to swab Larry's mouth and they did, yeah, and it was something said there was a new system or something. I don't know, but they Swabbedlarry's mouth and got his dmity. I just feel like if TBI would have talked to Larry with respect, you know, even though the whole situation's crazy. But then again, like Devil's Advocate, why would you let your your hubris get in the way of doing everything you can to bring to your girl home? You know? I think I Understeah. Yeah, I think that's the other side when I try to think of how can we answer all of these And I don't know if he doesn't he just maybe he doesn't see it from from the outside, and maybe he doesn't care what people think. And that could be and that's fine, but I feel like it hinders going in the right direction. He doesn't have to prove anything to anybody, right, he says, I don't have to prove anything to any big God knows. But it's what he says, God knows. And like I said, if there was somebody that would talk to him, you know, with respect and not he he would probably talk, you know. And but like I said, he still thinks that Johnny is just trying to get back at him, and that she has Bethany somewhere and he won't ever speak and author of this out there. Like when he's talking to his brother Johnny on the phone and they're talking about Bethany, Johnny will be like, well, Bethany's probably dead, Larry, And oh it makes Larry mad because he doesn't want to hear it. You know that that is a possibility, So do you see, you know, It's kind of That's why I'm like, I'm so confused, because then I hear somebody else's stories and I'm like, she's, you know, the small monster. And then well all these women say the same thing. Though after they talk about him, they say, well, we're glad that Valerie didn't get the version we did. They say, I hope he did change. I hope he has changed. Yeah, yeah, I mean he can. When we and him verse met, he asked me, He's like, what is the worst thing about you? And I said, I'm a bitch, you know, I can be a bitch. And I was like, well, you know what's the worst thing about you? And he said my mouth? Yeah, and yeah he can some brand. Yeah, it's pretty nasty. Was an outfit. What if what if the not coming out and talking was wasting resources and finding bethany What if he had thought about it that way? I was like, Okay, if they're wasting all this time trying to figure it out on me, I can if he could put it to rest and cooperate and get it all out there, and then all those resources could be shifted. You know. See we've talked about that, We've talked about this. Yeah. He feels if everybody wasn't pointing their finger at him, yeah, and really start looking at other people that maybe they think he would be found. And he just feel like they're keeping the heat on him, you know, and not looking at other people like she really is conducted and you know, somebody took her, you know, and that aggravates him, you know, like pointing the finger at me and look elsewhere. You know. It's hard because he wasn't a good person to his first two wives, and so it's it's so hard to defend those things. But I also say, very clearly tune the podcast, like two things could be he could have been a shithead to those women, but still have not done anything to his daughter. But it looks it looks bad, and I think that's those cards are stacked against him. Those are like the consequences of his actions back then is Unfortunately, now there's this position where people are questioning because of the people that have that experience. I think the disconnect is this from where I sit, Larry continues the narrative that everyone else is lying but him. Could this be true? Could we all be getting duped by everyone who says Larry mistreated them? I needed to ask Valerie this next question. Do you think you that he's abused you? I think at the beginning of our marriage, yeah, And I don't know if it's you know, just has gotten better because he's gotten older, you know, or like a news comes in so many ways, you know, yes. Do you think if he listens to this interview that he's gonna be pretty upset with you? I don't think. I don't know why he would be. I mean, because he'd say it to his face. Yeah, I mean, I'll tell you I don't care. I mean, I don't have nothing tied. I mean, it's what happened, you know, just you know, like everybody brings up the incident. I think Johnny did brought up the incident at Walmart. Me and him got into it. Valerie is referring to a time the cops were involved with Valerie and Larry and a police report was filed. Yeah. I tried to crack him in the head with a beer bottle. I did, because he called it. He called me up there to the Walmarke to meet him and said he had my car keys he was gonna give me my car back, and then when I got up there, he's like, I sold your car. So wait, you know, is this when you guys were separated? Yeah, two thousand six. Do your parents ever say like this isn't okay, like go ahead and move on. Yeah? They do, because you'rely, you know, he especially back then. I guess maybe it's because they're my parents, you know, well my mom and my so dad. I guess if my daughter, you know, was in a situation like that, i'd be saying the same thing. You wouldn't to me. I always like, we'll get over it, you know, and move on. Things are fine, and then you know some it would have and again, but as far as being majorly bet on and me being hurt or anything to know, that hasn't ever happened. So if your daughter was in this situation, you'd want her to leave. It's interesting that you can like remove yourself and see what