WHEN SINGLE MOM YVETTE CADE
WAS WOOED BY SMOOTH, SINGLE DAD ROGER HARGRAVE,
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE HER PASSION FOR HIM WAS IGNITED.
I WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM.
HE WAS JUST, LIKE, EVERYTHING... A TOTAL PACKAGE.
HE LOOKED AFTER HER.
SHE LOOKED AFTER HIM. IT WAS A GOOD FIT.
BUT WHEN ROGER'S DARK DEMONS
REACHED A BOILING POINT...
I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE WOULD DO THAT
TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.
...YVETTE DISCOVERED AN EVIL INSIDE HIM
THAT WOULD DESTROY HER DREAMS
AND FORCE THEIR LOVE DOWN IN FLAMES.
I WAS JUST SCREAMING AND HOLLERING,
"CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME?!"
WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE AND MARRIAGE,
THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM.
AS A STRONG, INDEPENDENT WOMAN,
YVETTE CADE NEVER BACKED DOWN FROM LIFE'S CHALLENGES.
AT 19 YEARS OLD, I BECAME A MOTHER OF A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.
SHORTLY AFTER SHE WAS BORN, I WENT TO COLLEGE
AND ACQUIRED A BUSINESS MANAGEMENT DEGREE.
I WAS FOCUSED ON SETTLING DOWN WITH MY DAUGHTER.
LOVE WAS THE LAST THING ON YVETTE'S MIND.
BUT IN THE SPRING OF 1999,
THE 25-YEAR-OLD LEFT OHIO TO VISIT RELATIVES IN MARYLAND
AND SOON MET A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY... ROGER HARGRAVE.
MY MOTHER THOUGHT WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON,
AND SHE JUST SAW SOMETHING IN HIM.
28-YEAR-OLD ROGER WAS STUDYING COMPUTERS,
CAME FROM A GOOD FAMILY,
AND WAS A DOTING FATHER TO HIS 4-YEAR-OLD SON.
ROGER WAS JUST A WELL-PUT-TOGETHER INDIVIDUAL.
HE ALWAYS HAD DRESS SHOES, AND HIS JEANS WERE PRESSED.
HE WAS A REAL GENTLEMAN.
WE TALKED ABOUT HIM WORKING WITH COMPUTERS,
AND HE KNEW JUST AS MUCH AS I DID.
SO I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED.
BEFORE YVETTE RETURNED TO OHIO,
THE TWO EXCHANGED PHONE NUMBERS,
AND IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE ROGER STARTED CALLING.
THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY HE TALKED TO ME.
I REALLY ENJOYED IT.
I GOT A LETTER AND CARD IN THE MAIL,
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY SWEET.
I ENJOYED THE FACT THAT WE COULD BE FRIENDS FIRST.
IN THE FALL OF 2000, YVETTE MOVED TO MARYLAND
TO JUMP-START HER CAREER,
AND ROGER PURSUED HER WITH LIGHTNING SPEED.
BEFORE LONG, THEY MOVED IN TOGETHER,
AND YVETTE WAS THRILLED
TO SEE HOW GOOD ROGER WAS WITH HER DAUGHTER.
ROGER MADE HER FEEL AT HOME.
IT WAS NICE TO SEE THAT MY DAUGHTER COULD RELATE TO HIM,
BECAUSE SHE GREW UP WITHOUT A FATHER.
I THOUGHT HE WAS AN ALL-AROUND GOOD GUY.
AND HE WAS FUN
AND TRIED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS WITH ME AND MY MOM.
BUT AROUND THAT TIME,
YVETTE NOTICED ROGER HAD A FEW BAD HABITS
SHE HOPED HE WAS WILLING TO BREAK.
HE SMOKED CIGARETTES,
AND HE DRANK A LOT DURING THE EVENING.
AND I TOLD HIM THAT I CAN'T DEAL WITH SOMEBODY
THAT DRINKS EXCESSIVELY AND THAT SMOKES.
SO HE QUIT SMOKING CIGARETTES,
AND HE PARED DOWN ON THE DRINKING.
I FELT LIKE HE WAS SOMEONE THAT I COULD BE WITH
BECAUSE HE WAS WILLING TO CHANGE.
OVER THE NEXT YEAR, LIFE CARRIED ON FOR THE COUPLE.
ROGER WORKED AS A MAIL CLERK,
WHILE YVETTE FOUND A JOB AT A FURNITURE STORE.
