Sexual Abuse Victim Ends Decades of Abuse

April 29, 2010 11:41 AM

Aaron's sister on NBC's Today Show Aaron Vargas was arrested on February 8th, 2009 for allegedly killing the man who sexually and psychologically abused him for 20 years. The abuser, Darrell McNeill, abused many children in the small community of Fort Bragg, California. McNeill was a well-known realtor, Boy Scout leader, and Big Brother. The abuse was reported to the police by victims, and by McNeill's former wife, but no investigation was done - McNeill was never even questioned. McNeill stalked and harassed Aaron up until the day he died, even asking to see and to babysit Aaron's child. He harassed other victims as well, including one who committed suicide four years ago. Aaron is my brother. Aaron is only one and a half years older than me, and we have always been very close. Aaron was the kind of brother who included his little sister in everything. He taught me how to ride a motorcycle and how to fish. When I'd crash on my bike he'd make sure I was alright, pick up my bike, and encourage me to get back on. I looked up to him and admired his adventurous spirit and bravery. Somewhere along the way everything changed - Aaron changed. I no longer saw that twinkle in his eye or mischievous smile. My big brother didn't want to go on any adventures, he just wanted to be left alone. I saw so much pain in his eyes, and he'd sometimes hurt himself. I knew that something was terribly wrong - I seen it and I felt it - but I wasn't able to identify what it was. I just knew that a darkness had closed in. I wanted to help my brother but I didn't know how to help him or what to protect him from. On February 8, 2009, I found out that our childhood neighbor was a child rapist and that he had raped Aaron for years. All of the questions that I had been asking myself since childhood had finally been answered. I finally knew what had caused the pain in Aaron's eyes, and why I had those feelings of sadness, anger, and fear. That was just how I felt, as the sibling of a child sexual abuse victim. I can't imagine how Aaron has felt all of these years. I can't imagine how Aaron survived that living hell - sexually abused for many years, then stalked and harassed by his abuser. Now Aaron is being abused by our system - the same system which did not protect him as a child. Please go to SaveAaron.com to see how you can help Aaron.

Aaron Vargas is shot and killed the man who raped him and others for decades.

posted by travelnut15 (1 comment total)

Whoa.
posted by saladin at 11:41 AM on April 29, 2010