My daughter has IDD, Intellectual and Developmental Disability. I had her when I was just 15 and when she was 2 years old, doctors advised me to give her away because she would be a burden to our family. Even being a baby myself, lacking the skills or knowledge of parenting, I knew this was wrong. I have spent the last 29 years protecting her from the world! Making sure that she had everything she needed and wanted. We often teach our special babies to be “compliant” and to listen to adults. We trust that these people are here to help our babies and not hurt them, teaching them to be trusting of the ones we trust. MY DAUGHTER WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY someone we trusted and loved! Due to her disability, she was unable to tell me about the abuse .
In November of 2020, I discovered a video recording of the defendant assaulting my daughter on the floor of my bedroom. The assault occurred during the morning hours while others were sleeping in the home. This attack was planned and calculated. He knew that I would be gone and shortly after I left, the assault began.
He was able to manipulate her into believing that this was ok and told her to never tell me. The abuse happened multiple times on multiple occasions. We have no way of knowing how long or any dates of the assaults as she is unable to gage time/dates. She functions on a child’s level and wishes to please the people that she loves. She does not read or write and speaks with an impediment. She has a heart of gold and she is the most innocent person that I’ve ever met. Nothing but pure evil could ever be capable of harming this beautiful soul.
Her attacker fled the state with the assistance of his family and friends. He was later found and arrested thousands of miles from our home (Texas to California). We actually hired someone to find him and to bring him back to Texas. He is being held in the county jail and has been charged with aggravated sexual assault against a disabled person.
After doing research, I found that there was very little information, data, statistics on sexual violence crimes against disabled persons. It was baffling to see that there is such little interest in this silent epidemic. In fact, a lot of these crimes never even get reported or prosecuted!! Prosecutors don’t “like” taking these cases without solid evidence because of the victim’s inability to testify . Predators know this and they target them because they believe that makes the victims “easy” targets. This abuse can go on for years and never be detected.
We are working to help end this silent epidemic and to bring awareness to a subject that no one is talking about. We are also striving to change the verbiage in the penal codes that enhance punishments for these types of crimes by adding disabled persons and elderly. The most severe punishments are normally only applied to crimes against children.
I have spent my entire life protecting others and cannot stand silent! I am her voice!! With that being said, we have began the efforts to launch non profit, Innocent Voices Unsilenced, with hopes to help others with the obstacles that I have and am still being faced with during our journey for healing and justice.
Innocent Voices Unsilenced will be a resource hub for survivors and their families paying close attention to disabled persons. We want to help ease the process of reporting these crimes, getting justice and receiving help. During my journey I have encountered many obstacles that I don’t want other families to have to endure. We all have the humane duty to protect the innocent.
There is strength and power in our voices!
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