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One Voice Raised: A Triumph Over Rape
2013 ELit Bronze Medal Winner-True Crime One Voice A Triumph Over Rape At 3:15 am on the morning of August 21, 1988, an unknown assailant climbed onto the 2nd floor balcony of my home and entered through a sliding glass door. He crept through the house and down the stairs. He entered my ground floor bedroom and hid in the shadows. When I came into my bedroom from the bathroom, he grabbed me and locked me in a bear-hug. I felt something being wound tightly around my neck and something was being stuffed into my mouth. I couldn't breathe. I never saw the face of the man who assaulted and raped me that night. I never believed he would be caught. I spent 20 years wondering who he was, how many other women he had raped and when he would strike again. If not for the dogged determination of Chief Investigator David Cordle, of Anne Arundel County, in Annapolis, Md, my case would never have been solved. With the help of a grant from the government to re-test cold case evidence and the advances of forensic science, a suspect was found and arrested in November of 2009. Beginning in 2010, after my case went to trial, Dave Cordle and I began sharing this story in the book we wrote- One Voice Raised, A Triumph Over Rape. We have been invited to speak at many conferences, schools, police departments and awareness organizations in the United States and Canada. My message is one of hope; hope for survivors and their families to believe in their strength and the goodness of others. There is no doubt that being raped changed my life. Having my case solved and finally seeing the face of my attacker in the courtroom was extremely empowering for me. Hearing the "Guilty" verdicts on January 13, 2010 helped me to realize I am much stronger than I give myself credit for. In our presentations, I speak about my experience as a rape victim and the years of rebuilding my life and how I found a way to make the passage from thinking of myself as a victim of rape to calling myself a survivor. Dave Cordle illuminates the process of assembling the puzzle pieces that led to the arrest and prosecution of one of his longest open cases. ------------------------------------------- Since publication of One Voice Raised, 2 more victims have been linked through DNA to serial rapist, William Joseph Trice. *May 31, 1987 in Montgomery County, Maryland. *August, 1988 in Silver Springs, Maryland "It brings peace of mind to Trice's victims to know their attacker has been caught and convicted. The importance of entering cold-case evidence into the national data-base can not be stressed enough."
- GenresBiography Memoir
528 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 22, 2017
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I have just finished reading it, and I am writing this review immediately so that my impressions are still fresh.
To begin with, the story is gripping, and is grippingly told for the most part. Yes, sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction.
To continue, the book could do with some serious editing. There is a floor map of the scene of the crime, and descriptions in the text of points A, B, C and so on. However, the floor map is not labeled to show where points A, B, C, etc., are located.
There are strange bits of additional text which are obviously mistakes that occurred somewhere in the process of writing and converting the book for Kindle publication, but were not edited out later.
Examples:
needed to be stopped. I suspected he *[...] [...] ncvc/ main.aspx?dbName = DocumentViewer& Document ID = 32369 had raped before, and I believed he was going to
and, again,
comment. I couldn't help but wonder if this was the woman I had mouthed, "Thank you!" to just a couple days ago. woman I had mouthed, "Thank you!" to just a couple days ago. 01-21 15: 29: 14
I also found that the book tended to ramble quite a bit, with lengthy descriptive passages that tend to get on your nerves a little bit, because otherwise the book is hard to put down. These passages have made the book much longer and less crisp than it could otherwise have been.
Summary: All said and done, definitely worth a read.
To begin with, the story is gripping, and is grippingly told for the most part. Yes, sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction.
To continue, the book could do with some serious editing. There is a floor map of the scene of the crime, and descriptions in the text of points A, B, C and so on. However, the floor map is not labeled to show where points A, B, C, etc., are located.
There are strange bits of additional text which are obviously mistakes that occurred somewhere in the process of writing and converting the book for Kindle publication, but were not edited out later.
Examples:
needed to be stopped. I suspected he *[...] [...] ncvc/ main.aspx?dbName = DocumentViewer& Document ID = 32369 had raped before, and I believed he was going to
and, again,
comment. I couldn't help but wonder if this was the woman I had mouthed, "Thank you!" to just a couple days ago. woman I had mouthed, "Thank you!" to just a couple days ago. 01-21 15: 29: 14
I also found that the book tended to ramble quite a bit, with lengthy descriptive passages that tend to get on your nerves a little bit, because otherwise the book is hard to put down. These passages have made the book much longer and less crisp than it could otherwise have been.
