Mum cross-examined by rapist ex-husband after kidnapped ordeal

After her divorce was finalised, Alisa Mathewson was looking forward to her new life. Her ex-husband has just been jailed for what he did next.

Warning: Graphic

A woman who was kidnapped, raped and tied up with scarves by her ex-husband says “he’ll never hurt anyone again” after he was locked up for life.

Trevor Summers, 47, snuck into his estranged wife Alisa Mathewson’s home in Valrico, in the US state of Florida, while she was asleep — seemingly unwilling to accept the finalisation of their divorce.

Pinning the mum-of-five down, Summers sexually assaulted her while holding a pillow on her face until she lost consciousness.

He then tied her wrists and ankles using scarves before putting a sock in her mouth and wrapping her entire body in nylon rope.

Holding her in the house, the next day, Ms Mathewson, 45, was forced into her car while tied up — as Summers drove through several counties in Florida.

In total, she was subjected to “55 hours of terror”, which only came to an end when Summers stopped at a supermarket car park and Ms Mathewson tried to escape.

Trevor Summers, 47, snuck into his estranged wife Alisa Mathewson’s home and subjected her to a horrific 55-hour ordeal. Picture: SWNS

While Summers dragged her back into the vehicle and cut her wrist, an employee witnessed the ordeal and called emergency services on March 12, 2017.

After fleeing to a nearby field to hide from police and dragging Ms Mathewson with him, Summers tried to strangle her.

When he noticed an unmarked police car, Summers penned a suicide note and attempted to take his own life, the New York Post reports.

Police cars surrounded the dark blue vehicle the couple were in and Ms Mathewson was rescued, while Summers was arrested.

Pleading not guilty to 11 charges – kidnapping, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of sexual battery, four counts of child neglect, grand theft auto and violating a restraining order – Summers represented himself in court after firing his legal team.

Summers raped and kidnapped his former wife when their divorce was finalised. Picture: SWNS

However, after just five hours, a jury found Summers guilty of all 11 charges, including two counts of attempted murder, and he was handed a life prison sentence in October 2022.

Ms Mathewson, an insurance agent, said: “I’ll never forget waking up and seeing him towering over me.

“Being in court with him was horrendous and three of our children had to testify.

“It’s the last place you want your children in and it traumatised them hearing everything their father had done.

“He represented himself so he could grill me on the stand, I couldn’t breathe when he talked.

“I was relieved when he was found guilty but the length of his sentence was more than I expected.

“It’s taken time and different forms of therapy but I feel good — he’ll never be able to hurt anyone else.

“I’ve had the best support system around me.

“But above all, my children have kept me going — everything I do, I do for them.

“My unconditional love for them overcame their father’s evil intent.”

Ms Mathewson was grilled in court by her rapist when he represented himself. Picture: SWNS

During questioning, he asked: ‘So you’re calling it rape?’ Picture: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

After nearly 16 years of marriage, Ms Mathewson and Summers separated in 2016 and Ms Mathewson filed for divorce in March 2017.

Tricking their eldest daughter into leaving a window open, on March 11, Summers snuck into the home where he found Ms Mathewson asleep with their two other children.

Forcing their daughter — who was 14 at the time — to drive her two siblings from Ms Mathewson’s house to his house where he’d left their remaining two kids alone, Summers went on to carry out his sickening attack.

“I thought I was going to die when he was holding me hostage,” Ms Mathewson said.

“He then forced himself on me and raped me before tying me up using scarves which dehumanised me in a way I’ll never forget.”

He was found guilty on all 11 charges and jailed for life. Picture: SWNS

Ms Mathewson said: “For a long time, I’d get triggered if I saw a man that looked like him and nightmare flashbacks would mean I’d wake up screaming.

“But I’m doing great now.

“I have the best relationship with my kids and a successful insurance business.

“I get to help other survivors of domestic violence through advocacy and I’ve recently written a book.

“You think what you’re going through is going to be forever but there’s healing on the other side.

“What Summers put me through doesn’t affect me anymore because I refuse to let it.

“It’s a battle I’ll have for the rest of my life but I will continue to win.”