Alyssa and Steven Pladl are in the middle of a messy divorce when they’re contacted by their biological child, who they gave up for adoption 18 years ago. But what starts as an opportunity for the three of them to reconnect takes a dark turn when Steven coerces the 18-year-old into a relationship with him. Based on a true story, Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl Story stars Jackie Cruz (Orange Is the New Black) as Alyssa, Matthew MacCaull (The Irrational) as Steven, and Matreya Scarrwener (Fakes) as their daughter Katie. 

Directed by Elisabeth Röhm (Devil on Campus: The Larry Ray Story), the ripped-from-the-headlines thriller also stars Belle Ferguson (Allegiance), Joselyn Picard (Keep Breathing), Sebastien Roberts (The Night Agent), Chris Bradford (Supernatural), Carmen Aguirre (Virgin River), and Michelle Avila Navarro. Read on to find out the true story behind Husband, Father, Killer. 

Where can I watch Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl Story?

Stream it now on Netflix.

What’s the true story of Alyssa Pladl, Steven Pladl, and Katie Fusco?

In 1995, San Antonio native Alyssa Garcia met 20-year-old Steven Pladl online. At the time, Alyssa was 15 years old and Steven lived across the country on Long Island, New York. Within two years, Alyssa had moved into Steven’s place in New York and had given birth to a baby girl, who they named Denise. Soon after, Alyssa began noticing Steven’s increasingly disturbing behavior toward Denise — causing the child physical harm. Out of fear for Denise’s safety, Alyssa gave the 8-month-old up for adoption. The child’s adoptive parents, Kelly and Anthony Fusco, renamed her Katie. 

Eighteen years later, in 2015, Katie sought out her birth parents. Thrilled by the opportunity to meet her as a young adult, the Pladls, who were living together during their ongoing divorce, invited her to their home in Virginia. The reunion went so well that Katie deferred her college plans and moved in with Alyssa, Steven, and their two other children. But as Katie settled into their home, Steven began grooming her, and the two began an incestuous relationship. After the Pladls’ divorce was finalized and Alyssa and the other two children moved out, Steven and Katie got married — lying on government documents to conceal the fact that they were father and child — and moved to North Carolina. Katie and Steven were expecting their first child at the time of their wedding.

After finding out about Katie’s pregnancy, Alyssa reported Steven to the authorities. In 2018, the pair were later arrested for incest and adultery. By that time, Katie had given birth to a son, Bennett, who Steven fathered. Katie was ordered by the court to move back in with her adoptive parents, while Steven’s mother was given custody of Bennett. After posting bail and being released, Steven was issued an order from the court barring him from contacting Katie. However, he violated the order and got in contact with Katie, who then broke up with him. Steven, enraged by the dissolution of his second marriage, suffocated his 7-month-old son in their North Carolina home before driving through the night to Connecticut, where he fatally shot Katie and her adoptive father Anthony as they were traveling to Katie’s grandmother’s house. After committing the murders, Steven called his mother and confessed to the crimes, which she immediately reported to the police before turning the gun on himself. 

Where is Alyssa Pladl now? 

Alyssa Pladl maintains a private life. After giving a handful of interviews in 2018 hoping to raise awareness about the impact of incest, the mother of two has largely left public life behind.  

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