Summary: All said and done, definitely worth a read.
May 12, 2013
My wife lent this to me to read because it is a local story and one of our police officer friends was involved in the case. The book gives a first person account of how Jennifer Wheatley survived a brutal rape, and rebuilt her life, even as the case went cold for 20 years, and then what its like to finally make it to trial and experience our justice system for real, not just like in movies or tv.
June 24, 2013
There are so many things in this world, important things, that nobody likes to talk about. It is uncomfortable, awkward, an unpleasant experience by any count. Does that mean that we shouldn’t talk about them? Do we really think that silence is capable of erasing truth? No. And no. Einstein once said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Isn’t that exactly the case with rape? Haven’t men been violating women since the dawn of time? Haven’t the victims been shamed into silence, made to feel like they “asked for it” with their behavior or style of dress? One in four women report rape or other sexual offenses because they are afraid of what other people will think of them, of the retribution that defense lawyers, the general public, their friends and family, even strangers, will direct at them. This isn’t right. It’s time to turn the tables. It’s time for women to stand up and say “There is no excuse for what you did to me. You had no right. I have every right to demand justice.” Jennifer Wheatley-Wolf stood up and demanded that right.
In the early morning of August 21, 1988, an unidentified man attacked Jennifer Wheatley in what she thought of as the “safety” of her own home. He wrapped something around her throat, forced back her head, and shoved a gag into her mouth, dislocating her jaw in the process. Finally releasing his hold on her neck, he proceeded to rape her, never once allowing him to see her face. He left very few clues to his identity, which made it seem as though he had done it before. But he left his DNA inside her, and two fingerprints on a candle by her bed. In 1988, technology wasn’t advanced enough for these two vital pieces of evidence to be of much help. She had never seen her assailant’s face. The detective in charge mishandled the evidence, causing much of it to be lost, and 20 years later, couldn’t even recall the case. With every good reason to believe that her attacker would never be caught, Jennifer could have given up. She didn’t. Neither did the man who picked up her case, Chief Investigator David H. Cordle, Sr. Together, with the goal of both bringing her rapist to justice as well as preventing him from hurting other women, they worked tirelessly to bring his identity into light and make him pay for what he did. It took 20 years, many false starts and disappointed hopes, but William Joseph Trice was finally found, brought in front of a jury and convicted guilty of 1st and 2nd Degree Rape, 1st and 2nd Degree Sexual Offense, and Burglary.
Although bringing Trice to justice was victory enough, Jennifer Wheatley went even further. She wrote a book, hoping that other women would read it, maybe even other women who had been victims of sexual assault, and understand that they were powerful. The book is written in the style of a testimonial, with occasional, more official, chapters written by the Chief Investigator, David Cordle. She talks about her experiences, the assault, and her recovery and reclamation of self, with a candor and honesty that is striking and powerful. In the case of most books, from a literature major’s perspective at least, we look at the prose, the diction, the syntax. We get caught up in the style and the characters, the conflict, the climax. But sometimes, all that stuff isn’t what matters. This is one of those times. What’s important here is the message. In a world where the criminals often walk free and the victims never find their voice, this book is a beacon of hope.
The most moving part of the book to me are the last two chapters, in which Jennifer gives her thoughts on how the world views rape, and then in her Victim’s Impact Statement. She speaks about the importance of giving rape victims their voices back after their assailants essentially stripped them of their identities as they knew them. “By giving her a voice, we also give her power. The very act of empowering a person who has suffered a sexual assault removes the social isolation felt by this person” (506). That’s what rape is all about: Power. Who has it. In this crime, the rapist gets part of his pleasure from stripping the victim of her power, of asserting his power over her to make her submit to him. By reporting the crime, by seeing the investigation through to the conviction, and by speaking out, the victim regains the power stolen from her. That is what Jennifer Wheatley achieved in writing this book.
Lastly, on the day when Trice was supposed to be given his sentence, Jennifer would have had the opportunity to read him her Victim’s Impact Statement, and therefore take the last step in the reclamation of her self. Unfortunately, William Joseph Trice committed suicide after his conviction, after having spent only six days in prison. However, she did get the chance to give her statement to the world by including it as one of the last chapters of her book. I just want to include some of her most moving statements as a close to this entry.
