Close Ad

abuse

16-Year-Old Puts Her Abusive Father in Jail - Today, the Police Officers Who Arrested Him Walked Her Down the Aisle
Love Stories

16-Year-Old Puts Her Abusive Father in Jail - Today, the Police Officers Who Arrested Him Walked Her Down the Aisle

On July 15, 28-year-old Ivy Jacobsen walked down the aisle to wed her now-husband Tristen.Despite not having her father there, she didn't walk alone. Because while he may not have been there for her, 15 other men were. And whew, you're gonna want to grab the tissues for this one.Why the Father of the Bride Wasn’t at His Daughter’s WeddingPhoto by Dominika RoseclayIvy was just 16 years old when her abusive father walked into a prison cell and out of her life. A sophomore in high school, Ivy played a pivotal role in having her dad arrested and convicted after enduring years of sexual abuse. In July 2013, after three separate trials, Ivy's father was convicted of rape of a child and child molestation. He's currently serving 16 years in prison.After the last trial ended, Ivy was finally free to rebuild her life. She graduated high school and became a law enforcement officer. She currently works as a school resource officer in East Wenatchee, Washington State, which she says is her "dream job."And now, she's a newlywed.And through it all, there have been a number of men who stepped up when her father so miserably failed. Men who shouldered the responsibility of helping to raise her, mentor her, and love her. Men who selflessly made sacrifices to help a child who wasn't their own. Men, she says, without whom she'd "be on the streets."Men who taught her the true meaning of what it is to be a father. Including her father's arresting officer, David White.15 Men Step Up to Walk a Bride Down the AisleIvy knew that on her wedding day, she wanted to do something special to pay tribute to the men in her life that stood by her when she needed them most. "I wanted to honor these 15 men because they were true examples of FATHERS who deserved to be called 'DAD,'" Ivy wrote in an Instagram post. So, she invited them to continue their journey with her...down the aisle.Wedding planner Karrah captured the heartwarming moment on camera and uploaded it to TikTok where it's been viewed over 12 MILLION times. Because it's THAT BEAUTIFUL.As the bride makes her way toward the altar, the men take turns accompanying her, two at a time with one on either side. They hold hands and usher her a few steps down the grassy path before handing her off to the next pair of waiting men.The caption on the video tells a powerful story: "On her wedding day, she asked 15 of the most important men in her life to escort her down the aisle." "These men included her brother, brother-in-law, childhood coaches, and the police officer who arrested her father."With each step, it's obvious that this is so much more than just a love story between a man and a woman on their wedding day. It's a love story between a woman and her "fathers." The men who CHOSE to stand with her throughout her life.(Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry).When Ivy reaches Tristen the officiant asks, "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" Her entourage thunderously responds with a collective, "We do."*SOBS*How One Woman Is Turning Tragedy Into TriumphThe gut-wrenching video is melting hearts around the world. In addition to its 12 million views, it's also garnered over 1.8M likes and 17K comments."I can’t stop crying. this is so beautifully heartbreaking 💓," writes one emotional commenter.Another writes, "This is beautiful. I’m so grateful she has all these amazing men to show up for someone who couldn’t in the first place. ❤️""Her Village! they all gave her what she needed in a dad!" writes a third.But it isn't just the men who stepped up that make this so beautiful. It's Ivy. Her strength, her resilience, and her overwhelming courage."Thank you for sharing this and being vulnerable. As a survivor of domestic abuse due to a very abusive marriage, I admire your strength to live above what you’ve experienced," writes one person."Wow, as someone who grew up with an abusive father and let him walk free, I am so proud of her for standing up for herself. She deserves to feel safe and protected," writes another.In an interview, Ivy credits David White, her father's arresting officer, and her own student resource officer from middle school, with being a hero. But the truth is, she's the hero.Despite enduring unthinkable trauma by the man who she should have been able to trust the most, Ivy is thriving. And now? She's using her own tragedy to help others. From Hurt to HopeIn a follow-up TikTok, Ivy thanks viewers for their outpouring of love. She also reminds people that they don't have to live a life imprisoned by their trauma."We all have a story that shapes us — it does not define us — but shapes us and empowers us in ways to move forward."Ivy JacobsenIvy is definitely moving forward. And thanks to the unbreakable bonds she shares with 15 very special men who prove that love really does have the power to triumph over tragedy, she's not doing it alone. More from Goalcast:Bride’s Father Dies Before Wedding – So Her Mom Gifts Her the Ultimate Daddy-Daughter Dance SurpriseBride and Groom Stand at the Altar – Then He Asks Her to Step Aside for Someone ElseBride Bows Head During Wedding Ceremony – The Voice She Hears Next Leaves Everyone in Tears

