Annette Hutcheson was featured in LA Weekly magazine last week.
For Love and Justice: Annette Hutcheson’s Story of Regaining Control over Fate and Choosing Happiness
Jon Stojan September 3, 2024
It is only under circumstances of extreme distress and despair that the human mind, resilience, and spirit are truly tested. For Annette Hutcheson, a wife of 33 years and a mother of four, these circumstances transcended the conventional image of stress. In 2012, after her husband was arrested at gunpoint due to a false political agenda, Annette was faced with a dire future—17 years on her own with four young kids, abandoned by those who once used to be friends, and forced to navigate the storms of life in solitude, without her husband and best friend Matthew by her side.
From the darkness of injustice to victory, the story of Annette is one of taking risks, fighting for what’s right, and never giving up on love. Now a fulfilled mother, wife, entrepreneur, and leadership coach, her empowerment journey was sparked by adversity and an utter life transformation. Before 2012, Annette lived a peaceful life of a loved and loving wife, cared for her and Matthew’s children, and governed corporate events her husband, a former White House advisor, attended.
“Our life was like a realistic fairy tale. Though we faced challenges like all families, love and support got us through the tough times,” shares Annette. “After Matthew’s prosecution, everything changed. I was thrown into a whirlwind of emotions and didn’t know how to handle them. I was fearful, miserable, and hopeless, and it impacted not only myself but those around me, including my kids. I knew I needed to change and find that strength within me, but for so long, I struggled to find solid ground beneath my feet.”
The pivotal moment happened on a seemingly ordinary Sunday when Annette and her kids were getting ready for church. At one point, their youngest son, who was nine at the time, came upstairs with a white wrinkled shirt, asking: Mom, who will be ironing my shirts now? For years, that task was designated to Matthew, and he wasn’t there anymore. “The ordinary chore of ironing made me lose my mind,” shares Annette. “I remember breaking down in tears. It was just a wrinkled shirt, but to me, it symbolized the wreckage that my life had become. I called my sister and said I can’t do this anymore. She said ‘You have to do this, what other choice do you have.’” It was at this point that Annette’s mindset shifted.
Though her mind was sinking into the abyss of loneliness and uncertainty, Annette channeled all her energy to keep her head above the water. At that point, devastated and pessimistic, she didn’t realize that, soon after, she would be the one to save her husband from prison, bring her family back together, and embark on a new, rewarding professional journey.
Refusing to accept Matthew’s unfair trial, she decided to study law. Though her life was filled with hundreds of responsibilities and juggling motherhood with a full-time job and social obligations, Annette enrolled in online law school, devoting her time and energy to analyzing the nuanced territory of legislation and freeing her husband. “Before I went back to study, I would regularly fill out motions to have Matthew released but to no avail. Each and every single one of them was rejected,” she adds. “Whether it was foul play or luck doesn’t matter. My husband was behind bars for no reason, and I knew I needed to get him out. I was just missing that final piece of the puzzle.”
Through educating herself and scrutinizing every verse written in the law, Annette started getting closer to the answer, with each day bringing her toward the light at the end of the tunnel. “All these years, I had been knocking at the wrong doors. I realized that the art of law was so complex and broad that there had to be an opening in some far, far away area,” she adds. “I gained new knowledge, found another door, and turned the handle. It opened, and Matthew walked right on through, back into his loving home.”
After reveling in the joy of triumphing against all odds, Annette commenced a new odyssey—now harnessing the wisdom, skills, and determination she gained through adversity. The resilient woman is a voice of hope and courage, inspiring others to never settle for life in fear. To amplify her impact, Annette, accompanied by Matthew, ventured into the corporate realm, where they offer insightful and life-changing leadership programs that nurture minds, fuel passion, and illuminate the path to success.
The story of Annette and Matthew Hutcheson, though happening in parallel and centered around the same issue, boasts two polarizing narratives. While Matthew’s journey revolved around sticking to internal beliefs when faced with violence, Annette’s tale explores the determination of a woman who overcame FUDD—fear, uncertainty, doubt, and dread—for love. “I kept telling myself: ‘I’ve got this. I can do it. I will do it.’ And at some point, I did it,” Annette adds, reflecting on her path. From a fragile realm of vulnerability to rediscovering her strength, Annette’s story is one of a relentless pursuit of justice and happiness, inspiring all those around her.
To contact Annette Hutcheson: [email protected], annette.epichutch.app