She Wasn't Ready: Statute of Limitations in Iowa

I don’t even know where to start, my anxiety is so high right now. I quit fighting, because I felt that the statute of limitations in Iowa was not going to change. Well, that is what I thought! I’ve been working on this blog site and this past weekend I was doing some research, trying to site facts on statutes of limitations! I googled statutes of limitations in Iowa, I’ve googled this several times before, it’s been years though! Tears filled my eyes as I read the new statute of limitations on sex abuse in Iowa! The tears were tears of joy, not for myself but for the many others that have gone through or are going through the same fight that I fought! When I read through the new law, emotions came back over me.

I missed the statute of limitations in 2015, I was protecting a sibling that was not ready to come out. At that time, under Governor Branstad the statute of limitations was 10 years after the age of 18, I was 28. I wanted to press charges so badly! My sibling was worried about protecting her family and the disgustingness of people’s judgements! Since I was a little girl, I have been protecting my siblings the best I could! We did not live a normal life, we lived a life of abuse, abandonment and continual judgment! In my heart I felt that I had no choice but to continue to protect her, even though we were adults.

I read over the weekend that the change in the statute of limitations in Iowa makes the state the 14th state to Eliminate the statute of limitations. I got my hopes up, I really did! This morning I called the county attorney’s office for Marion County TODAY, the women that I spoke to was not completely sure on the revisions and asked me to call back at 1PM. Anyone that knows me, knows that at that time my anxiety sky rocketed! I couldn’t help myself, straight back to google. I googled, governor of Iowa Kim Reynolds! Prior to today, I can honestly say that I was not the biggest fan of her. To be honest I didn’t know shit about her, other than she will not legalize weed and they were calling her covid Kim. Okay, so I called her office and spoke to an assistant. All I really wanted to know was, does the bill that covers child sex abuse cover me.? I kind of explained, in 2013 I was 28 and I had been to the police. I explained that the same year my grandmother had gone to the police and told them in great detail how she had seen him touching me and how she went back to sleep, simply because he told her to! The young lady working in the governor’s office was probably like damn! I gave her a lot of sensitive information in a couple ok,f seconds. Her response was that the statute of limitations had been lifted and that it should cover me. In that second, I was overpowered with joy and understandably its emotional and I cried again.

The problem was the law

Then 1 o’clock just came around, the county attorneys office in Knoxville told me to call back around that time. I gave it 15 more minutes and I called at 1:15 PM, anxious AF at this point! The women answered the phone, I could tell in her voice when I said who I was that I was not going to hear what I wanted and needed to hear. The new bill does not cover me, crushed my lil soul again. It does not go back. I was so upset; I couldn’t hide it and the county attorney asked if I have someone to talk to because I was visibly upset. They asked if I’m still in therapy, I am and I go monthly if not biweekly. I am upset, but I am so F’ing happy for the people that the statute of limitations will help, that Iowa has become “WOKE” to the fact that sex abuse ruins lives!

Mental Health is Real