Domino's Worker's Perceptiveness Saves Woman From Clutches Of Abusive Ex
Uplifting News

Domino's Worker's Perceptiveness Saves Woman From Clutches Of Abusive Ex

A Domino's pizza guy thought he was just going out for a delivery — but he ended up saving a woman's who was taken hostage and being abused by her ex.Not a typical pizza deliveryJoey Grundl was out for a delivery in Wisconsin, but when he got to the door and saw a woman standing behind a man, he thought something was suspicious."I gave him his pizza and then I noticed behind him was his girlfriend," Grundl told WITI Milwaukee. "She pointed to a black eye that was quite visible. She mouthed the words, 'Call the police.'"A horrific case of abuseAccording to court documents, the woman was 57 and used to date a 55-year-old man named Dean Hoffmann. Earlier that day, Hoffmann showed up, demanding the woman get back together with him. When she refused, he allegedly shoved her, pulled her hair, ripped her shirt, and gave her a bloody nose and black eye, Newsweek reports. When she tried to resist, Hoffmann allegedly tied her up by her hands and feet in what's known as a hogtie."If you love me you will let me go," she reportedly pleaded, but he replied, "You know I can't do that." He also threatened to shoot her with a .22 caliber gun he kept in a case in his car.Investigators said the woman told Hoffmann she had trouble breathing, so he let her go but wouldn't let her leave her own home for several hours. Delivery guy saves the dayThen, Hoffmann called for a pizza, which ended up leading to the encounter with Grundl who alerted police.When police arrived, Hoffmann initially tried to block them from seeing the victim, but he was eventually taken into custody and charged with kidnapping, suffocation, strangulation, false imprisonment, and intimidation of a victim.Good things happen to good peopleA day after the incident, when TV reports circulated showing Grundl, viewers noticed he was wearing a Taylor Swift t-shirt. Grundl is a Swift fan and already had tickets to her latest show (this was back in 2018 when live concerts were a thing). Twitter alerted Swift of the delivery guy's heroism and the pop star arranged to meet him backstage.Quick thinking saves the dayWho knows what would have happened if the pizza guy hadn't noticed the victim's black eye. It could have been much worse, but thanks to his quick thinking and awareness, the woman was saved. Well done, sir. More uplifting stories:Disney World Staffer’s Gut Reaction Saves Endangered Woman From Abusive PartnerCashier Trusts Her Instincts And Rescues Woman From Kidnappers Who Assaulted HerHeroes of the Week: Eagle-Eyed Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants Save 3 Girls From Human TraffickingQuick-Thinking Man Stops Terrifying Kidnapping Attempt In Broad Daylight

Dad Hires Hitman To Attack Son For Being Gay - Hitman Realizes And Does This Instead
Uplifting News

Dad Hires Hitman To Attack Son For Being Gay - Hitman Realizes And Does This Instead

