Dirty John – More About the Deceptions and Downfall of John Meehan

3. Netflix Show vs. Real Life 

The series got most of the facts down, with some scenes verbatim retelling of the actual events.

Tonia did not meet John’s mistress at a conference as portrayed in the show. John surprised Tonia when he abruptly asked for a divorce. That’s when Tonia found out about his affair with a doctor in Michigan, with whom he reportedly had a daughter.

Debra Newell in real life has 4 kids, not 3. Her oldest daughter was left out of the series. Her second daughter’s name was changed from Jacquelyn to Veronica.

John Meehan often begged Debra to marry him before she finally caved while they were on a work trip in Vegas.

Meehan in the series makes a moving declaration to quit heroin cold-turkey and Newell decides to help with the withdrawal and rehabilitation. In reality, he never went to rehab or quit cold-turkey but Newell still took him back.

The series did not go into too much depth about Meehan’s mom Dolores. Dolores left Meehan’s dad after having an affair when he was in high school. Meehan claimed to his sister Donna that he had pissed on his mom’s grave.

His sister actually had a court judgment against him for the $90,000 she lent him. She felt as though that was the only way to protect herself from her volatile brother.

After deciding to leave Meehan for good, Debra secretly deducted $2,000 from her paycheck and gave it her daughters or friends for safekeeping.