Domestic violence survivor to speak at Blackhawk Technical College
JANESVILLE — Her story is unthinkable.
But she goes on stage time after time to tell it in the hopes that nobody else has to go through what she did.
Domestic violence survivor Teri Jendusa Nicolai will speak Thursday at Blackhawk Technical College’s central and Monroe campuses. The Janesville presentation will take place at noon in the North Commons. The Monroe presentation will take place at 6:30 p.m. The events are free and open to the public.
In January 2004, Jendusa Nicolai’s ex-husband abducted her, beat her and sealed her in a snow-filled garbage can in an unheated storage unit. He had attacked her with a baseball bat when she picked up their children from his home.
As a result of the incident, Jendusa Nicolai miscarried a baby and lost all her toes. The incident took place exactly three years after Jendusa Nicolai and David M. Larsen were divorced.
In August 2005, Larsen was found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide and was sentenced to 35 years in prison and 20 years of extended supervision.
This summer, a Racine County judge awarded Jendusa Nicolai $3 million in a civil case against Larson.
While most divorces do not end in such violence, Jendusa Nicolai wants to spread the message that victims of domestic abuse need to seek help, the Racine Journal Times reported.
IF YOU GO
What: Domestic abuse survivor Teri Jendusa Nicolai will share her story with the hope she can help others avoid abuse.
Janesville presentation: Noon Thursday at the Blackhawk Technical College Central Campus, 6004 S. County G, Janesville, in the North Commons.
Monroe presentation: 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Monroe Campus, 210 N. 4th Ave., Monroe.
Details: The event is free, open to the public and sponsored by the BTC Student Network of Programming and Activities and Monroe Student Activities. For more information, contact Stephanie Hewitt, Student Life Coordinator, at (608) 757-7702 or shewitt1@blackhawk.edu.
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:54 a.m.
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clouds~ You are a very angry person. I think this woman should go to every high school and middle school in the town. Kids need to hear these things too. If their is an abuser at their home and they are not saying anything. Maybe it will get themm to say something. I watched my mom go through two abusive relationships. The second one was more verbal and emotional then physical. It went on for years probably close to ten. Finally she got out. But everytime there is a loud noise or a car door slams, we all jump and look around. I am very careful when I go outside at night. I turn on every possible light. When moms/dads get abused by their spouse even though they think the child is not being exposed to it, THEY ARE!!! But thanks to my mom's bad relationship I was able to notice my relationship going in that direction before it got too bad and I got out.
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:24 a.m.
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Wow, "Clouds".....Where to begin with you?.....I assume you are a student at BTC, which I am not. However, they do have a criminal justice program, a nursing program, probably a child care program, all of which clearly fall under the definition of "technical". So, here's the quiz.....How would any of those degree programs directly relate to a speaker on domestic violence? Can you draw any parallels? Get back to me....
Oct 8, 2008 at 7:56 a.m.
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violence is a horid thing. I understand a man was jumped outside TASBAG a couple days ago by "30 foriegn guys" The man was at Mercy, punctured lung, broken rib, no story in the Gazette, the police had done nothing . . . . sad
Oct 7, 2008 at 9:11 p.m.
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We must Understand there is a lot of cruellty out there. I have also been in an dangerous abusive marriage. I said "Never Again" and left. However, after more than 26 years I'm still looking over my shoulder.
I can tell you right now that if the abuser wants to hurt you they will. WHY? Because they have lost their control and power. Just look at the amout of murder/suicides lately.
AND IF you have a restraining order SO WHAT.
Oct 7, 2008 at 8:33 p.m.
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I was abused by two husbands and two of my sons, and was at shelter houses four times; my last experience was at age 44 with a one year old baby and an 11 year old son, a smashed hip and nothing to take with me when I left. I hid my injuries, and I got help from social services to start over. As a woman very much abused, neglected and isolated for years, I know beyond a doubt, we as women allow ourselves to become imprisoned in our mind to this person who is base, vile and we allow them to take our very identity away from us. No matter what anyone has said over the years, I knew if I did not get us away from him, we would all be killed. Whether or not he should have been put in prison, I just wanted to get as far away as possible. He never hurt me again and I knew when the danger existed to escape and yes,, ,not to go back. Every form of abuse has happened to me, but I do not think for one moment it should even be called domestic abuse. I stood up to him by escaping and never allowing my children to be exposed to violence. I used to speak at shelters to young women, and the one thing I told them, is to have enough self respect that you stop thinking you need this person in your life, and that your children need to know them...maybe if my sons had not known him, two of them would not have hurt me. Call it a circle of violence or call it stupidity, once, ok, twice get out, three times,,, you are the stupid one. Four times, and I am lucky I survived... criminal acts dont have a gender since women are now abusing men and we have no shelter for the husband and children right now. Try to remember, we allow it to happen because we want to keep the famliy together. Get out and get to a safe place and never allow yourself to be put in a unsafe position again.
Oct 7, 2008 at 7:21 p.m.
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Break down the definition....
DOMESTIC= A relationship between a husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, parent/child,siblings, any two adults that ever lived together, and any two adults that have a child together.
VIOLENCE= I would submit that all elements of the definition of "violence" have been met in this example.
Hence..........DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Oct 7, 2008 at 2:46 p.m.
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Rather, it WAS actual murder AND attempted murder.
Oct 7, 2008 at 2:41 p.m.
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This wasn't "domestic violence", it was attempted murder.
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How does anyone get "domestic violence" out of this case?????
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Oct 7, 2008 at 2:29 p.m.
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More on her story in case you don't remember the headlines:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Midwest/02/11...
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx...
http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/200...
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It's really incredible that she survived. The dedication of law enforcement in two states to urgently investigating her disappearance (she had been able to call 911 when being moved but did not know her location) absolutely saved her life. They had the husband in custody but he wasn't talking.
Oct 7, 2008 at 10:32 a.m.
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she's lucky to still be alive... there really is no way to avoid being abducted... the message she's spreading is valid... sadly, there are many women out there that are afraid to report it because they don't know what the abuser will do to them...
Oct 7, 2008 at 8:56 a.m.
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How do you avoid being abduced???
She was already divorced for 3 years.
If an abuser wants to get you nothing can stop him. It's a scary world.
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