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Post by PsychoDelusion on Aug 7, 2020 6:39:52 GMT -5
How the greats have fallen
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Aug 7, 2020 6:44:45 GMT -5
Yeah I was surprised people didn't know where to find that actually. By law inmates information as they are booked is open to the public. It's on the Seminole County Sherriff's website. In fact, you can also check the status and it still shows him in Florida (meaning he hasn't been moved). With the new lawsuit by the Cherry Hill, New Jersey Police department I'm sure that's why he wasn't extradited. I'm wondering if new people are found or if local police will be filing a different case against him. But yes for now he's in Florida.
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Post by sparky930 on Aug 7, 2020 7:12:47 GMT -5
I can't help it but to think that this incident somewhat avenges arsenette for the SASUKE 32 incident. Looks like TBS no longer need to give him attention anymore should TBS be informed by now and dropped him from the international competitor's list, blacklisted. I know the link between those two incidents are far fetched and I definitely have no malicious intent to insult all parties involved in both incidents and I deeply apologise if I do. I don’t want to rehash any old wounds, but can anyone give me the short version of the Sasuke 32 incident...first time I’ve heard of this. Thanks!
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Aug 7, 2020 7:15:55 GMT -5
I can't help it but to think that this incident somewhat avenges arsenette for the SASUKE 32 incident. Looks like TBS no longer need to give him attention anymore should TBS be informed by now and dropped him from the international competitor's list, blacklisted. I know the link between those two incidents are far fetched and I definitely have no malicious intent to insult all parties involved in both incidents and I deeply apologise if I do. I don’t want to rehash any old wounds, but can anyone give me the short version of the Sasuke 32 incident...first time I’ve heard of this. Thanks! No worries. I did a looooooooooong video on it a few years back. For the sake of the thread that's the last I'll talk about it. ************************************** Edited to add a thought I had.. NBC is digitally editing Drew out.. and they have years of Drew's signature on that contract.. so I'm assuming they will file a breach of contract to reclaim the million dollars now that they can't promote him? So far I'm thinking they will.
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Post by greenday61892 on Aug 7, 2020 14:15:49 GMT -5
Even if the judge doesn't give him a formal life sentence, child predators are on the absolute bottom of the prison totem pole so it's likely to be a de facto life sentence.
I'm so damn ashamed to have called him one of my top 3 all time favorites the last several years. Absolutely disgusted.
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Post by Ninja Warrior Ryan on Aug 7, 2020 16:43:56 GMT -5
I don’t want to rehash any old wounds, but can anyone give me the short version of the Sasuke 32 incident...first time I’ve heard of this. Thanks! No worries. I did a looooooooooong video on it a few years back. For the sake of the thread that's the last I'll talk about it. ************************************** Edited to add a thought I had.. NBC is digitally editing Drew out.. and they have years of Drew's signature on that contract.. so I'm assuming they will file a breach of contract to reclaim the million dollars now that they can't promote him? So far I'm thinking they will. I'm sorry that happened to you. Being an OG member of SMF and following your blogs from my early child days, heartbreaking to hear that happen to you. Glad you're still around here though to provide insight like always. Side note and prob last off topic thing I'll post: I never liked Kacy. Wouldn't be hurt to see her erased from ANW history, she's over hyped and annoying. Anyways...........Yeah I'm curious to see if they go after Drew for that. Imo that would be a breach of contract.
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Post by zoran on Aug 7, 2020 17:02:54 GMT -5
I don’t want to rehash any old wounds, but can anyone give me the short version of the Sasuke 32 incident...first time I’ve heard of this. Thanks! No worries. I did a looooooooooong video on it a few years back. For the sake of the thread that's the last I'll talk about it. ************************************** Edited to add a thought I had.. NBC is digitally editing Drew out.. and they have years of Drew's signature on that contract.. so I'm assuming they will file a breach of contract to reclaim the million dollars now that they can't promote him? So far I'm thinking they will. Breach of contract?
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Post by PsychoDelusion on Aug 7, 2020 18:26:16 GMT -5
Felt the need to come by the thread again. It's been a crazy 72 hours and honestly I didn't think this would affect me the way it has. My mood has been super meh ever since I heard the news and I've been following it ever since. My respect for Drew has been off the charts ever since he SASUKE 30 and especially SASUKE 31 with the best save in Stage 1 history at the Rolling Hill. Back then I was your average out-of-shape guy and boy I started idolizing the guy. I took up track and field and started hitting the gym because of him. A year later, when I'd finally achieved my initial goals (get in great shape) I sent him a message on Messenger to thank him for the way he affected my life. He read it and that was enough for me.
