My teenage neighbor was brutally attacked

[1gobluedem]

Seventeen years old, straight A student, violinist in the school orchestra; she got involved with the wrong guy and now she's in a coma because he bashed her head in with a hammer when she tried to break up with him. A big time loser, still in high school at age 20, someone she tried to help; she helped him apply to college, she helped him with his literacy, and he tried to kill her.

This applies to all women but I want to appeal especially to the young women of DU; those still in high school, college, or just out of college: your whole life is ahead of you. Please don't fall for the stories these guys tell you, please don't be flattered by the attention of the 'bad boy' older guy, please realize that you are only just starting out. If a guy gets too possessive, if he is smothering you, if he threatens violence to himself or you, RUN. Remember that lifetime ahead of you. You are too young to take on a project like this; you can't save these kids by yourself.

Please pray for, send vibes to, or just think of my neighbor who just had her second brain surgery. She will never be the same.

Thanks for reading.

[suninvited]

1. That is a very sad story

Is she going to be okay?

[mnhtnbb]

2. That breaks my heart.

[Arugula Latte]

3. Goddammit.

:grr:

Sending vibes her way.

[malta blue]

4. I really hate people most of the time...

:wtf:

She tries to break up with him, so he tries to KILL HER?

:cry::cry:

[Career Prole]

5. Oh, jeez.

I'm so sorry.
Rec'd for the good advice.

[flvegan]

6. Jesus, how horrible.

I'd also suggest that if a woman feels like he's "too much" anything, when breaking up, bring a friend.

If a female friend of mine told me she was going to try to break up with some crazy, I'd happily go along. Or I'd tell her to phone it in.

My best to your neighbor. So unfair. I hope he dies of old age in prison.

[1gobluedem]

16. Very wise advice

Thank you. :hug:

[Writer]

7. This is AWFUL.

Is she expected to recover?

Is this person behind bars?

[auntAgonist]

8. oh dear god! That is just so horrible.

I'm so very sorry for this girl. How terrible for her family too. I hope he gets what's coming to him for this.

:cry:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. That's terrible...

Is this it? http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/01/ann_arbor_teen_still_in_coma_f.html

At least the loser is in jail, but who knows whether she'll recover?

[1gobluedem]

15. Yes, that's her

I don't know her personally but the story haunted me even before I knew she lived a few houses away. The piece of garbage also left her lying unconscious in the snow and frigid temperatures.

Today another neighbor distribted yellow ribbons to tie to our trees as a symbol of hope for her family to see as they drive up the street towards the hospital. Mine is on the maple tree in front of the house.

[Danger Mouse]

10. What a scumbag. I hope he rots in jail.

Vibes for her. Hope that she is able to recover.

[Deja Q]

11. Sickening.

x(

I hope that freak rots in jail for the rest of his, preferably short, life.

[Fran Kubelik]

12. oh NO

That's terrible. :cry:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

13. My deepest, sincerest and most heartfelt thoughts, prayers, positive vibes and healing energy

goes out to your neighbor and her family. I hope she's OK:hug:

I have no words to express my anger and hatred for the monster who did this or what I wish upon him

[Haole Girl]

14. That's so sad

I said a prayer for her. :hug:

[mainegreen]

17. That's awful. Terrible. I hope she pulls out of it fine.

And I hope he goes to a small locked cell for a long time.

[JVS]

18. Why the fuck would anyone help someone who need help reading apply to college?

It doesn't sound like he was college material at all. It's a shame she got involved with him at all.

[1gobluedem]

19. A shy, insecure teenage girl would be flattered

If the guy was considered 'cool.' It happens so many times. If only, if ONLY they could see into the future and realize that high school is just a blip in their lives.

[Marrah_G]

20. My daughter ran away with one of those a month before graduation

We have very little contact but I hear she is mostly supporting him.

My hearts breaks for your neighbors family.

[Ava]

21. that's horrible!

:( vibes and prayers coming her way

[skygazer]

22. This is a message to young men as well

Don't be like this.

We always hear the warnings given to girls and women - don't walk in parking garages at night, don't go out alone, don't do this, don't do that. Good advice as far as it goes but I always find myself thinking that some advice to men is in order too.

Don't use violence as a communications tool.

Don't think you can bully someone to love you.

Don't think that because you're stronger than a woman, it gives you the right to overpower her.

If you're angry, walk away.

If you're hurt, talk to a friend.

If you can't control your anger, get some help.

Sure, telling the guy who did this these things probably wouldn't make him see the light but maybe if society spent as much time telling men that this behavior is unacceptable as they do telling women to protect themselves, we'd be in better shape.

My thoughts are with that poor girl and her family. :(

[1gobluedem]

23. Yes, it is, thank you

And, guys, try to realize, too, that you're YOUNG. You won't always feel this bad, it passes, it really does, and you have a lifetime ahead. Don't ruin it.

