Jennifer Schuett Lived to Tell

Jennifer Schuett is an inspiration. She forced herself to remember every detail of her assault. Raped as a child, she didn't want anyone else to be victimized by the same man. After twenty years, she got her wish. As horrendous as this crime was, the story of this woman's courage and determination is what makes this so amazing and empowering. Dennis Earl Bradford had kidnapped and raped eight year old Jennifer before trying to kill her. Thinking she would die, as she almost did, Bradford left her in a field. He went on to assault at least one other woman and served time in prison before he was let out on parole. He had a wife and children, and when confronted with the DNA evidence, confessed to the crimes. As comforting as it is that he is off the streets, he was a coward. Jennifer knew exactly what she would say to him, and wanted him to know that she never gave up looking for him. Before she could face him, he hung himself. Some people say death is what he deserved anyway, but Jennifer Schuett deserved to face him first, and speak the words she waited to say. Jennifer Schuett is a survivor no matter the outcome, and for that and her voice, we applaud her.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37232072/ns/today-today_people/

Million Dollar Arrest Warrant Issued

Last week, Sacramento was on the lookout for a convicted sex offender who had a $1 million arrest warrant issued for him. Benjamin Dee Kendrick disappeared after police had searched his residence and seized his computer. The images and information found on the computer were highly disturbing. Kendrick had over 100 child pornography images and was maintaining an online relationship with a woman in Brazil who was discussing the transfer of her 7 year old daughter to the United States for sexual purposes over email. The correspondance between Kendrick and this woman was believed to have been going on for at least a few months. Kendrick was arranging for the woman's daughter to come live with him and serve as a sex slave. He even discussed killing the girl. When authorities became aware of these emails, they were unsure if the girl had already gotten into the United States and was in danger. Due to the serious nature of the emails, they scrambled to find Kendrick as soon as possible. Brazilian authorities were cooperating with US officials as well. On May 13, Kendrick was finally arrested in Davis, California which is just a short drive from Sacramento. What became of the young girl remains to be disclosed. Kendrick was also a designer for a website for the National Safe Child Coalition. He admitted to using the site to have access to children to continue to abuse them.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37091529/ns/local_news-sacramento_ca/from/ET

http://www.kcra.com/news/23542875/detail.html

Only Two Year Sentence for Sex With Student

Amy Beck was a teacher. She was also the wife of a police officer and mother of three. Now she will also be registered sex offender. Amy Beck admitted to having a six month affair with a fourteen year old former student. Authorities had no idea the affair had happened, but Beck went to police and told them everything. Her lawyer says she admitted to the affair because it was "the right thing to do". She was given just two years in prison, in which she will probably serve less than one, and three years of probation. Now, this seems like a slap on the wrist for having sex with a child. If she were a man, and the child were female, would it have gone differently? Was the fact that she was married to a police officer a factor? Or that she came forward with the information voluntarily and acted remorseful? It just makes one wonder why an adult who raped a child will serve less than a year behind bars. It would be interesting to hear what the young boys parents think about this, or the victim himself. Whether he was a willing participant was not disclosed, but it doesn't make the situation right regardless.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37022190/ns/us_news/

Gardner may have tried to assault others

John Albert Gardner III, who has plead guilty in the rape and murders of both Chelsea King and Amber Dubois may have attempted to assault others, including an eleven year old girl. Gardner was a registered sex offender before King and Dubois became his victims and served only 5 years, even though he was found to be violent and was recommended to serve his entire sentence. What will it take for the courts to put this man away-FOREVER? He would've never had the opportunity to kill Dubois or King, and now those families and communities suffer. Other women, who were in the same area as King are convinced that they encountered Gardner, as well as a little girl who was walking home from school. This is a predator, who was out looking for a victim, for his next conquest. Who is in charge of keeping track of these sex offenders, because it doesn't seem like anyone knows where they are, and what they are doing in their spare time. Chelsea King and Amber Dubois may still be alive today, if Gardner was serving the time he was sentenced to, or if a parole agent knew what he was up to.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36791230/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Fifteen Year Old Sells Herself, Seven Year Old Sister

By now, most of us have heard this story. In New Jersey, a fifteen year old girl not only slept with men for money, but then sold her little sister to others for sexual acts. The fifteen year old girl went to a party in a well known apartment complex and brought her seven year old sister along. The apartments where the crime took place are considered dangerous and police are hired as security. There were grown men as well as teenage boys involved in the assault which started out as touching and proceeded to a rape. The girl was eventually returned home and her sister is being held in a detention facility. The question is why? Is money really the only motivation this fifteen year old girl had in offering up herself, as well as her sister? How does someone allow these terrible things to happen to someone they love, someone who is as innocent and vulnerable as a seven year old? Is this girl pure evil, or was she threatened? What drives one to com mitt such a sick and twisted act of violence? All individuals at this party are responsible. Every single one who participated in the acts, or watched as they occurred. If you do nothing to stop the assault, you are just as guilty of destroying a life.

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/new-jersey-teen-sold-7-year-old-sister-for-sex-party_100342354.html

Sex Offender Island

On Inside Edition last night, they reported on a place called McNeil Island, also known as Sex Offender Island, which is located in Washington state. The only way to get to this island, which is in fact filled with violent sexual predators, is by ferry. The island houses over 200 sex offenders who have already served their prison sentences, but have been deemed too dangerous to enter back into society. They are sent here indefinitely to live out their life. Only six people have ever been released. These individuals can take computer classes, and are offered therapy, though it is not mandatory. What is interesting, is that some of these individuals feel that they have served their time and that their rights are being violated by keeping them here. Some will say that they are "cured", but a minute later will not give a guarantee that they will not re offend. Do we feel that these predators can be cured? Given therapy and rehabilitation, can we trust these people back in our neighborhoods? Sex Offender Island does not have armed guards, but has razor wire fencing surrounding it. The cost to house these people is more than six figures, but our safety is worth that, right? Is this the solution, to house these predators far away from society where they cannot hurt anyone? And how do we know if therapy works?

http://www.insideedition.com/news/4260/sex-offender-island.aspx
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002463421_sexoffender01m.html

Young Deaf Boys Let Down by Church Leaders

Most of time, when you hear about a priest, or church official committing a sex crime, it stays silent for years, until an adult comes forward with the news. In this case, a young man repeatedly told others about the abuse he had been subjected to by a priest, only to have it ignored. Steven Geier, now 59 and living in Madison, WI tells of how as a teenager, and even later as an adult he told other priests of the abuse he had endured. Being deaf, Geier, along with others used sign language and gestures to report the abuse. Father Murphy could have hundreds of victims. Between 15 and 20 affidavits were collected, only to have the "higher ups" ignore the severity of what was going on and continue to pass it along to others. Neither the Archbishop or the district attorney were of any help. Father Murphy was thought to be "too valuable" and continued working with deaf children for the next 24 years.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36063186/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times/