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I was sexually molested from the ages of aboout 7-9.  Around 9 I told my mom about the abuse and she confronted my stepfather.  The abuse stopped and my parents bitterly divorced. My family advised her to not press charges because it would be painful for me to recall the abuse on the stand.  Instead, my mother took me to local family doctor who explained to her I had repressed the memory of the abuse. He told her it was best I had forgotten and to move on with our lives. As an adult I began having extreme anxiety and began therapy. I realized my silence about the abuse was coming back to haunt me. I also revealed as an adult that my stepfather's adult son had also abused me. During the same time, my brother's his first child was born. My stepfather re-entered my brother's life and began visting more often.

Finally, when my niece was 3 I decided to report my childhood sexual abuse to the local Sheriff’s Office. I was 25 at the time. My mother recently revealed she has spoken with my stepfather's ex wife right after my abuse. She told my mother he has abused her two step daughters and their fraternal twins. She explained she caught hm in the act, but instead of reporting it the police she decided to leave him. My mother also revealed that my stepbrother now grown had recently been caught abusing his own daughter.  My stepfather at the time worked for a local high school as a janitor in close proximity to children the school completely unaware of his past. I explained all this in detail to the Sheriff's Office they explained to me there was nothing I could do it was past the statue of limitations. I was so humiliated they let me cry and recall my abuse what my mother had told me and then said sorry we can't help you. When I think about it now, it makes me sick to my stomach. I would have wanted to press charges and if the law were to be repealed I will.



posted 2 years, 1 month ago
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I was sexually molested fromt the ages of about 7-9.  Around 9 I told my mom about the abuse and she confronted my stepfather.  The abuse stopped and my parents within a few years bitterly divorced.  My mother was advised at the time by family members not to press charges. They felt to have to re-live the abuse on the stand would be potentially damaging. My mother opted instead to take me to a local family doctor who explained I had wiped the memory completely from my mind. He then told her not to worry about it, that is was probably best that I didn't remember the abuse.  However, well into my 20's my personal life was in disarray.  I went into therapy and realized my childhood abuse needed to be dealt with. I was in therapy when my niece was born.  After her birth my stepfather and my brother's biological father absence re-entered my brother life and showered his child with attention.  He lured my brother with birthday cards and Chrstmas cards filled with cash encouraging frequent family visits to his house, and it got me worried.

When my niece was 3 I decided to finally speak out and report my childhood abuse to the local Sherrif's Office. I reported the abuse and I told them about what my mother had recently revealed about my stepfather's past.  She told me she had met with my stepfather's ex wife after she found out about my abuse.  His ex wife explained how he abused their faternal twins and also her daughters from a previous marriage. In fact, she caught hm in the act with her step daughter but instead of reporting the abuse decided to leave him and take her children away from him.  She was afraid to tell only confiding in her family she cried and apologized to my mother.  I explained all this in detail to the Sheriff's Office and my concern for my niece. The Sheriff asked me how I was I told him I was 25.  He said it was past the legal statue and the best I could do was try and put it behind me.  I also explained to the police that my former stepfather worked (at the time he has since retired with full pension) in a public highschool as a janitor with access to children everyday. The Sherrif's Office explained it was my word against his and that unless someone younger or within the statute of limitation came forward there was nothing they could do.

It really bothers me that someone who had clearly destoryed so many lives not only got away with it, but was able to work in such close proximity to children.  I recently returned to therapy still working through my past abuse.  I think my story is probably not that uncommon and if the law were overturned it would allow people to come forward to convict child abusers.

posted 2 years, 1 month ago
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