Liz Seccuro, Author of “Crash Into Me” Special Guest and the Unsolved Murder of Patty Vaughan on The Susan Murphy Milano Show “Time’s Up!”

The Susan Murphy Milano Show

“Time’s Up!”

Thursday, February 24

2pm-3pm:

Special Guest:

Liz Seccuro

As a 17 year old student at the University of Virginia, justice was no doubt the last thing in Liz Seccuro’s mind. However, that quickly changed when she became a victim of rape in a fraternity bedroom. Liz and her parents contacted local authorities, as well as campus authorities, she was examined at a local hospital, all the proper reports were made, and yet, with jurisdiction questions and the Dean of Students and the University doing nothing in her behalf, it went no further.

Seccuro graduated and went on to get married and start a family when, out of the blue, her attacker made contact with her. In an effort to complete an AA 12 step program he apologized, but it only fueled Seccuro’s fears for her safety and the safety of her family, and after 21 years, she filed charges. Liz Seccuro forced herself through panic and anxiety to bring about justice for herself and for other victims of rape, exposing the attitudes of college campuses, as well as the

justice system, and shines a light on the lack of concern for rape victims.

“Crash Into Me: A Survivor’s Search for Justice” tells the riveting story of Liz Seccuro’s ordeal.

This brave account reveals an alarming array of mishandling, poor judgment, and obfuscation or outright lies from university officials and from students at the party, and shines light on a systemic lack of concern and care given to rape victims. (Publisher’s Weekly)

3pm-4pm:

Monica Caison from CUE Center for Missing persons will be presenting the case of missing mother of three, Patty Vaughan.

Patty has been missing under suspicious circumstances since Christmas Day, 1996, and may possibly be a victim of intimate partner homicide.

Circumstances of Disappearance
Vaughan was last seen between 18.30 – 21.00 by her estranged husband at their residence in Wilson County,

Texas on December 25, 1996.

Patty and her husband began a trial separation in October 1996. He moved into an apartment in San Antonio, Texas and Patty remained at their

residence on Oak Park Road in La Vernia, Texas with their three children. The couple had been married since 1985. Patty was dating a former boyfriend in December 1996 and the relationship apparently caused an argument between Patty and her estranged husband at her home on December 25, 1996.

She is believed to have driven off after an argument with her husband.

Her husband told authorities that Patty left the house alone on December 25 and simply vanished. He filed for divorce from his wife on December 26, one day after Patty was last seen. Other family members reported her as a missing person to authorities. Patty’s blue Dodge Caravan was discovered abandoned with a flat tire on December 26, one day after she was last seen. The vehicle was located on Loop 1604 in South Bexar County, approximately 5 miles from Patty’s employer and 15 miles from her home. Tests revealed that the tire had been intentionally deflated.

Investigators searched her residence and vehicle and discovered blood inside the van, on the walls and floor of Patty’s bedroom and on a mop inside the house. Someone had attempted to clean the blood from the premises prior to discovery. DNA testing proved that the blood was Patty’s. She has never been located and no arrests have been made in connection with her case.

Foul play is suspected in Patty’s disappearance due to the circumstances involved.

We will be joined by Patty’s sister, Barb Kinsey to examine the case.

http://ncmissingpersons.org

Monica will be broadcasting from the search for Krishonda Townsend from Mineral Wells, TX and will give us an update.

Known as the “Jane Wayne of Justice,” Susan Murphy Milano always stands up as a voice for those who are silenced in a world of intimidation and violence within their homes and in courtrooms across the country.

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Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visithttp://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/ She is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and SurviveAbusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talkhttp://www.herewomentalk.com/and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr Laurie Roth

Justice Interrupted Investigates "The Rape of a Child"

Tonight on Justice Interrupted at 10:00 PM Central Time a very special woman shares her story of silence within her own home. And the demons that remain her contstant companion.

"My name is Tivona. I’m not a famous author, model, or actor. I’m not Super Girl trying to save the world or a Super Villain trying to destroy it. I’m not anyone special except to my family. I’m just an ordinary, fun loving, moody teenager. I’m just trying to grow up and live an average life like everyone else. I’m 14 and looking forward to high school.

