Divorcee Spaced Out

Relationships can be messy. Breakups are even worse. There is no good way to end a marriage. Custody issues make many divorces even messier than usual. Those complications are a lawyer's dream but take an emotional toll.

Along with the custody issue, there are financial issues to consider. Usually there is one partner in charge of the money. During a divorce, the partners will generally try to separate the finances but who gets what? That's where the courts usually step in.

However, what happens before the court intervention?

Summer Worden and Anne McClain were involved in that situation. Worden is a former Air Force Intelligence officer. McClain is a decorated NASA astronaut. The former was stationed on the International Space Station as their divorce unraveled into one of the messiest and nastiest cases around.

Fingers Are Pointing

The Worden/McClain divorce was already nasty. In 2018, McClain made abuse accusations against her wife. Worden denied the accusations and filed for divorce later that year. In court filings, she alleged it was a bid for McClain to try to get custody of the son they were raising together. Something that would not likely happen since McClain was being sent into space.

While on the International Space Station, McClain accessed her estranged wife's bank account. An action that she claims she had always done. Fueling the astronaut's defense, nothing had been changed. There is no record of permission to access the account being revoked.

Worden believes that the breakup and divorce papers should have done that. After learning what her soon to be ex-wife did, she filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Then she filed a complaint with NASA's Office of Inspector General. She alleged her ex illegally accessed her account and sent threatening emails from space.

Worden told investigators: "I was pretty appalled that she would go that far. I knew it was not O.K."

Rudy Hardin, McClain's lawyer said: "She strenuously denies that she did anything improper." He also added his client was "totally cooperating" with the investigation.

Investigators interviewed Worden about her allegations. During these sessions, she was forced to admit her ex did not take any money from the account. She told them that none of the money had been moved around. Her allegation of identity theft was falling apart rapidly.

The Son Battle

The battle seems to be about Worden's son, who was born about a year before the two women met. McClain had made her desire to adopt the child clear throughout the marriage. Worden has not revealed why she declined her wife's request to adopt.

In between the abuse allegations and divorce filing, McClain went to court. Her request was for "the exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child." She also asked the court to "legally validate my established and deep parental relationship."

According to court papers, McClain also alleged her wife was short tempered and mishandled the family's finances.

During their court battle, McClain posted pictures of her, in her NASA uniform, and the child on social media. As the photos made the rounds, the women argued about it. McClain eventually took them down.

But the battle lines were drawn.

Twist In Space

New information was brought to light by investigators. They allege that Worden lied in her initial reports. This led a federal grand jury to indict her. The indictment was handed down in February 2020, but wasn't unsealed until April 13, 2020.

Worden was indicted on making false statements to NASA's Office of Inspector General and to the Federal Trade Commission. She continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Investigators believe Worden opened her bank account earlier than she told them. She also did not change her password until months after she originally told officials. Worden said as soon as she realized she made these mistakes she told the investigators the correct information.

The case will help to set a very important precedent. Many believe Worden's defense lawyers will ask NASA to open up their network so they can check McClain's internet usage while she was in space. Something that has never come up until this case.

The McClain/Worden divorce may have led to the first space-related crime. It's ironic that it is also rooted so deeply in human emotions.