I TOLD HIM, "YOU KNOW, I REALLY ENJOY YOU,
"AND I THINK YOU ARE SOMEONE
THAT I COULD LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH."
FINALLY, ON HALLOWEEN OF 2001,
THE COUPLE MADE IT OFFICIAL
BY TYING THE KNOT IN A SMALL CEREMONY
IN FRONT OF A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
WE DIDN'T PLAN A WEDDING.
ROGER JUST TOLD ME, "LET'S GO GET MARRIED."
I WAS HAPPY THAT SHE SETTLED DOWN IN THIS AREA
AND GOT MARRIED.
I FELT LIKE I LOVED ROGER, AND HE JUST LOVED TO MAKE ME HAPPY.
IT SEEMED YVETTE NOW HAD THE LIFE
SHE HAD ALWAYS HOPED FOR.
BUT SHE WOULD SOON FIND OUT THAT SHE HAD GOTTEN IT ALL WRONG,
AND FOUR YEARS LATER,
SHE WOULD SEE A SIDE TO HER HUSBAND
THAT SHE NEVER KNEW EXISTED.
THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 10, 2005,
STARTED OUT IN THE USUAL WAY.
I TOOK MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL,
AND I WENT TO WORK AT THE CELLPHONE SHOP.
AND I WAS ONE OF THE TOP EMPLOYEES THERE.
BUT AROUND 9:30 A.M., EVERYTHING WOULD CHANGE.
ROGER ENTERED INTO THE STORE.
HE SAID, "HELLO," TO MY CO-WORKER,
AND THEN HE SAID, "I LOVE YOU, YVETTE."
NEXT THING I KNOW, ROGER CAME BEHIND THE COUNTER.
WHAT ROGER DID NEXT WAS SIMPLY UNTHINKABLE.
I HAD NO IDEA
THAT HE HAD THAT KIND OF ANGER AND RAGE INSIDE OF HIM.
COULDN'T MOVE. I WAS JUST BASICALLY FROZEN.
IN THE FALL OF 2001,
FOUR YEARS BEFORE YVETTE'S HUSBAND, ROGER HARGRAVE,
WOULD CHANGE HER LIFE FOREVER,
THE NEWLYWEDS WERE ENJOYING THE STABILITY OF FAMILY LIFE.
ROGER AND I AND THE KIDS... WE REALLY ENJOYED GOING SKATING.
WE WOULD GO BIKE RIDING TOGETHER.
IT WAS GREAT.
HE USED TO SHOWER US WITH GIFTS.
IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT MY MOM WOULD LIKE
OR ME, LOTS AND LOTS OF TOYS.
BUT THE COUPLE'S HONEYMOON STAGE WOULD BE SHORT-LIVED.
ONLY SIX MONTHS INTO THE MARRIAGE,
YVETTE SAW SOME TROUBLING SIGNS FROM ROGER.
HE WOULD CALL DAY AND NIGHT,
AND HE WOULD ASK WHAT WAS I DOING
AND WHERE HAD I BEEN.
IT JUST MADE ME FEEL UNEASY, LIKE HE DIDN'T TRUST ME.
SOON, ROGER'S CALLS BECAME INCESSANT,
AND ACCORDING TO YVETTE,
PETTY FIGHTS WOULD QUICKLY ESCALATE
INTO A TIRADE AGAINST HER.
IT SEEMED LIKE HE GOT UPSET AND ANGRY
AT ANY LITTLE THING THAT I HAD DONE.
HE WOULD SAY THAT I DIDN'T CLEAN THE HOUSE GOOD ENOUGH
OR I DIDN'T COOK GOOD ENOUGH.
SHE WOULD TRY AND KEEP A LOT FROM ME,
BUT WHEN SHE WOULD CALL,
I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG
BECAUSE HE WOULD BE IN THE BACKGROUND
SCREAMING AND YELLING.
AROUND THE SAME TIME, ACCORDING TO YVETTE,
ROGER'S DRINKING WAS DRAMATICALLY ON THE RISE.
ON THE WEEKENDS, HE WOULD GET PISSY DRUNK.
I WAS LIKE, "I THINK YOU ARE AN ALCOHOLIC."
HE WOULD SAY IT WAS HIS WEEKEND
AND HE COULD DO WHAT HE WANTED TO DO,
AND I WOULD TELL HIM HE NEEDED SOME HELP.
HE NEVER TOOK IT TO HEART.
