This article mentions incidents of domestic abuse, assault, kidnapping, torture, and murder.
Netflix’s new series Worst Ex Ever chronicles the disturbing true-crime story of Ben Foster and his ex-girlfriend Justine Simiens. A spinoff of the popular Worst Roommate Ever series, Worst Ex Ever takes a deep dive into several cases of relationships gone wrong that end with law enforcement intervention. Season 1, episode 1 of the new Netflix series titled “Dating the Devil” focuses on the unsettling case of Ben Foster, an Oregon man with a history of domestic violence who attempted to murder Justine Simiens. Worst Ex Ever is currently the most popular series on Netflix at the time of writing.
Several of Foster’s ex-girlfriends appear in interviews recalling their personal experiences with Foster in the series premiere episode of Worst Ex Ever season 1. Several graphic scenes are recreated through animation in Worst Ex Ever, which includes depictions of domestic abuse and extreme violence. The episode also includes real-life photos and videos of Ben Foster and interviews with Foster’s ex-girlfriends, Amber and Jaimee, whom he dated before Simiens. All four episodes of Worst Ex Ever were released on August 28, 2024, and are streaming now on Netflix.
Ben Foster’s History Of Domestic Abuse Charges & Legal Troubles Explained
Foster pleaded guilty and got a shorter prison sentence in 2019
After Jaimee had escaped from Foster’s captivity in 2019 and spoke with police, The Clark County District Attorney combined both Amber’s 2017 and Jaimee’s 2019 domestic violence cases. Foster pleaded guilty to lesser domestic violence charges in both cases and was sentenced to a maximum of 2.5 years in state prison in 2019. Foster had been initially charged with five felonies, which included first-degree kidnapping resulting in substantial bodily harm, domestic battery by strangulation, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. However, because of a plea deal he reached on August 21, 2019, Foster was only convicted of one felony charge of battery and a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery (via Forbes).
Foster had originally faced decades of prison time before entering the plea deal. Instead, he was shockingly released on the very same day he was supposed to begin a 30-month maximum sentence at a Nevada state prison. The judge who oversaw Foster’s trial factored in the 729 days that Foster had spent in jail awaiting trial into his overall sentencing, which meant that Foster was released from custody the very moment he stepped foot on the grounds of the state prison in Nevada in 2021. Those 729 days had already surpassed the 1-year minimum sentence requirements, making Foster a free man only two years after assaulting Jaimee (via AP).
What Ben Foster Did To Justine Simiens – Worst Ex Ever Episode 1’s Case Explained
Simiens looked into Foster’s criminal past which eventually sparked a national manhunt
After Foster served two years of his sentence between 2019 and 2021, he met and started dating Justine Simiens from Grants Pass in southern Oregon, not far from where he grew up. Simiens and Foster were coworkers at a local bar where they initially hit it off. Simiens took a liking to Foster until she looked into his background and discovered his criminal record and history of domestic abuse. She reported this information to their boss and Foster was promptly fired from his bartender position in early 2023. Foster then began stalking Simiens and ultimately held her captive in her own house, leading to instances of extreme abuse, torture, and violence.
Simiens was able to contact her longtime friend Angie, who was also interviewed in Netflix’s Worst Ex Ever, to let her know she was being held captive by Ben. On the night of January 24, 2023, Angie arrived at Ben’s house and was horrified to find Simiens with a noose around her neck. Simiens was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries to her face and body, resulting in a fight for her life. The next day, the Oregon State Police and the US Marshals began a national manhunt for Foster, who had fled the scene when Angie arrived. A few days later, police discovered Foster’s bag at a family friend’s house in Sunny Valley, Oregon and concluded that he had been using dating apps to seek shelter and find new potential victims.
Simiens has traumatic brain damage as a result of Foster’s physical abuse.
Ben Foster Died In 2023 After A Standoff With The Police
Foster was discovered by police hiding underneath Justine Simiens’ house
Tina, Foster’s family friend in Sunny Valley, was arrested and jailed on charges of harboring, aiding, and abetting a fugitive. Police then discovered two dead bodies in Tina’s neighbor’s house days after Foster’s disappearance. Authorities suspect that Foster held them hostage and killed them after hiding out at their house. Ultimately, six days into the national manhunt, a cab driver reported to police that he drove a man who matched Foster’s description from Sunny Valley back to Grant Falls where Justine lived. After a lengthy standoff with state police and SWAT teams, Foster was discovered hiding underneath Justine Simiens’ house. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound surrounded by police as depicted at the end of Netflix’s Worst Ex Ever.
Source: Forbes, AP