This blog was one I did last year on my personal blog site for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This case has stuck with me since I first heard it....
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Ok, so before I start talking about what I want to discuss today , I need you to understand a couple of things about me. For starters, I am obsessed with true crime. I have been since my 8th grade Criminal Justice class. I did a very special project on The Haysom Murders. If you are not familiar with it, the case occurred here in Boonsboro ( Bedford side) in the 1980s. 1983 to be exact. Elizabeth Haysom and her boyfriend at the time, Jens Soering, were convicted of the brutal murder of her parents. If you have followed the case or read the papers lately, you know that they were both released this year and sent back to their home countries. Elizabeth to Canada and Jens to Germany. They met at UVA when they were both students there. I was/am OBSESSED with this case. If you do not believe me, ask my mom. She even drove me to the house the murders took place at. I am not odd, just curious and passionate :) So, with that being said, I listen/watch A LOT of crime shows and podcasts. One of my very favorites is called " Crime Junkies" with Ashley Flowers. I just found this podcast a few months ago and I listen to it in my car going to/from work, in my headphones at work, and cleaning around the house. The podcast covers murders, mysteries, disappearances, multiple true crime cases. I listened to a case this week that hit home for me on more than just one subject....hear me out. I promise this is all going to tie together.
As I said before there are somethings you need to know about me to understand why I am blogging about this one case. The second thing is that I am Bisexual. If you did not already know that, now you do. I have never really hidden it , but, I typically do not bring it up in everyday conversation. I also have a daughter who is bisexual and one that is lesbian. If you did not know that, now you do. So with that being said , I taught my kids it is ALWAYS ok to be who the fuck you are! Do not pretend to impress anyone because you have to live your life your way. PERIOD. The third thing you need to know if you don't already...I am a survivor of domestic violence. Now, some people are familiar with my story. I do not intend to hash it out or go into details because it is in the past. If you know me, you may say I am a hypocrite or you may feel that I have no right to discuss this. Guess what? Your wrong! No matter how my situation turned out, it happened. I never lie about it. I never shy away from it and I will ALWAYS be a voice for domestic violence and this is why this case has hit so close to home for me.....
Did you know that members of the LBGTQ community are MORE prone to domestic violence? 1 out of 4 youth members will be subjected to partner abuse in their lifetime. 25-33% experience abuse by a partner. Many people are not aware that the word "abuse" covers multiple types. Not just hitting. There is emotional, verbal, financial, and even cultural abuse. PHYSICAL abuse is not the only form of domestic violence.
. Say her name. A beautiful paramedic who was taken too soon by her wife. She was 37 years old and a mother. There was a history of violence against her from her wife Cara previous to the murder. They actually separated but ended up giving their relationship another shot for their daughter. Charges were brought against Cara at one time, but sadly, as most abused partners do, Annamaria dropped the charges. There was some back and forth between both women bout who the abuser really was but since Annamarie was the one that was murdered, I think it is safe to say who the aggressor was. The one in prison for life, her wife Cara.
So many emotions ran through me when I listened to this case. The fact that I had never really knew the statistics for domestic abuse for the LBGTQ community. The fact that my daughters and myself are a small part of this community. The sadness that another beautiful life is gone due to violence. This case spoke to me. It reached out and said to me " Please share". "Please helped to shine a light on domestic abuse in the LBGTQ community" And that is exactly what I did.
Domestic Violence Awareness month is October. Please do not be afraid to seek help or to share your testimony with others. You may just be saving someone's life. It is so important that the world understands that domestic violence is NOT just between a man and woman and that a woman can be the abuser. Please check out the Crime Junkie Episode on her murder...
The Network laRed is an AMAZING website that gives information on domestic abuse for LBGTQ members . It is survivor led. Please check it out if you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic abuse.
The Domestic Violence hotline is also always open 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org . We have to work together to make this subject less taboo! I always thought that I would end up in the medical field. The career of my dreams. It took me until 38 to realize that criminal justice is my calling...
The picture is the beautiful Annamarie. May she forever rest in peace.
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