A Search For Survivors

Day 228. Survivors found: 3

The case of the Gravelles is one of the most infamous in AT/P history. Read all about it here and here.

One of the Gravelles’ foster daughters wrote a letter to her “parents” that was later presented in court. I have transcribed it here online to text format, word for word, letter for letter.

The original document is available here. (PDF format)

2/11/2007

I want to start by thanking the court for letting me voice my opinions on the whole thing. What the Gravelles did was wrong. There is no excuse in the world that could cover up for what they did. They are grown adults who know the difference between right and wrong. So I ask that they get as much time in jail for as long as my siblings had to be in cages.

They knew the cages were wrong because they made sure that we never told anyone. The day we were taken, mom pulled me and my brother aside and said “who told?” Then we had to explain that since we’ve been homeschooled that we’ve had “no” contact with any one but our therapists, nor were we allowed. I spent the most important years of my life being commanded like a dog being told when to eat, when to sleep, when to go to the bathroom, when to get a drink of water, when to work, etc.

I am not going to say that I hate my parents, because hate is an emotion that doesn’t need time and energy wasted on. So I will not give them the satisfaction of thinking that they still control part of my life. For the people like Carrol Gipson im sorry if you chose to be caught up in they’re trap of deceit and lies, because they fooled you, and a lot of other people it was just a matter of time befor they got caught. I remember all those years of humiliation and dread. My sibling and i endured things that we should not of had to go through. Living with people who told us if we left them we had no place to go, because no one wanted us but them. So our years were spent feeling backed against a wall with no one to turn too. But someone wanted us because we’re not with you.

Your excuse was the cages was stopping us from hurting each other and ourselves that is the biggest amount of hogwash you ever told any one. Why would we hurt ourselves when you were already doing that? So how was sticking heads in toilets helping anyone? Thats right in your sick way of thinking that was probably therapeutic! That was done more than once, so whats your excuse for that? They are grown adults that II personally believe that they had no business with kids in the first place.

I’ll admit dad wasn’t as bad as mom he did whatever mom told him to do. It was like he had no back bone when he was supposed to be the man of the family. Always scared to go against whatever she said. I’ll also give dad credit for trying to tell her that the stuff she did was wrong. Mom you walked around like you were god. Then whenever we did go places you acted like you was Mother Thresea taking in the poor black kids no one wanted. You fed everyone that sad sob story to anyone who would listen sometimes while we were standing there. Almost like you were waiting for a handout.

When we were adopted the whole idea, was supposed to be, to have a better life. Then when we got to the Gravelles, we were cheated of that little bit of decency again. Now to see you parading around on the t.v. like you already done won like you got over on everyone again. I’m praying to GOD he doesn’t let that happen again. It’s nice to live somewhere where your not being made fun by your own parents. I would repeat some of the names but thats like giving you the power to humiliate me again.

Mom, you always said whatever you think your doing in private it will be brought to the public. So in this case I would say its your turn.

Sincerely
[Redacted]