| d="body"> | | | | Reiney and I told them everything. I was hungry and |
| Have you ever been encountered with a trauma in | | | | pulled out my lunch and was eating my spaghetti |
| life and not know how your life would be after it | | | | sandwich that was packed for me, Meg and I shared |
| was all said and done? This is a story of my trauma | | | | a laugh on that one. After I told the Father about |
| and how I survived and how I am taking an extreme | | | | everything he brought in a Nun and they told me |
| tragedy and turning it into something spectacular. | | | | what my options were. I had to find shelter for that |
| This is a story of psychological terror brought on by | | | | night, somewhere where I would be safe, before I |
| the hands of my mother. I am the second oldest of | | | | even got to say a word Meg said she would take |
| 16 children and the stories I am about to describe | | | | me home with her that night. I was so scared at |
| relays what it was like to live under the terror and | | | | what was about to unfold before the both of us. We |
| reign of our mother. The abuse started about 35 | | | | ended up getting on the bus to get to her house in |
| years ago in 1970 and who knew there would be 16 | | | | Wauwatosa and she and I were embarking on our |
| direct victims and many other people affected by her | | | | first adventure. She laughed at me on the bus |
| manipulations when all was said and done. Hind sight is | | | | because as we left Pius and traveled through the |
| truly 20/20 and I think if things were handled | | | | town I remarked, "oh my gosh, the street signs are |
| differently with the 1987 felony child abuse charges in | | | | blue". I never knew that the street name signs were |
| Waukesha County, there wouldn't be this tale to tell | | | | any color other than green. We never left our little |
| today in 2005. | | | | area in New Berlin. That night Meg and her mom |
| There are two distinct time periods in this story: the | | | | welcomed me with open arms but the peace did not |
| 17 years prior to 1987 and the 18 years after 1987. | | | | last too long. My mother found out that I was at |
| Unfortunately for all us children involved, the story | | | | Meg's house and she camped out in her front yard |
| reads nearly the same with only the children involved | | | | and started yelling at the top of her lungs. The police |
| changing. You will find parallels in both sections that I | | | | were called and I sat upstairs crying and in complete |
| still can't believe today and I was part of the | | | | terror that she would take me back home. Meg and |
| situation from the beginning and a catalyst for this | | | | her mom did everything they possibly could to |
| coming to light. What you will see is a very large | | | | console me and they said that they knew someone |
| break in the system but above all, the master | | | | down the street and that they were going to get |
| manipulation that would rival the greatest minds. By | | | | me there. Poor Jane, Meg's sister, was left to endure |
| manipulating her children, the social workers, the | | | | mom's psychotic ranting and raving on the front lawn. |
| lawyers, the prosecutors, mom got off with nothing | | | | They just got a small taste of the life I was living |
| in 1987 when she was facing 18 counts of felony and | | | | everyday. I was snuck out the back door and we |
| misdemeanor child abuse charges, $180,000 in fines | | | | ran down the street like we were really in hiding |
| and 30 years in prison. Her ability to walk away from | | | | from the enemy. We ended up at that other house |
| that without a scar only enabled her psychotic | | | | where I made a very important phone call. I hadn't |
| manipulating mind and that allowed mom to abuse | | | | talked to my dad's family in probably a decade when |
| again without fear for the next 18 years. It is | | | | I called Uncle Butch and Aunt Judi in tears. I told them |
| heartbreaking to know and live with the fact that | | | | who I was and that I ran away from home could I |
| these actions have been addressed in the past and | | | | stay there for the night. I can't remember what else |
| she ended up inflicting the same thing on my | | | | I talked about but I ended up at their house where |
| brothers and sisters as soon as the Department of | | | | mom would never suspect my whereabouts. From |
| Social Services stepped out of the situation in the | | | | what I was told my mother stayed on Meg's front |
| late 80's. You often hear that history repeats itself, | | | | yard for most of the night. I can't remember |
| but I never would have imagined to be the exact | | | | reintroducing myself to my relatives but looking back, |
| same acts of manipulation, terror and intimidating | | | | I am so grateful that they opened that door for me. |
