In 2012, Dr. Joseph Sonnier, 51, was a respected and wealthy pathologist living in Lubbock, Texas. He enjoyed foreign travel, fine wine, and spending time with his family. At 19, Sonnier married his high school sweetheart Becky Gallegos. Gallegos and Sonnier had two sons, Dallas Sonnier and James Sonnier. After 27 years of marriage, Gallegos and Sonnier divorced. Gallegos remarried, and in July 2010, Gallegos was murdered by her new husband, who then killed himself. After the divorce, Sonnier, then 48, was single for the first time since high school and received dating advice from his son Dallas.