The hitman knew the right thing to do.An attempted hate crimeA 75-year-old Italian man from a suburb of Turin couldn't cope with his son's sexuality. So much so, that he offered €2,500 ($2,900 USD) to break his 43-year-old son's hands.“My son is a thug,” the father, who wasn't named, reportedly told the hitman, according to La Repubblica and reported in English by Metro Weekly. “Break his fingers.”A family dispute turned uglyThe son, who also wasn't named, initially started to fear for his safety when an argument over a house in France broke out into a fight. At the time, the father allegedly threatened to have his son's legs broken. The not-so-charming dad also falsely reported to police that his son had removed some of his teeth without permission.The initial threats and false allegations provoked the son to fear for his safety and for the father's wife of 42 years to demand a separation.The son's partner was brutally attackedA year later, the father became even more enraged after seeing photos circulating in the tabloids of his son, who works as a surgeon, and a popular actor. The father proceeded to hire two hitmen to beat up his son's partner, putting him in hospital. Scared for his life, the son changed his locks and didn't leave the house unaccompanied.“Apart from the patients I knew, I was afraid to make visits, never knowing who I might meet,” the son said, according to La Repubblica. Justice is servedIn the most recent incident, the father hired a Romanian hitman to break his son's hands — but the hitman wasn't having it. He came to his senses and warned the son, who alerted the police.Finally, years of dangerous family infighting came to an end when the father was charged and ultimately convicted on charges of aggravated assault and stalking, and sentenced to two years in jail. Signs of changeThis shocking story provides more evidence that we are still a long way from true equality — but help is on the way.According to the report, Italy is considering legislation explicitly meant to stop violence against women and LGBTQ people by labeling it a hate crime. While legislation like this is key, there is still plenty of work to do on a human-to-human level to educate everyone that discrimination based on sexuality or gender is wrong. Unquestionably, we're moving towards a more equal society, and people like this dad are becoming creeps of the past. More uplifting stories:50 Years After Their Love Was Torn Apart by Racism, They’re Finally MarriedPoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Quick-Thinking Prosecutor Interrupts Zoom Hearing To Save Woman From Suspect In Her Home
Uplifting News

Quick-Thinking Prosecutor Interrupts Zoom Hearing To Save Woman From Suspect In Her Home

Zoom and other online video calls have become part of our everyday life since the start of the pandemic — but a case in Michigan proved how the service can be abused when a suspect lied about being in the same home as the victim. Thankfully, a quick-thinking prosecutor noticed and saved the day.Intimidating the complainantA shocking Michigan court case over Zoom was shared online and viewed more than 900,000 times before being taken down, CTV News reports.The case involved Coby James Harris, a 21-year-old in Sturgis, Michigan who was being charged with assault with intent to commit bodily harm. As the case was happening, prosecutor Deborah Davis noticed something was wrong — the complainant kept looking away from the camera while answering questions.That was enough for Davis to flag the judge that the suspect was potentially intimidating the complainant."Your honour, I have reason to believe that the defendant is in the same apartment as the complaining witness right now and I'm extremely scared for her safety," Davis said in the video shared by CTV News. "And the fact that she's looking off to the side and he’s moving around, I want some confirmation that she is safe."Harris and the complainant claimed that they were at their respective homes, but when the judge in the case, Jeffrey Middleton, asked them to show their house number outside on camera, the suspect started making excuses."I don't even think this phone has the charge for that. I'm at like 2% right now. I’m hooked up to the wall charger right here," said Harris.The court room wouldn't buy Harris' excusePolice showed up to Harris' house, only to find both the suspect and the victim inside."I'm sorry I lied to you. I knew the cops were outside," Harris told the judge, while being handcuffed by police."(Mr) Harris, my advice is don’t say anything else," the judge interrupted. "The hearing is adjourned. Your bond is cancelled. If you have $10 million, you can’t bond out. In addition, the prosecutor’s probably also going to charge you with obstruction of justice."Clearly upset about what happened, the judge said the nature of the Zoom call made this possible."This is an issue we didn’t have when we had live court. This is the first time to my knowledge, if he is in the same venue, that this has occurred," Middleton told the courtroom. "That's the first time I ever had anybody sitting in the next room, potentially intimidating a witness."Heroic quick-thinkingSure, there are problems with using Zoom in the courthouse, but there are also problems with putting people in one room during a pandemic. So technology aside, the important takeaway here is how incredible it was that the prosecutor was able to notice the slight hint which showed her the complainant might be in trouble. Her quick-thinking was straight-up heroic, and should hopefully send a signal to other Zoom court cases to keep an eye out for this shady behavior.More uplifting stories:Neighbors Stay Up All Night To Protect Asian Family From Recurring Racist AttacksBoy, 7, Saves 20-Year-Old Sister From Drowning With An Instinctive Yet Critical MoveAnti-Timeout Mom Reveals Game-Changing Parenting Tip In Viral Tik Tok Post8-Year-Old Boy Rescues Sister From Moving Car Driven By Volatile Kidnapper