THEN IN THE SPRING OF 2002,
ROGER'S BEHAVIOR ONLY ESCALATED.
ROGER CAME HOME LATE.
HE HAD BEEN OUT DRINKING. I WAS SLEEPING.
NEXT THING I KNOW, HE WAS JUST ASKING ME, "GET UP."
I TOLD HIM TO GO TO BED BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN DRINKING
AND HE JUST NEEDED TO GET SOME REST AND SLEEP OFF HIS ALCOHOL.
BUT ACCORDING TO YVETTE, ROGER REFUSED.
I WAS SO UPSET
THAT I BEGAN SCREAMING AND YELLING AND HOLLERING AT HIM,
AND IT JUST BECAME SO AGGRESSIVE
THAT OF COURSE WE BEGAN FIGHTING.
I KNEW THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE LAST DAY I SPENT WITH HIM.
THE NEXT DAY,
YVETTE PROMPTLY PACKED HER THINGS AND LEFT.
I WENT TO AN AGENCY THAT HELPS BATTERED WOMEN FIND HOUSING.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WOMEN'S SHELTER WAS COMPLETELY FULL.
SO YVETTE TURNED TO HER IN-LAWS FOR HELP.
THEY AGREED THAT I COULD STAY IN THEIR BASEMENT
BECAUSE THERE WAS NOWHERE FOR ME TO GO.
FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS,
SADDENED BY HER ABSENCE,
ROGER BEGGED YVETTE TO FORGIVE HIM.
ROGER REPEATEDLY TOLD ME THAT HE LOVED ME
AND THAT HE WOULD NEVER HURT ME LIKE THAT AGAIN.
ROGER SOUNDED SINCERE, BUT I STILL HAD RESERVES.
YVETTE TOLD ROGER SHE WOULD RETURN,
BUT ONLY UNDER A FEW CONDITIONS.
HE KNEW THE GROUND RULES.
HE JUST HAD TO STOP DRINKING, PERIOD,
AND HE NEEDED TO SEEK ANGER MANAGEMENT.
ROGER AGREED, SO I MOVED BACK IN.
ROGER VOWED TO PLAY BY HER RULES,
AND BY MAY 2002, THE FAMILY WAS BACK TOGETHER.
WHILE ROGER WAS ON HIS BEST BEHAVIOR,
YVETTE STARTED WORKING AT A LOCAL CELLPHONE STORE,
WHERE SHE EARNED GOOD MONEY.
BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR IN 2003,
ACCORDING TO YVETTE, ROGER'S QUICK TEMPER RETURNED.
HE WOULD YELL AND CALL ME NAMES,
LIKE I WAS A FAT BEACHED WHALE.
IT WAS JUST LIKE EVERY DAY, AND I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
ROGER AGREED TO GO SEE A THERAPIST,
BUT HE NEVER MADE IT.
SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD REALLY, REALLY SAVE HIM,
AND IT JUST WASN'T THE CASE.
I TOLD HER, "HE'S AN ADULT.
"IF YOU TOLD HIM A FEW TIMES, 'GO TO THERAPY, '
"HE'S NOT WILLING TO DO IT, IT'S NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
SEND HIM PACKING BACK TO HIS MOM."
I TOLD ROGER THAT I WAS GOING TO LEAVE
AND I WANTED A DIVORCE.
ON DECEMBER 16, 2004,
AFTER THREE YEARS OF TRYING TO MEND A BROKEN MARRIAGE,
YVETTE CALLED IT QUITS FOR GOOD AND ROGER MOVED OUT.
I WAS READY FOR THE MOVE.
I WAS FINANCIALLY STABLE.
I KNEW THAT I WASN'T GOING TO BE HARASSED,
AND I WOULDN'T HAVE TO SHIELD MY DAUGHTER.
SO IT WAS A WEIGHT LIFTED OFF OF MY SHOULDER.
YVETTE KNEW SHE WANTED NOTHING MORE
TO DO WITH HER HUSBAND,
BUT ROGER WASN'T DONE WITH YVETTE JUST YET.
I KNEW THAT HE WAS WATCHING ME.
I WAS AFRAID FOR MY LIFE.
I THINK HE HAD A MISSION.
HE LAID OUT HIS BATTLE PLANS.
IT WAS MY WORST NIGHTMARE.
BY THE END OF 2004,
YVETTE CADE WAS DONE WITH HER MARRIAGE TO ROGER HARGRAVE.
HE MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE
AND ASSUMED SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SURVIVE
VERY LONG WITHOUT HIM.