As I said in previous messages, I really believe that he's the greatest competitor in terms of potential in SASUKE/ANW history. He had THAT "effortless" treat in the way he attacked the course, similar to Nagano and while his height and build were against him in Stage 3, where nanoguys like Tada, Yuuji, Ryo and especially Yusuke dominate, he was able to counter that with his sheer strength and willpower. It's gonna take a good while until we see and competitor like him again. No matter what has happened, I'll always respect what he has achieved on the course, only because he has shown us what the human body is capable of.
Now, in terms of what happened, I can't help but feel disgusted about the whole thing, yet the more I think of it, the more I'm trying to stay as neutral as much as possible. You won't see me call Drew a rapist but I won't defend him either. He had his chance to stop, but his ego got the best of him. If only he listened to what the girl's mother told him, none of this would happen. Pretty sure his brand is going to crumble rapidly and I can't see any outcome being good for him. If he's released, he'll be registered as a sex offender and he'll most probably not going to be able to get his life back. If he stays in jail, he's not going to have a good time. Whether the girl is 5 or 15, it's the same crime and he should know better.
I don't want to say that I'm "heartbroken" cause that would be a lie, but he was one of the very few inspirations I have and I can't help but feel betrayed and unsure of myself. At least I know that I'm not the only person that feels like this, cause the man had a huge fanbase so that's something that lightens my feelings.
You let everyone down Drechsel, you really did.
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Aug 7, 2020 18:26:17 GMT -5
Edited to add a thought I had.. NBC is digitally editing Drew out.. and they have years of Drew's signature on that contract.. so I'm assuming they will file a breach of contract to reclaim the million dollars now that they can't promote him? So far I'm thinking they will. Breach of contract? The 60 page NDA has a morality clause (or the old ones did. I don’t know the latest ones) where they can go after you for damaging their image for any reason. It’s a thought I had because having to pay to edit out someone because of the fault of the competitor is definitely something nbc would sue for. Not the million he won (that’s awarded by the sponsor) but the penalty for breaching the contract you signed is also a million.
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Post by sparky930 on Aug 7, 2020 20:36:07 GMT -5
I don’t want to rehash any old wounds, but can anyone give me the short version of the Sasuke 32 incident...first time I’ve heard of this. Thanks! No worries. I did a looooooooooong video on it a few years back. For the sake of the thread that's the last I'll talk about it. ************************************** Edited to add a thought I had.. NBC is digitally editing Drew out.. and they have years of Drew's signature on that contract.. so I'm assuming they will file a breach of contract to reclaim the million dollars now that they can't promote him? So far I'm thinking they will. Just now has time to give a listen. Thanks for sending that along! With so many amazing ninjas from the US, such a shame that the few chosen ones would act in such a horrible manner.
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DeAndre
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Post by DeAndre on Aug 8, 2020 2:57:57 GMT -5
Sorry if i'm rambling a little but man. This is so shocking and to be honest I'm a bit in denial. Reading the words "...Drew Drechsel's arrest" on ANW Nation for the first time was so jarring, to hear those words juxtaposed against one another, it was hard to read and I couldn't believe my eyes. It feels like I'm going insane - I come back and I expect this to be a dream, but unfortunately it isn't. And to think, this wasn't some random ninja. This was undoubtedly the best ninja in half of the god damn show's history. The best. We can play technicalities, but I bet if you were gonna die unless you picked someone, and that someone had to clear an impossible course for you to live, at least half of you (not knowing about this incident) would pick Drew Drechsel. That name grates on my f***ing ears now. To think that he went out and did that, and HAD been doing that since the VERY DAY I WATCHED NINJA WARRIOR... Five years man. Five years. It's horrible. I might be playing the devil's advocate here.. but as manipulative and exploitative as his actions were, Drew isn't a rapist. God, that word is hard to type. It is more-or-less a technicality, as I can imagine Victim 1 was pretty much pressured into doing it, so it wouldn't have mattered anyways... Further I don't think Drew is inherently 100% bad. I think although the initiation was horrible and he shouldn't have started it (both a stupid and immoral move) maybe I see it this way because I'm still a teenager myself, the continuation of it wasn't as much so (as weird as it sounds, I think their situation would have been more-or-less normalised and hopefully less horrible for Victim 1). If I'm fully wrong, I'm sorry and I don't mean to presume. I don't think Drew is all bad. His student, Jay, wrote something about the Drew he knew being a mask. I'm conflicted. My opinion holds no weight as I never knew Drew Drechsel, nor will I likely ever know him, but I can't imagine all he is is evil and power-hunger. One of the memories I have of him was him giving up his spot to Jessie on Stage Two in 2016. This is a guy who undoubtedly loves what he does... so to see him do that, that means something. I dunno, but perhaps the good can coexist alongside the bad. I've seen that in people, and I'm wrestling with it myself. I think the bigger shock for me is the fact he did something so blatantly illegal that he could be going to jail for f***ing life. As much as he deserves punishment (I'm past thinking he could be not guilty)... I don't think he deserves that. He deserves time, but not life. I'm a bit torn to be honest. I keep hearing Matt and Akbar yell his name being yelled in my ears, I keep remembering all the falls he had that he came out of smiling, and damn man I am in denial. One last thing if you read this far is something, a little story, that's kinda ironic. I'm a bit retarded to be honest, and I didn't know 'Drew' was short for 'Andrew', which feels a lot weirder on him. Reading that report for the first time, and seeing that... it's as though by knowing his 'real name' and all it means he's, well, exactly that. A different person.
