I am sorry it has taken so long, I have been studying for school. But, I am back for another installment of Project Heal: Living Through Victimization. This 'article' is entitled Molly's Mayhem. It has to do with the victimization of a young teenager several years ago. As always, the name of the victim and (other characters) has been changed. Please feel free to leave comments. And note, this story provides graphic details. This may not be appropriate for younger readers.
Molly was a 16 1/2 year old young lady on her way to work. It was her first week of work and she would be late if she did not catch the 1:20pm bus. She ended up missing the bus, but was stopped by a much older male. He had a maintenance man's uniform on and it was apparent to Molly that he worked in the apartment complex that she lived in. The maintenance man, Matt, said he liked Molly's "sassy nature".
Soon after they met, Molly noticed that Matt would make his way outside while Molly was on her way to school or to work, on public transportation, and speak to her. After a while of "grooming", Matt asked Molly to visit him in his brother's house, also in the same apartment complex.
While there, Matt introduced Molly to his brother Mark. Mark said that it was nice to meet the girl that his brother was talking so much about. Mark quickly left the living room and went to another room in the apartment. A few minutes later, Matt asked Molly to sit next to him on a couch. He continued to talk to Molly. Soon after, Matt asked Molly to come with him to a bedroom. Molly described feeling uncomfortable, but went, because she felt that a maintenance man would not jeopardize his career or try anything "weird" with his brother so close.
Molly was wrong. Once in the room, Matt began to play with his penis in front of Molly and forced her to perform oral sex on him. When he was satisfied he told Molly to "swallow it" because she was a good girl. Molly felt isolated and dirty, but did not know what to do. Upon leaving the room, Mark said that he would "love to have a go with her too".
Next thing she knew, Molly was being sexually assaulted in her bedroom, the mornings and nights....it didn't matter, because Matt had access to all of the apartment complex keys. Sometimes, Matt would bring his friends to watch him rape her. Other times, Matt would let his friends in to "his girl's house" to do their "business".
Once, while Molly walked home from the bus, Matt's friends grabbed her and raped her in the washer and dryer room, in the basement of her building. Another time, Matt and his friends, 8 of them, grabbed Molly and took her to a neighbor's home, across from the washer room of her building. The neighbor's daughter ate instant noodles, while Matt and his friends forced Molly to watch pornography, while they forced their penises into her mouth. She was only allowed to leave the room to spit in the toilet, because the men thought it was "dirty" to have oral sex with one girl, while she had another man's sperm in her mouth. The daughter laughed her and turned up the volume so that she could not hear the mens' orgasms.
This cycle of abuse continued for several months. By the time Molly was able to tell her parents and a police officer...she really felt betrayed. The police officer told Molly's father that Molly was over the age of consent, in her state, and said that, "if Molly wants to fuck a 100 year old man, I can't stop her". Later, the police officer got Molly's report of abuse and took it to Matt and some of his friends. Matt and his friends began taunting her and following her to and from the bus stop.
A month later, the officer re-interviewed Molly and called her a liar because she had remembered more portions of the abuse. The officer taunted Molly, saying "that she had not been a true victim of rape, because rape victims wanted to kill their rapist, not try to forgive and forget". The officer also made fun of her religion.
Next, the police officer told Molly's father, that Matt had a record, but was not allowed to say what the record was for. The officer continued to badger Molly and her parents to drop her rape charges. When Molly went to try to talk to a female officer, the same thing happened. She was made to feel guilty, like her assaults were her fault. She was shammed into thinking that she was promiscuous and wanted the "relationships with these men". Later, the female officer told Molly that the charges were not going to be pursued because Molly's story was so "choppy".
After her victimization and the further harassment from the police, Molly's family had a series of problems. The rental office said that they did not receive the rent checks...even when the checks were given in person, weeks before the rent was due. Molly was followed and harassed daily, other maintenance men said "they'd be getting a piece of that sweet ass too" and the family car was continuously vandalized. To top it off, money went missing from Molly's piggy bank, in her bedroom while she was away at school.
Molly was lucky, in one sense, she went to counseling. During these sessions, she was able to finally speak to someone and not be judged. Her family moved and since then, Molly has not seen Matt, Mark, or their friends. Molly has graduated from high school and college and has vowed to help other victims.
As a side note, Molly's father said that another neighbor, in their old complex, said that Matt started harassing her 17 year old daughter. She said that the daughter reported that Matt made comments and followed her, trying to pinch her butt, and caress other body parts. The neighbor also said that she confronted Matt and let him know that such behavior would not be tolerated.
What do you think?
Should Molly have stayed around in the apartment the first time? Should she have alerted her parents or the police much sooner? What did you think about the officers who handle Molly's case? Do you think that Molly was re-victimized by law enforcement? Should more have happened to Matt and his friends? Should the officer have had more consequences?
***The names in this story have been changed to protect the innocent***
You've asked some very interesting questions.
ReplyDeleteI think that Molly was probably in a state of confusion and didn't know what to do. It appears that she was seduced unknowingly and predators often use the lure of seduction when they approach their victim.
Yes, in theory Molly should have not stayed around in the apartment, but often when one is put in a situation like that their thought process is impaired and common sense goes out the window.
Yes, she should have alerted her parents or someone she trusted.
I think the officers acted in appropriately and should have acted swiftly to investigate the claim against these offenders.
Yes, Law Enforcement misused their authority and did not protect Molly as they should have. This is what Law Enforcement is mandated to do...to protect their citizens and enforce the law. They did neither. They became part of the psychological, emotional, and verbal abusers.
Yes, Matt and is partners in crime should have had charges pressed against them and they should have stuck. They should be serving time for rape and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Yes, the officers should have been reprimanded in some way> they alo should have been made to take sensitivity classes for victims of abuse.
Thank you for providing this story. I look forward to reading and learning more bout victims rights and what one should do in such situations.
I. Azibo