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I'm Not a Monster

Series 1: 2. Read between the lines

I'm Not a Monster

BBC

Documentary, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.86.4K Ratings

🗓️ 30 November 2020

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A man who says he’s a people smuggler offers to help the family, while a drive around a suburb in Indiana reveals their past. Sam’s father adds a new twist on who his daughter really is. This episode includes descriptions of violence and some upsetting moments involving children. Reporter: Josh Baker Written by: Josh Baker and Joe Kent Producers: Joe Kent and Max Green Production assistant: Lucie Sullivan Composer: Sam Slater Mixed by: Tom Brignell Series Editor: Emma Rippon Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor: Jason Phipps ARCHIVE: Fox News: ISIS uses purported American boy in latest propaganda video (August 2017) NBC News: Boy In ISIS Propaganda Video Claims To Be 10-year-old American | TODAY (August 2017) CBS News: ISIS claims boy in propaganda video is American (August 2017) “I’m Not a Monster” is a collaboration between BBC Panorama and FRONTLINE (PBS) and is a BBC Radio Current Affairs production for BBC Sounds.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.

0:06.3

Before we go any further, there are some descriptions of violence

0:10.1

and some upsetting moments involving children in this episode.

0:18.5

My story, oh yeah, absolutely. It is very difficult to believe.

0:23.3

It is very hard to believe.

0:24.8

I had a feeling that she was in some sort of trouble and then she sent me the email telling me that

0:32.2

they were in Raka with the kids and she didn't know how much longer she could last.

0:38.9

What would you do if you hear a helicopter and American things come down?

0:43.9

I'm gonna walk out and say, come save me, come save me.

0:48.8

My name is Matthew. I'm American. Come save me, come save me.

0:53.6

Whatever I've done, anything I've ever done is only with the intention of something good to have it.

1:00.4

I'm not a bad person, I'm not a monster.

1:13.1

I'm looking at a video of a young boy sitting on a motorbike.

1:17.2

It's twice as big as him but he's got a huge grin as he wraps the engine.

1:20.9

Oh!

1:22.9

That's Sam Cheering.

1:25.6

The boy is her son, Matthew.

1:28.8

It was filmed before they left the US and ended up in the ISIS caliphate in Syria.

1:34.5

Matthew looks happy, relaxed, like he's living an ordinary life in a loving family.

1:41.6

I'm searching online, trying to find out anything I can about them.

1:45.3

There are pictures of Sam, tall, blonde hair and tattoos and photos of sports cars and motorbikes

1:53.0

and even a helicopter ride.

...

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