Miss Washington Led a 'Double Life' of Domestic Violence

Miss Washington led a 'double life' of domestic violence- it can happen to anyone
May 28, 4:38 PM

Former Miss Washington, Elyse Umemoto, has recently revealed that she was in an abusive relationship during her year representing the state. Two weeks after the Yakima-native finished in the top three of the 2008 Miss America pageant, she was brutally assaulted by her boyfriend and left bruised and battered. It was part of a pattern of abuse in the relationship that had started in 2007. She hid the violence during her reign, living what she called a "double life".

Now, Umemoto has come forward to tell her story to help other women. "If this can happen to me - I was almost Miss America - nobody's exempt," she told the Seattle Times.

The pageant winner continued her work as Miss Washington, all while dealing with the justice system. Umemoto filed charges against her boyfriend, and he was ultimately sentenced to 240 hours of community service and two years probation. Today, she is speaking publically about the abuse because she wants other women and teens to know they are not alone and can seek out help.

Domestic abuse is a difficult issue, and it is courageous of Umemoto to speak out about her experiences. When the public became fixated on the domestic abuse of singer Rihanna by her boyfriend, Chris Brown, another singer, it showed how little sympathy victims get. Many blamed Rihanna for the abuse, accusing her of trying to damage Brown's career. Perhaps most disturbing, many teen girls felt Rihanna had deserved what had happened to her.

It is critical that we talk to teens- both girls and boys- about the realities of abusive relationships. They need to understand it is not acceptable to hit or abuse your partner. If your partner is abusing you, you have the right to get help. No one don't deserves the abuse. Most important, teens need to know that they will be believed and respected if they ask for help, even when they feel ashamed. It doesn't take a lot, but it can do so much to protect our kids.

Source: Seattle Times

Domestic violence: Legislation requiring automatic arrest of parolees goes to governor

By Angela Rozas | Tribune reporter

May 15, 2009

Parolees accused of domestic violence would be automatically arrested for violating their parole under a measure sent to Gov. Pat Quinn Thursday.
The bill comes a little more than a year after a woman was killed in Chicago by a former boyfriend on parole for murder. Mersaides McCauley, 22, was shot to death by Glen Martinez five months after he was arrested for attacking her and a parole officer declined to push to revoke his parole and he was freed.
Under current state law, arrest warrants must be issued only if parolees commit felonies with a knife or firearm or don't register as sex offenders. In all other cases, arrest warrants for parole violations are issued at the state's discretion and decided on a case-by-case basis. The new law would take away that discretion for domestic violence crimes.
The measure would also double the mandatory supervised release term for a number of domestic violence crimes to four years from two. Also, the bill would require 40 hours of domestic violence training for all parole officers handling more...Domestic violence: Legislation requiring automatic arrest of parolees goes to governor -- chicagotribune.com

Orlando police seeking person of interest in attempted rape

Look at this picture, if you have any information please call the number listed at the bottom of the article.
Orlando police are looking for this person of interest in the kidnapping and attempted rape of a girl, 16. (Orlando Police Department / May 18, 2009)

Orlando police released a photograph Monday evening of a person of interest in the case of the kidnapping and attempted rape of a 16-year-old girl.
The teen was attacked about 5:15 a.m. Sunday in Orlando's Englewood neighborhood. The attacker followed her to a Dunkin' Donuts at 1131 S. Semoran Blvd. then eastbound on nearby La Costa Drive, police spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones said. He then grabbed her and took her against her will to the Englewood Neighborhood Center, where he tried to rape her.
The attacker was armed with a pocket knife. The victim was not seriously injured, Jones said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Orlando police or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.  Original Article here:  Orlando police seeking person of interest in attempted rape -- OrlandoSentinel.com