I was in an abusive relationship with Dustin Walburn for ten years. The harder I tried to be the person I thought I was supposed to be for him, the more he hated me. He would triangulate every fight we had with his parents, friends, neighbors. Everyone sided with him. My self worth began to plummet. I was constantly called a whore and a bad person. Any positive relationship I had, he would try to poison. He would reach out to my parents, cousins, friends, to talk to them about “helping” me behind my back. When I accomplished something like getting my Bachelors Degree, he did not compliment or encourage me. The degrading got worse and worse. Finally it became physical. When I finally voiced the horrors that were happening in my house I was bombarded by hate and violence from his family. He incited his family into violence against me. His younger brother Jessee Walburn kicked in our door and strangled me. This attack occurred in front of our nine year old son. We will never be the same. I feel so broken and lost. My son is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He is such a smart beautiful person. I hope more victims break their silence. I have learned –the very hard way–silence will not protect me.
