Oklahoma City Rapist Police Officer Victims Speak Out
The women who were violated by former police officer Daniel Holtzclaw are coming forward relaying their accounts on what happened. According to NBC News, Jannie Ligons, the brave woman whose refusal to stay mum led to the conviction of the Oklahoma City cop for multiple rapes, said on Friday that "he just picked the wrong lady to stop that night."
"All I can say is, I was innocent," she said. "I was out there alone and helpless... He did things to me that I didn't think a police officer would do. I just thank God I can stand here. I was violated by a police officer."
Ligons was the first victim to speak out against Holtzclaw, who was charged with raping 13 African-American women. He faces more than 250 years in prison.
The 59-year-old grandmother recounted what happened to her after Holtzclaw pulled her over on June 18, 2014.
"I was afraid for my life," she said. "I kept begging, 'Please, sir, don't make me do this.'"
She said that, following the attack, she was so traumatized that she needed therapy and even suffered a stroke.
Sharday Hill, 24, another victim, explained that she was stripped by the officer and shackled to a hospital bed before she was "violated."
"I was in survivor mode," she said while fighting back tears. "I had to do what he was making me do."
While the verdicts were read on Thursday, Holtzclaw, 29, began sobbing and rocking back and forth. It was announced that he had been charged with 36 counts of rape, forcible oral sodomy, burglary, and a slew of other charges. He was found guilty on 18 counts.
Following Ligon's testimony, other victims came forward, telling detectives similar stories of how Holtzclaw coerced them into having sex by threatening to arrest them on outstanding warrants or for possessing drug paraphernalia.
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(Photo provided by NBC news)
