Crash Into Me_ A Survivor's Search for Justice - Liz Seccuro [80]
To Chief Tim Longo: Simply put, you are my hero. Your legacy will be one of strength tempered with good sense, a steel will and a charming way. You took my call that December day and were the first to understand the gravity of what had taken place. You validated me and never once backed down. During the darkest days of this case, you picked up the phone and made the time to encourage me to stay with it. I wish you every good thing in life, as you are the embodiment of what an officer and a gentleman should be in this nation.
To Marnie Goodfriend, my fellow survivor and, of course, good friend: Thank you for being there always.
To my sorority sisters, friends, and fellow survivors: Bret, Shannon, Kris B., Sharan, Sally, Tiffany, Kris D., Shari, Donna, Kris K., Christianne, Lisa D., Trish, Anne, Pam K., Pam W., Tabatha and John, Lisa and Drew, Lee and Elee, Les and Kathryn, Courteney, Nathalie, Lisa G., Erin, Mario, Michele, Tamara and Andrew, Patty, Jules, Anne, Annie H., Kristin, Claire, and, of course, Big Al: Your support, both physical and electronic, was so meaningful. It’s as if twenty years have not passed. You are all so wonderful and I am blessed to call you sisters and brothers.
To Peter, my therapist: Thank you for our years working together and for putting me back together. You are a miracle worker.
To Tony Caramanico: Thanks for getting me back on the board and getting my head straight. You had more to do with my healing than you will ever know.
To my wonderful in-laws, Pat and Steve Mead: Thanks for being such a great help and support during this time. You’ve made this transition for your grandchildren so easy. Know how much you are loved and respected.
To Mom and Dad: This is for you—it sets right how you were wronged. Know how much I love you. Know that you did everything you could. Know that it finally worked out.
To Mike: It was never up to you to fix what was broken. The sacrifices you made for our family showed how much you cared without your saying a word. The love you give to me and our children speaks volumes and I am lucky to have found you.
To my little ones: May you grow up in a safer world, one that Mama can help make so for you. You are everything good and beautiful and innocent and I want you to know that I love you both like the moon, the stars, and the sun.
And to all the survivors who’ve written: You know who you are. I kept your names on a list while I wrote this. I am so sorry that the list is so very long. But you will be fine. Better than fine. You will find peace.
A Note on the Author
Liz Seccuro is an event planner and victims’ rights activist. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her family. This is her first book. Follow her on Twitter @CrashIntoMeBook.
Some of the names in this book have been changed to protect the privacy of persons involved. Conversations have been re-created to the best of the author’s recollection. Court testimony has been copied directly from court documents. Some minor spelling and punctuation changes have been allowed for clarity and consistency.
Copyright © 2011 by Elizabeth Seccuro
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address Bloomsbury USA, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Published by Bloomsbury USA, New York
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Seccuro, Liz.
Crash into me : a survivor’s search for justice / Liz Seccuro.— 1st U.S. ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-59691-585-5 (hardcover)
1. Seccuro, Liz. 2. Rape victims— United States— Biography. 3. Rape— United States— Case studies. I. Title.
HV6561.S43 2011
364.15’32092—dc22
[B]
2010020864
First published by Bloomsbury USA in 2011
This e-book edition published in 2011
E-book ISBN: 978-1-60819-311-0
www.bloomsburyusa.com