HE WANTED ME TO FAIL.
I COULD TELL THAT THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
HE WANTED ME TO FALL FLAT ON MY FACE.
ACCORDING TO YVETTE, ROGER CONTINUED TO CALL HER
AND PARKED HIS VAN ACROSS THE STREET FROM HER HOME
ON A NIGHTLY BASIS.
I WAS CREEPED OUT,
AND I JUST COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE WOULDN'T LEAVE ME ALONE.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT HE WAS STALKING ME.
BY MARCH OF 2005,
YVETTE MOVED AND CHANGED HER CELLPHONE NUMBER.
BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO STOP ROGER.
MY MOM ENDED UP GETTING AN ALARM SYSTEM WHEN ROGER KEPT CALLING.
TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE!
YVETTE'S DECISION TO MOVE
SEEMED TO ONLY FUEL ROGER'S RAGE,
AND AS SUMMER APPROACHED, HIS STALKING INCREASED.
FINALLY, YVETTE REACHED HER BREAKING POINT
WHEN ROGER APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE
WHILE SHE WAS WITH A FRIEND IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE.
WE GOT INTO THE CAR,
AND NEXT THING I KNOW, ROGER WAS BEHIND US IN HIS VAN.
AND HE HOPPED OUT AND HE CAME AROUND TO MY SIDE,
AND I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA BUST THE WINDOW.
YVETTE THREATENED TO CALL THE POLICE,
BUT ROGER WOULDN'T BACK DOWN.
I GOT INTO MY CAR.
HE PULLED BESIDE ME,
AND HE WAS JUST TRYING TO, LIKE, BLOCK ME OFF.
FEARING FOR HER SAFETY,
YVETTE APPROACHED THE FIRST OFFICER SHE COULD FIND.
I TOLD THE OFFICER I WAS AFRAID FOR MY LIFE,
SO HE TOLD ME TO GO SEE A COMMISSIONER.
ON JULY 21st, YVETTE PLEADED HER CASE TO A JUDGE
AND WAS GRANTED A ONE-YEAR PROTECTIVE ORDER.
HE STOPPED THE PHONE CALLS.
HE DIDN'T CALL MY JOB OR ANYTHING,
SO I THOUGHT THAT HE REALLY UNDERSTOOD
THAT I WAS VERY SERIOUS.
BUT INSTEAD, ROGER ONLY UPPED HIS GAME...
THIS TIME BY FOLLOWING HER DAUGHTER
AS SHE WALKED TO THE BABYSITTER'S HOUSE FROM SCHOOL.
ROGER CAME DOWN THE STREET IN HIS BIG VAN,
AND HE SAID THAT HE WANTED US TO KEEP OUR FAMILY TOGETHER.
WHEN HE TRIED TO GET OUT THE CAR, THAT REALLY SCARED ME.
SO, I TRIED TO GET INTO THE BABYSITTER'S HOUSE
AS FAST AS I COULD.
I WAS VERY UPSET,
AND I TOLD MY BABYSITTER THAT HE WAS STALKING HER.
I WENT TO MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL AND TALKED TO THE TEACHERS.
IT WAS JUST TOO MUCH GOING THROUGH MY HEAD.
MEANWHILE, ROGER PETITIONED THE COURT
TO HAVE THE PROTECTIVE ORDER LIFTED,
AND ON SEPTEMBER 19th, YVETTE RETURNED TO COURT
AND BEGGED THE JUDGE TO KEEP THE ORDER IN PLACE.
I TOLD THE JUDGE
THAT I DIDN'T WANT THE PROTECTIVE ORDER TO BE DROPPED.
THE JUDGE SAID IT WAS DISMISSED.
I THOUGHT DISMISSED THAT I COULD GO HOME,
BUT IT MEANT THAT THE PROTECTIVE ORDER WAS DISMISSED.
AND WITH THE PROTECTIVE ORDER LIFTED,
IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE ROGER RETURNED WITH A VENGEANCE.
I STARTED GETTING PHONE CALLS ON THE JOB, PHONE CALLS AT HOME.
HE FOLLOWED ME SEVERAL TIMES TO MY AUNT'S HOUSE.
IT WAS LIKE SOMEBODY GAVE HIM AN INFUSION OF ADRENALINE.
HE MADE UP FOR LOST TIME.
ON OCTOBER 10th, AROUND 2:30 A.M.,
YVETTE CAME HOME AFTER A NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS
WHEN SUDDENLY HER PHONE STARTED RINGING OFF THE HOOK.
