Summary
Spencer Herron, the subject of Betrayal: The Perfect Husband, was a respected high school teacher who used his position to groom and assault several students.
Herron's criminal activities came to light when his wife, Jenifer Faison, unearthed evidence of his secret life and repeated acts of unfaithfulness stored on his computer files.
Although Herron spent a period of time incarcerated, he regained his freedom in 2022 and presently resides in seclusion. However, Faison anticipates that he will likely prefer to keep his distance from her now that the docuseries has been made public.
Warning: The following article contains sensitive content regarding sexual assault and grooming.
In Betrayal: The Perfect Husband, Spencer Herron takes center stage as the focus of an eye-opening true crime series on Hulu. This gripping documentary delves into Herron's disturbing crimes and exposes his secret double life. With its release in 2023, the series follows Jenifer Faison, a television producer and podcast host, as she bravely shares her own personal journey and encounters with her now infamously criminal husband, Spencer Herron. In the vein of typical true crime narratives, Betrayal enthralls viewers by offering a shocking portrayal of a seemingly perfect marriage gone terribly awry, providing a unique perspective from someone who endured the harrowing ordeal firsthand.
Spencer Herron Is A Former High School Teacher
: Despite receiving low ratings from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, the series captivated a large audience with its perplexing storyline, making The Perfect Husband a quintessential true crime show. Faison, the host of the true crime podcast, seamlessly transitioned into the role for the multipart television series. The chilling plausibility of the narrative has intrigued listeners and viewers for years, reaffirming that reality often surpasses even the most vivid imaginations of writers.According to the documentary series, Spencer Herron from Betrayal: The Perfect Husband portrayed the ideal image of a husband. He held a prestigious position at Carlton J. Kell High School in Marietta, Georgia, where he had been teaching video production classes for 15 years. Additionally, he was highly revered by his colleagues and even earned the title of Teacher of the Year for the 2016-2017 academic year (via Daily Mail). However, his flawless facade as a husband, teacher, and business owner came crashing down just a year later when he was arrested, revealing a whole new reality.
Herron Groomed And Assaulted Several Of His Students
While holding a teaching position at Kell High School, Herron exploited his role to groom multiple students and ultimately subjected them to assault. Betrayal elaborates on how Herron not only conducted classes at the school but also served as the faculty advisor for various "clubs," granting him unrestricted access to potential victims. This reprehensible conduct persisted for a considerable period of time until he was eventually apprehended, aided by several courageous victims who came forward to expose their former teacher. The Hulu true crime documentary introduced one of Herron's victims, identified as "Rachel," who eventually joined Herron's wife, Jenifer Faison, in her relentless pursuit to reveal the unsettling truths about her supposedly "perfect husband".
Herron Was Arrested In 2018
After engaging in his clandestine double life for a considerable period, it was in 2018 that Spencer Herron was finally apprehended, unraveling the truth of his heinous crimes for the public eye. As recounted in the documentary series, upon her return from a business trip, Herron's wife, Jenifer Faison, was confronted with her husband in possession of a search warrant issued by the police. Promptly, law enforcement authorities executed the warrant, leading to Herron's arrest and subsequent admission of guilt in 2019, having pleaded guilty to five charges of sexually assaulting a student.
In the state of Georgia, where Herron's crimes were committed, the legal age of consent is 16 (via RAINN). This means that Herron could have potentially avoided some criminal prosecution. However, it is important to note that the state has also enacted a sexual assault statute which specifically prohibits individuals in supervisory positions from engaging in a sexual relationship with someone under their authority (via Brody Law Firm). Due to this statute, Herron's case became even more legally significant as consent was no longer a factor to consider.
Herron Met His Wife Jenifer Faison In College
Jenifer Faison's intimate knowledge of the case, gained through her marriage to Herron, was one of the most captivating aspects of the documentary series. In Betrayal, it is revealed that Herron and Faison first crossed paths during their time at Berry College in Georgia. However, as Faison's senior year approached, the couple drifted apart and Herron went on to marry someone else and have two children. Meanwhile, Faison's career in TV flourished, leading to their eventual reunion many years later.
In the years that followed, Herron and his first wife went through a divorce while Faison stumbled upon her former flame on the internet, leading to their reunion after nearly two decades apart. Faison made the decision to move to Herron's hometown in Georgia, and the couple wasted no time in getting married, making their love story resemble something out of a fairytale. Alongside her TV career, Faison co-owned a wine bar with Herron, and he balanced his time between teaching at Kell High School and occasionally serving in the Air National Guard. Unfortunately, as time passed, the truth would ultimately shatter Faison's once fairytale-like marriage to Herron.
Herron Was A Serial Cheater While Married To Faison
Betrayal, a mesmerizing true crime series, delves into lesser-known cases that have captivated audiences. One such intriguing small-town crime is the extraordinary tale of Spencer Herron, expertly showcased in the documentary and podcast. What sets this story apart and adds to its intrigue is Jenifer Faison's courageous journey to unravel the complex tapestry of deceit woven by her own husband. Having initially stood by him, Faison's perspective dramatically shifted when she stumbled upon his secret life while sifting through his computer.
While conducting her own investigation, Faison made a stunning discovery - her husband had been engaging in multiple extramarital affairs throughout their entire relationship. In addition to his despicable crimes, Herron was a habitual cheater, involved with numerous women. Faison managed to piece together a rough timeline of her spouse's infidelity, thanks to the meticulous records he had stored on his computer. Based on the available information, Faison concluded that Herron had even betrayed her within the first week of their marriage and had continued to do so ever since.
Herron Is The Subject Of Faison’s Podcast
While the case received significant media attention, Jenifer Faison seized the opportunity to share the complete narrative by transforming her experience into a captivating podcast. Prior to the unveiling of Spencer Herron's crimes in the series Betrayal, Faison hosted an extensive podcast saga, captivating listeners with her firsthand account of her husband's malevolent double life. Distinguished by its distinctive format, this true crime podcast even featured one of Herron's victims, identified as "Rachel," who courageously recounted her ordeal as a cautionary tale to those vulnerable to the manipulations of individuals like Herron.
Where Is Spencer Herron Now?
Spencer Herron's crimes came to light in Betrayal: The Perfect Husband, but there were few updates on his status as a convicted felon. As previously mentioned, Herron pleaded guilty in 2019 and received a 20-year prison sentence. However, according to the documentary series, Herron was actually released from prison in 2022. The show revealed that he was residing with family at the time of the episodes' release, and he has since remained in obscurity. Expressing her thoughts on her ex-husband's parole, Faison commented to People, "Now that the docuseries is out, I'm certain he'll want to keep his distance from me."