| abuse over such a long period of time. | | | | They have been suedo parents to me for the last 18 |
| September 14, 1987 - This is a day that I will never | | | | years and I just am in awe at their selfless acts of |
| forget, it was the day that I looked into my mothers | | | | kindness that night. As the next day started there |
| eyes and saw my own mortality. It was the day that | | | | would be no school for me. I got up and had |
| I wanted to give up trying and just pass away to | | | | breakfast like a normal person. I sat at the table and |
| the next world. This day, is engrained in so many of | | | | served myself a meal, something that I had not done |
| the kids minds that each one that witnessed it can | | | | in 17 years. Aunt Judi and Uncle Butch listened as I |
| tell you a story of psychological warfare, utter pain, | | | | poured out my life story at the breakfast table and |
| mental anguish, and overall defeat. This day was | | | | they told me some of the things that I never knew |
| worse than anything I have faced in 14 years in the | | | | about my extended family. Later that day, Father |
| military. This day was worse than anything I could | | | | Reiney came to get me. They worked through the |
| imagine, it was the day that my mother tried to kill | | | | night for an option that would save me. This was the |
| me and was the day that I saw the devil in her eyes. | | | | only option I had and ironically enough, mom's |
| So much of the last 17 years have built up to this | | | | escapades from the night before at Meg's house |
| moment and this day was merely the straw that | | | | were enough to get a restraining order. Fr. Reiney |
| broke the camels back. | | | | told me that they would take me to a home for |
| This day started like any other day in our house, but | | | | runaways called Pathfinders in Milwaukee and they |
| it ended being a day that changed our lives forever. | | | | would protect me for two weeks. I started to cry. I |
| After school that day I was walking to my | | | | just started to cry and couldn't stop. I think I said |
| babysitting job which was a couple of miles away. | | | | yes I would go and off we went. Fr. Reiney drove |
| One of the sneaky things I did as a teenager was to | | | | me there where I told them about the story of |
| switch my clothes and hair when I got to school. | | | | everything that happened in my home and then they |
| Mom always made me wear skirts and two pigtails in | | | | gave me another blow. They said that they could |
| my hair up until this day (I think she was reliving her | | | | only let me stay at Pathfinders if my parents gave |
| high school years through us) and I snuck a pair of | | | | permission. My world sank again, how could I escape? |
| pants to school and a brush. When I got there in the | | | | She would never give permission, I would be found |
| morning after being dropped off I would go to the | | | | out, I would be in the most trouble I have ever been |
| bathroom and switch out of my skirt and comb out | | | | in and I don't know what would happen. I told this to |
| my hair. Ted knew what I was doing but he never | | | | them, I told them every word that she would say to |
| said much, he knew the deal. Well I took my skirt | | | | make me out to be the liar and the evil one. Word |
| along with me when I was walking to the house I | | | | for word I described how the conversation would |
| was to baby-sit at but I was still wearing my pants. | | | | play out, I even shocked myself at the level of detail |
| Unbeknownst to me, my mother was following me in | | | | I provided. They called her on speaker phone, and |
| the car. She came up to me and found that I was | | | | word nearly for word it played out exactly how I |
| wearing a pair of pants and had my hair down and | | | | explained. Somehow, someway those administrators |
| not in pigtails which was one of her number one rules | | | | convinced her to let me stay. I was still in my dress, |
| I wasn't allowed to do. She shoved me in the car and | | | | she demanded it back. She demanded the clothes on |
| refused to let me continue to the job and she made | | | | my back, I borrowed some of theirs that were |
| me take off my pants in the car and she threw | | | | donated and they handed the dress over the next |
| them out the window. To this day I do not | | | | day. I don't remember where I slept that night, I |
| remember how Mr. Maloney found out I wasn't going | | | | don't remember much of anything except that was |
| to be working there anymore, I think I was in too | | | | the first time in 13 years I hadn't had to get up to go |
| much shock to remember that. She started to beat | | | | to cleaning. |
