Description
Nicole shares her journey from domestic violence victim to survivor in a very honest and vulnerable way. She takes us through the cycle of domestic violence. At the conclusion of her story, Nicole provides a guidebook for victims and survivors of domestic violence, stalking and toxic relationships. The goal of this guidebook is to help victims leave safely, feel hope, build resilience and find themselves again.
Domestic Violence
Nicole met her ex-husband in college and over the course of the next 10 years found herself in an increasingly abusive and violent relationship. She stayed in this relationship for many reasons including love, for her children, due to financial abuse and fear. Nicole finally left her abusive ex-husband in 2009. She faced stalking, threats and harassment at the hands of her abuser for the next two and a half years. Until he was finally convicted of stalking after she delivered a powerful victim impact statement at his sentencing hearing.
Unfortunately her abuser continued to pose a threat to her…
…and their children from prison as he attempted to hire multiple inmates to kill her and her children during his incarceration. Due multiple errors by law enforcement officers, miscommunication between the prison system and law enforcement and a Prosecutor who did not believe that a jury would believe the testimony of other inmates. Her abuser was set to be released from prison at the conclusion of his original sentence.
Nicole researched recreating her identity, relocation and ways of protecting herself and her children. She found out just how difficult it would be to find employment and housing after an identity change would leave her with no work, education or credit history.
After careful consideration she decided to stay and fight for new charges to be brought against her ex-husband. Through social media she enlisted the help of family, friends, other survivors of domestic violence and stalking to help. She shared her story and plead with the authorities to help protect her family. Her story went viral and was shared across the country and world. Thousands of people stood with her and advocated for her family through phone calls, emails, posts and tweets.
To Nicole’s joy their efforts paid off and her case was picked up by the Attorney General of the State of Michigan. Over the course of the next 13 months and multiple court hearings, Nicole’s abuser was found guilty of new domestic violence charges. He was sentenced to a longer prison sentence allowing her and her children to live with less fear for the next 11 years. Available on Amazon.
Soon be released as a film
