Richmond Girl Recants Rape

As some of you may have heard, the young woman who told police that she had been held against her will and raped in Richmond, California has recanted her story. She has told police she had consensual sex and needed an excuse as to why she had been out that night. Police are still investigating what happened, and other reports have said that they are checking on the young girls mental state. The unfortunate thing is that this teenager felt the need to tell a very serious lie. Given that another girl was brutally gang raped just a few months back in the same city, and that story received national attention, it makes one wonder why she would make up a story like this. Now we ask, is there other issues she is dealing with, such as emotional or mental problems that need to be addressed? Was she just being a silly teenager, who was really just needing an excuse because she is underage and was out with a boyfriend? Is she trying to cover up a real rape because she has been threatened? Regardless of her reasons, it is good to hear that she wasn't assaulted, but lying about the circumstances is unfortunate. Some of the biggest obstacles rape victims face is having others, including law enforcement, believe their story. To have someone make up a story, most likely to stay out of trouble, just to lie about it, does not help this cause. It's something we've all heard over the years, something that PAVE and so many other organizations try to change...the misconceptions and prejudice...."What if she (or he) is lying?". Stories like this can put these very thoughts into the minds of the people we are trying to educate about sexual assault. The first thing we are supposed to remember is that we must always believe the victim. Without support from family, friends, law enforcement, and the rest of the public, victims of sexual violence will continue to hesitate to come forward. They need our strength, our support and our help. We cannot allow these stories of false reporting discourage those who have been violated.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=7224013

City of Richmond Has Another Gang Rape

In Richmond, California, a sixteen year old girl was gang raped after her high school homecoming dance a few months ago. The story gained a lot of attention because of the abundance of bystanders and participants. Police are still searching for suspects in that case. Now, a fifteen year old girl has endured a similar fate. She was forced into a vehicle Friday evening by four young men who drove around before two of them raped her. She was found by police later that evening. Going to a high school dance, or just casually walking down the street should not be dangerous activities for young girls! For one person to assault another is bad enough, but to have others willingly particpate or to stand by and watch? Are they too afraid to help, or that cruel to not care? What kind of group mentality is going on here?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34882680/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Rapist Does Not Get New Trial

Paul Shanley is an ex priest who was convicted of child rape wanted a new trial because of "junk science". He thinks the "junk science", which was testimony given by his victim about his repressed memories should not have been allowed during his trial. The victim was only six years old when the abuse began and it lasted until he was twelve. Anyone who is assaulted is probably going to push some details out of their mind as a defense mechanism. A six year old who is being abused repeatedly by a trusted adult is probably scared and confused. He didn't come forward for twenty years? So what? Why shouldn't he be allowed to talk about his memories at the trial? That's the one thing he has to fight the man who raped him, betrayed him and used his power against him. There were reports of abuse by this man in 1967 and the church did nothing about it then, thank goodness this victim finally did.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34882680/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Convicted Sex Offender Strikes Again?

A man who has been previously convicted of rape and is listed as a child sex offender is accused of abducting Sarah H. Foxwell. Her body was found on Christmas day. Thomas J. Leggs Jr. knew the sixth grader and was the last person seen with her. One of the sad things is that this man had access to the young girl. He wasn't a stranger, some scary guy from down the street. He was the former boyfriend of the Sarah's aunt who had legal custody of her. Sarah was seen by "a minor" leaving her bedroom in the middle of the night with this man. Obviously Sarah trusted him. She knew him and had most likely been around him. This man should have never had a relationship with Sarah. This man was also considered "high risk". Given his background, why would you allow someone like that to be around your children? This is a sad case that might have been prevented if Leggs had never met the young girl.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091226/ap_on_re_us/us_maryland_girl_s_body_found

Over 20,000 Rape Kits Not Tested

Yesterday, Debbie Smith, a rape victim was on Capitol Hill. More than six years after she was assaulted, her perpetrator was found because his DNA match. She is sharing her story in hopes to push lawmakers into getting untested rape kits off the shelves and into labs to be tested. Instead of collecting dust, they could be saving others from going through the same traumatic event. Smith's perpetrator was already in jail, but what about the ones roaming the streets? When speaking of prevention, what better way than to stop these people before they can claim another victim? A 2005 bill named after Smith was supposed to reduce the backlog of of the untested rape kits. Senators are hoping to strengthen the bill, which will lead to more arrests for rape.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/15/cbsnews_investigates/main5983726.shtml

Sisters of Mercy Offer $193 Million To Abuse Victims

The Sisters of Mercy are an Irish order of Roman Catholic nuns. They have offered to pay over $193 million to the victims of abuse at the hands of their priests and nuns, charities and government. The abuse occurred at their schools and orphanages and consisted of rape, molestation, physical and mental abuse. Although the Sisters of Mercy stated that they "regret" what happened, they did not apologize. Admitting the abuse occurred is the first step and attempting to "compensate" the victims is important, but it doesn't change what happened. And what did happen went on for many, many years. Someone needs to take responsibility and the victims should not be expected to pay for services they may have sought to help themselves through their tragedy.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34260091/ns/world_news-europe/

Anthony Sowell Facing 85 Charges

An Ohio man, Anthony Sowell, is facing 85 criminal charges. They include rape, murder, assault and corpse abuse. Authorities found the remains of eleven different women at his home. This story states that all of the victims were "homeless or living alone, and had drug or alcohol addictions". It doesn't really matter if the women were homeless or addicts, they were still victims of horrible crimes. Anthony Sowell has plead insanity. Even though you have to be a troubled individual to commit these crimes,here's hoping that there won't be any leniency if he is found to be insane.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34257000/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/