Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 961

Tonight's special guest is Lee Parker from Pittsburgh, PA, an abuse survivor and activist for changing the Statutes of Limitations. At 13 years old he was abused while under Children and Youth Services (foster care) by a staff member. Eventually the man filed through the group home and CYS for Lee to become his foster child. After being approved, Lee went to stay with his abuser. The man would come to his bed to molest him after he was asleep. This went on a couple times a week for over a year. Lee explains, "The day I broke down I was in school. At the end of the day when it was time to leave I told my teacher I didn't want to go home. I was crying and wouldn't stop so my teacher sent me to the nurse's office. She soon realized I was being sexually abused at home and she called the police. That's when I was taken from my abusers care." Lee still suffers from knowing nobody protected him while he was in the care of CYS. He says, "It took a toll for the worst on my life. At times I think about death. Its like I've been killed emotionally. I go through life pretending things are fine. I smile but really I just cry on the inside. I'm torn into pieces that can't be put back together." Now 31 years old, Lee has come forward to seek justice from Children and Youth Services, the institution where he met his abuser. But he's discovered the statue of limitations blocks him from seeking justice. Disappointed, Lee explains, "In some states there's no statue of limitations. Just like murder there should be no statue of limitations. A victim should [be able to] take all the time he/she needs."