Ethan Couch, the American teen who killed four people while driving drunk and on drugs in Burleson, Texas, was released from jail earlier this year. He was charged with substance intoxication and manslaughter after he ran over the innocent pedestrians following his boozy bender. While prosecutors considered giving Couch a 20-year sentence, a psychologist testified that the youth was a victim of “affluenza,” a psychological disorder which reportedly affects wealthy young people, and causes guilt, a sense of isolation and a lack of motivation.
Now, five years later, REELZ’s new docuseries, Scandal Made Me Famous: Affluenza Teen, gives viewers an inside look at the troubled man’s life, and details the events of that horrific 2013 night.
“The girl in the truck is very worried that Ethan is not sober enough to drive,” says D Magazine’s Michael J. Mooney in the show teaser.
“He was driving at an incredibly reckless speed, according to the police and police report.” says Tricia Phelps, a clinical social worker.
At the time, Couch was driving at over 70mph, driving on the wrong side of the road. At one point, he swerved to get on the right side, but instead drove straight into a crowd of innocent pedestrians on the sidewalk.
Homeowner Eric Boyles was putting away his damaged mail box when he heard the sound of a loud impact.
“When he heard this horrific crash, somebody half a mile away said that he thought he heard an explosion,” says Mooney.
Boyles rushed to the scene only to find his wife and daughter run over by Ethan Couch’s vehicle.
Scandal Made Me Famous: Affluenza Teen airs Saturday, August 4 at 9:00 ET / PT on REELZ.
