A Fight for Survival: The Night Everything Changed for Jason Witt - Ep 51

In Episode 51 of Cases & Cocktails, Bryan and Janice Eggleston continue their powerful two-part series with Jason Witt, whose story of domestic violence, survival, and resilience challenges long-held assumptions about who can be a victim.

Over a warm and seasonal Maple Cinnamon Margarita, Jason recounts—often in chilling detail—the night in 2012 when his ex-wife broke into his home, armed with a gun, a police baton, and industrial-grade cling wrap. What followed was a life-or-death struggle that would leave Jason shot, battered, and fighting for his children, his safety, and his future.

An Ordinary Night Turns Violent

Jason begins by describing the hours before the attack: a quiet night at home after watching the Super Bowl, preparing to pick up his young sons the next day. Around 3 a.m., Jason awoke to a blow to the head from a baton and realized his ex-wife had entered his bedroom—despite living hours away.

Within moments, she fired a gun into the floor, ordered him onto his stomach, hog-tied him with flex ties, wrapped his head in cling wrap, and beat the back of his skull. “I knew she was capable of anything,” Jason says. “I just didn’t know how far she was willing to go.”

Through sheer adrenaline, he broke free, fought for control of the gun, and in the struggle was shot through the cheek and neck. Eventually, he overpowered her and managed to call 911 while bleeding and trapped in his room.

A System Not Built for Male Victims

After the assault, Jason was hospitalized—yet his children were placed in foster care for more than three weeks. The court required third-party supervision while determining who was telling the truth, despite Jason’s extensive injuries and the evidence in his home.

“It didn’t matter that I was the victim,” he explains. “The system doesn’t quite know what to do when the roles are reversed.”

Bryan and Janice emphasize that this scenario is far more common than most realize. Male victims of domestic violence often feel ashamed, disbelieved, or blamed. Jason’s story highlights the need for better training, faster intervention, and more awareness around male victimization.

Telling His Story—and Reclaiming His Voice

Jason eventually wrote a novel, Interrupted Dreams (under the pen name Silas Kast), using fiction as a way to process the trauma and explore how coercive control escalates over time. “It’s the boiling-frog concept,” he says. “You don’t realize how bad it’s gotten until it’s too late.”

He also reflects on the painful aftermath: explaining the truth to his young sons years later, rebuilding his sense of self, and confronting his own patterns around boundaries in relationships.

But the biggest loss, he says, is the one his children suffered. “She didn’t just try to take me from them. She took herself. A mother’s role is irreplaceable. That’s what hurts the most.”

The Takeaway

Episode 51 is a raw, gripping continuation of Jason Witt’s story—a reminder that domestic violence can impact anyone, and that victims deserve safety, belief, and support, no matter their gender.

Through courage, honesty, and hard-won insight, Jason offers hope to survivors who feel unseen or unheard.

If You or Someone You Know Is Experiencing Domestic Violence:
Help is available 24/7 through Safe Alliance at 1-800-799-7233 or www.safeaustin.org
.

Legal Support for High-Conflict Divorce & Custody Cases:
The Eggleston Law Firm in Spicewood, Texas, provides strategic representation for clients navigating domestic violence, parental alienation, and complex custody matters.

📞 Learn more at www.lonestarlawfirm.com