My name is Anna Willis, and I am the mother of an 18-year-old daughter who recently experienced something no mother ever wants her child to go through. Many have seen the sickening video circulating and if you haven’t I’m sure it isn’t hard to find. We have to do better as a community. This CANNOT and WILL NOT keep happening! She dropped out of school because she was targeted by a male teacher and now this?! Jerseyville and the community need to do better for our children. Teach compassion and empathy instead of hate.

My daughter’s car broke down, leaving her stranded and unable to leave. What happened next was terrifying.

A teenage boy came up to her car with two of his friends closely behind. One repeatedly hit her while two others recorded what was happening, laughed, and encouraged the assault. They handed him a belt to use against her. She was sprayed with urine from a water gun, hit while she was on her knees, and humiliated and forced to apologize while the attack continued.

When my daughter tried to call for help, her phone was knocked out of her hands.

She was trapped, scared and unable to get away.

As her mother, I cannot put into words what it feels like to watch your child go through something like this. I keep thinking about how much worse this could have become when she was already unable to leave and unable to call for help.

We are now doing everything we can to make sure my daughter receives the support she needs and that what happened to her is taken seriously. We are seeking legal representation and pursuing justice through the proper channels. We also have medical expenses and unexpected transportation costs as a result of what happened.

What Your Donation Will Help With

Funds raised will be used for:

• Legal representation and related legal expenses

• Medical expenses and follow-up care

• Transportation and other immediate expenses

• A reliable vehicle for my daughter so that she is not left stranded and vulnerable like this again

If we raise more than what is needed for immediate medical and legal expenses, the remaining funds will go toward helping her obtain reliable transportation and rebuild a sense of security.

My daughter is 18. She should be thinking about her future, her independence and her life—not trying to process something this traumatic.

We want her to know that she is not alone.

We want her to know that what happened to her matters.

And most importantly, we want her to feel safe again.

If you are able to donate, our family will be incredibly grateful. There is absolutely no amount too small. And if you aren’t able to donate, sharing this fundraiser can make an enormous difference.

Thank you for standing with my daughter, supporting our family, and helping us through one of the most frightening experiences we have ever faced.