WHEN TEEN LOVE TURNS FATAL

Despite common misconceptions, statistics show that violence is experienced in 28% of teen relationships. Today, we discuss the alarming incidences of violence and abuse in teen relationships, hear horrifying stories of what happens when this violent behavior gets out of control, and tell you what you can do to help protect teens in abusive dating relationships. In November 1997, when Jamie Sturdevant was just 16 years old, her jealous and controlling ex-boyfriend, Brett Hollis, 17, broke into her home with a .22 caliber pistol. Brett killed Jamie’s new boyfriend, Cory Shcolnik, 18, with three bullets from the pistol. When Jamie’s sleeping mother, Mary, heard the commotion, she opened her bedroom door and Brett fired a single shot at her forehead, killing her instantly. Following the double-murders, Brett pulled four pieces of pre-cut rope from his duffle bag, tied Jamie to her bedpost, and raped her repeatedly for four hours. After the rape, Brett drove Jamie to the local police department and told police that he had just committed two murders. In March 2000, a jury convicted Brett Hollis of the murders, and although prosecutors argued for the death penalty, Brett was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Today, for the first time in public, Jamie shares details of her troubled teen relationship with Brett, and the tragic events that led to the murders of her mother and boyfriend, Cory. We also hear from Cory’s mother, Jana Baxley, and her husband, Louie, who tell us their version of events leading up to the tragic death of their son. Next, we talk with Kristen Rambler, whose teenage boyfriend, Keith, was physically abusive throughout their two-year relationship. When 18-year-old Kristen told Keith in the summer of 2001 that she refused to see him until he got help, he showed up at her home with a gun and killed himself in front of her. Throughout the hour, we also speak with Dr. Jill Murray, author of But I Love Him…Protecting Your Daughter from Controlling, Abusive Dating Relationships. Dr. Murray explains why emotional and/or physical abuse is UNACCEPTABLE in any relationship, especially teen relationships where young girls often feel trapped and too frightened to leave their abusive boyfriend, or ask for help. Plus, we meet Barbara Dehl, whose teen daughter, Cassie, was killed by an abusive boyfriend. Following her daughter’s death, Barbara worked with legislators in Idaho to write and pass Cassie’s Law to protect minors in abusive dating relationships. Today, Barbara shares her heartbreaking story with John, who she says inspired her to pass Cassie’s Law. Like John, Barbara says she refused to let her child die in vain.

MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Jamie
Jamie was 16 years old in November 1997 when her ex-boyfriend, Brett Hollis, 17, murdered her mother, Mary, and her new boyfriend, Cory Shcolnik, 18. After the double murder, Brett tied Jamie to her bedpost and raped her repeatedly for four hours. After the rape, Brett drove Jamie to the police station, where he turned himself in. In March 2000, a jury convicted Brett Hollis with the murders of Mary Sturdevant and Cory Shcolnik. Although Brett faced the death penalty, he was sentenced to two life sentences plus 60 years, without the possibility of parole. Jamie shares her tragic story for the very first time today in an exclusive interview with John. She also tells us how she feels about the outcome of Brett’s trial and whether or not she has forgiven Brett. Jamie also shares a touching letter Cory wrote to her that wasn’t discovered until after his death.

Jana & Louie
Jana & Louie are the mother and stepfather of 18-year-old Cory Shcolnik, who was murdered by his girlfriend Jamie’s jealous and controlling ex-boyfriend, Brett Hollis. The couple talks about the events leading up to the tragic night of Cory’s murder. They also give their opinion on the sentence Brett received, and we see a loving tribute to Cory from his mother in the studio.

Kristen
Kristen and her boyfriend, Keith, were both 17 years old when they began dating during their senior year in high school. Kristen didn’t see Keith’s violent side until the end of their senior year, when a drunken Keith pushed her for the first time. After a tragic pattern of physical violence that continued for nearly two years, Keith shot and killed himself in front of her the day after she ended their abusive relationship. She shares her terrifying story with John and reveals why she still feels partially responsible for Keith’s suicide.

Jill Murray, Ph.D.
Dr. Murray is a licensed psychotherapist who works with abused teens and their families, and is also the author of But I Love Him…Protecting Your Daughter from Controlling, Abusive Dating Relationships. She discusses the warning signs that parents and teens need to look for when they think a loved one is involved in an abusive relationship and the vital steps to take to get out.

Barbara Dehl
Barbara’s 17-year-old daughter, Cassie, was killed in December 1999 when her abusive boyfriend left her to freeze to death at the scene of a car accident. Barbara says once she recognized that her daughter was an abuse victim, she tried unsuccessfully to end the relationship and sought out help from the authorities numerous times, to no avail. Barbara says she was shocked to find out that she could not legally obtain a no-contact order to protect Cassie from her abusive boyfriend. After Cassie’s death, Barbara decided to do something about this oversight and wrote Cassie’s Law, which provides that a minor or his/her parent can get a criminal protection order.
 

LINKS AND OTHER WEB SITES

www.thecassiefoundation.com
The Cassie Foundation – Barbara Dehl
*Click here for more information on Cassie’s Law or to contact Barbara Dehl

www.remembercory.com
Remember Cory: Cory Shcolnik Memorial

www.ncvc.org
National Center for Victims of Crime – Public Policy Issues: Dating Violence

www.senate.gov
U.S. Senator Mike Crapo/Idaho: Cassie’s Law

www.drjillmurray.com
Dr. Jill Murray

www.ndvh.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline – call Toll-Free: 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or 1.800.787.3224 (TTY)

www.ncadv.org
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

www.stopfamilyviolence.org
Help Stop Family Violence Now

www.feminist.org/911/crisis.html
Feminist Majority Foundation - Domestic Violence Hotlines and Resources

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo
U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Justice Programs – Violence Against Women Office

www.4woman.gov/violence
The National Women’s Health Information Center – Violence Against Women

www.womenlawyers.com/domestic.htm
Domestic Violence Notepad: A listing of resources for victims

www.aidv-usa.com
American Institute on Domestic Violence

www.co.sanmateo.ca.us
Teen Relationship Violence Fact Sheet

www.dvirc.org.au
When Love Hurts: A Guide For Girls on Love, Respect, and Abuse in Relationships

www.congress.org
Congress.org – Write your elected officials

www.house.gov/writerep
Write Your Representative - Contact your Congressperson in the U.S. House of Representatives

www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cfm
U.S. Senate: Senators by State