CANTON, Georgia — Nearly four years ago, Morgan Metzer became a victim in a sinister plot crafted by her ex-husband, who masqueraded as both tormentor and savior to gain her sympathy. In a forthcoming interview on the true crime show “48 Hours,” Morgan is prepared to disclose fresh particulars about the terrifying ordeal that unfolded in her Canton home on New Year’s Day 2021.
The episode entitled “The ‘Batman’ Intruder,” set to air Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, will explore how Rodney William Metzer orchestrated an elaborate assault disguised in a black suit, echoing a scene straight from a thriller. Morgan recounted the harrowing experience, detailing how the attacker, clad in black and masked, ambushed and assaulted her, all the while disguising his voice in a deep, gravelly tone reminiscent of a superhero or villain from a movie.
Morgan told the show’s contributor, Nikki Battiste, that the man jumped at her, struck her with a gun, and punched her while ominously threatening, “You’re gonna regret this. You’ve done really wrong now.” Only moments later, Rodney, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, claimed to be rescuing her, playing the part of the hero he was pretending to be.
This chilling incident came to light when police responded to a 911 call at Morgan’s residence and found Rodney outside, posing as a concerned family member. Originally, he tried to reconcile with Morgan just a day before the attack, but she refused.
The subsequent investigation unveiled a darker reality. Rodney had broken into Morgan’s house and subjected her to a brutal attack. He impersonated a different persona, striking Morgan with a gun, attempting to strangle her twice, and leaving her bound, hooded, and helpless on the cold deck outside her home. He menacingly instructed her not to move until she heard a car honk, threatening to shoot if she did.
After the attack, Rodney changed his clothes and returned to the scene, hoping to emerge as the hero in his fabricated narrative. However, the plan crumbled when law enforcement discovered a gun in his car and zip ties in his apartment that matched those used on Morgan. Surveillance footage and other evidence also contradicted his version of events, revealing the calculated premeditation behind his actions.
Rodney Metzer was ultimately arrested and faced justice for his crimes. Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace said Rodney pleaded guilty to 14 charges related to the assault, including kidnapping, home invasion, burglary, armed robbery, and multiple counts involving aggravated assault and family violence. He was sentenced to 70 years, with the first 25 years to be served in confinement and the remaining 45 years on probation, ineligible for early parole for a significant portion of his sentence.
Assistant District Attorney Rachel Ashe, who prosecuted the case, labeled Rodney a “master manipulator.” She explained that Rodney had even faked a cancer diagnosis in the days leading up to the attack, attempting to win back Morgan’s sympathy. His inability to follow through with his initial murderous scheme led him to create a new plot to play the hero in an attempted rescue—a scenario that law enforcement swiftly saw through.
The cruelty and premeditation of Rodney’s actions underscore the perilous phases that can follow the dissolution of abusive relationships. “This defendant planned a violent attack on his ex-wife that included breaking into her home, disguising himself, and pistol-whipping her,” stated Wallace. “Leaving her outside on a cold winter night, face down, tied up with a pillowcase over her head — I cannot imagine how terrifying this must have been for her and is a classic example of how the most dangerous time for a domestic violence victim is when she decides to leave an abusive relationship.”
As Morgan Metzer shares her story with the world, her ordeal vividly illustrates the alarming realities of domestic violence and the lengths to which some will go to control and terrorize their victims.