Wesley, his wife Linda, and their two children lived in a
medium-sized town adjacent to a city. Wesley was a tall,
neatly groomed, middle-aged man who had worked as a computer
programmer for many years.
His wife had served as an
assistant librarian since her children entered school. Both
were active in civic affairs, and Wesley was a deacon of the
church. Although the couple seldom went out together, they
would often have friends in for dinner.
Both of the children
did well in school, and Brian, the younger, had had a paper
route since he was twelve years old. Debbie, now age sixteen,
had begun piano lessons at age six and was capable of performing
admirably in local concerts. In the summer, the family
took trips and picnicked together.
Wesley and Linda admitted that their children had minor
behavioral problems as they grew. These were handled without
difficulty by Wesley, who was very firm in enforcing the
rules. Corporal punishment had never been necessary except
once when Brian had lied to his mother.
On that occasion,
Wesley applied the belt as generously as his own father had
administered the razor strop. Brian stood to eat for a week,
and never again lied to his mother.
Family members described their life together as completely
happy. The only exception, perhaps, was when a
neighbor at a coffee klatch asked Linda about her sex life.
Linda seemed embarrassed and then said, "Well, I can't complain
about it."
Debbie had not been allowed to date until age sixteen, and
she had refused many invitations. Now, after her sweet sixteen
party, an attractive boy from a good family had invited
her to a school dance.
The night of the dance Debbie was
excited and happy. Much dinner-table conversation revolved
around proper dating protocol, with Debbie both listening
and participating.
All agreed that she should return home by
twelve thirty, a half hour after the end of the dance.
That evening, Wesley and Linda retired at ten thirty. Wesley,
unable to sleep, rose to sit in the darkened living room.
At twelve fifteen he was standing silently by the window
which faced the lighted front porch. Debbie and her boyfriend
paused on the top step and briefly embraced one
another. Then Wesley observed his daughter laugh and snuggle
against the boy's shoulder before parting.
As Debbie closed the door, Wesley seized her by the hair
and slapped her furiously across the face. Debbie started to
cry out, but her father hissed, "Shut up, slut!" and pushed
her stumbling toward her room. After the door slammed,
Debbie lay confused and sobbing on her bed.
Several minutes later, the door opened and a man she hardly recognized as
her father entered. Threatening to kill her if she called out,
he tore her clothes and raped her, while calling her every
vicious and degrading term he had ever known.
Although Wesley was absent from the breakfast table that
Sunday, he did attend church. He didn't seem anxious or
guilty.
The crime was never discussed at the dinner table.
Linda had heard the struggle but assumed that Wesley was
disciplining Debbie.