“I made the decision–in spite of what you did to me–and because of you–because of what you did to me–to focus on things in life that brought light to the dark and frightening memories. My obsession with painting, quilting, and photography is my way of keeping my life in the light, despite the fact that you made me afraid of the dark” (511).
And finally, I see this last quote as the most important lesson of the book. As a victim of rape, it’s hard to remember that the crime isn’t who you are, it’s who the rapist is. It doesn’t define you. It changes you, but it doesn’t define you.
I am an Artist.
That is my legacy.
You are a rapist. That is how the world will remember you.
I just want to congratulate Jennifer on the strength and perseverance of will that she displayed in writing this book, of sharing her pain with the world, of putting the shame of this crime where it belongs. I am proud that you are a part of my family, though I was born the year this happened to you, and we’ve never met, that I remember. You are the kind of woman that women should aspire to be. Thank you for sharing your strength.
For more book reviews (err... book musings?) visit my blog For Love and Allegory at http://www.forloveandallegory.wordpre...
In the early morning of August 21, 1988, an unidentified man attacked Jennifer Wheatley in what she thought of as the “safety” of her own home. He wrapped something around her throat, forced back her head, and shoved a gag into her mouth, dislocating her jaw in the process. Finally releasing his hold on her neck, he proceeded to rape her, never once allowing him to see her face. He left very few clues to his identity, which made it seem as though he had done it before. But he left his DNA inside her, and two fingerprints on a candle by her bed. In 1988, technology wasn’t advanced enough for these two vital pieces of evidence to be of much help. She had never seen her assailant’s face. The detective in charge mishandled the evidence, causing much of it to be lost, and 20 years later, couldn’t even recall the case. With every good reason to believe that her attacker would never be caught, Jennifer could have given up. She didn’t. Neither did the man who picked up her case, Chief Investigator David H. Cordle, Sr. Together, with the goal of both bringing her rapist to justice as well as preventing him from hurting other women, they worked tirelessly to bring his identity into light and make him pay for what he did. It took 20 years, many false starts and disappointed hopes, but William Joseph Trice was finally found, brought in front of a jury and convicted guilty of 1st and 2nd Degree Rape, 1st and 2nd Degree Sexual Offense, and Burglary.
Although bringing Trice to justice was victory enough, Jennifer Wheatley went even further. She wrote a book, hoping that other women would read it, maybe even other women who had been victims of sexual assault, and understand that they were powerful. The book is written in the style of a testimonial, with occasional, more official, chapters written by the Chief Investigator, David Cordle. She talks about her experiences, the assault, and her recovery and reclamation of self, with a candor and honesty that is striking and powerful. In the case of most books, from a literature major’s perspective at least, we look at the prose, the diction, the syntax. We get caught up in the style and the characters, the conflict, the climax. But sometimes, all that stuff isn’t what matters. This is one of those times. What’s important here is the message. In a world where the criminals often walk free and the victims never find their voice, this book is a beacon of hope.
The most moving part of the book to me are the last two chapters, in which Jennifer gives her thoughts on how the world views rape, and then in her Victim’s Impact Statement. She speaks about the importance of giving rape victims their voices back after their assailants essentially stripped them of their identities as they knew them. “By giving her a voice, we also give her power. The very act of empowering a person who has suffered a sexual assault removes the social isolation felt by this person” (506). That’s what rape is all about: Power. Who has it. In this crime, the rapist gets part of his pleasure from stripping the victim of her power, of asserting his power over her to make her submit to him. By reporting the crime, by seeing the investigation through to the conviction, and by speaking out, the victim regains the power stolen from her. That is what Jennifer Wheatley achieved in writing this book.
Lastly, on the day when Trice was supposed to be given his sentence, Jennifer would have had the opportunity to read him her Victim’s Impact Statement, and therefore take the last step in the reclamation of her self. Unfortunately, William Joseph Trice committed suicide after his conviction, after having spent only six days in prison. However, she did get the chance to give her statement to the world by including it as one of the last chapters of her book. I just want to include some of her most moving statements as a close to this entry.
