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Silent no more: victim speaks to raise awareness

Alex Wilson
Posted 3/28/18

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – In 2006, a University of North Florida student held a young woman at gunpoint and raped her for hours, brutally violating both her body and her mind.

Following the traumatic …

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Silent no more: victim speaks to raise awareness


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – In 2006, a University of North Florida student held a young woman at gunpoint and raped her for hours, brutally violating both her body and her mind.

Following the traumatic event, the woman suffered immensely. Once an honors student, studying to become an orthopedic surgeon, she began to fail her classes. She went into a spiral and eventually refused to even return to campus.

She began to partake in high risk behaviors, isolating herself from those who loved her. It would be 8 years before the woman told a single soul, and even longer before she truly began to recover.

These days, Middleburg resident Patricia Koons is more outspoken about the trauma of the rape, and the problems it caused in her life. On March 26, Koons presented her story as part of a press conference at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, thanked those who helped herself and others in her time of need.

“Today, I want to personally thank the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney and Quigley House for their efforts in bringing awareness to sexual assault,” said Koons.

The press conference served as the CCSO’s observance of April as Sexual Assault Awareness month. Representatives from various organizations attended the event, including a large contingent of representatives from Quigley House, Clay County’s sexual assault and domestic abuse center. As part of the conference, Sheriff Darryl Daniels presented a $5,000 check to Ellen Siler, interim chief executive officer of Quigley House.

“[I want to thank] the Quigley House and all the folks on the protective custody teams, who do what they do to ensure that the victims of these heinous crimes are provided the services they need,” said Daniels.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson, who also attended, pointed out the importance of survivors telling their stories at events such as the press conference.

“A survivor actually gives voice to the issue,” said Nelson.

Siler agreed, explaining that testimony from survivors, as well as coverage of the topic, could help a number of others who have yet to come forward and face the pain of abuse or reach out for help.

“The reality is, every time there is any kind of press on sexual assault, someone is going to call the hotline. For someone, this is going to help them trust going forward, especially when they hear from another survivor who’s been through it,” Siler said.

Koons concluded her story with a hopeful note, explaining how her life has turned around after assistance from Quigley House.

“I am a mere 6 months away from graduating with my associates in nursing. I’m also now engaged to my beautiful fiancé, we have our own home and we’ll be getting married the week after I finish nursing school,” said Koons. “We plan to start a family within a few years.”