it would look like, but you don't think when you're in it that you should. I wonder why. Yeah, Like back then when we first got married, you know, like I said, in the first fast six seven years or however long it was, that all the drama lasted, and you know I kind of just thought, well, you know, he's you know, his daughter's missing, he's having a hard time, and you know, we really didn't know each other. We just you know, we married and we're you know, I'm getting to know him, he's getting to know me, you know that kind of thing. So I was like, well, you know, it'll get better and like I said, things have been fun for years. I use this opportunity to ask about Larry's upbringing. Could Valerie help us possibly understand Larry's actions, not ever excuse, but understand. He's told me about his dad. I actually found some stuff in the hall closet because one way that it was when we first bought this house order now it just kind of threw the stuff in the hall closet or everything was organized. I was going through it and I was like, what is this stuff? And it must have been stuff his dad wrote, like little letters. He was writing. It's where I guess he was feeling bad with the things he's done and stuff like that. But I was just looking like, what is this because I I've never seen it before, And but Larry's told me that, you know, his dad was an alcohol I guess he's broke Larry's arm, you know, maybe more than once. Larry's told me that he remembers they were eating one time and he walked by his dad and his dad punched Larry in the stomach and Larry threw up. And I guess he was just mean, just he was a mean drunk, I guess. And Larry always told me He's like, I'm gonna piss on my dad's grave. That's what he always said, I'm gonna piss on my dad's grave. And I'm like, Larry, you don't mean that. And he's like, no, I'm gonna piss on my dad's grave. I'm like, Larry, you don't mean that. So when Larry's mom passed away, we went to Larry's dad's grave and we were looking for it and I found it and I looked down. I was like, here he is Larry. Just to look on his face. It wasn't. There was no pissing on his grave. So I started getting all watery. And when Larry's about to cry, kind of like does this thing with his mouth, and his face gets red and Eagan Taylor's lot in his throat, you know. Valerie continued to share about Larry's siblings, naming them one by one and giving me whatever knowledge or experience that she has about them, but one sibling in particular, Robert aka Bobby Markowski, was who I wanted to know the most about. And it's because this Bobby was married to Carol. Carol, if you recall, is the woman many people believed was in the police sketch who was trying to register a young girl at a private school in Sweetwater, Tennessee, a young girl people believed was Bethany. It was also Carol, everyone believed was the disheveled woman who had the young girl at the cafe in Sweetwater, Tennessee, who then allegedly got on the bus to Moline, Illinois. Yeah, but Bobby, he he was on his medication. You could handle on that way his medication. He was wild. He was wild, but if he was on his medication, you could talk to him. He's funny. And Carol, she's a sweetheart, and she didn't last long. After Baldy passed away. They found her deceased and a hotel room in Knocksville, And she was actually going between a homeless shelter in a hotel. When she got her checks. She would leave the homeless shelter and go to the hotel and then spend all her money at the hotel, on the hotel and eating like she'd literally eat herself to death. And she's a big lady. Yeah, she was huge, and she didn't take her herself at all. She wouldn't shower. I mean, and I hate to say it, but the ride back from Georgia with her. It was rough from just the smell of her yea, and she was sweets can be sweet and and said that all that happened. But they didn't have kids either, did they? Yes, they did. They have a son, mm hmm, and he I guess her family, her mom and dad or something. Not quite sure what happened there, but they kind of took they took him, I guess, because apparently they said she wasn't good enough to raise a child. I've never seen him or anything. He was never around. I think he may live in New York or somewhere up north. Is he a Markowski? I'm not sure. I think they actually changed his name. Interesting because his name was Robert. I think they changed his name. M I think I could be wrong, because just now, when Bobby passed away, that's when we finally got pictures of you know, being grown. I've seen pictures of the morning with a baby, but oh of his son. Yeah, so he's a good looking boy. Lobby would cry. I mean I've seen Bobby cry over and yeah, I was just sad. And I know bobbyhead and Bobby has other kids. Another family member that I wanted to ask Valerie about was Larry's mother, Juanita. Remember in previous chapters that on March fourth, two thousand and one, Larry's sister Laurie and Juanita drove to be with Larry at the mall that evening. Previous interviews with Bethany's cousins Sarah, Lynn and Kristen shared with us how Juanita was especially close to Bethany. In fact, Bethany had her own room at Juanita's home. Larry would drop Bethany off with Juanita while he and Johnny did runs on the road with his truck. So it was surprising to me when Valerie said this. She only met Juanita in person one time. Juanita died in twenty eighteen, So why was Larry not close with his mother after his daughter went missing? What happened between them? What was your take on Larry's mom, Wanita? Did you guys have a good