“I made the decision–in spite of what you did to me–and because of you–because of what you did to me–to focus on things in life that brought light to the dark and frightening memories. My obsession with painting, quilting, and photography is my way of keeping my life in the light, despite the fact that you made me afraid of the dark” (511).
And finally, I see this last quote as the most important lesson of the book. As a victim of rape, it’s hard to remember that the crime isn’t who you are, it’s who the rapist is. It doesn’t define you. It changes you, but it doesn’t define you.
I am an Artist.
That is my legacy.
You are a rapist. That is how the world will remember you.
I just want to congratulate Jennifer on the strength and perseverance of will that she displayed in writing this book, of sharing her pain with the world, of putting the shame of this crime where it belongs. I am proud that you are a part of my family, though I was born the year this happened to you, and we’ve never met, that I remember. You are the kind of woman that women should aspire to be. Thank you for sharing your strength.
For more book reviews (err... book musings?) visit my blog For Love and Allegory at http://www.forloveandallegory.wordpre...
June 17, 2014
A great, great shame. I really wanted to read this but thanks to formatting errors I've deleted it after having only got through 20%.
The word restaurant was misspelled, the photos and diagrams were missing from the Kindle version and most aggravating of all were random chapter headings just plonked into the text !! THAT occurred 5 times before I'd had enough.
Such a pity as I liked Jennifer and really wanted to know how she went along. Let's hope a revised edition is released at some point in the future. One passage she wrote about her friends I thought was lovely-she did have some special friends too. "I believe we have been friends forever, through the ages, and we find each other in each new lifetime"........
** June 24th 2013-This author has kindly been in touch with me and posted me her book in a paperback version. So I'll be updating my review very soon. That was a very kind thing to have done and shows she cares about how her book is presented. Good for her.
**June 17th 2014-I have finally finished this book as I now have a job. While being at home all the time it was easier to read using my Kindle so I've not got back to the printed word at all. But working now I can read a proper book in my car lunchtimes while smoking !! I will write to the author and apologise !!
I actually cheered at the end......I was hoping to read Jennifer's impact statement as it was mentioned a lot and as I neared the end I was worried she'd not have included it but she did and it was just terrific, especially the final 2 lines. Hard-hitting stuff. Good on her. I'm pleased she has done so well in life in spite of her rape. With many women I guess it could pretty much finish things off for them but Jennifer flourished with the love of a great man and some really special friends and family. Plus Dave Cordle, the cop who never gave up.
So I'd recommend the book for sure. And Jennifer is SUCH a nice person as well.
The word restaurant was misspelled, the photos and diagrams were missing from the Kindle version and most aggravating of all were random chapter headings just plonked into the text !! THAT occurred 5 times before I'd had enough.
Such a pity as I liked Jennifer and really wanted to know how she went along. Let's hope a revised edition is released at some point in the future. One passage she wrote about her friends I thought was lovely-she did have some special friends too. "I believe we have been friends forever, through the ages, and we find each other in each new lifetime"........
** June 24th 2013-This author has kindly been in touch with me and posted me her book in a paperback version. So I'll be updating my review very soon. That was a very kind thing to have done and shows she cares about how her book is presented. Good for her.
**June 17th 2014-I have finally finished this book as I now have a job. While being at home all the time it was easier to read using my Kindle so I've not got back to the printed word at all. But working now I can read a proper book in my car lunchtimes while smoking !! I will write to the author and apologise !!
I actually cheered at the end......I was hoping to read Jennifer's impact statement as it was mentioned a lot and as I neared the end I was worried she'd not have included it but she did and it was just terrific, especially the final 2 lines. Hard-hitting stuff. Good on her. I'm pleased she has done so well in life in spite of her rape. With many women I guess it could pretty much finish things off for them but Jennifer flourished with the love of a great man and some really special friends and family. Plus Dave Cordle, the cop who never gave up.
So I'd recommend the book for sure. And Jennifer is SUCH a nice person as well.
April 15, 2013
Kudos for Jennifer writing about her experience. I realize this was probably cathartic for her, however, by the time I finished the book I had read the account of the rape 3 or 4 times. I feel horrible saying that it felt redundant. Someone who has a real interest in law and court proceedings may be interested in this work, since Jennifer includes almost complete transcripts from multiple witnesses from the trial.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews