7/5/2012: A $600,000 settlement and 30 years later, self-proclaimed sexual abuse victim William Lynch enters a senior citizen care facility and savagely beats the 69-year-old alleged abuser. A jury acquits him of all charges. Read about it: Vigilante attack on elderly man described as "a rapist" with no proof unpunished and cheered by the public
7/17/2012: Sentencing begins for Robert Pascale, who along with Michael Garay, gruesomely beat 78-year-old Hugh Edwards to death in his own home, because they thought he was a "child molester." Read about it: Elderly man murdered "for the victims"
There's a new trend now. Instead of being carried out by thuggish young men with supposed interests in child safety, or middle-aged supposed sexual abuse victims looking for revenge, a different type of vigilante martyr is emerging: the young, pretty female rape survivor. Meet the new face: Savannah Dietrich gets away with breaking the law and putting others in danger, simply because she's pretty and endured sexual assault.
It's almost the perfect, untouchable strategy. It appeals to so many: other
To me this only reinforces how weak our society has become. Pretty young rape victim needs support? It comes in droves, and not a single question about her intentions. Millions of families and children in direct danger because their addresses and vehicle descriptions are published all over the internet, tacked onto telephone poles, and gossiped through towns? Nothing. That would be too hard, too scary. Too much work.
Apparently, Ms. Dietrich's petition on Change.org to drop the contempt charges against her gained 82,000 signatures. Our petition to the ACLU of Washington - asking them to get involved in the prosecution of Patrick Drum, who literally shredded two families into pieces? 284.
I've been accused innumerable times of being unsympathetic towards victims - of having no idea what it's like to be overpowered, violated, terrified. Usually I counter with the fact that the person I love is a victim of brutal childhood abuse, the aftermath of which is still palpable. But today I am going to remind everyone that I myself am no stranger to the terror.
I remember the mad dash to the kitchen door, desperately trying to undo the latch and make it to my car...and losing almost every time. I remember being yanked back, forced to the ground on my hands and knees, a chunk of my hair in his fist and feeling the force of the vinyl floor to my face over and over and over again. I remember the way he grasped my head and knocked it into a butcher block cutting board leaning against the wall. I remember being chased into the bedroom, knowing it was a dead end, and just melting into the bedspread, hoping it would somehow soften the blows to my thighs and my stomach...holding my breath while his hand clamped over my lips so tightly that they bled onto his fingers. I remember after he was done, trying to brace myself between the floor and the chair, attempting to stand up - and realizing I could not breathe without the sharp stick of a knife in my ribcage. I remember the terror. I remember it well.
But I survived. I am alive. And with that life, I will do my best to do only good. If I ever hurt somebody, do something wrong, break a law or kill somebody, I won't blame it on my past. I want to be treated like the human being that I am and held responsible for my actions - not a person incapable or undeserving of consequences. That's the right thing to do - NOT the easy one.
Amen! Two wrongs don't make a right.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure Savannah's on the up-and-up. She was drinking at a party. Alcohol is known to loosen inhibitions. The more likely scenario is her reputation was tarnished for promiscuous behavior and found a way out by claiming rape. After all, since when do we bother with things like the truth. But thanks to Rape Shield Laws, we can never find out. I personally think she's a liar.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Ms. Dietrich's case, I'm afraid you're misinformed on the legal issues surrounding her statements and the contempt motion. Ms. Dietrich did not break any laws, nor did she violate the confidentiality of her attackers' juvenile proceedings (and legally, their guilty pleas represent stipulations on their parts to the fact that they committed the assault, records sealed or not).
ReplyDeleteThis contempt motion was brought by the attorney for one of the accused boys. There was never any ruling or finding of grounds to hold Ms. Dietrich in contempt by the judge in the case. Indeed, there could not have been. While Ms. Dietrich is certainly prohibited from divulging facts about the proceedings (i.e "The judge found them guilty," "they were sentenced to X years of probation"), no judge has the authority to restrict her from speaking out about the facts of her actual assault. This incident did not occur in a courtroom, and involved no confidential proceedings. She is no more prohibited from discussing it than she was before her attackers were arrested. Such a prohibition would in fact create serious 1st Amendment issues. The only recourse the two boys in this case have is to sue her for defamation; however, truth is an absolute defense to defamation, and they are both estopped from arguing innocence by their guilty pleas.
Now, back to the fact that this contempt motion was not a finding issued by the court, but a request made by an attorney for a defendant. This motion was not withdrawn because "it wouldn't have served a purpose." It was withdrawn because it was so legally beyond the pale that had Ms. Dietrich's counsel been forced to respond, it would have resulted in sanctions being assessed on the attorney who filed it, for her attorney's fees and costs. So while I generally understand your sentiment regarding vigilantism, your portrayal of the issues here is misguided and your attack on Ms. Dietrich is completely misplaced.
Then I guess I'm a victim of the media, because every piece I read on the subject said she was found in contempt, and due to public pressure, the "charges" were dropped. I clearly do not have the legal prowess that you do, so I'm afraid I cannot even begin to attempt at an intelligent dialogue about the majority of your post.
Delete"Attack?" Hardly. If you see it that way, it only proves my point that victims are untouchable and can do no wrong. Ms. Dietrich intentionally chose to cause harm to her attackers. While I can certainly understand the desire for revenge (in case you missed the very detailed paragraph about my own experience with severe domestic violence) I also know that revenge is fruitless. It helps no one. It serves one purpose and that is to HURT.
Like Ms. Dietrich was evidently forgiven/not charged for willingly attending a party at age 16 and consuming alcohol, and again for revealing her attackers' names, they deserve the same. Were their indiscretions of a much larger magnitude, of course. However they are deserving just the same.
Just because I was beaten almost to death doesn't give me the right to destroy my abuser's life. She very well may have done that by revealing their names. No one chooses or asks to be raped; we DO have to choose how to deal with it.
(I have no problem posting publically) I read your facebook comment on "educating the Oneida City Council concerning residency restrictions" and the motion was tabled for now. I thought it prudent that the next time you appear in front of your town council they have the benefit of knowing "exactly" who and what they are dealing with. I accidently stumbled on Marc Klass's Facebook page today and while reading the page I noticed Maddy Farfan posted the "ape picture" with John Walsh's and Marc Klass's names above two of the animals depicted. Then I noticed it was "liked" by you. Tell me Shana, what kind of people go onto a parent of a murdered child and post something so vile and antagonistic"? Seriously who does that? Is there no depths your group wont sink too? Just so there is no misunderstanding..I e-mailed the Oneida Town Council that picture along with your "Like" and other vile comments your group have made to the abused and those who advocate against sex crimes. You preach outrage for the collateral damage of children of sex offenders, but in the same breath you post or align yourself with the Marc Klass picture? A father whose child was kidnapped out of her bed and raped and murdered? Like I said Shana, there is no crime too heinous for your members, no crime too sick to warrant legislation against in your eyes. Needless to say that picture pissed me off and now you/RSOL will pay dearly for it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck getting them to look at it. They don't care what you or I have to say. It's a publicity stunt and nothing more.
DeleteJohn Walsh and Marc Klaas have suffered incredible losses. So have hundreds of thousands of other parents and loved ones. Kids die every day, that's the sad fact. However, these two have decided that THEIR children and what happened to them is what we should base our public policy on. Can you even imagine how much precious time has been wasted because Klaas insisted that when a child is abducted, they MUST check with RSOs first, even though it goes against empirical research? Or how about John Walsh, whose federal act named for his son seeks to publicly list juvenile offenders for life?
As the last paragraph of this entry reads, no matter what brutality one has experienced does not make it right to harm others and expect no consequences. Hmmmm... I wonder who else I could be referring to here?