Hope the victim gets peace. Hope April and her son are at peace - man not only is her husband likely a criminal (and this is kinda obvious but also overlooked) but he also cheated on her for about five years if that's the case. While she was carrying his son too pretty sure. Damn. That makes it a whole lot worse.
Yeah. That's about five years of history that is more or less unreal at this point. Sorry if I rambled. Hope you understand what I feel too.
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Post by arsenette on Aug 8, 2020 6:45:02 GMT -5
Both PsychoDelusion and DeAndre and frankly everyone else who's world just got rocked. I know I'm jaded.. I'm almost 50 years old and seen some crap and have had my world turn upside down learning someone I loved/admired/looked up to/idolized turn out to be a monster in disguise. I know MOST of everyone is trying to grapple with the reality that evil exists and it hurts like hell when it's tied to someone whom you looked up to. Then comes the rationalization that it can't be true (that's where Japan is right now actually) and then sobering effect of "omg this was happening when x was happening". Then comes the disgust. Lord knows I'm sure we add to our stages of grief. The parents who now have to have the sexual predator conversation with their pre-teen or even child because we all know this stuff starts early.
As for the law, statutory rape is still rape. The worst is knowing that there are more and that if we are honest with ourselves include April. She's a victim too. From all accounts she was 16 herself with the only difference is he committed to being openly tied to her in public. But legally speaking it is a crime and the part that is subject to life in prison is the enticement of a minor to perpetuate the crime. The part where he told her to come to Connecticut for the specific purpose (AFTER he knew she was a minor) is the part where he faces life in prison. The labeling of her age and location in a folder with presumably more folders (but that's separate and I'm sure that's why he hasn't been extradited yet) is another crime. Who else saw the folder? Was it shared? Was it monetized? That's the pornography part of it especially since it's clear in the complaint that the victim had no knowledge (and therefore consent) to the taping of the Skype calls. The use of another medium to store and propagate the underage pornography years after the physical content was stopped (since 2016 was the last noted date to have evidence for). All of that amounts to federal crimes. Now we know there are more state/local crimes that are going to be filed by Cherry Hill and who's to say Connecticut won't come up with their own? The facility that had the bed in the warped wall (the thing that Geoff brought up in the Instagram) that everyone knew existed but thought it was for consensual activities is in a facility catering to children. I'm sure Connecticut law will have issues with the existence of that once they find out. All illegal.
This for those who are too young is what many went through with high profile celebs that had a public image that made them a household name. The public outrage with people on both sides defending/decrying someone based on the years of excellence whether as an athlete or movie star or public service is perfectly normal. At some point (because now the emotions are raw as all hell) we have to focus on "what to do now". The community is forever altered. The vast majority of the current ANW fandom that go to ninja gyms are all underage. Sure the demographic that watches are old people but I'm sure they are watching with their grandkids. It's time to find a way to help them through this process. We as adults will find a way to work through our stages and figure out the perils of hero worship (Something that has unfortunately been beaten out of me time after time again and again) and teach that to the younger generation that's not just devastated but despondent.
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DeAndre
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Post by DeAndre on Aug 8, 2020 8:09:49 GMT -5
Thank you for your words arsenette. What do you mean by "April was a victim too. From all acounts she was 16 herself..."? That to me doesn't connect - did he get with April when she was 16??
The evidence seems pretty much incriminating enough... I do want to hear what Drew has to say though. Not just about his crime, but to the people of the ninja community, to his students like Jay, to the people he considered his best friends, like James McGrath and Flip (my god this is too darkly ironic) and man even Jessie. I don't know what will happen but I think he still deserves a fair trial. How the hell he thought pleading not guilty was the right decision I don't know, unless this was an elaborate setup. I'm hoping it was but that's likely only happening one in a million parallel universes away.
