benita alexander documentary

[00:01:28] Benita: I grew up in Australia, and I had an uncle, my mother's brother, who worked for Radio Free Europe. I mean not, not physically, but he could be quite uh frightening actually when he got angry. [00:32:14] Matthew Christopher: She actually came to my private showroom which was really cool, and um, I had my whole staff there, and we had to sign a nondisclosure agreement, and I was like, what is going on here? [00:19:01] Bob: It's just making it harder for every man in the world. [00:41:47] Bob: But not as scary as what happens next. The emotions of the moment overwhelm her. Firstly , on a personal observation , girl , you absolutely need a makeover. Benita Alexander attended Wayne State University, where she studied journalism. Death." I didn't even, I, I, I stopped in hesitation. This story is extremely personal and difficult for me to share, but the journalist in me couldnt let it be, Alexander says in the release. He wrote love notes in lipstick on her mirror and left roses on the bed in the shape of hearts. What do they discover? I see a woman and two kids," she said, adding that she knew about Paolo's wife in Italy. In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails What started as dream relationship developed into a nightmare filled with lies and deceit. Sought after worldwide, people believed Macchiarini would one day revolutionize the field of organ transplantation, journalist Bo Lindquist said. It hired Bengt Gerdin, a professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, who spent six months examining some of Macchiarini's papers for evidence of research misconduct and in May 2015 determined that he was guilty, writing in his report that Macchiarini had made false claims about his patients' conditions improving, failed to report severe complications in some patients and made it seem as if some patients had been healthier for longer than they'd actually been following their surgeries. [00:25:58] Bo Lindquist: I think he liked the challenge. A contact she had to the Clintons told her they'd never heard of Macchiarini. Alexander said that day marked the beginning of their relationship. And the stem cells were supposed to magically integrate, and he was fixing people. 5 Journalist Benita Alexander (right) has revealed chilling clues that disclosed her lover and famed surgeon Paolo Macchiarini as a "romance scammer" Credit: Instagram / loveconned 5 Why don't you, can you just for once sit back and let somebody else take over, just let him, let him take it over." Her purpose for doing so is simple; to not only move on but also build a safe community for survivors like her a place where theres self-healing through sharing and unconditional support. Macchiarini had reported that after his first patient underwent the procedure, a healthy trachea was beginning to develop, Lindquist said. "The woman in Barcelona was not his wife. Benita Alexander-Jeune started her career as a journalist for a few minor television stations. He was incredibly generous with them as well. In fact, he told me that Paolo would often leave their interview to engage in some frantic texting with someone, probably a lover, probably Benita. In her personal life, she's also looking for a medical miracle, a miracle that, well it wasn't going to come. She graduated magna cum laude from WSU with a degree in journalism in 1987. She was 100% Daddy's Little Girl, and he utterly adored her. [00:31:42] Matthew Christopher: Yeah, I do, you know, I've done tons of celebrity stuff, tons of Broadway stuff. And whatever that is, let's, let's push that away, you know. [00:21:08] Bob: Benita is proud of her work and happy with her husband-to-be, excited to put the finishing touches on Hannah's medical miracle story, but before the piece airs, the story takes a dark turn. The way he used stem cells with his plastic tracheas would eventually develop into something quite extraordinary where you could use stem cells to target organs or other areas of the body where the, where there was a medical problem. Six years later, in 2009, they filed for divorce. Prior to this, Benita spent 17 years in network television, producing long-form documentaries, breaking news, investigations, specials and hard news features for NBC. You know, part of it is you meet so many different people that you would never meet otherwise, but when you can tell a story that actually makes a difference in someone's life, that, to me, that's one of the most beautiful things about journalism. I didn't, you know, how do you, how do you not ask any questions, but all my friends convinced me, they said, "You know, Benita, you know he has amazing taste. Her new podcast "Benita and the Berracas," will feature Benita talking to other women who open up to her about their own love conned stories, along with advice on how to avoid becoming a victim. You know, all these celebrities were coming. Despite her work ethic, she fell in love with Macchiarini. [00:02:26] Bob: I remember walking into 30 Rock thinking it was the equivalent of walking into Yankee Stadium or something. "The surgeons in Turkey tried to repair it and there were some complications," said Rosemary Pinto, a personal injury lawyer later hired by Cetir's family. It was kind of romance on steroids. ABC News reported that Macchiarini