Anyone notice John Walsh admits to dating his underage girlfriend even knowing she was 16. He was 22. See his biography. Does it make it okay because he wasnt charged? Or does it make it okay because his son was brutally killed? Or does it make it okay because he condemns those doing it today? Or is it NOT OKAY?
ReplyDeleteLet me see if I get this straight - parents who have lost their children tragically should never be brought to task for ruining the lives of others if those others were "sex offenders" or families of "sex offenders". Is that right? Then it is ok to take away the father of two small children who did no wrong because their father made a mistake as a teen. What about a father who lost a child tragically who openly admits on national TV that he dated a 16yo when he was 23 but she just looked so mature and then laughs about it while he continues to push for legislation that punishes other teenagers for having underage sex? Is that ok in your book? Or how about the father who lost a child tragically to a true MONSTER who admits viewing porn even though laws regarding "sex offenders" constrict the use of porn because it leads to one committing illegal, harmful acts in the long run? That would make him a "sex offender" in the making wouldn't it? I am not saying it is wrong to punish true monsters who rape and kill adults or children. I am saying all "sex offenders" are not monsters waiting to attack. Many are teens and children who do what comes naturally which is explore their sexuality. They and their families should not be punished for life, driven to suicide, or killed by vigilantes because a true monster committed an unspeakable act.
ReplyDeleteShana I read your post on my post here..Grow up we arent kids at the lockers in junior high..Cody Webb wrote a very adult post on responding to people like myself , I suggest you go back and re-read it. and quit acting like a little girl. as far as kben51 above wrote "let me get this straight" post. you people really should have screeners for the crap you post publically. If your ape picture is the definition of being "brought to task" to a father of a murdered child? Then the above numb-nuts should go sit in a corner and be proof read before he represents your group..just saying....now you can whisper like a little girl to the other _"I love a sex offender but cant find my way out of a paper bag" websites that "valigator" actually posted a comment on your site. Consider yourself lucky I doubt I will be bothered enough again to do it. I did always want to tell you that I thought you had "heart" and "guts" to take the heat you do. But that doesnt mean your on the right side of the fence sweetie..We know you have strength, now show some smarts and start distancing yourself from anything that crawls with SO status..
ReplyDeleteValerie, your problem is that you stubbornly believe that anyone with SO status is beyond redemption, while the facts continue to bear out that almost 100% of those who wear that label have proven that they are, and continue to do so on a daily basis.
DeleteI have been first responder at numerous auto accidents, been the only person on scene when CPR was needed, and reported the physical abuse of a child when photographic evidence was brought into the One Hour Photo I managed. Every winter, I remove the snow for the elderly lady who lives next door who has skin cancer, along with returning her trash and recycling barrels to her garage so she doesn't have to expose herself to the sun any more than is necessary. I get things from the top shelves in stores for people who are too short to reach them, and just two days ago, I loaded a cart of groceries into the back of a minivan for a frazzled mother who was trying to wrangle a handful of kids in the Walmart parking lot when I saw her reaching the point of exasperation in the nearly 100-degree heat. I do all this, and more, not because I'm asked to or because I'm trying to prove something, but because it's the right thing to do.
Unfortunately, you don't want to hear any of this, because talking to you is like talking to a stone wall, as you don't hear and are unmoved. You'd rather believe that the SO label is a blanket condemnation and a universal "keep away" warning. You'd rather believe that they are all monsters. I wonder why you continue to let yourself feel that way; I wonder at the source of your anger and hate. I know those feelings, as a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest when I served as an altar boy in the late 70's and early 80's.
Those who love and support those who wear the SO label know a truth that you will never comprehend: that worth of a person is not defined solely by the misdeeds of their past, but by how they have lived their entire lives. They know love and forgiveness does not mean condoning or forgetting. They know that almost everyone who has inflicted horrible wounds on another also bears a wound to their psyche and soul, and that the best treatment is not to ostracize and villify, but to support and nurture.