Yet, there are days that I wake up and feel like I can’t relate to anyone else in the world. I want to be a ghost and disappear…There are days I wish I weren’t here. During the day, I maintain A’s in school, I sing, draw in my journal, hang out online with my friends, play the saxophone, am an avid hunter and am a half back on my soccer team. Yet at night, when I crawl into my warm bed – surrounded by my soft blankets, my cats and more stuffed animals than you can count, I feel so alone. So isolated. Like no one else in the world knows how I’m feeling. It’s at this time, that I have to deal with my own private monsters and demons.

In the dark, I feel like no one could understand me. I’m not worried about the typical teenage stuff because my life over the last 4 years hasn’t been really ordinary. It’s been conventional on the outside while pain and guilt raged on the inside. Quietly, I’ve suffered. How could I tell anyone that I was a victim of sexual assault? Who could I tell and who would believe me?
As the daughter of someone in law enforcement and the niece of an attorney, I have always been told, and led to believe, that if you do something wrong – you are punished. There are consequences for your behavior. Today, as I write you my story of sexual abuse at the hands of a loved one, my abuser is free to roam the streets of our town because the Prosecuting Attorney refuses to follow up on my claims of abuse. I know it is hard to listen to these accusations. I know it is hard to comprehend that “this” person can do “these” things but there is a “silent epidemic” occurring in this country and it is harming those of us you have “sworn” to protect! Please take a minute to listen to our “cries for help”. They are not false or “made up”. They are very real. In some of our lives, there are truly monsters who hide “under our beds” and “in our closets” at night just waiting for the darkness so they can “attack”. We rely on you to help and we need you NOW more than ever!

I truly believe that society has the resources to put an end to this epidemic. At the very least, we can drastically reduce it. Why don’t we? Are we too afraid it can happen in our own homes and that’s scarier to acknowledge than believing it is the “horrible monster we see on Law and Order” that is causing this destruction? Perhaps you misread the statistics?
Talking about sexual abuse of children is crossing into frightening, unfamiliar territory for many people. We live in a very confusing society with hypocritical views on sex and sexuality. We are uncomfortable talking about sex, but we are willing to have it sold to us through songs, magazines, TV and advertisements.

I know that healing is a process, a journey. I know I will never forget the assaults and abuse but I hope to grow from this experience and I want to help others “escape” and grow too. PLEASE JOIN ME AND USE YOUR VOICE TO HELP STOP THIS CYCLE OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY.

Child sexual assault is the world’s deepest, darkest, best kept secret. How many are out there, I guess we will truly never know. I am asking, pleading with you to take a stand. Remind all those who choose to seek out the children, that their behavior will not be tolerated no matter who they are. I believe I did the right thing by finally “telling”. I truly hope that my openness can save other children. I told the police. I was open and honest, even though it was extremely embarrassing to retell my story to one stranger after another. I believed in the process of the justice system. All I am asking is that the justice system “believes in me too!”

Here’s my story, it began in 1994:
People talk about “Princesses”. Royalty really isn’t my thing – I enjoy the “supernatural” – vampires really. Nevertheless, for years, I was truly a “Princess” in my family. The “first born” for both sides of extended family, I entered this world in grand fashion (an emergency C-section because I had stopped breathing). For my loved ones, I truly was a miracle and blessing. I grew and thrived from the attention and you can truly say “I was rotten”. So many camera flashes have gone off in my face over the years it’s amazing I am not blind. As an avid hunter, my grandfather had me appreciating nature as soon as I could walk and follow in his footsteps. Even my name, Tivona, means a “love for the outdoors. This man was my “hero”.
My perfect, innocent “happily-ever-after-fairytale-princess” life and childhood began to crumble and ended when I was 10. That was the year my grandfather died. That was the year that my whole world began to shatter into small pieces and fall apart around me. It was at that time, my uncle would also begin to “groom” me for his own sexual pleasures and means of “control”. It began with slow rubs and touches and progressed from there.

During this time, my uncle gradually eroded our appropriate adult / child boundaries, built a wall of secrecy around us and finally established compliance through my fear. Over the next 3 years, I was repeatedly reminded that this was “our little secret” and I mustn’t say a thing. He told me that I would be to blame if anyone discovered our secret little game. He repeatedly told me that: “This would really hurt my mom if she knew” and that he would go to jail if I told. Each time he said that, a part of me died. I betrayed what I knew was the “right thing to do” because I was afraid “no one would believe me” and because I didn’t want my close knit family to fall apart. It just seemed easier to close my eyes, retreat to the darkness in my head and “go along” than upset anyone. My life became a fraud and a fiction. Do you know how much energy is consumed to keep a secret hidden from ourselves and our families?