| me in the head, a 17 year old girl, in the car and | | | | March 23, 2004 - The day the kids were taken |
| saying things that I just can't write down on a piece | | | | away... again!! - Another day in the history of our |
| of paper without cringing. All I could do was cry to | | | | family that is difficult to forget. I received a call out |
| myself but knew it would be over soon, until she | | | | of the blue from my sister saying the four kids |
| stopped at the hair cutters. She said that since I | | | | whom I had never met or known before were taken |
| cared so much about my hair and that I wouldn't | | | | away from mom. Jeffery had turned them in for |
| wear the pigtails that she would have it cut off. She | | | | abuse. My jaw dropped down to the ground in |
| had my father take me in and say "cut it short" and | | | | disbelief but more of relief. I immediately went to |
| then they left me there to get it cut. I cried in the | | | | Annie's house and walked in and found the kids |
| chair the whole time and told the lady that mom was | | | | sleeping in the living room. I walked in and said "Hi, I |
| forcing this. She cried too and said she would try not | | | | am your sister Jennifer, boy I am glad to meet you |
| to cut it too much. My dad came back to pick me up | | | | guys!" Annie gave me a run down of what had |
| and he immediately looked at my hair and said "your | | | | happened. Much like myself at the very same age, |
| mother is going to be mad". I tensed because I knew | | | | Jeffery had enough. He knew that I was |
| what was coming. I got home and no sooner did I | | | | emancipated and made a legal adult at 17 and went |
| walk into the door that the bug eyes my mother is | | | | to his guidance counselor to see how he could do the |
| so famous for came out and she went straight for | | | | very same thing. From there, the police were |
| my hair. She was so mad she ran over to me and | | | | involved and they took the four children from school |
| started pounding on my head and my back. I | | | | and Annie took emergency custody of them. I spent |
| screamed in pain and disbelief and this went on for a | | | | that entire first day, just sitting with my brothers and |
| while. Then she got even more crazy, she made dad | | | | sister that I never knew and just talked. I found out |
| get the other two girls down from the room to | | | | who they were and allowed them to meet me and |
| watch what was about to happen to me. Mom | | | | know that I would be there for them. Over the |
| dragged me to the bathroom by my hair holding my | | | | course of the next few days, I became the |
| face up to the mirror and screaming profanities at | | | | permanent home for Nick and Jeffery. Charlie was |
| me. She took me by the neck with her forearm and | | | | diabetic and I could not care for him so he went to a |
| strung me up on the wall with my feet dangling. She | | | | foster home and Amber stayed with Annie. As you |
| had freakishly strong grips that you couldn't get out | | | | might imagine, these weeks became utter nightmares |
| of and she made the girls watch as she terrorized | | | | being brought to life all over again. Nick and Jeffery |
| me. I was screaming, the girls were screaming for | | | | were thrown into a home with a sister they never |
| her to stop but she wouldn't. She pushed on my | | | | met and I suddenly was responsible for four kids as |
| neck and put her face up to mine and simply yelled | | | | a single parent. My rules were strict and as the |
| at me "do you want me to kill you, do you want me | | | | emotions played out, Nick shut down on me. He left |
| to kill you now" and the only words that would come | | | | my custody after a few short weeks and went to |
| out of my mouth was "yes, yes, yes just kill me | | | | live with Ted for a few months before moving to a |
| now and get it over with". She dropped me and | | | | permanent foster home only a mile away from my |
| yelled at the girls to watch what would happen to | | | | house. Amber became too much for Annie and her |
| them if they ever disobeyed her and she took the | | | | five children so she came to live with me and through |
| knife and started chopping off my hair to the scalp. | | | | a barrage of emotional rollercoaster's and a stint at |
| Just chopped and chopped in her fit of rage and | | | | Elizabeth's house, Amber went to a loving foster |
| beating me to my knees. I drained of life in that very | | | | home, also just a couple of miles from my house. |
| moment. When she was done she sent us all to our | | | | Jeffery had a few rough spots but now lives in his |
| black prison cells of our rooms and the girls cried for | | | | own apartment after graduating High School and |
| me that night. I slumped down on the bottom bunk, | | | | loves it. As of today, the kids spend a lot of time at |
