Victims given voice during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
U.S. Assistant Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney, Chief of Civil Rights, Exploitation and Corruption spoke to the crowd gathered at Washington High School Thursday night during National Crime Victims Rights Week.
Lisa Gregg becomes emotional as a video of her talking about her son, Dillon Gregg, who died in a car accident, was shown during a program held at Washington High School Thursday evening as part of National Crime Victim’s Rights Week
There is never just one victim of a crime. That’s what Betsy Dane, director of the Washington County District Attorney’s Office of Victims Services, attempted to convey to a group of 30 people Thursday during the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week presentation at Washington High School.
National Crime Victims’ Right Week started Sunday and ends today. This year’s theme, “Engaging Communities, Empowering Victims,” focused on connecting communities and neighborhoods to educate individuals about the assistance and support Victims’ Services provides. Members of Victims’ Service, working in conjunction with Mystro’s Movement and CommUNITY, visited Jollick Manor, Lincoln Terrace and Maple Terrace to answer questions and distribute goodies.
Thursday’s event was the culmination of the week’s activities that included guest speaker U.S. Assistant Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney and a moving, 30-minute video featuring community members who were victims of a violent crime or lost a loved one to violent crime.
“The videos were powerful,” Dane said. The sound of muffled cries echoed throughout the high school’s gym as the video played.
Seven individuals who appeared in the video were present to answer questions about their personal ordeals and how Victims’ Services assisted them. Among the panel was Curtis Thompson, whose 10-year-old daughter, Ta’Niyah Thomas, was murdered last March during a home invasion in Washington. Mark and John Kelley, brothers of Vinnie Kelley, who was killed in June 2013 while attempting to stop a bank robbery in the parking lot of Giant Eagle in Strabane Square, South Strabane Township, were also in attendance.
“You’ve got to take things one day at a time,” Mark said about violently losing a loved one. “It’s a process. You’ve got to keep working at it.”
The Kelley’s said the loss of Vinnie victimized their family and the community.
“You have to come together and support victims of violent crimes,” Suzanne Kelley, Vinnie’s sister-in-law, said.
Kim Furmanek, whose mother, Rhonda Furmanek was brutally murdered December 1994, said it’s important for victims to know what rights they are afforded in the aftermath of a crime and that they aren’t alone.
“It is therapeutic, talking about it,” she said of her mother’s murder. “This is how I deal with it.”
Trey Willis, who attended the presentation to show support, said Thursday’s event changed the way he views victims.
“The videos were moving,” he said. “Just seeing and hearing their personal stories made me see violent crimes in a new light. Without an outlet, victims will go insane.”
For additional information about victims’ rights and services in Washington County, call Dane at 724-229-5922.