As a family member, he had seduced us all. He had our devotion and love. He was trustworthy and “above reproach”. His popularity within our family covered behaviors that should never have been tolerated. He was a trusted friend and relative; a pillar of the community. He would never do anything “shady” or inappropriate. That is what he hoped everyone would believe if I ever told our “secret”.
By creating an untarnished image, he has convinced my beloved aunt and his children that he is innocent and that I am lying and trying to destroy his pristine image in our lives and our community. He has ‘explained away’ most of his actions with excuses. When approached with his inappropriate behaviors, he responded by being insulted and became extremely defensive. Although never acknowledging the abuse, he never once denied it either. His response to the police, and I quote, “if that’s what she said happened, then it must have happened…I just don’t remember”.

During my short time in therapy, I have learned that pedophiles are like any other predator. They stalk and hunt children as their prey. Many predators, like mine, will spend weeks, months, and even years grooming their victims. They are calculating, manipulative, and very, very patient when it comes to achieving their goal. Molesters are charming. They get along with everyone and are usually popular. They can be upstanding members of the community and tend to present a perfect image. Like my uncle, they are “great guys” and “everybody’s friend”. They are charming and intimidate other adults into believing they are above reproach. Their behavior is a controlled public image – for I know all too well about their private behaviors. My counselor says she has never met a “child molester she didn’t like.

Today, I wonder if he is capable of feeling, let alone harbors a conscience. And did he, in all those years of wonderful memories, ever really love me? Is he sorry for the destruction he has caused in all of our lives, even though he refuses to admit it? I'd like to know WHY? Why did he chose to cross the line?"

Join Hosts: Robin Sax Prosecutor and Author, Author Stacy Dittrich, Violence Expert and Author Susan Murphy-Milano as they provide justice for those whose lives have been interrupted by rape, murder, child sexual predators, strange and unexplained disappearances.........To listen live go to: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/justiceinterrupted and click on the "Click To Listen" icon.You might want to refresh your page because the icon will not show until the show starts.Call in live at: 914-338-0663 to participate in the show.

When A Cop Rapes A Child Should Bail Be Denied?

The court documents say forcible rape and incest. In these cases where law enforcement is involved with a crime of a child, in my opinion bond should be automatically, denied.

The am also concerned that the Officer Martinez is a danger to the community. Another issue are his weapons. Allowing officers charged in these cases to retain their weapons, again in a threat to the community. Martinez is a 20 year trained crime fighter.

Perhaps the judge should have issued a GPS monitor for the officer as a condition of his release. Oh, I forgot. They usually don't enforce procedures of safety for police officers.

It is likely this man who raped a 12 year-old child will be represented by a police union lawyer. If Prosecutors offer this bozo a deal. Will he have still be required to register as a sexual predator?

The prosecutors must remember the life of this little girl is in their hands. The victim will live with the scars of this rape, forever. She already lives in a prison. With memories one cannot erase so easily.

And when it is time for Pedro Martinez to resign and sign the paperwork for his pension. Fight to have it taken away. The same way he took away the innocence of the child.

(Source: Masslive.com) Bail was set at $75,000 cash or surety Tuesday for a 20-year veteran of the Springfield Police Department who pleaded innocent to child rape and incest charges.

Pedro J. Martinez, 47, a uniformed patrol officer, was arrested at the end of his shift Monday at 3 p.m. Martinez pleaded innocent to three counts of forcible rape of a child and three counts of incest. Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet said that Martinez was immediately suspended for five days without pay pending a grand jury indictment. Defense lawyer Raipher D. Pelligrino said after the arraignment that the charges are the result of a misunderstanding and his client is innocent.

He told District Court Judge Rita Koenigs that the victim has "issues that need to be explored further." Assistant District Attorney John Compton asked for a bail of $100,000 cash or $1 million surety. Compton said the victim said she was raped and sexually abused repeatedly from January 2005, when she was 12, to October 2008.