| curled to the fetal position and prayed to God that I | | | | my house to give the foster parents a break and |
| wouldn't wake up. | | | | they are thriving beyond belief. We are hoping mom |
| September 15, 1987 - the day I left home and never | | | | is held accountable for years to come so these last |
| looked back - After falling asleep in my locked black | | | | three can be given the best chance possible to |
| room in an endless pit of sorrow and despair, the | | | | succeed. |
| time came to go to cleaning. I was to continue on | | | | 27 July 2005 - Mom gets hard time - she is in prison |
| like nothing had happened. My dad called into my | | | | tonight! - Judge Dreyfuss was incredible, he not only |
| room to get up and get into the car to go to work. I | | | | allowed every child to make their victim impact |
| hadn't seen my hair myself yet because I had no | | | | statements, but said that it was critical as to the |
| access to mirrors after the assault. I felt my head | | | | character of Linda Stephens and her propensity to |
| not sure if what happened was a dream or if it really | | | | abuse again and to take advantage of her children. |
| happened. I cried, I just kept crying. She took the | | | | Each child got up there and gave their statement; |
| one thing from me that I adored, my long beautiful | | | | each child described how they are affected today |
| hair. I looked like a boy and to this day I can't bear | | | | because of what mom has put us through. Each child |
| to have short hair because of the memories | | | | spun their tale of manipulation, abuse and control that |
| associated with it. I sat in the car with my head on | | | | mom exuded over them and how they are affected |
| the window feeling lifeless and I had no ounce of | | | | today. Mom sat their stone faced without caring just |
| hope. I was done, I was finished, I wanted out of | | | | staring ahead with her jaw clenched. |
| my life. I continued on with cleaning, just working | | | | Then the judge said his piece and then he sentenced |
| through my silent tears unable to look at my father | | | | mom. He admonished her for her 35 years of |
| who allowed this to happen to me. How could he let | | | | manipulation and stated that she was brilliant in her |
| this happen to his daughter? After cleaning my | | | | schemes and manipulations. He stated that prison can |
| mother made me wear a wedding type dress to high | | | | either be a punishment or to protect society. Judge |
| school with my tattered hair. So there I was, 17 | | | | Dreyfuss stated that he didn't feel she was |
| years old, tattered hair in a fancy dress, most | | | | threatening society but the threat she posed to her |
| assuredly used to distract from my head. She | | | | own children were too great to not recognize. Judge |
| slapped me a few more times when she saw the | | | | Dreyfuss sentenced her to 3 years in prison with no |
| tears on my face and cut my hair so more, to even | | | | possibility of getting out early and then 8 years of |
| it out she said. I just stood there, emotionless, feeling | | | | extended supervision and probation. During those 8 |
| dead to the world. I got dropped off in front of | | | | years she would have to get a fulltime job (which |
| school, tears in my eyes as I was stared at walking | | | | she has never had) and pay back the people she has |
| through the halls. I walked to my homeroom and | | | | stolen from. She will not be allowed to have a credit |
| then walked right past it. I didn't know where I was | | | | debit card, credit/debit card numbers, a computer, |
| going but I wasn't going to class like this. I hid in the | | | | internet access or checking accounts due to the |
| sixth floor bathroom staring at my hair, I crawled | | | | extent of her fraud and financial crimes. The Judge |
| under the sink in the fetal position and just started to | | | | stated that she was to have no contact with the |
| cry. People came in and asked me what was wrong, | | | | minor children ever via any means until they reach |
| all I could say to them was, "go get Meg - I only | | | | the age of 18 (the youngest now is 13). She was |
| want Meg". Someone listened, someone got her. To | | | | instructed to have absolutely no contact with the |
| this day I don't know what I told her. I blocked so | | | | adult children in any fashion or form unless they |
| much of what happened. Someone gave me a | | | | wanted that contact and requested it and on their |
| bandana to put on my head and she took me to the | | | | terms. This is so important to all of us who want |
| chapel in the basement. She stayed with me all day - | | | | nothing to do with her. Today was our closure. |
| she is my hero, she saved me. She brought in Father | | | | |