Tessa Trotter's Update: One Year After Brutal Attack by Husband

The Attack and Its Aftermath

• ⚠️ On July 1st, 2024, Tessa Trotter was allegedly stabbed nine times, beaten, and set on fire by her husband, Zachary Mau, in front of their two young children.
• 💔 The attack, described as one of the worst crimes covered by the host, left Tessa partially paralyzed from the chest down.
• 🆘 Neighbors intervened to extinguish the fire and rescue Tessa, who was still alive when police arrived.

Legal Proceedings and Plea Deal

• ⚖️ Zachary Mau is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated arson, domestic assault, and grave torture, a charge unique to Tennessee for severe non-fatal assaults.
• 🤝 A plea deal has been offered, proposing 55 years in prison with the possibility of parole, which Tessa believes he may not accept.
• 😥 Tessa does not want to go through a trial but doubts her ex-husband will accept the plea deal.

Personal Recovery and Family Life

• 🌱 Despite her injuries, Tessa is doing well and has returned to work and driving.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Her children, now nine and six, call their father "monster" and do not wish to hear about him; the family focuses on living life together.
• 🏠 The family decided to sell the house where the attack occurred, with Tessa selling it "as is" to pay off the loan without profiting.

Evidence and Moving Forward

• 📹 A surveillance camera, set up by Tessa and her twin sister the night before the attack, captured the horrifying events, though Tessa has not viewed the footage and does not wish to.
• 🗓️ To cope with the upcoming anniversary and the trauma, Tessa stays busy with work, playing with her sons, and doing housework.
• 🙏 The interview concludes with hopes for continued healing and updates on the legal proceedings.