LIFE NOT CONTROLLED BY ABUSE

Terri first came to the Center for a forensic interview when she was 16 years old to disclose of sexual abuse she had endured since the age of three.

Years later, at the age of 25, Terri returned to the Center for another forensic interview stating that she was not truthful in her first interview. Terri stated that she did not disclose that she had been sexually abused by another adult relative because he had threatened her, and she was afraid of him.

Terri was assigned a Family Advocate who provided her with support and resources. The Center was able to help her with some of her financial needs and her family advocate was able to refer her to our holiday project. Terri suffered financial strain and emotional stress as a result of the abuse she endured. She even reached out to her family advocate to request a mugshot of the offender that she could provide to her employer because she was so fearful that he would come to find her and kill her.

As her trial neared, Terri moved out of the state, so the Center found a local resource for her to continue to receive therapy services. Terri’s family advocate also continued to provide Terri with guidance and motivational support to help her find solutions and meet her basic needs.

During the week of the trial, Terri struggled with managing her mental health and experienced an increase in anxiety. The family advocate provided her with court support and crisis assistance. While Terri was in town for the trial, Caliber Collision made in-kind repairs that were needed for her car. The trial ended with the defendant being found guilty on two counts of sexual assault of a child, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child, and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Terri was relieved and released a large cry in the courtroom after the defendant was taken into custody. She said that she can finally move on and stop being so fearful every day of her life. The family advocate was able to work with another advocate at a CAC in Terri’s new home state to provide a full scope of support and services. Terri is seeing professionals regularly who help with her healing, and she is living life with a positive outlook, no longer feeling controlled by abuse.