I was told I could give a “Victim's Impact Statement” but when I sat down to decide what to say, I realized that I would need to speak for each victim separately.
First and Foremost is Coralrose Eve. She was a little imp. She loved Mulan and Dora the Explorer and knew all her Bracha (her Prayers). Passover was her favorite holiday. She enjoyed going to Hebrew school and wanted to be a meteorologist when she grew up. She was only 6 years old when Mr Murphy decided to use her undeveloped child's body for his own twisted sexual pleasure. In doing so she ended up gone from this earth. Because she is gone from this earth, she will never finish first grade, never learn to read, never learn her multiplication tables, never do a science project, never dissect the frogs she loved so much, never grow up to develop her own world view, to marry, to have children of her own. When Mr Murphy, and whoever else was involved, decided to brutally murder this child they not only murdered her but all the generations that were to be born from her. That is what was cut off from earth by his and their actions.
Next on the list are my other minor children, Aleena Faye, Ilon Marshall, September Louise, and especially Emerson Jacob. They not only lost a sister and play mate, but the ability to truly feel safe in their own home, their own skins. The trajectory of their lives forever altered by the actions of that man and his friends. Emerson, who was only four when Coralrose was so brutally raped and murdered, refused to go to first grade as he knew in his heart and soul that he too would die if went. After all that is what happened to first graders. He had seen it first hand. His sister went to first grade and she died. What else does a young child need to know? And remember the date September 17? not only is it the date of Coralrose's savage rape and murder-it is September Louise's birth date. How horrible for a child to share from age nine on her birthday with her sister's death by another's hand.
Third we have my older children, Seaton and Dahlia. They both suffer greatly from survivor guilt. Anger gives an energy that sadness lacks. But under that exterior of ire lies a heart shattered into a myriad of pieces. More pieces even than Humpty Dumpty himself. And there are no King's men available to put these young people's hearts together again. So they try to start their lives with such burdens. So unfair. Because of Mr Murphy and any others' actions. Not fair. Such a plaintive cry. And so unheard.
Fourth myself the mother, who went to sleep in one life and woke up in another. Truly Alice Through the Looking Glass. It was the last night I actually slept. Almost four years ago. After all if I do fall into a deep sleep like I did that night, I may lose another child. Bad things do happen. Mr Murphy proved that when he chose to make my six year old baby daughter's mouth the receptacle for his sperm. Bad things do happen. Even to innocent little children. Parents can never let their guards down. Neither the police, nor the courts, nor the prosecutors will protect your kids. You have to. And you have to protect them from everyone- even those who you should be able to trust-even those who would steal into your house sight unseen. You have to protect them always. Mr Murphy's friends are out there. And they still walk free.
Fifth are my parents, who have had to watch their daughter deal with the worst agony imaginable all the while handling their own grief and modifying their lives to help with the surviving children.
Let us not forget the Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Friends-both old and new- All deeply hurt by this man's actions and the actions of any others involved.
Even his own mother, who must live with the knowledge that the son she remembers as a sweet baby, a recalcitrant two year old, a precious four year old, raped and murdered an impish six year old. Truly my own heart aches for her. She too is a victim here.
But the list of victims must end. Those who would hurt children, our most vulnerable humans, must be locked away forever, not left out in public where they can gain access to more kids while living the good life. For rest assured they will hurt other children if they are not caught. And the victim list will grow. That is the saddest truth. The victim list will grow. It will grow. Wht kind of justice is that?