[I Have A Dream]

26. I wholeheartedly agree.

:thumbsup:

[bigwillq]

24. How awful.

:(

[charlie and algernon]

25. oh my God, How sad!

That's so awful, so tragic. I pray she pulls through

[tigereye]

27. that actually happened here a few years ago - the girl was lucky to be alive

it was very sad. Almost the exact same thing. Weird.

[Dystopian]

28. My heart is breaking

Saying a prayer for this beautiful child. This entire scenario hits too close to home.
How tragic....


peace~

[applegrove]

29. Beware of anyone with a sob story. Beware of anyone who is angry or does boundary violation. Beware

of anyone who has a fan base. Beware of anyone who stares, explodes, makes you ever feel uncomfortable. These sick fucks can destroy your life.

[SeattleGirl]

30. That is incredibly sad.

My prayers to this young girl, that she recovers.

As to the asshole who did that to her, I hope he is locked up for the rest of his life!

[Pierre.Suave]

31. How sad...

very very sad.

I also want to see this person spend a lot of time in jail.

Girls, be safe, and Guys, DO NOT ACT LIKE THIS, EVER!

[ThomCat]

32. This breaks my heart to read.

The idea of someone's entire life devastated by one person's rage... :(

I can't imagine what would make someone want to do something like this to anyone. I can't comprehend the arrogance and possessiveness this would require.

I feel so bad for this girl. :cry:

I hope she pulls through as somehow has a full recovery. I'm an atheist, but I'd pray for this if there was even a shred of evidence that it would do any good. :(

Damn.

[JenaLaw]

33. horrified

what a terrible thing to happen to your neighbor. I really hope that she can have a 'normal' recovery and go on to lead a healty life.

and I hope he spends as many years as our Criminal Justice system allows behind bars for this.

[BlueIris]

34. Terribly sorry about your neighbor. And I would add that no woman is ever old enough

to feel obligated to take on the "project" of helping an abuser reform. Because it can't be done. Abusers don't change. I learned that lesson the hard way.

[Lil Missy]

35. Yup. "If I can't have you, nobody else can either."

Very tragic story.

[SarahB]

36. That's awful.

My daughter turns 17 next month and has had a rougher time finding a boyfriend she has been comfortable with for more than a few weeks. She's very busy, active in sports, works part-time, and it seems a lot of young men she's dated just expect her to be at their beck and call. She pretty much nips that in the bud quickly and it usually requires ending the relationship. It's a very good thing because it gives me confidence in her to know that she has enough security within herself to have very high standards and not go down those slippery slopes.

I hope this poor girl recovers.

[bridgit]

37. She will never be the same. My heart goes out to your young friend...

My thoughts & empathies are with her. And though I survived somehow, I was in her shoes. Rolled into an irrigation ditch beside a rice pattie just outside town, and but for a trucker passing by at 3am finding me crawled up by my fingernails covered with mud & blood I'd be gone too after 'he' slit my throat and left me for dead. Spread this word like there is no tomorrow cause for some there isn't...

Beware people demanding more attentions than the world has to offer. Learn to view them more as Stephen, in Braveheart...

"I didn't like him anyway. He wasn't right in the head."

That trucker carried me into the ER in his arms, stayed with me till I came to a bit; the nurses said we talked for a time but I don't remember doing so, and I never saw him again. For all I know he was an angel...

This world needs more angels

Great Hospice & Healing to your young friend many will be keeping her in their thoughts

[zanne]

38. Oh my God, bridgit.

I'm so, so sorry that happened to you. But I'm so glad you pulled through. :hug:

[siligut]

39. Maybe he was an angel?

Oh bridgit, thank heaven you are all right!

[Deep13]

40. .

:( :cry: :hug:

[Blue Diadem]

43. Thank goodness for your angel.

I'm glad he was there for you Bridget. :hug:

[Deep13]

41. I had a case like that.

It was a big, strong man who was released on parole in 2005ish from a 1984 rape conviction. He was out for less than two weeks when he decided to sneak up on women from behind and strike them in the head with a blunt object--probably a pipe. Once they were out, he took the few bucks they had on him. I knew one of his victims by sight. She was airlifted to a hospital where surgeons reconstructed her head. He did it three times before we caught him. He received 20 years (actual) for the two robberies in this county and another THREE for the woman he assaulted in Cleveland. Unfortunately, that doesn't do anything for his victims.
:-( :-( :-(

[Kajsa]

42. That is horrible!

I hope she recovers soon.

That guy sounds like he has some serious
mental problems, violent behavior being
the most serious of them.

Sending prayers and healing vibes to your neighbor.

:(

[Blue Diadem]

44. Prayers for your neighbor.

It's such a violent sad world we live in sometimes. :-(

I read the story at M-live when it happened. Two brain surgeries in a few days, that poor girl. I hope and pray she'll be able to recover. I hope the guy goes away for a very very long time, until he's too old to hurt anyone anymore.