Click here for the stories of some of Skalnik’s (at least) 10 different wives.
His third wife, Rozelle Rogers, was a divorced mother of two living a quiet life when she met Skalnik in 1977. Skalnik told her he was a top executive at Southwest Airlines, and after a quick Las Vegas wedding, moved in with her.
Skalnik treated her to jewelry, stays at expensive hotels, box seats at football games and two brand-new cars. But soon Skalnik’s behavior became more unpredictable and he began heading out of town on “business.”
Skalnik’s absences stretched into weeks and then months, until he disappeared altogether. Unbeknownst to Rogers, Skalnik had landed in jail for passing a dozen bad checks, one of which he had used to buy her a microwave for Christmas.
Rogers would later learn that everything Skalnik had told her was a lie.
He paid for their new cars (and everything else) w/ her good credit by:
- taking out loans he never paid back
- opening credit cards in her name
- draining her checking account
He paid for their new cars (and everything else) w/ her good credit by:
- taking out loans he never paid back
- opening credit cards in her name
- draining her checking account
“He wrecked my mom’s credit and he wrecked her life,” Rogers’ daughter said.
By 1980, Skalnik was out of jail again and married to his fourth wife, a woman who believed her clean-cut, church-going husband was a law student and Marine Corps veteran.
While living with her, Skalnik got engaged to another woman while pretending to be an attorney.
While living with her, Skalnik got engaged to another woman while pretending to be an attorney.
He persuaded the second woman to take out $3,500 in loans to help him set up a new law office — money he promised to pay back (but never did).
His wife learned about the engagement when he was arrested.
Skalnik remained in the Pinellas County Jail.
His wife learned about the engagement when he was arrested.
Skalnik remained in the Pinellas County Jail.
In 1991, Skalnik wed his eighth wife while masquerading as a prosperous real estate developer.
Like with his past wives, Skalnik showered her with gifts: roses, jewelry, a Jaguar.
She didn’t know he was already married to another woman.
Like with his past wives, Skalnik showered her with gifts: roses, jewelry, a Jaguar.
She didn’t know he was already married to another woman.
Over the yrs, Skalnik told women he was a Southwest Airlines executive, a law student, even an undercover FBI agent.
His wedding to a woman named Judy Smith, who would have been his *ninth* wife, turned out a sham, down to the fake marriage license he had her sign and date.
His wedding to a woman named Judy Smith, who would have been his *ninth* wife, turned out a sham, down to the fake marriage license he had her sign and date.
When we asked, Skalnik’s response portrayed himself as the unfairly maligned hero of a story that featured a supporting cast of cunning and vindictive women who were after his riches.
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