He was a regular force, as normal as the sun rising up in the ninja world. It'll take a lot to readjust and there is a massive dark spot on our history right now. The guy who everyone knew and looked up to, people treated him rightfully at the time like a god. s***, I can't even use this undirected, misdirected emotion to go and workout, because it's not intensely frustrated or angry, it's just confusion. I want to hear his voice say something, to stop leaving us in obliviousness, because I want to hear it from the horse's mouth.
It's tough, and I encourage everyone not directly involved in the ninja community to try and get back into our normal lives interacting with other people. For me, this is the only way I can forget about it, if even for a second. If I'm being a bit dramatic... well, I am, but to be honest it still feels like a bad dream. I was able to accept it on Thursday, even on Friday, but the fact that it's only begun to sink in a full two days after the fact - hell as I'm typing this I can't imagine this absurd combination of people and events to have occurred together. Ninja superstar and sex offender - one and the same.
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Post by zoran on Aug 8, 2020 9:46:01 GMT -5
Both PsychoDelusion and DeAndre and frankly everyone else who's world just got rocked. I know I'm jaded.. I'm almost 50 years old and seen some crap and have had my world turn upside down learning someone I loved/admired/looked up to/idolized turn out to be a monster in disguise. I know MOST of everyone is trying to grapple with the reality that evil exists and it hurts like hell when it's tied to someone whom you looked up to. Then comes the rationalization that it can't be true (that's where Japan is right now actually) and then sobering effect of "omg this was happening when x was happening". Then comes the disgust. Lord knows I'm sure we add to our stages of grief. The parents who now have to have the sexual predator conversation with their pre-teen or even child because we all know this stuff starts early. As for the law, statutory rape is still rape. The worst is knowing that there are more and that if we are honest with ourselves include April. She's a victim too. From all accounts she was 16 herself with the only difference is he committed to being openly tied to her in public. But legally speaking it is a crime and the part that is subject to life in prison is the enticement of a minor to perpetuate the crime. The part where he told her to come to Connecticut for the specific purpose (AFTER he knew she was a minor) is the part where he faces life in prison. The labeling of her age and location in a folder with presumably more folders (but that's separate and I'm sure that's why he hasn't been extradited yet) is another crime. Who else saw the folder? Was it shared? Was it monetized? That's the pornography part of it especially since it's clear in the complaint that the victim had no knowledge (and therefore consent) to the taping of the Skype calls. The use of another medium to store and propagate the underage pornography years after the physical content was stopped (since 2016 was the last noted date to have evidence for). All of that amounts to federal crimes. Now we know there are more state/local crimes that are going to be filed by Cherry Hill and who's to say Connecticut won't come up with their own? The facility that had the bed in the warped wall (the thing that Geoff brought up in the Instagram) that everyone knew existed but thought it was for consensual activities is in a facility catering to children. I'm sure Connecticut law will have issues with the existence of that once they find out. All illegal. This for those who are too young is what many went through with high profile celebs that had a public image that made them a household name. The public outrage with people on both sides defending/decrying someone based on the years of excellence whether as an athlete or movie star or public service is perfectly normal. At some point (because now the emotions are raw as all hell) we have to focus on "what to do now". The community is forever altered. The vast majority of the current ANW fandom that go to ninja gyms are all underage. Sure the demographic that watches are old people but I'm sure they are watching with their grandkids. It's time to find a way to help them through this process. We as adults will find a way to work through our stages and figure out the perils of hero worship (Something that has unfortunately been beaten out of me time after time again and again) and teach that to the younger generation that's not just devastated but despondent. Why is the interstate one so serious it mandates a life sentence?
