At 19, Melissa McCormick was kidnapped after experiencing car trouble on a Detroit freeway. Her captors held her against her will for 12 hours and during that time, she was repeatedly sexually assaulted, beaten and even shot at. She did not expect to live and in fact, begged her captors to kill her.
Instead they let her go.
McCormick, best selling author of “The Queen’s Daughter,” will share her story of the worst and most highly publicized case of sexual assault in Detroit history April 12 in International Falls.
Friends Against Abuse will host two presentations by McCormick, in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The first presentation is offered from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Rainy River Community College Theater. The morning session focuses on professionals that work with victims of crime or those interested in learning more about post traumatic stress disorder and its effects on loved ones.
A second presentation will be offered and is open to all community members from 6:30-8 p.m. in the RRCC Theater. Call Friends Against Abuse for more information at 285-7220.
In her book, “The Queen’s Daughter,” McCormick describes the events of that night in Detroit and her long and painful journey to return to a healthy and productive life. Her compelling story produced the award winning short film “Determined,” and a feature film will soon be seen in theaters worldwide.
More that 30 years later, McCormick inspires people with her candid message of survival and the importance of moving forward. Her testimonial shocks and motivates the public to learn the truth about the aftermath of trauma and the seriousness of post traumatic stress disorder, say people who have heard her speak.
McCormick devotes her time to represent all the victims who do not yet have the courage to stand up and speak out. She describes how she overcame the odds to become a successful advocate and an inspiration to many.
"For some time after my assault, I felt like I had been in a war. I was shell-shocked; my head felt like it was exploding. My goal was to feel normal and not be pitied for what I had gone through. After many years, I managed to overcome fear and get on with my life,” says McCormick.
McCormick is a member of the board of the Windsor Sexual Assault Crisis Centre and is aware that only 5 percent of rape victims and only 1 percent of date rape victims report to law enforcement. With her book and presentations, she hopes to help these victims “break the silence,” which she says will not only aid their recovery process but will help ensure that the perpetrators are caught so that others don’t suffer a similar fate.
For more information on McCormick visit www.queensdaughter.com
