Statement by Sandy Kaplan Read by Thomas L. - Tbtn 2012
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This letter is from the mother
of a victim of domestic violence. I'd like to share that with you now.
"Hello, my name is Sandy Kaplan. In my absence, my dear friend Thomas Lahey has agreed
to read this statement of my behalf.
On November 14th 2011, my world was forever destroyed by domestic
violence.
My beautiful 36 year-old son, Phillip Wells, was gunned down and
murdered by an ex-lover.
For more than 3 years Phillip tried to escape this man.
He even moved 2,300 miles across the country to be at, what he felt
a reasonable and safe distance.
But he wasn't.
His ex stalked him,
harassed him,
tortured him,
and ultimately got on a plane,
went to Phillip's place of employment,
and put 24 bullets into his head and chest.
His body was so destroyed
that the coroner
and the mortuary refused to let me see my son one last time
to hug him and kiss him,
and say goodbye.
I say this to you not to shock you but to make you aware of what reality can be,
for any of us.
For years,
Phillip was asked if he was safe from his abusive stalker.
He always told me everything was okay.
I'm not sure if he did that because he didn't want me to worry, as mothers do,
but rather (I believe)
he underestimated the anger,
the rage,
and the length to which his ex was willing to go to, to make sure Philip would never
love anyone else, ever again.
Only because he refused to love this man.
After his death and going through his things I found numerous domestic
violence reports that were never followed up on.
I beg of you, do not underestimate the seriousness of your abuser's violent behavior.
Get out of the relationship before it escalates to the point where someone has
to die and someone else has to pay the price for their actions.
I will never have my son back.
Do not minimize or underestimate what is possible when dealing with someone of
this violent, abusive nature.
You could be DEADLY wrong." Thank you.