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Aug 8, 2020 10:04:22 GMT -5
Both PsychoDelusion and DeAndre and frankly everyone else who's world just got rocked. I know I'm jaded.. I'm almost 50 years old and seen some crap and have had my world turn upside down learning someone I loved/admired/looked up to/idolized turn out to be a monster in disguise. I know MOST of everyone is trying to grapple with the reality that evil exists and it hurts like hell when it's tied to someone whom you looked up to. Then comes the rationalization that it can't be true (that's where Japan is right now actually) and then sobering effect of "omg this was happening when x was happening". Then comes the disgust. Lord knows I'm sure we add to our stages of grief. The parents who now have to have the sexual predator conversation with their pre-teen or even child because we all know this stuff starts early. As for the law, statutory rape is still rape. The worst is knowing that there are more and that if we are honest with ourselves include April. She's a victim too. From all accounts she was 16 herself with the only difference is he committed to being openly tied to her in public. But legally speaking it is a crime and the part that is subject to life in prison is the enticement of a minor to perpetuate the crime. The part where he told her to come to Connecticut for the specific purpose (AFTER he knew she was a minor) is the part where he faces life in prison. The labeling of her age and location in a folder with presumably more folders (but that's separate and I'm sure that's why he hasn't been extradited yet) is another crime. Who else saw the folder? Was it shared? Was it monetized? That's the pornography part of it especially since it's clear in the complaint that the victim had no knowledge (and therefore consent) to the taping of the Skype calls. The use of another medium to store and propagate the underage pornography years after the physical content was stopped (since 2016 was the last noted date to have evidence for). All of that amounts to federal crimes. Now we know there are more state/local crimes that are going to be filed by Cherry Hill and who's to say Connecticut won't come up with their own? The facility that had the bed in the warped wall (the thing that Geoff brought up in the Instagram) that everyone knew existed but thought it was for consensual activities is in a facility catering to children. I'm sure Connecticut law will have issues with the existence of that once they find out. All illegal. This for those who are too young is what many went through with high profile celebs that had a public image that made them a household name. The public outrage with people on both sides defending/decrying someone based on the years of excellence whether as an athlete or movie star or public service is perfectly normal. At some point (because now the emotions are raw as all hell) we have to focus on "what to do now". The community is forever altered. The vast majority of the current ANW fandom that go to ninja gyms are all underage. Sure the demographic that watches are old people but I'm sure they are watching with their grandkids. It's time to find a way to help them through this process. We as adults will find a way to work through our stages and figure out the perils of hero worship (Something that has unfortunately been beaten out of me time after time again and again) and teach that to the younger generation that's not just devastated but despondent. Why is the interstate one so serious it mandates a life sentence? Federal government is involved (meaning United States including all of the states - Justice Department/FBI) as opposed to just the singular state. Some laws are different per state but there are universal laws that the entire country follow regardless of differing states rights. Stuff like murder/manslaughter, drug trafficking and various physical crimes sexual or otherwise, commerce laws and child welfare, etc. The concept of enticement of a minor with implicit reasoning to commit a crime carries a big sentence because in the absence of consent it could be construed as trafficking (which is its own crime). Removal from the safety of the guardian without consent. Kidnapping. Laws especially applied in child safety are there because of decades of trial and error in keeping children safe. The percentage of enticement to death is unfortunately high (where they are lured using the internet to "meet" and then end up dead). There's ample evidence that this was all done clandestine and without the guardian's knowledge or consent who is legally responsible for the minor in their custody (should the guardian be considered incapable the minor is/should be removed). USA is also huge so they could have gone anywhere even out of the country. It goes deeper than that but in conjunction with child pornography all of that further cements the life charge which I'm sure the Feds will absolutely go after. Especially given that evidence you see on that complaint is literally the tip of the iceberg. You never show all that you have, you only show enough to facilitate an arrest without bail to a judge. WE only see that 23 page complaint, his counsel will see what else they got over the course of the next several months.
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DeAndre
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Post by DeAndre on Aug 8, 2020 10:44:28 GMT -5
As for the law, statutory rape is still rape. The worst is knowing that there are more and that if we are honest with ourselves include April. She's a victim too. From all accounts she was 16 herself with the only difference is he committed to being openly tied to her in public. Yo are you talking about april with the 16 thing? i'm a little confused sorry. or is this in reference to victim 1?
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Aug 8, 2020 10:51:35 GMT -5
As for the law, statutory rape is still rape. The worst is knowing that there are more and that if we are honest with ourselves include April. She's a victim too. From all accounts she was 16 herself with the only difference is he committed to being openly tied to her in public. Yo are you talking about april with the 16 thing? i'm a little confused sorry. or is this in reference to victim 1? Apologies. Meaning from everything people are talking about, April was 16 when they first were dating.
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Post by casuallystranded on Aug 8, 2020 13:11:18 GMT -5
Yo are you talking about april with the 16 thing? i'm a little confused sorry. or is this in reference to victim 1? Apologies. Meaning from everything people are talking about, April was 16 when they first were dating. Just for future reference, what’s the age difference between Drew and April?
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Aug 8, 2020 13:41:27 GMT -5
Apologies. Meaning from everything people are talking about, April was 16 when they first were dating. Just for future reference, what’s the age difference between Drew and April? IIRC 6 years.
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Post by Ninja Warrior Ryan on Aug 8, 2020 15:53:35 GMT -5
Just for future reference, what’s the age difference between Drew and April? IIRC 6 years. Oh buddy, did NOT know that.. Some how knowing that this all makes sense now. I can't imagine that there isn't more victims at play here.
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