Everyday Heroes

Abuse Survivor With Bionic Hand Who Was Viciously Attacked By Ex Now Fights For Others

A woman who was disfigured and left for dead by her husband is on a mission to protect other women in Russia. Invisible womanMargarita Gracheva had been terrorized by her abusive husband Dmitri Grachev for months. When she had finally had enough and asked for a divorce, he threatened her with a knife. That's when a petrified Gracheva went to the police for help.Unfortunately, in a country with no domestic violence laws, Gracheva was on her own. In fact, in Russia, abusing your wife gets you the same penalty as double-parking, human rights lawyer Alena Popova tells CBC."If you have the wrong parking [spot] in Moscow, you pay 5,000 rubles [$100 Cdn]. If you beat anyone inside your flat, it's 5,000 rubles"- Alenad Popova Russian horror storyJust days after being turned away from police, Gracheva's husband took his cruel revenge. He bound and blindfolded her, then drove to isolated woods outside St. Petersburg. There, he savagely hacked off both her hands with an ax. Eventually, Gracheva was rescued, but only one hand could be salvaged and reattached. Her other hand was donated, and it is a German-made prosthetic that enables her to do everyday tasks. Yet despite the trauma, Gracheva had two good reasons to stay strong. "From the beginning, I decided there is no sense to cry," she told CBC. "I have two kids, and I have to learn to live in a new way and move forward."#TransformerMomGracheva's survival story and magic hand quickly gained national attention. Her hashtag #transformermom suddenly went viral and became a symbol for abused women throughout Russia. Her new high profile landed her a spot as co-host of Russia 1 Channel's program "Blizkiye Lyudi," or "Intimate People."The show invites abused women to tell their stories and obtain advice from psychologists, lawyers and the audience.Sadly, they mostly describe a corrupt society that ignores their welfare. Elena Verba's is one example, she was attacked and left for dead by her police officer husband. When she attempted to press charges, his supervisors refused. The reason: It would cost him his pension.Gracheva is fed up. "You really do get tired and worried about people when you hear their stories — it's difficult."- Margarita GracchevaChange in the airThe road is long, but Grucheva's efforts are paying off. A grassroots campaign using hashtag #notherfault and showing graphic images of women in bloody makeup recently went viral.Unlike before, domestic violence now dominates Russian news, awakening the public and sparking massive protests. As a result, there are talks in the Duma - Russa's parliament - of finally writing a domestic violence bill into law. However, blogger Oksana Kravtsova says that change starts with the people, not politics."Organisers of the campaign fight for the adoption of the domestic violence law but as long as society thinks that abuse is acceptable, no law will work."- Oksana KravtsovaEvery voice mattersOne study claims that "three-quarters of Russian women will experience domestic violence from a partner at some point in their lives."Additionally, Russia's human rights ombudsman said that calls to a domestic abuse hotline "more than doubled from 6,054 to more than 13,000 when the city of Moscow was locked down."It will be a long and difficult road to change the cultural views on domestic violence, but Gracheva is willing to risk it all."If knowing my face means more awareness of women’s suffering, then so be it."- Margarita Gracheva One abused woman in Russia is too many. One person staying quiet keeps us all in silence. However, one person with the courage to speak up can change the world.So make sure to use your voice, women like Margarita Gracheva are counting on you.For news stories, use this:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HouseHow This Moving Company is Helping Victims of Abuse Escape– And Find Better LivesDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Woman Escapes The Worst By Noticing Chilling Detail During Interaction With Stranger
Uplifting News

