"This is going to sound crazy. But whatever reason you're here, he got you here. He is the reason you are here sitting at this bar." — Waitress
This episode recounts a harrowing experience of a woman named Jez, who, after moving to Denver in 2013, used the dating site Plenty of Fish to meet new people. She connected with a man named Jordan, and after a brief online exchange, they agreed to meet for drinks at a public venue. Jez took precautions, driving herself and arriving first. However, Jordan began sending texts with excuses for his delay, including being stuck in traffic and then being pulled over. When Jez attempted to call him, the number she had been texting was disconnected. While waiting, a stranger approached her, offering to buy her dinner. The waitress, who had been unusually attentive, pulled Jez aside in the restroom to warn her about the man sitting next to her. The waitress explained that this man consistently approached women who were meeting others they met online, always offering to buy them drinks and dinner, and that these women would invariably leave with him, often appearing more intoxicated than expected. The waitress believed this was part of a sophisticated operation, possibly trafficking, and urged Jez to be cautious. Jez, realizing the danger and that her personal information was with the stranger, decided to play along to escape safely. The stranger became agitated when Jez refused his offers to go to other locations, but eventually left when she firmly declined his advances. Jez remained at the restaurant for several hours before being safely escorted to her car, her identity and the stranger's motives remaining unknown.
The hosts emphasize the importance of this story for raising awareness about sophisticated predatory tactics. They speculate that the stranger may have been working with an accomplice, and that Jez's status as new to town might have made her a target. The episode urges listeners to share this story and to report any similar experiences to help authorities identify potential patterns and prevent further victimization. The hosts acknowledge that while Jez was fortunate to escape, her experience underscores the vulnerability individuals can face even when taking safety measures, and highlights the crucial role of community members like the attentive waitress in intervening.
The narrative concludes by reiterating the need for vigilance and mutual support in navigating a potentially dangerous world. The hosts encourage anyone who has experienced a similar situation, involving being stood up by a date or roommate and subsequently approached by a stranger offering drinks or to go elsewhere, to contact the podcast. They believe that compiling such reports could help law enforcement piece together patterns and identify perpetrators, potentially saving future victims.