Submission:
My best friend and I are huge Crime Junkie fans (we actually have tickets to see you in NY in May)! But before I was a Crime Junkie myself; my best friend had stumbled upon one of your episodes at the end of the year in 2019 – it had to do with domestic abuse. I can’t remember the specific episode – however, when this episode was released, I was the one in the abusive relationship. I was still in denial at the time, even with all the mental and physical signs – I still acted like he was “different” and this wasn’t abuse. I remember one night after work, my best friend was giving me a ride home and she had played that episode in her car on the drive home. I had only half-listened, as I felt like she was being dramatic and my boyfriend at the time would never go as far as murdering me. However, there were a few things that stuck out to me, and it was what you guys had said at the end. The statistics for how many times it takes before you truly leave your abusive partner is on average ~7 times, and that time you’re leaving is the most dangerous. That stuck with me, and a few months later, one of the times I was trying to leave, a gun was pulled on me. He ended up shooting it off in the wall, and I was able to run for help. At that moment, everything had hit me like a ton of bricks. Everything said in the episode, the reason my best friend played it, just all of it was flooding through my mind. I decided I didn’t want to be a victim anymore – and I have since been able to get away (he is now in prison), I have 3 Siberian huskies that helped me get through and gave me a purpose, and I am now an avid listener of your podcast! I use the resources you guys share, listen to the advice given and hear the stories of the ones who weren’t as lucky to make it out alive. I want to be a voice for them and advocate for victims! Your podcast mixed with walking my dogs literally got me through the toughest time of my life! My best friend and I can’t wait to see you guys in NY. Thank you for sharing the stories and everything that you guys do!