SAVE A LIFE -- IT COULD BE YOUR OWN!

SAVE A LIFE -- IT COULD BE YOUR OWN

There is rarely a day when one can open a newspaper or turn on the television without being confronted by the evil that people do. On Thursday, October 3, the Katie Couric Show featured stories about women who had faced life threatening situations and survived to talk about it. Couric’s guests included actress Charisma Carpenter, the host of Surviving Evil on Investigation Discovery, and West Palm Beach resident, Jessica Carbone McKinney… my daughter.

Surviving Evil is not like other shows which sensationalize violent crime to boost ratings. The producers care about spreading the message of awareness. When they contacted my daughter about doing an episode focused on her kidnapping and rape, Jess was somewhat hesitant to agree. She had already told her story via the History Channel’s I Survived series and was disappointed in the outcome. Investigation Discovery producers promised that their show was different - and it is.

It’s been six years since Jessica was abducted from her apartment in North Palm Beach. Six years since she was beaten almost beyond recognition and repeatedly raped. In those six years we’ve made it our mission to speak the truth about assault and the need for women to take responsibility for their actions.

Jess’ story begins in the wee hours of the morning of July 1, 2007. The sound of her front door opening awoke her from a deep sleep. Since her dad and I had keys to the apartment, Jess expected that one of us was bearing bad news. She wiped the sleep from her eyes only to find the maintenance man who had repaired her air conditioner standing in her doorway, machete in hand. What followed were three and a half hours of torment and the certainty that death was near.

This column does not allow for Jess’ story to be told in its entirety, but it does need to be told (visit: feelnoshame.org). Every parent with a daughter in college needs to read it. Every woman who lives alone, especially in a rental community, needs to know why this attack happened. Don’t allow a management company to tell you that you cannot install an extra lock. Do it and don’t give them access!

I’m sure that many people believe that dead bolt locks guarantee security. If you are not familiar with bump keys, please look them up on the internet. The web provides all types of “how to” information for criminals, including how to disengage a dead bolt in a matter of seconds. If you have a key release dead bolt on your front door, call a locksmith now. Have a second lock installed, which is accessible only from the inside. If you can’t afford a locksmith, buy a flip bolt similar to what is found on hotel room doors. Be aware that flip bolts can be accessed from the outside (tools available on the internet) but they do provide enough time for residents to take precautionary measures. Anyone with a child in college should install a flip bolt on the door.

While it is true that we have the right to go where we want/dress as we want/act as we want, that doesn’t mean we should do those things without considering the consequences. We are not absolved of our responsibility to protect ourselves just because we can do things. Don’t expect a rapist to consider your rights before he attacks. In fact, I’m pretty sure rapists adore people who think they can be stopped by logic, shame and/or rights. That mindset makes their life of crime a lot easier.

Become better informed. Watch the Investigation Discovery series, Surviving Evil, on October 30, 2013 (10:00 PM EST) and learn more about the need to be proactive. Save a life. It could be your own.