Starring Texas
Ten years after vicious attack, "Beautiful Warrior" marries TV producer whocovered her story
An ABC News producer met the girl of his dreams while covering the story of her nightmare. If ever there was an example of something good coming from something bad, this report from Mediabistro is it.
Bridget Kelly and Eric Strauss were just married in New York City. What led to this joyful union and how did this young first grade teacher in Texas give the world a lesson in courage? The answer is as much frightening as it is inspirational.
What led to this joyful union and how did this young first grade teacher in Texas give the world a lesson in courage? The answer is as much frightening as it is inspirational.
Ten years ago, when Kelly was 24, she had just begun her teaching career at the Fort Hood Army post near Killeen. On a summer evening she returned late to her apartment, unaware of the monster in hiding. Hearing a noise outside, she looked through the door’s peep hole to see a man about to break in. Despite the double locks, he smashed in her door and demanded money at gun point.
Kelly was empty handed, but that was no matter. He kidnapped her and forced her to make a withdrawal at an ATM machine. The money was not all he wanted, however, and she began to pray.
The man drove her to a dark, empty field beside a subdivision. He told her to remove her clothes and lie down. As he raped her, Kelly told herself, “I’m giving this over to God,” and she tried to think about the people who loved her. She even said out loud, "There are people who love me."
Afterward, the rapist made her stand. This time he instructed her to face away from him.
His first shot missed.
The second shot to her back knocked Kelly to the ground and her face into the mud. The other two shots met their marks on her back.
Then, the monster left her for dead.
With three bullets in her back, somehow Kelly made her way to a nearby house. But the owner wouldn’t open her door, too fearful of the bloody, muddy sight on her steps.
With three bullets in her back, somehow Kelly made her way to a nearby house. But the owner wouldn’t open her door, too fearful of the bloody, muddy sight on her steps. The next house was 200 yards away, yet she made it. Retired Army sergeant Frank James came to her rescue. He called 911, covered her, and stayed with her until help arrived.
Following her six hour surgery at Fort Hood’s Army hospital, doctors said if she had arrived 10 minutes later she would have been dead.
Miraculously, the three bullets had missed her lungs, spine, and heart.
When Kelly’s father, Michael Kelly, was reached by a Texas detective he was at his desk at the Omaha World-Herald where he is a columnist. His publisher immediately flew him to be at his daughter’s side.
Though unable to speak because of the tubes in her nose and mouth, she could scribble on his reporter’s notebook. She wanted him to write about her survival of sexual violence.
The World-Herald newspaper, however, would not mention she was raped in their coverage of her attack. It was against their policy to publish the names of rape victims. Bridget Kelly felt rape was a pretty significant point to leave out. Her father was allowed to write the whole truth.
Thus began her two journeys – one towards health and recovery and the other to become a spokesperson and advocate for rape victims. The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) sought Kelly to participate in a survivor’s video for their public awareness campaign.
During the ceremony, the groom lovingly tells his bride, “You revealed yourself to be a beautiful warrior the second I met you. With your regal elegance, insightfulness and compassion, you inspire me to be better.”
Can you imagine the courage it took for her to go back to that field where she was raped and shot and stand in front of a camera to talk about it?
Watch her two videos on the TAASA site. They will give you chills.
Calls and requests poured in for interviews with Kelly and for her to speak at anti-violence rallies and sexual assault conferences. Here was this brave young woman who was unafraid to say she was raped and that there was no stigma attached. Nothing to be ashamed of.
ABC News subsequently brought her to New York for an interview with then-anchor Charles Gibson for their newsmagazine Primetime. Here, Kelly and her father met producer Eric Strauss. ABC flew Strauss to Texas to shoot footage of Kelly at her home and with her little first graders. The show aired in 2004.
Fast forward to July 7, 2012.
Bridget Kelly, 35, and Eric Strauss, 39, are being married in New York City. During the ceremony, the groom lovingly tells his bride, “You revealed yourself to be a beautiful warrior the second I met you. With your regal elegance, insightfulness and compassion, you inspire me to be better.”
Will you, dear reader, share this inspirational story with others? Perhaps it will reach a woman who needs to know there is hope after such tragedy, whether for herself or someone else. And perhaps her monster will be found and charged as Kelly's was. He's rotting in jail for the next 40 years.
See the ABC News story on Bridget Kelly's ordeal and triumph:
