Originally, I didn't even want to give you the decency of addressing your disgusting case or waste my time trying to drill into your head what it's like to continue life after a brutal rape. But, as a sexual assault survivor, I cannot consciously sit back and remain silent. You deserve to be bombarded with letters and opinions from people like me. From survivors who can identify with your victim. From mothers and fathers who have been on the other end of the phone call, telling them their child has been assaulted. From the friends and significant others of victims, who were secondary victims themselves; confused about how to handle such a delicate and salacious situation to the best of their ability.
You disgust me. I've read your statement over and over again, trying to make sense of your meaningless words. I've read through your father's letter to the judge, only to realize the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It must be difficult for you to take responsibility for your actions when your own father is more concerned about feeding you steak and your "20 minutes of action" than he is about doing the right thing and being compassionate towards the young woman who's life you have forever changed. Certainly you and your father have women in your life who are important to you. What if this horrific crime had happened to someone you love? Think about that for a minute.
You, sir, are a rapist. No if's, and's or but's about it. You are not a college student who simply "made a mistake." You vigorously write, over and over again, that the underlying problem is alcohol. Both you and your victim may have consumed too much, but here's the thing, Mr. Turner. Your victim was UNCONSCIOUS while being dragged behind a dumpster and sexually assaulted, and even throughout her thirty minute ambulance ride to the emergency room. In no shape or form did this young woman give you any kind of consent. Shame on you for believing anyone with a brain would believe she was capable of that. You don't take responsibility for your own actions and you constantly blame everything else but the truth. The truth is, you aren't a college athlete who drank too much. You are a rapist who can also swim.
It's obvious your brain and your heart are disconnected, so let me go ahead and put this in perspective for you from personal experience. Imagine your home has been broken into. Your personal belongings are thrown about carelessly. Your things have been touched by hands that are foreign to you. Your most prized possessions have been broken and vandalized. Some of your belongings might even be missing. You feel angry and violated.
Now, imagine this happening to your body.
You have bruises in private places. Your clothes are torn and tattered. Your own blood is seeping through cuts and gashes. You don't remember where you've been or who attacked you. You feel violated beyond what you can comprehend.
A victim's life will never be the same. The physical bruises eventually heal, but the emotional wounds will remain scars forever. It's an experience that never truly goes away.
You have continued to make this situation about you, which is the most sickening part. You're concerned about your swimming career, your future, and the stories about you the media is sharing. Never once have you shown any kind of remorse, or even mentioned the word rape. I'm sure saying the word probably leaves a nasty taste in your mouth. But, again, this is not about you. Imagine the pain you have inflicted on your innocent victim and the agony she felt when she realized what happened to her on the night of January 17th, 2015. You say in your statement that you wish you could travel back in time and take the events of that night back. I'm sure, at this point, you wish you could. But, don't think for one second your wishes are anywhere near hers. She has dreams and aspirations, too. Don't you dare discredit her.
The difference between the two of you is that she will prevail. She will rise above. She already has. Her impact statement alone was twenty minutes long and I praise her for having the courage to stand up and face you and address you directly. I hope you shamefully took her words to heart. This horrific tragedy is a chapter in her life that she will never fully be able to close. But, judging from the words she carefully orchestrated, she is strong. She is inspirational. She is encouraging. You, on the other hand, are not. She will regain her worth, because you don't define it. She will regain her voice, because obviously you haven't silenced her. She will dream big and become whatever it is she wants to be. You can't rob her of anything anymore.
Although you were convicted, the lenient judge (for reasons unbeknownst to everyone) gave you only six months in jail. Six months is nothing. That is a tiny price to pay for the crime you committed. My hope is that because of the attention your case has received, it has opened the eyes of America to this thing we call "rape culture." Maybe a life can be changed. Until then, I hope you enjoy your "20 minutes of action" in jail.
You disgust me. I've read your statement over and over again, trying to make sense of your meaningless words. I've read through your father's letter to the judge, only to realize the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It must be difficult for you to take responsibility for your actions when your own father is more concerned about feeding you steak and your "20 minutes of action" than he is about doing the right thing and being compassionate towards the young woman who's life you have forever changed. Certainly you and your father have women in your life who are important to you. What if this horrific crime had happened to someone you love? Think about that for a minute.
You, sir, are a rapist. No if's, and's or but's about it. You are not a college student who simply "made a mistake." You vigorously write, over and over again, that the underlying problem is alcohol. Both you and your victim may have consumed too much, but here's the thing, Mr. Turner. Your victim was UNCONSCIOUS while being dragged behind a dumpster and sexually assaulted, and even throughout her thirty minute ambulance ride to the emergency room. In no shape or form did this young woman give you any kind of consent. Shame on you for believing anyone with a brain would believe she was capable of that. You don't take responsibility for your own actions and you constantly blame everything else but the truth. The truth is, you aren't a college athlete who drank too much. You are a rapist who can also swim.
It's obvious your brain and your heart are disconnected, so let me go ahead and put this in perspective for you from personal experience. Imagine your home has been broken into. Your personal belongings are thrown about carelessly. Your things have been touched by hands that are foreign to you. Your most prized possessions have been broken and vandalized. Some of your belongings might even be missing. You feel angry and violated.
Now, imagine this happening to your body.
You have bruises in private places. Your clothes are torn and tattered. Your own blood is seeping through cuts and gashes. You don't remember where you've been or who attacked you. You feel violated beyond what you can comprehend.
A victim's life will never be the same. The physical bruises eventually heal, but the emotional wounds will remain scars forever. It's an experience that never truly goes away.
You have continued to make this situation about you, which is the most sickening part. You're concerned about your swimming career, your future, and the stories about you the media is sharing. Never once have you shown any kind of remorse, or even mentioned the word rape. I'm sure saying the word probably leaves a nasty taste in your mouth. But, again, this is not about you. Imagine the pain you have inflicted on your innocent victim and the agony she felt when she realized what happened to her on the night of January 17th, 2015. You say in your statement that you wish you could travel back in time and take the events of that night back. I'm sure, at this point, you wish you could. But, don't think for one second your wishes are anywhere near hers. She has dreams and aspirations, too. Don't you dare discredit her.
The difference between the two of you is that she will prevail. She will rise above. She already has. Her impact statement alone was twenty minutes long and I praise her for having the courage to stand up and face you and address you directly. I hope you shamefully took her words to heart. This horrific tragedy is a chapter in her life that she will never fully be able to close. But, judging from the words she carefully orchestrated, she is strong. She is inspirational. She is encouraging. You, on the other hand, are not. She will regain her worth, because you don't define it. She will regain her voice, because obviously you haven't silenced her. She will dream big and become whatever it is she wants to be. You can't rob her of anything anymore.
Although you were convicted, the lenient judge (for reasons unbeknownst to everyone) gave you only six months in jail. Six months is nothing. That is a tiny price to pay for the crime you committed. My hope is that because of the attention your case has received, it has opened the eyes of America to this thing we call "rape culture." Maybe a life can be changed. Until then, I hope you enjoy your "20 minutes of action" in jail.