Comment by Jeanette on 28 Aug 2009 at 3:11 pm

Subject: Kudos!

Karen, kudos for your response to sicko cockroach F. Why are these people let out to live among us? I was just reading the terrible tragedy of the girl abducted 18 years ago and made to live with such horror all these years. Her abductor/rapist was a habitual sex offender with rape and abduction convictions already under his belt. How is it that he was still roaming around free to do this horrible thing? It makes my blood boil. People need to answer for these injustices. How do we make that happen? I mean I’m BOILING MAD.

“Every law maker and parole board should be made to read the indepth account of what happens to the victims of these monsters, the years of suffering and the intense pain of working toward recovery and healing. Your book or one similar should be required reading before they can be permitted to make the kinds of decisions that put us all in danger. I’m boiling mad. It’s not right.”

Jeanette

Dear Jeanette,

Sicko cockroach F?  I like that!  He’s definitely sick.  I understand why you wonder that these sick people are let back out on the streets.  I wish I could answer that.  The judicial system can’t look into the hearts of men like that.  I don’t really know his story.  All I know is what he wrote to me–out of ignorance, no doubt.

I read the story of Jaycee who was abducted and held for over eighteen years.  I know it may seem impossible for most to understand why she couldn’t get away, but I understand how it happens.  In my case I dissociated into alternate selves that never caused trouble and stayed compliant.  My pain was always deferred or temporarily displaced until later in my life.  Although I knew I was different, I always felt paralyzed.

When a child like Jaycee, like me, is being abused, the child has no idea what’s happening.  Jaycee’s abuser may have fed her many stories to keep her put.  My abusers did the same. Jaycee’s abuser took her away from her home.  My abusers lived within my home.  Different, yet the same paralyzed feeling of being alone and needing to comply in order to survive.  After awhile, my abuse became so routine that I no longer felt alive, just numb.

I agree, all lawmakers need to be more knowledgeable about what really happens to victims of abuse, and especially to learn how to spot the signs that are so very apparent if you know what to look for.  Proper training, listening, and reading from those who have suffered should be a mandatory part of law enforcement training.

I’m mad, too!  I hope to help make a difference and bring awareness to all.  There are no excuses for allowing abusers to abuse again.

Thank you for caring!

Karen