In 1985 and at the age of 13, Lavinia Masters was rudely awakened from her sleep by a
rapist who broke into her home. Due to the development of a cold case sexual assault
department and the advancement in DNA testing, Lavinia's rapist was identified 20 years
later. He was identified by utilizing the DNA samples taken the night of the assault
and had been in storage at the UT Southwest Medical University in Dallas. The DNA
samples were linked to a man who was already imprisoned for other unrelated sexual
assault crimes.
The identification of her rapist was a mind boggling experience for Lavinia. On the
night of the assault, her attacker held a sharp knife to her throat and threatened
that if she told anyone what had happened....that he would come back to kill her.
So for 21 years, Lavinia has longed for closure that seemed to take an eternity.
However, rather than feel sorry for herself and not do anything, Lavinia poured herself
into writing, recording her feelings into notebooks and writing poetry, some of which
is published in her first book entitled, "Breathe Again".
Excerpt
My true and only desire is that the healing begins
from your assault and that you understand that your assault was not your fault
but that you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. As a matter of fact your
attacker should be ashamed that they would have to prey on the innocent and
unwilling to satisfy their own selfish desires. I pray that you begin to pick up
the pieces in your life and that you realize you too have a purpose and should
never give up on your dreams.
To empower yourself, you must first realize that the power lies within your true
self and it is up to you to use your resources and inner strengths to access
that empowerment. My breakthrough came through my faith in God and perseverance
and it was not until then that I realized that I am no longer that frightened
little girl that was raped at thirteen, I am now a strong and brave woman of
faith and know that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.
Therefore, I say unto you, wheresoever these pages shall be read, throughout the
entire world, that there will be this, of how a young girl was victimized in her
a youth but overcame as a woman; and that it not only be shared and read as a
memory of me but as tool for other survivors of rape so that they can share and
know that they too can overcome and become empowered after rape.
In 1985 and at the age of 13, Lavinia Masters was rudely awakened from her sleep by a
rapist who broke into her home. Due to the development of a cold case sexual assault
department and the advancement in DNA testing, Lavinia's rapist was identified 20 years
later. He was identified by utilizing the DNA samples taken the night of the assault
and had been in storage at the UT Southwest Medical University in Dallas. The DNA
samples were linked to a man who was already imprisoned for other unrelated sexual
assault crimes.
The identification of her rapist was a mind boggling experience for Lavinia. On the
night of the assault, her attacker held a sharp knife to her throat and threatened
that if she told anyone what had happened....that he would come back to kill her.
So for 21 years, Lavinia has longed for closure that seemed to take an eternity.
However, rather than feel sorry for herself and not do anything, Lavinia poured herself
into writing, recording her feelings into notebooks and writing poetry, some of which
is published in her first book entitled, "Breathe Again".