Domestic Abuse Survivor Shares Her Story
A guest speaker at the 25th annual Domestic Abuse Awareness Luncheon in Alexandria shared her personal story of survival and becoming a criminal prosecutor.
The event, presented by UCAN (United Communities Advocating Non-Violence), featured Rhonda Martinson, a survivor of domestic violence who later became a prosecutor in Wisconsin.
Martinson's story began when she met a man in a bar at the age of 18, just after graduating from high school. The man had recently returned from military service, and they married a few months later.
"I know it sounds foolish, but as I said, I was a shy girl very impressed with the whole situation,"
she said, reflecting on her past. Martinson's background was not marked by abuse, with her father being a sheriff's investigator and her mother a teacher.
The event highlighted the importance of a coordinated community response in making a difference in domestic abuse cases.
Author's summary: A domestic abuse survivor shares her story of becoming a prosecutor.