Shyt. 

Hey guys and gals, hold yer horses: innocent until proven guilty and all of that! Surely he should have been given anonymity?... Women raped and abused more than once....why didn't they just give him a swift kick in the balls? And where the hell were their parents stopping it?....Oh, hang on, he's not a celeb'

Just read the link Cos and about Ashley. How families cope when someone is missing shows an incredible strength that can only be imagined and not something anyone would want to experience. Just wish all the sicko's out there that cause so much suffering to others could be recognised and stopped before an event and not after.

I think the innocent bit went out of the window as soon as those girls got out of the house and the police went in, Supes.  Shackles and all sorts of other 'restraints' lying around the place hint that one physically restrained girl against possibly up to 3 men is a losing situation. 

 

And then there's always the psycological priming that often goes with such dreadful situations.

 

The parents I can't begin to guess or answer about.  The girls were of an age to wander around the town without chaperones, and I understand Michelle Knight was 19 or 20 years of age...?  It's every parent's nightmare when they get that little bit of independence.

 

I'm not sure about how they do things in the US with regards to reporting such things; maybe all these types of situation make the headlines as soon as they get the breakthroughs?

 

Apart from what Cos just said that the women had to endure have you seen the men in question, even if not all 3 are involved they are all big built men who personally I wouldn't want to pit myself against being slightly built and it's been said the women looked undernourished, possibly having no way of building up their strength through exercise or nutritious food.

 

As for any of them not being celebs. I've not taken part in those threads as it  brings back memories of when my niece at 15 years old - a very shy and naieve girl who'd never had a boyfriend - was lured into a man's flat, locked in and raped several times. Hours later while he slept she found the key and escaped. It was around a year before the case went to the Old Bailey and I and other family members saw how that year with the police, dna tests etc and her memories had affected her. For me celebs are people on tv who entertain us but we don't really know. I wonder about all the other times this happens, daily? weekly? to girls/women we never hear about in the main media because the person responsible isn't a celeb.

I know Cos, I was being facetious because I'm getting increasingly cross re assumptions being made re some celeb' who was a nations sweetheart being presumed innocent on that basis alone and some misguided belief that because, very, very occasionally someone jumps on the bandwagon and makes a false accusation that they are in the majority rather than in a v v small minority. Take the no. of Tory MPs who have come out in the last few days declaring, without any doubt, that they disbelieve the allegations against Nigel Evans. How the bloody hell do they know? They have no idea what the evidence is. What message does that give to victims of abuse? I know....don't dare accuse anyone who is part of our establishment because we'll publicly announce that you are a liar without knowing any of the facts of the case

Yellow, that sounds horrendous

I will say, however, that it's not about physical size and strength, it's about power and fear. I remember how I quickly learned that lesson in many ways as a v young social worker 30 odd years ago. One that sticks in my mind from way back then is of a stroppy, feisty, aggressive teenage girl who would absolutely stand no nonsense from anyone....except her father... she'd been sexually abused by this (diminutive single amputee,) man since she was a small child, yet still was manipulated to see him at every available opportunity .....and was further abused by him when she did so. I recall, v v naively, thinking that when he had his other leg amputated that she could free herself from the abuse because he could hardly chase after her..WRONG! 

I hear ya, Supes. 

The 'celebs' being arrested or interviewed are small fry as far as names go.  Tip of the iceberg, if you like.  Some despicable, wicked things have gone on but I don't believe for one moment that it's 'entertainment based' only.

But if they're b@stards that took advantage then they need to be dealt with.

 

We really should have discussed this in the 'celeb' thread although I suppose in some perverse way these girls are now celebrities - or high profile - whether they want to be or not.

 

 

Yellow Rose:  No words.  Just a stunned and genuinely heartfelt hug for your niece, and for you and the family.  I have to ask... how she's doing now?

Thanks Supes and Cos  Supes maybe I didn't understand the irony of your post because I felt too personally involved. My niece was affected for quite some time and sadly she allowed herself to become a victim of a few other men who mistreated her - I've personally known other women who were also abused that had the same pattern which is hard to understand why they allowed it but I've learnt it happens. It seems to be connected with men who know how to use control over women that have no self esteem. My niece after some bad times is currently in a happy relationship with someone who loves and appreciates her for the right reasons, I hope it continues.

Cosi, pick a thread, there are so many of them! I have to be v v careful what I say, but is work busy right now...just a bit!

Shit yellow, I'm so, so sorry if my post came across wrongly... what you have experienced and become to know from your niece is what I have worked with every day for the past 30 years. I'm reluctant to describe that or get involved in some of the discussions on here because for the most part I come on here to just have a bit of a laugh and get away from all of that, but sometimes I can't resist! Obviously I'm party to lots of info that I can't share..that can be bloody frustrating too!

Supes, no need to apologise. I don't know what your occupation is but from what you say it's obviously one connected to listening to and helping those who need someone to listen to them at a difficult time in their life that they're struggling with. People like you can help to give not only a listening ear which they need but a feeling of safety in sharing their experience, so important to them. Totally understand that away from what you have to deal with daily you want to take part in discussions completely unrelated. I'm not only involved with animal welfare but other worldwide human related issues so I too need a reprise online at times from what I come up against from human behaviour towards another whether human or animal.

"McDonald's says it wants to speak directly to Charles Ramsey, the neighbour who rescued Ms Berry. In a colourful interview that quickly went viral, he told how he was eating a snack from the restaurant as the scene unfolded!

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That is just so sick, IMO. What the hell has what the guy was eating at the time and from where he got it, got to do with anything?

Oh that's grim

 

Corporate machine cashing in on a crime.  I bet they wouldn't have been so quick to associate themselves with the story had the brothers been arrested while eating a McDonalds. 

 

 

I wonder if it's not because people don't want to, but because they may be a bit "bad news fatigued". There has been so many shocking stories of late, especially with all the high profile sexual abuse stories coming to light on a seemingly weekly basis.

 

But back to the story it does make you wonder about Ben Needham and Madeline McCann.

 

 

Yeah, they along with Katrice Lee crossed my mind too.  I suppose until they are presented with a corpse, hope is all those parents have.

Well done EC! I wouldn't have known where to start- there is so much to chose from. Apart from the plight of Levantine ladies in our own back yard. However if you want another good example of US redneck wuckfittery you don't have to go much further than the NRA. They are currently smearing one of the Sandy Hook parents. Can't get a link on me phone.

 

Joe this story had me wanting to scream at the NRA.  

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22386105

That is just so sad.... What's worse is even something as tragic as that won't change a thing!

Blimey, that place looks fun

There were 3 of them holding on to the women and the girls were aged between 12 & 20 when they were taken, so I reckon they wouldn't have had much chance of fighting off 3 grown men.

Oh no thats shocking YR. So very sorry for your poor niece  

The poor young girl must have been left so traumatised. Hope your niece had counselling and support from the police etc. Not surprised she suffered bad after effects but its great she's in a good relationship now.

Hope that the bas***d got a long sentence.

Just seen his 2 brothers on the news saying he's dead to them and that if they visited his house they were in the kitchen and there HAD to be something on.. radio/tv