To understand the Michael Jackson saga, you have to understand Evan Chandler. He is essentially “patient zero”—the man who lit the match that burned down the King of Pop’s reputation.

Before the scandal, Evan Chandler was a dentist practicing in Beverly Hills with aspirations of being a Hollywood screenwriter. He wasn’t in Michael’s inner circle; he was the biological father of Jordan Chandler, the boy at the center of the 1993 allegations.

The connection was almost accidental. Michael had rented a car from a collision shop owned by Jordan’s stepfather, Dave Schwartz. Through that business transaction, Michael met Jordan, and eventually, he met Evan.

At first, Evan was reportedly thrilled. Having the most famous man on the planet befriend his son was a potential golden ticket. Evan had written a screenplay—which eventually became the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights—and he hoped Michael would help him produce his scripts or finance his entry into the film industry.

But the relationship quickly soured. As Michael and Jordan became closer, Evan felt pushed out. He wasn’t just losing his son to a “new father figure”; he was losing his leverage. The dynamic shifted from friendship to hostility when Evan’s requests for favors and financing were ignored.

This leads to the most controversial piece of evidence in the entire 1993 case: the “Dave Schwartz Tape.”

Unknown to Evan, Jordan’s stepfather recorded a phone conversation where Evan laid out his strategy. He wasn’t talking about protecting a child; he was talking about destruction. In the recording, Evan explicitly said that if he went through with his plan, he would “win big time.” He stated that he would get everything he wanted, and Michael’s career would be “destroyed forever.” (This call is played at the beginning of this episode.)

Critics have long pointed to this tape as proof that the allegations were a premeditated shakedown—a business transaction disguised as a criminal complaint.

In the end, Evan’s strategy worked, but at a terrible cost. Michael Jackson settled the civil case for a reported $23 million to make the problem go away, a decision that permanently stained his image. However, the victory was hollow for Evan.

Following the settlement, his son Jordan eventually sought legal emancipation from him, and they reportedly stopped speaking. Evan became a pariah to Jackson’s massive fanbase, allegedly undergoing plastic surgery to alter his appearance to avoid harassment.

The story ends in tragedy. In November 2009—just four months after Michael Jackson died—Evan Chandler committed suicide in his New Jersey apartment. He was a man who successfully brought down a giant, but he spent the rest of his life hiding from the wreckage he created.