A Florida mother, Alisa Mathewson, is speaking out about the terrifying ordeal she endured at the hands of her ex-husband, Trevor Summers. In 2017, she woke up from a nap to find Summers, then 47 years old, standing over her.
According to Mathewson, Summers manipulated their daughter into leaving a window open, allowing him to break into the house. He also convinced the 14-year-old girl to drive her siblings to his home as part of his sinister plan.
Once inside, Summers attacked Mathewson, pinning her down and assaulting her while covering her face with a pillow until she lost consciousness. When she woke up, she found her wrists and ankles tied with scarves, and a sock stuffed in her mouth. He then wrapped her entire body in nylon rope, making her feel completely helpless. She described the experience as “dehumanizing” and said she felt like she would not survive.
For a full day, Summers held Mathewson hostage in her own home before forcing her into a car while she was still tied up. He then drove through multiple counties. While stopping at a supermarket parking lot in Manatee County, Mathewson tried to escape, but Summers stopped her. Fortunately, a store employee noticed the situation and quickly called the police.
Fearing capture, Summers drove to a remote field and wrote a suicide note to their children, saying they would be “watching from heaven.” He then tried to strangle Mathewson. As police closed in on them, he cut his own throat with a razor blade while shouting, “This is what love is.” However, the wound was not deep, and officers were able to arrest him.
Summers later pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including kidnapping, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of sexual battery, four counts of child neglect, grand theft auto, and violating a restraining order. He chose to represent himself in court after firing his legal team, which forced Mathewson and three of their children to testify against him.
Mathewson said being in court with him was a horrible experience, especially for their children. She believes he defended himself only so he could personally question her on the stand. During the trial, Summers tried to downplay the severity of his actions, even making inappropriate remarks about their relationship.
Despite everything, Mathewson survived and is now sharing her story to raise awareness about domestic violence and the importance of seeking help in dangerous situations.