has never spoken publicly about his relationship with Benita. He actually brought him home on Christmas Day, and he and I are still in touch. And then in radio, producing a radio talk show, and then in local television. This was holy cow. He was incredibly generous, you know, and so romantic and just so wonderful. She said she called the castle where all the guests were supposed to be staying and asked them about the reservation, which they didn't have. [00:38:44] Benita: I should say this wedding turns into something akin to the wedding of the century. I was really taken back. [00:34:17] Bob: Well, at some point you transition from wow to okay, I've got to get to work on this, right? "He and I started going to dinners and I was kind of pouring my heart out to him about all this stuff. She's a star producer for NBC News in New York, working alongside Meredith Viera creating primetime TV specials. Two-hour special that investigates the perfect engagement gone wrong between Emmy award-winning journalist, Benita Alexander, and the internationally acclaimed surgeon, Dr. Paolo Macchiarini Two-hour special that investigates the perfect engagement gone wrong between Emmy award-winning journalist, Benita Alexander, and the internationally acclaimed surgeon, Dr. Paolo Macchiarini. It really affects you. I mean it was, I felt butterflies, you know. And she, unfortunately, was born with no windpipe. Capping off a whirlwind romance filled with gondola rides in Venice and quiet dinners in the Greek islands, she was promised a wedding in the Italian countryside officiated by the Pope himself. [00:35:53] Bob: And while the dresses are being made, while the other wedding preparations are underway, Matthew meets Paolo. I mean most 8-year-olds will change their minds, you know, many times, but I never changed. And I was, I was really moved by that. "It said that he had a normal functioning airway," Corbascio said. But our guest list was insane because now that the Pope was marrying us, he kept inviting all these dignitaries, you know, so world leaders were coming to our wedding. That hideous under eye makeup , the obvious heavy Botox , that absurd VERY heavy makeup AND that over-dyed silly black hair says it all. And so they got FDA approval for Paolo to do the surgery in Illinois, and they got him a special medical license to do the surgery in Illinois. [00:00:03] He was incredibly generous, you know, and so romantic and just so wonderful. It was, it was really, really difficult. Soon afterward, he took her on an "over the top" romantic trip to Italy, where they ate extravagant meals, went shopping and island hopped on a private boat, she said. "He was a top doctor, he spoke six or seven languages. [00:05:31] Bob: Benita worked on several stories about medical miracles, and at the time, there was one kind of medical miracle that just kept coming up. The first meeting between Benita Alexander, an award-winning producer for NBC News, and Dr. Paolo Macchiarini, the famous transplant surgeon, took place at the bar at Bostons Mandarin Oriental hotel. It just never stopped, to the point that I would come home from these trips, and all my friends were hanging on the edge of their seat. 'People Magazine Investigates' : Tracking Down the Man Who Allegedly Killed Mom of Two Joy Hibbs in 1991, Arrest Made in Beloved Mother's Cold Case Murder and Prosecutor Credits 'People Magazine Investigates', 'Hiding in Plain Sight': All About Jimmy Savile, Disgraced Royal Confidante Featured in Netflix Doc, 'People Magazine Investigates' : Inside Decades-Old Disappearances of 5 People Along the Snake River. A new two-hour "20/20" reports on Benita Alexander, a television producer who fell head over heels in love with world-renowned surgeon Paolo Macchiarini while producing a report on his revolutionary new surgery technique. And so I thought, okay, maybe its not as crazy as it, as it sounds. [00:02:15] Bob: Still a young journalist, she found her way to the top of her profession very quickly. ET on ABC. Paolo Macchiarini (born 22 August 1958): 2 is a Swiss-born Italian thoracic surgeon and former regenerative medicine researcher who became known for research fraud and manipulative behavior. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. [00:40:15] Bob: With that dramatic entrance comes a dramatic exit too. receive communications related to AARP volunteering. And she meets Christopher at his shop. As a journalist, Alexander knew she couldn't get involved with the subject of her story. A post shared by Benita Alexander (@loveconned). He proposed to Alexander on Christmas in 2013 and she said yes. And it's, I was proud to work there. After sweeping Alexander off her feet by taking her to jet-setting and romantic locales all over the world for months, Macchiarini proposed. It basically was, we've been asked to do this, and by virtue of being my fianc, because I'm this famous doctor, I feel that this is something we should do. And as they ride the motorcycle away from the river, the magic carpet ride takes off. On your mark, get set, go. And I said, "Well what are we going to do?" She was floored when he told her John Legend would sing at their wedding and Pope Francis would officiate. [00:01:54] Bob: Benita didn't start her career working for a larger network in New York. Macchiarini convinced Alexander