relationship. I didn't know her. I met her, really, I met her the day that Larry and Johnny got divorced. At the courthouse. Okay, yeah, I met her and that's when we gave her renee stuff. Okay, I never right before she passed away. I talked to her on the phone for probably an hour or so, and that's the longest I ever spoke to her. Because I know Larry was really close with her before, and he was also really reliant on her to watch Bethany. So I wonder if that's what changed. See, that's what I because he he Larry was Larry hardly ever called his mom. He would call her, they would talk, but he didn't ever really want to bother her. The reason he says he didn't want to bother her is because he knew that, you know, she was dealing with one and all that, and she had a lot on her. He didn't, you know, want to bother her. And then see after when his mom passed away, we went to in the funeral, We went to her place and got bethany stereo and I think it was like old note jug thing that Bethany had decorated. Oh we got that. But Larry he has like a tope fool of Bethany's stuff, a Nickelodeon phone, her little purse, beanie babies. He keeps a beanie baby of Bethany's in his top drawer. I asked Valerie if she thought Larry would ever consider sharing some of Bethany's items with Johnny. Probably won't because he's like, you know, this their mind because I gave TV I in which TB I were supposed to give me the pictures back. H that's what they told me. They took about twenty or so pictures really of Bethany. Yeah, and they told me they were going to give him back to me. And they never did. Oh no, so were they just like in a file. I have not. I don't know what they did with them, but they went through the bag of pictures and got the pictures they wanted. And that's why Larry keeps the pictures so close to him. No, he keeps those pictures close because of what I did, because that's all he has, you know, And they didn't give the pictures back. I know he had. You know. He has Bethany's hospital bracelet when she was in one. He has her baby book, a pair of little baby shoes. Letters. Oh, that's going to be so hard for Johnny to. Hear letters that Bethany wrote to Johnny and Larry. Oh that breaks my heart. The little baby shoes and bracelet. Oh yeah, like. As a mom, that's such a keepsake to have as a mom. It's so symbolic. So he has I mean, he has all that stuff, and like I said, he like, I have a digital photo frame in my living room and I have you know, Bethany's pictures are on it. He keeps a little picture of Bethany. It was maybe like a little beauty pageant or something. She's in a white dress. He keeps it on his nightstand. And it's toward the end of our five hours conversation that I had to just put something out there. Nobody's a perfect person. And but like I said, I'm not dealing with this monster. Can I be super blunt direct? I feel like most people that have had a healthy love would think that you are dealing with a monster based on the behaviors that you've said you've experienced already that you've seen, even just a hand full of them. And I don't know, like it if it goes back to like because if he's like this only ten percent of the time, and then he's this other side that is wonderful to you, but he's still that ten percent of the time, he's still done it, you know, which is still not a healthy love. So I think that's the hard part is wondering are you looking, are you feeling the love through a lens that started healthy? Or did it start? You were already so abused and this is X amount times better than before, and you can handle yourself because you've had to. But you shouldn't have to handle yourself. I think that's the point. You shouldn't have to. Like I said, I have a temper too, So it's both of us. I've held back some information and I wasn't sure if I was going to share it or not. Weeks ago, Valerie and Johnny started talking with each other through messages about Larry and about their shared and different experiences. I asked Valerie if she believed Johnny. I'm to the point now like I don't know what the hell we'll believe? I know is And this whole Larry that I've been with, is it just a front? Is that not even really him? Who the hell is he? Could it be him? Now? Yeah? Could it? Could he have also been that? Then? Yeah? I think if you if you look at March fourth in terms of who everyone said Larry was, then that might change. But I know it's a big ask and it's hard because this is your life. Since we recorded this interview, Valerie asked me to remove some stories. She shared she had spent an evening in church and felt that some things needed to be left out. As with every person I interview, I respected her choice, but I was able to share the information that we felt you needed to hear. Anyway, Thank you very much. All right, girl, Well you get some rest if you can, and if you think of anything you just messaged me. We'll figure it. Out already, all right, Thank you, thank you. Bye. This call is no longer being recorded. Wow, that's a lot. That's a lot. That's a wrap. Next time on Missing in Hushtown Season two, Chapter ten is she Bethany. Missing in Hushtown Season two is executive produced in partnership by Fireeyes Media LLCs Jules Thorpe and Johen Rivera, as well as mom Cast Productions Rachel Holloway and Heather Northcraft. The script is written by Jules Thorpe and edited by Heather Northcraft. Project lead is Rachel Holloway and master editing and audio production is done by John Rivera. Jewels Thorpe is your host Fire Eyes Media mom Cast weird raising voices while raising kids