Andrea Copper explained that when she and her husband dropped their only daughter, Kristin, off at Baker University in Kansas, “little did we know that a year and five months later she would be dead.”
Copper travels to university campuses and conferences to share the story of her daughter’s rape by a friend that lead to her committing suicide.
The LSU Panhellenic Council, Tri-Delta Sorority and the Student Health Center sponsored Copper’s presentation in Baton Rouge in order to raise awareness on depression, date and acquaintance rape.
According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, 66 rapes were reported to the police in 2008. However, most rapes victims do not report the crime to the authorities. So far in 2009, 43 rapes have been reported in Baton Rouge.
Over 50 percent of college women will experience sexual assault. “I am sharing this because I hope by telling Kristin’s story that other lives will be saved, and other young women will not be victims of acquaintance rape, and that those suffering from depression, for ANY reason, will get help,” Copper states on her website.
On New Year’s Eve in 1995, Kristin was home for Winter break during her sophomore year of college and had plans to attend several parties. Copper and her husband left the house early in the evening to go to a party. They were surprised to see their daughter’s car in the driveway when they returned home later that night. “I thought to myself ‘I am glad she’s home safe and sound,’ but I thought it was odd because it was still early in the night,” explained Copper.
Copper said that she heard loud music when she walked in the house and saw what she thought was Kristin asleep in the family room. She went to tell her daughter to turn the music down and when she got closer realized Kristin was not breathing. Copper went to check her daughter’s pulse, did not feel a pulse and saw a gun in Kristin’s hand. My stomach wretched inside and I screamed to my husband, ‘Kristin’s dead, she shot herself,”’ said Copper. “I did not see any blood but my husband went on the other side of her and saw all the blood. The detective later told me that the bullet was lodged in her brain and there was no exit wound.”
Copper found a journal next to her daughter’s body. In the journal, there was a poem about how she had experienced rape. A friend she had known for years and had been a lifeguard with raped Kristin during the first week of August before she returned to school. Copper contacted Kristin’s friends to find out more about the incident and escalation to suicide. Kristin’s friends said that she immediately sank into depression after the rape, but did not want to tell her parents. Kristin told her friends, “My mom will be hysterical [if I tell her] and my dad will kill the guy.” Copper explained that 95 percent of sexual assault and rape victims do not report it to the police, 46 percent do not tell anyone about the incident(s) and 30 percent contemplate suicide after being raped.
“Rape is a crime of uniquely intoxicating cruelty,” remarked Copper. She explained how Kristin’s friends told her of her daughter’s downward spiral that lead to suicide. Copper wrote a letter to Kristin’s friend who raped her. Copper never tormented the boy because she knew it would not bring her daughter back. She wanted to press charges, but the detectives told her they could not prosecute him, because Kristin could not testify.
Copper said, “Rape is a crime of the heart for the victim and a crime of convenience for the perpetrator.”
Copper explained that most parents are worried their child will die in an automobile accident, which is the first leading cause of death for students, not suicide. However, suicide is the second leading cause of death for students. Copper encouraged everyone in the audience to be aware of the signs of depression and to get help for themselves, their friends or family members before it becomes too late.
Nearly 90 percent of rapes are committed by a friend, relative or acquaintance. This event was extremely important for the LSU community to become educated on this topic. “Most women are not taught to be aware of this fact. They most likely are only educated to be watchful against strangers and dangerous situations, explained Copper.
Ashley Granger, Wellness Education Coordinator for the Student Health Center (SHC), explained the resources available to students on campus. The SHC provides several services to students who have experienced sexual violence.
The Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocates or “SAVAs are specially trained University personnel who can provide confidential guidance and support to LSU students who have directly experienced interpersonal violence or who want to help a friend….”
If victims of sexual crimes wish to collect forensic evidence, have medical screenings and test completed, report the crime and receive support they may visit the SHC to see a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE).
Many other resources are available in the Baton Rouge area such as the Rape Crisis Center and the Battered Women’s Program and Shelter. Each has a 24-hour hotline to confidential provide assistance and advice.
“Telling my story over and over again to students like you is healing,” Copper said. She explained if she helped at least one or more people in the audience then she had reached her goal.
Map of Sexual Assault and Rape Resources
