“I’m Quarantined With The Last Person On My List”
For many, home is a safe space and comfort zone. But for Janell, it’s her last resort.
Wednesday 22 April, 2020 | Elisa Peels
A sudden loud crash woke Janell up from her sleep. Her husband was drunk and started smashing things around the house. When there was nothing left to throw, her husband took her.
He strangled her and pulled her by her hair. He threw her to the sofa and smashed her onto the coffee table.
There was no chance for escape
Things at home has been this way for three consecutive days. Out of the blue her husband’s phone rang, and Janell saw her chance. When her husband stopped all acts to pick up a call, she quickly took her phone and hid in the closet to call for help.
Almost immediately, her husband caught her with her phone, he was infuriated. He beat her up and held a knife to her throat, threatening her life.
Just then, the doorbell rang…
It was the police. Her husband was arrested, and Janell was brought to the shelter for battered women.
“It has been a year of unhappy marriage, with physical,mental and emotional abuse. At home, he would keep my cellphone and laptop away. I am only allowed access to them when he drops me off to work.”
“Work was my only escape from his constant beatings. When I go to work, I am free to live a normal life. But ever since the outbreak, I am forced to take unpaid leave and stay at home. This means enduring more beatings and torture from him.”
"The level of violence he reached that night was like nothing I'd ever experienced. I didn't know what he was capable of doing beyond that. And I didn't want to find out." – Janell
Janell was not the only one
During this time of unknown and uncertainty, stress levels are magnified at home, leading to an increase in incidents of domestic violence. The new stay-at-home order compounded the time that women and children must stay together with their abuser.
With the abuser staying at home all day, victims are less able to call for help undetected. Since the pandemic, reports shown a sharp drop in calls to the national helpline, but the police reports and death related to domestic violence and abuse have gone up nationally by at least a third!
Janell was one of the lucky few that survived and managed to reach help.
Early indicators suggested the rise in domestic violence
Sarah Langston, founder and CEO of a women’s shelter in Louisiana predicted this issue.
“From the moment U.S. authorities plan to implement the stay-at-home order, I knew that what was good for stopping the pandemic was going to be horrible for the women and children who were in a violent situation at home.”
“Situations that already exist in a home may be escalated by unemployment, financial worries and the loss of control that accompanied the pandemic. And the quarantine might just be the ‘worst case scenario’ for victims of domestic violence.” – Sarah
This was a strong motivator that inspired the creation of Freest™ Lock.
The Freest™ Lock
Freest™ Lock acts as a personal lock that protects one from unwanted intruders. It provides an added level of security that is impossible to unlock even with the door key. Simply insert the metal claws into the strike plate of the door, close the door and slide the bolt into the hole. That’s it.
It is designed to be useful for a variety of security and safety applications. Victims of domestic violence can easily lock the abuser out of the house or room, so they can have a safe space to call for help. Even if the abuser had a key, there’s no way he can break in and harm anyone.
It is a great safety tool for those living alone, and vulnerable senior citizens. It is also ideal for further security in hotel rooms, dorms and home rental where strangers may have access to your door.
“No one should be treated the way Janell was treated. Especially in this difficult time, every one of us has a role to play in encouraging and caring for those in this need”
“Freest™ Lock aims to protect the vulnerable and set them free. Free of abuse, free of torture, and free to live their lives again.” – Sarah
If you know of a child or adult who is being abused, or if you are being abused, seek help whenever you see chance. You don’t need to wait out the pandemic.
You are not alone. Help is available now.