Woman Escapes The Worst By Noticing Chilling Detail During Interaction With Stranger

A viral TikTok video is part of a growing conversation about women's safety on the streets in the wake of Sarah Everard's tragic disappearance.Creepy guy takes photo of her addressTikTok user @heysheybae was doing the most normal, and seemingly safe thing possible — she was walking her dog in a park in broad daylight. But in a video posted this week, she explains how as a woman, she was unfortunately still at risk."Two years ago, I was walking my dog in a park and a man approached me and asked [to] take a picture of her," the video begins.She said 'yes,' because dogs are cute and deserve to be photographed. But then she realized something was wrong. The man wasn't taking a photo of the dog, but of its collar which had her address on it."So I told him that I actually didn't feel comfortable with him having a picture of my dog, and I asked him to delete it."Simple enough, right? She wasn't feeling comfortable so she asked for the man to delete it — in other words, she said no.He wouldn't delete the picIn a second video, heysheybae explains how the man proceeded to delete the photo and walk away, really quickly."And I was like, excuse me sir," she recalled. "Could you also go into a deleted album and delete it from there?"But the man protested. "I don't have a deleted album," she recalled him saying.But her quick-thinking helped again — she noticed he has an iPhone and thus a deleted picture folder.So she continued to try and convince him to delete the photo as he tries to walk away. People in the park started staring, and the guy finally said "fine."He looked down at his phone, did something for a second and said, "There, it's gone."Heysheybae asked for proof, and after some more debate, he let her see his phone. Of course, there the photo was, still in his deleted folder. So she asked him to delete it once and for all. "What if I hadn't noticed that he took a picture of my address," heysheybae wondered aloud. "And what if I went home and then that night I took my dog out to pee, he was outside waiting for me. I mean."She's never 'asking for it' (unless she literally asked for it)Sadly, this story is far from unique and many other women have been posting about how their quick thinking helped them out of these kinds of situations. Can I talk to the men out there for a quick second? Guys, we have to step up. We have to do everything possible to make women feel comfortable out there because we're all human beings and in no case, not ever, no matter what she's wearing, is a woman 'asking' to be harassed. Thankfully, more women are speaking out and sharing their situations, but sadly, situations like this and what happened to Sarah Everard prove that we still have a long way to go.More uplifting news:Woman Narrowly Escapes Tactic Used By Human Traffickers By Walking Into TJMaxxAlert Streamer Pretends To Be Woman’s Friend To Save Her From Creep Following HerHeroic FBI Investigators Rescue 33 Missing Kids From Child-Trafficking PredatorsPerceptive Flight Attendant Saves Teenager From Clutches Of Human Traffickers

Disney World Staffer's Gut Reaction Saves Endangered Woman From Abusive Partner
Uplifting News

Disney World Staffer's Gut Reaction Saves Endangered Woman From Abusive Partner

A Walt Disney World employee deserves serious credit for sensing that a woman who was calling to book tickets was really in danger.Not a typical phone callWhen a Disney World call center received a call from Pennsylvania about booking a stay at the Florida resort, the operator realized the caller needed more than tickets.According to an affidavit from the York County Magisterial District court reported by CNN, the woman on the phone shouted "get off me" and "get away from me."The Disney employee then "became concerned and sensed something was off" and their fears only grew when the woman's responses started to become limited to "yes" and "no."When the operator asked the woman if she needed help from the police and if someone was hurting her, the woman responded "yes" to both questions.The operator proceeded to call the police who arrived at the scene to arrest the woman's partner, 38-year-old Wayne Shiflett for domestic abuse.The Disney employee's instincts were rightAccording to the affadavit, the couple had been arguing about the man's job and Shiflett proceeded to say: "you need to learn to keep your f**king mouth shut," and "I'll f**king kill you." He also called her a "spoiled f**king bitch." Then, he choked her three times to the point that she couldn't breathe and felt like she was going to die, CNN reports.Police reported visible signs of abuse on the woman, including scratches on her face and marks on her neck, Fox 43 reported.Shiflett was taken into custody and charged with simple assault, along with making terroristic threats, harassment and one count of strangulation.The power of helping othersThis Disney operator, whoever they are, certainly deserves credit for this act of heroism, joining a select group of recent heroes like the locksmith that helped a woman escape a violent kidnapper and the waitress that saved an abused boy. They all provide an excellent lesson that if you have your wits about you and react, you can save someone's life.More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Clever 911 Dispatcher Saves Woman From Domestic Abuser By Noticing Subtle Cue
Everyday Heroes

