“He began to get insecure,” she said. In November 2021, the two of them had a fight after he asked if she had ever danced with anyone at parties in college.

When Heather answered he started “bawling,” accusing her of being a liar “for years,” and ultimately threatening divorce.

“He proceeded to say he didn’t want to be with me anymore: ‘I’m going to leave. And I’m taking the kids with me,’ ” Heather said. “I told him he can leave if he wants to but there’s no way that he’s ever taking my children.”

Things escalated from there, as Heather’s partner began to sexually assault her, twice choking her unconscious during intercourse.