Tears of the Silenced: A True Crime and an American Tragedy; Severe Child Abuse and Leaving the Amish Paperback - 2014

From the publisher

A true crime and an American tragedy. Based on a former Amish woman's terrifying and courageous true life story.

When I was six years old my family started dressing and living like the Amish. My sister and I were subjected to some of the most severe forms of child abuse and kept in almost total isolation on a mountain ranch. Everyday was an endless cycle of sexual abuse, slavery and torture. We were not even allowed go to school.

At the age of 18 we were adopted into an Amish community.I was devastated to once again find myself in a world of fear, animal cruelty and sexual abuse.At night I often cried myself to sleep.I knew I could never leave the Amish, any baptized church member who left would certainly go to hell.There was no escape.

One fateful morning I was sexually assaulted by a bishop, I knew that contacting the authorities was forbidden.I was terrified and feared for my life.Should I take the outsiders advice and go to a battered woman's shelter? Could I gather the courage to contact the police?

After a series of terrifying events I found myself plunged into a strange modern world with no friends, no ID and only a second grade education; but that didn't hold me back. I have worked hard to achieve my dream of graduating from college.I am living proof that the cycle of abuse can be broken, if I can do it so can others.I sincerely hope that all child abuse and sexual assault survivors who read my life's story will be encouraged to never give up and always refuse to be silenced.I beg all of you out there to take up your torch and join the fight to end child abuse and sexual violence. If you suspect child abuse please call the anonymous child abuse hotline or the local authorities.You could be some child's last chance and their forever hero.

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