Clever 911 Dispatcher Saves Woman From Domestic Abuser By Noticing Subtle Cue

A dispatcher received a call for a large pizza but quickly realized the woman was really calling about domestic abuse.'I would like to order a pizza'When an Ohio police dispatcher picked up the phone for a 911 call, only to hear a woman asking for a pizza, he thought it was a wrong number."You called 911 to order a pizza?" the dispatcher, Tim Teneyck, asked, according to NBC News."Yeah," the woman responded, giving an apartment number."This is the wrong number to order a pizza," Teneyck responded.But the woman wouldn't quit."No, no, no, no," she said, "you’re not understanding."All of a sudden, something clicked for Teneyck. "I’m getting you now, OK. ... The guy still there?"The dispatcher had realized that this was a woman masking her call to report a case of domestic abuse."Yeah, I need a large pizza," she said. "With pepperoni.""How about medical, do you need medical?" Teneyck replied. "No," the woman said before hanging up.The dispatcher immediately called for police to go to the woman's home. "Caller ordered a pizza, and agreed with everything I said that there was domestic violence going on."911 dispatcher Tim Teneyck said.Her mother needed helpAs it turned out, the woman, 38, was calling about domestic abuse, but not for herself. She was calling on behalf of her mother, 57, whose boyfriend came home drunk, telling her he was "going to beat her ass" before assaulting her, according to the police report.The mother reportedly said she was pushed so hard "she fell into the wall behind her."Police arrested the man, Simon Ray Lopez, 56, who denied the allegations.Quick-thinking dispatcherPolice chief Mike Navarre praised Teneyck, a 14-year veteran of the force, for being perceptive enough to know that the woman wasn't really calling for a pizza."He utilized his training and his experience to recognize that a woman was in distress," Navarre told NBC News. "We have no way of knowing what would have happened if she didn’t get through."And the caller appreciated Teneyck, too. "I thank him from the bottom of my heart," she said.Calling for pizza isn't a guaranteed way to get helpIn 2015, a Super Bowl ad about domestic violence featured a woman using the same tactic as this woman used -- she called 911 for a pepperoni pizza when she really wanted help with domestic abuse.And some support groups recommend calling 911 for either pizza or Chinese food. But, Christopher Carver, dispatch center operations director for the National Emergency Number Association, told The Associated Press it isn't standard practice and some dispatchers may not understand.The LAPD agrees, saying in a tweet that texting 911 is a better option.Still, Navarre used the pizza call to train other officers on how best to react. "A good dispatcher is going to recognize that this is a person who wants to talk and needs help. That is exactly what happened here," he said. "Some dispatchers might hang up on this person, but it’s worth a try give it your best shot. That's what she did, and it worked out extremely well."Be perceptiveThis is a story about the importance of quick thinking and being perceptive. When someone talks to you, are there really asking for help? Are there any clues that they could be in deeper trouble than they say at first? It is up to all of us to watch for these clues so we can help those who really need us.More uplifting news:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HouseCashier Trusts Her Instincts And Rescues Woman From Kidnappers Who Assaulted HerDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeHeroes of the Week: Eagle-Eyed Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants Save 3 Girls From Human Trafficking