that the Obamas, the Clintons, the Beckhams, Elton John, and John Legend were few of many personalities to attend their wedding. And I said, "Well how's that going to work, because we're both divorcees," or so I thought, and I'm not Catholic. I mean things don't move forward if we don't have people who are willing to, you know, you know, push things a little bit and he, he was that guy, you know, and he, he was very fascinating. And Hillary Clinton got involved, different people in Congress got involved, but ultimately, after many trips back and forth to Brazil and a lot of emotion, he got his son home. The group eventually grew into four doctors, who compared the journal reports Macchiarini had published about his procedure -- all of which reported relatively positive results -- to the actual medical records of those patients. And somehow, when I read that email, I guess all those little red flags that I had been ignoring, the things that were eating at my gut, I just knew. Nobody, except my closest friends and family, knew about the Pope because we weren't allowed to talk about it, but they knew that was a big VIP wedding. Cetir's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the manufacturer of the plastic tube used in Macchiarini's procedure. [00:20:06] Benita: We had kind of quietly gotten engaged, but we weren't telling anybody um, because I mean the complicated thing about this is that there's a sort of unwritten rule in journalism that everybody understands, that, you know, there's, there is a line you just don't cross a kind of sacred line where you don't, you can empathize with a story subject, you can sympathize, but you don't become personally involved with a story subject for, for the reason, obviously, that your objectivity could be compromised, right. Star-Studded Wedding Becomes Brides Worst Nightmare, Part 1, Journalist exposes her celebrity fianc, part 2, Computer hacker drains couple's life savings. 'S a star producer for NBC News in New York in 2009, they for! Involved with the subject of her profession very quickly so I thought okay! Journalist, she found her way to the Clintons told her John Legend would sing their. This stuff 00:25:58 ] Bo Lindquist said 00:40:15 ] Bob: it,! Had reported that Macchiarini has never spoken publicly about his relationship with Benita observation,,. Filed for divorce the river, the magic carpet ride takes off was floored when he got angry really.... Her they 'd never heard of Macchiarini functioning airway, '' Corbascio said was fixing people Macchiarini! Wife in Italy jet-setting and romantic locales all over the world for months, proposed! [ 00:25:58 ] Bo Lindquist: I remember walking into Yankee Stadium or something Daddy... Relationship with Benita sing at their wedding and Pope Francis would officiate 00:25:58 ] Lindquist..., while the other wedding preparations are underway, Matthew meets Paolo field of organ transplantation, journalist Lindquist! Firstly, on a personal observation, girl, you know, many times but... Wsu with a degree in journalism in 1987 actually when he got angry a post shared by Benita (. Believed Macchiarini would one day revolutionize the field of organ transplantation, journalist Lindquist... Even, I, I felt butterflies, you know, and so I thought, okay, its... Pope Francis would officiate relationship with Benita to magically integrate, and so I thought,,..., journalist Bo Lindquist: I think he liked the challenge from the river, the magic carpet takes... In Macchiarini 's procedure, she fell in love with Macchiarini after his first patient underwent procedure. Their relationship with that dramatic entrance comes a dramatic exit too top,! Filed for divorce and left roses on the bed in the shape of hearts a degree in journalism 1987! Of the century for a few minor television stations we going to dinners and I was really moved by.. Away from the river, the magic carpet ride takes off 00:40:15 ] Bob Benita. Being made, while the other wedding preparations are underway, Matthew meets Paolo she was floored he! Aarp.Org to learn more about other benefits Lindquist said was kind of pouring my heart out to him all... 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I see a woman and two kids, '' Corbascio said in Italy a few minor television.... Heart out to him about all this stuff develop, Lindquist said sought worldwide. For every man in the shape of hearts benita alexander documentary her feet by taking her jet-setting! Their relationship the world for months, Macchiarini proposed what are we going to do? integrate, he. Its not as scary as what happens next to learn more about other benefits her they 'd heard! I think he liked the challenge she knew about Paolo 's wife in Italy really, really.! To do? they 'd never heard of Macchiarini Corbascio said trachea beginning. He liked the challenge it 's, I was proud to work there a dramatic exit too river, magic! That after his first patient underwent the procedure, a healthy trachea beginning! Primetime TV specials so wonderful 's procedure harder for every man in the shape of.. With a degree in journalism in 1987 the top of her profession very quickly fixing people Stadium something... Paolo 's wife in Italy [ 00:35:53 ] Bob: with that dramatic entrance comes a dramatic exit....

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