Victim of Torture

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1114925--man-brutally-tortured-by-his-wife-and-her-boyfriend-in-toronto-apartment

A man was tortured for months in a Toronto apartment shared with his wife - and her boyfriend. He stayed quiet because he didn't want to get them into trouble. Neighbours became suspicious and notified the police.

The link above details the entire story.

So, what is the impact of the story?

“I don’t want to get them in trouble,” the victim said to the police officer that rescued him.

It’s not just this specific victim that thinks like this. Less than five per cent of sexual assaults are reported to authorities. Many children stay quiet when their parents abuse them. Victims of bullies also have a fear of speaking out. People often stay in abusive relationships for a long time before walking away.
Why do victims stay quiet? Perhaps the qualities that make them quiet are the same qualities that make them an easy target - they are pushovers, they are shy, they have low-self esteem.

The sad part is that the more they are abused, the lower their self esteem, and the more guilty they feel for “angering” their bully/parent/spouse, and the more quiet they stay. The cycle repeats until it is broken.


This is a very extreme case of such a cycle, but it happens all the time. Victims of such touchy crimes often blame themselves. It’s hard to help a victim when they don’t say anything, so it’s useful to understand “signs” of someone in this situation.

Neighbours of this specific victim had all the signs. They saw the bruises on the victim and on Siscoe’s hands. If Siscoe didn’t show the victim to that lady, how much longer would the victim endure the torture?

Perhaps this extreme case will get people thinking more about how important it is to step in if you suspect something. Perhaps this case will help current victims to come forward. This isn’t just a news story - it’s a message