Thanks for blogging with Crime Survivors. Please take a moment to share and be honest about your survival and experiences through your case and the legal process.
This blog is meant to help future victims through the process towards survival and to bring awareness and prevention of any future victimization through the legal process.
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Thank You!
PATRICIA – FOUNDER
June 20, 2006 at 2:10 am
Dear Survivors: My attack was many years ago, and my attacker was never caught. When I have bad days as we all do, and I am afraid, I remind myself that ‘right now I am safe’, ‘right now I am ok’………And, I do deep breathing……..It is amazing!! You inhale through your nose slowly to the count of 8 and then hold your breath for a count of two, and then exhale to the count of 10 through your mouth. Wait a count of 3 or 4 and do another. Repeat, 4 or 5 times, and concentrate on your breathing while inhaling and exhaling. It is very relaxing, and along with prayer and regular exercise has helped me through fear and anxiety. For those of us who have survived to ‘thrive’ I believe there is a reason and a purpose that we remain. Being here for each other is one of those reasons and one of those purposes!
Peace and Joy,
Carol
June 20, 2006 at 10:10 am
On December 21, 2002, my suffered a huge tragedy and tremendous loss – our father. After owning our convenient store for over 12 years, he was killed in a robbery. Our mother was good but never truly recovered and on August 3rd, 2003 she passed away from a broken heart. That left me, my 2 sisters, and brother to comfort each other. The 2 guys were caught with the help of a tow-truck driver and there was a police chase. The shooter was convicted of felony murder because the jury felt that if our dad did not fight, he would not have gotten shot. He could’ve escaped from the back – yet our mother was still behind the counter and there is not a exit in the back. He received the maximum sentence of life with the possibilty of parole after 30 years. His accomplice was convicted of capital murder though and is serving life with a possibility of parole after 40 years. And both are paying a fine. My family truly felt that we were let down by society on the first convinction. It hurt very much and felt such a empty feeling of unjust. We know we are fortunate that they were even caught but this all occurred in Houston, Texas and we truly believed that we were going to get a capital murder conviction with the death penalty as their punishment.
At first the days were never good but slowly each day became easier and the sunshine would make me smile again. I know our survivor story is slightly different from others, but for me I let myself feel all the emotions because I never want to forget. All four of us dealt with the losses differently but when the sad thoughts would creep into my mind, I let it. When I’d become angry, I to let myself and take deep breaths to release the anger and take inventory on how far we’ve all come from that initial moment.
To survive days and nights, I try to make my time here on Earth worth something by volunteering, helping others, and speaking out when I can. And what really gets me through my days is knowing that my parents are watching over us and even though they are not physically here I still must make them proud. I know they are together and that makes me feel very warm and comforted.
I am not a victim, I am a survivor and I will thrive through this and help others. I know all victims will become surivivors.
You’re right Carol, there is always a reason.
August 16, 2006 at 9:42 pm
I pray all peoples desires to pass legal bar or to be in pubic service is in order to show there is true justice, not revenge or manipulations, but the fine art of bringing light to the darkness and setting the stage to produce a higher road.for everyones good.always keep your standards of mercifull insights,and produce change in the feild of goverment and justice.may god never miss you all! and thanks for allowing me to feel this, im O.K. corene campbell, I sure miss my children.and pray were all reunited,that would be the happiest day on earth.
May 9, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I would like others if they have Permanent Restrainng orders agains
men who never show for the hearing, it was 3 years ago.
Prior to that I had ten 209 A’s and the defendant never came.
He tried to vacate the order in February but not able to,
after being arrested for the crime and prosecuted by the state and found guilty.
This man has a criminal history.
I want no contact.
Is there a limit to when the defendant can not have thr right to vacate the order after never being there for 10 orders.
I have had to hire private lawyer although he is being prosecuted again.
Has anyone had the same experience or knows law about this
June 13, 2007 at 11:41 am
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December 5, 2008 at 1:31 am
I read some of the items although im like a couple of years late it’s still fresh in my mind. The one lady who had the two guys convicted for their father murdered. It’s not what you wanted, but death is too easy for them. The reason why I believe that is because if they are dead, they will know about the pain they caused the family if they care at all.
I commented because at least you received something. My ex tried to kill me, raped me and him and his mother kidnapped me to keep me from telling anyone what was going on and no one served a day in jail. All because the cops didnt want to look stupid, per Captain Thomley of Kershaw County Police dept. Camden, SC. Their reputation was more important then making this man and his mother pay for the crimes that were committed against me even while he was on parole. All because she was a pastor but being that meant that she was held to a higher standard and the relationship status between the victim and landlord; because she knew of the events that were going on on her land in her house in front of her, they made sure i wasn’t able to leave their land, which was bout 20 miles into the country.
I’ve since survived and written books
http://www.wakeupitsboutuakimalyah.org and started a foudation myself.
December 7, 2008 at 10:12 pm
In 1986, I was a 21 year old University student. I was kidnapped from my home by 3 strangers. After being raped, sodomized and beaten, I was shot in the head and left for dead.
Though all 3 men responsible plead guilty to their crimes and were sentenced to 2 concurrent life terms; I must attend parole hearings for EACH man, every 3-5 years. On January 8, 2009 I will be attending a hearing to protest the parole of one of these men.
Currently the government is pressuring states to reduce overcrowding in prisons. We believe that this violent sex offender presents a high risk to re-offend if released into the community. I have created an on line petition to protest the parole of Munk Caselow Willis.
The Alabama Parole Board is influenced by public opinion. A strong show of public outrage (by way of signatures on the petition) will help influence the board’s decision. Crime touches all of us. It does not stop at state lines or recognize the miles that separate us in these United States.
I am asking for your personal support in signing this petition. Also, please consider highlighting my case with a link to the petition, on your web site and/or professional forum through December 26, 2008.
I have included links to both the latest parole protest petition, and my blog, which details my case. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.
Thanks for your help. We will all be safer for your efforts. Peace
Protest The Parole Of Violent Sex Offender Munk Willis http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/denyparole_munkcaselowwillis/
SURVIVING VIOLENT CRIME a very personal blog about picking up the pieces and learning to live well…again
http://survivingviolentcrime.blogspot.com/
January 18, 2009 at 12:35 pm
My heart is broken shattered crushed – I came home from the hospital only to realize -I had had my home broken into and it was burglarized, robbed and vandalized. This, when coming home from the relative calm of the hospital – fillling out the endless forms for the care of my body – the rituals, just biologicals and STUFF – my car, phone and belongings. I was forced to realize it was the anniversary of the deaths of both my family of choice and all my dreams.
I couldn’t be more devasted. Where is God – where is compassion? Where is a hand to hold? Alone, in the wreckage of what I had planned on for my future – I was torn between images of my past and the current situations. I see golden images and cauldrens of fire. The hot and vibrant – the cold and restless. My clothes, things are taken away – shredded. I am stuck in the glue that made him say I wasn’t his. He isn’t torn – it is just easier alone… So alone and afraid.
Everything was before me – make sense of the chaos, clean up and arrange things or be forever lost in the rubble – fall between the cracks again. Fix or toss the broken bits – accept or toss parts of me – forge ahead or be stymied.
My head and heart are elsewhere – my beginnning is my end – a profound need. A longing. I am cursed by my own beginnings. I am unwanted. Unloved. un-Understood.
My skills unappreciated. I am old – alone – torn in fragments.
My whole can’t be regathered. But help me see a different image on the puzzle box… of Heather!