TRR photo by Krista Gromalski Audrey places her hand on a T-shirt created through the Clothesline Project, a visual display bearing witness to the violence against women, men and children. Each shirt is decorated by a survivor or by someone who cares about the survivor. (Click for full story)

Breaking the chain
of abuse

[This is the first in a two-part series.]

By KRISTA GROMALSKI

MILFORD — Audrey, a survivor of ritual sexual and physical abuse, has only recently come to terms with the moon.

Her abuse, she said, “happened with the full moon and the changing of seasons.”

Ritual abuse is negative, evil, bizarre behavior, said Joan Korycki, head counselor at Survivors’ Resources in Milford. “It’s almost like a cult. There is a calendar of dates when certain abuse occurs. People in this cult-like atmosphere… take advantage of other people, mostly children, and use them as sexual objects.”

April has been designated as Sexual Abuse Awareness Month in Pike, Wayne and Sullivan Counties, and Audrey agreed to discuss her experience with The River Reporter. “If it helps one person, that’s my purpose,” she said.