Rape Victim Begs Other Women to Come Forward

**Mystica43229** · June 25th, 2010, 12:33 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A rape victim was speaking out on Thursday, urging women to come forward to stop a man she believes has hurt others.
Amy Bourgeois said she was walking along Sullivant Avenue around 2 a.m. on Thursday, headed to the store, when a man stopped her to ask for directions and then grabbed her, 10TV's Cara Connelly reported.

10TV News does not usually identify sexual assault victims, but Bourgeois asked us to use her name and show her face. She said she wants the man accused of raping her to know she is not afraid.

The man pulled her into a vehicle, Bourgeois said.

"He brought me a couple blocks from where I live and raped me brutally, repeatedly," Bourgeois said.

After the attack, she said the man threw her out on the street and drove off, while she was wearing only a T-shirt, Connelly reported.

Bourgeois said the thought of her 10-year-old daughter gave her the strength to fight for her life.

"At the end he asked me if I had any last words before I died," Bourgeois said. "I just said I loved my family and to please let me go."

She said no one stopped to help her and she went to a nearby friend's house to call 911.

Police responded and found a man matching the description she gave. He was in custody and was charged with rape and kidnapping, Connelly reported.

Detectives said they are early in the investigation, but they are looking into the possibility that there are other victims.

Police have not yet released the man's name.

"Typically rapists have done this before, not all the time, but that is why it is important that everyone understand we look at every single report," said Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner. "If there are similarities we will go ahead and try and match those reports up."

Bourgeois has a message for other women who may have experienced the same thing.

"I was able to run away by the grace of God," Bourgeois said. "I'm standing here today, begging you, begging you women to come forward."

She also has a message for her alleged attacker.

"I will make sure that you never see the light of day again," Bourgeois said.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/loc...e.html?sid=102

**Athena** · June 25th, 2010, 12:38 PM

Good for her.

I hate it when women won't come forward immediately to report sexual assaults. I know it's a tough experience to go through, but you show your self-respect when you power through it and do the right thing. Otherwise, you're just dooming other women to go through what you went through.

**Mystica43229** · June 25th, 2010, 12:41 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A man arrested for raping and kidnapping a woman in west Columbus, and suspected in at least five other rapes, appeared in court Friday morning. So did his latest alleged victim.

Charles L. Harvey received a $1 million bond during his arraignment at the Franklin County Courthouse. His alleged victim, Amy Bourgeois, seemed undaunted, defiant attending the proceedings.

http://www.abc6onyourside.com/newsroom/

**Mystica43229** · July 8th, 2010, 01:44 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- ABC 6 has learned new information on the suspected west side rapist.

The nine page indictment on Charles Harvey lists the names of five women that he is accused of sexually assaulting.

Harvey was arrested two weeks ago and charged with raping one woman and leaving her for dead after police say he picked her up on the corner of Sullvant and Wayne Avenues.

He is now charged with raping these other four women beginning at the end of May.

He is accused of sexually attacking two women on the same day but the indictment doesn`t list the specific locations or times of the alleged attacks.

Harvey remains behind bars on $1,000,000 bond in the Franklin County Jail.

http://www.abc6onyourside.com/shared...vid_5306.shtml

**redsaid** · July 8th, 2010, 03:14 PM

Finally I'm starting to see a trend of High Bail. 1 mil still isn't no bail, but appropriate, I think.

I can only applaude this woman.

She has the courage of 10 lions! Fierce, relentless, and one hell of a woman.

**carolinablue** · July 8th, 2010, 04:10 PM

I stand in awe. She is not a victim; she is a survivor! She took her pain and anger and forged a weapon, like the warrior she is; and whack! she put an end to his shit. When I hear of women like this I always hope they will become part of the movement to end violence against women; what a powerful voice she could be for rape survivors' programs.

**redsaid** · July 8th, 2010, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by carolinablue

I stand in awe. She is not a victim; she is a survivor! She took her pain and anger and forged a weapon, like the warrior she is; and whack! she put an end to his shit. When I hear of women like this I always hope they will become part of the movement to end violence against women; what a powerful voice she could be for rape survivors' programs.

Amen!