IT WAS ROGER.
I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS GOING TO CALL THE POLICE,
THAT I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
HE IMMEDIATELY GOT VERY UPSET.
AROUND 9:00 A.M. THAT MORNING,
YVETTE DROPPED HER DAUGHTER OFF AT SCHOOL AND HEADED TO WORK
AT A CELLULAR PHONE STORE IN CLINTON, MARYLAND.
WHILE I WAS AT THE FAX MACHINE,
ROGER ENTERED INTO THE STORE.
HE SAID, "HELLO," TO MY CO-WORKER,
AND THEN HE SAID, "I LOVE YOU, YVETTE."
AND I WAS JUST SO IRRITATED.
NEXT THING I KNOW, ROGER CAME BEHIND THE COUNTER.
ROGER WAS HOLDING A SODA BOTTLE IN HIS LEFT HAND,
AND BEFORE YVETTE KNEW IT,
HE DUMPED THE CONTENTS OVER HER HEAD.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME,
BUT I JUST GOT UP AND RAN TO THE BACK BREAK ROOM
SO I COULD WASH MY HAIR OUT, AND HE WAS STILL CHASING ME.
AFRAID OF WHAT ROGER PLANNED TO DO NEXT,
YVETTE RAN INTO THE PARKING LOT,
BUT ROGER QUICKLY CAUGHT UP TO HER.
NEXT THING I KNOW,
HE CRUSHED MY FOOT WITH HIS BOOT.
I FELL TO THE GROUND.
AND THAT'S WHEN ROGER LIT A MATCH.
I FELT THE FLAMES RIPPING THROUGH MY BACK,
AND I IMMEDIATELY KNEW THAT IT WAS GAS
AND I WAS ON FIRE.
I RAN TO THE BACK OF THE STORE.
I WAS JUST SCREAMING AND HOLLERING,
"CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME?!"
MY FACE WAS JUST DRIPPING,
AND MY SKIN WAS JUST EVERYWHERE IN THE STORE.
AS CUSTOMERS AND CO-WORKERS RUSH TO HER AID,
ROGER RETURNED FOR HIS KEYS.
AND THEN HE WAS GONE.
IT WAS A VERY DISTURBING SIGHT.
THERE'S NOTHING ON TV THAT COULD PREPARE YOU FOR THAT.
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIM FLEEING THE AREA.
OBVIOUSLY, HE WAS VERY DANGEROUS.
ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 10, 2005,
YVETTE CADE'S CO-WORKERS FRANTICALLY CALLED THE POLICE.
HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND, ROGER, HAD DONE THE UNTHINKABLE.
HE HAD DOUSED HER WITH GASOLINE AND SET HER ON FIRE.
I WAS IN THE OFFICE WHEN THE CALL WENT OUT
FOR A LADY SET ON FIRE.
I HAD SEEN PEOPLE SHOT.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE STABBED.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE SET ON FIRE, EVER.
WITHIN MINUTES, PARAMEDICS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE.
WE WERE DIRECTED TO MS. CADE,
WHO WAS LYING ON THE GROUND ON HER BACK IN THE BREAK ROOM.
HER CLOTHES WERE STILL KIND OF SMOLDERING.
SHE HAD SIGNIFICANT BURNS ON HER FACE, ON HER HEAD,
ON HER UPPER TORSO, ON HER LOWER TORSO.
YVETTE WAS IMMEDIATELY AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL
WHILE POLICE BEGAN TO HUNT FOR ROGER.
HE HAD A HISTORY OF SOME VIOLENCE.
THERE WAS AN ASSAULT,
THERE WAS A ROBBERY AND SOME SUBSTANCE-ABUSE CRIMES.
OBVIOUSLY, HE WAS VERY DANGEROUS.
UNBELIEVABLY, THAT AFTERNOON,
ROGER BEGAN TO HARASS YVETTE'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
HE CALLED AND WAS TALKING TO MY UNCLE
AND WAS SAYING THAT, "MY GOSH.
"I HEARD SOMEBODY SET YVETTE ON FIRE.
"THAT'S SO CRAZY.
WHO WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HER?"
AND THAT REALLY FREAKED ME OUT.
YVETTE'S FAMILY INFORMED THE POLICE,
BUT WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT HIS HOME, HE WAS GONE.
WE FOUND THE ITEMS THAT HE WORE...
THE SHIRT, THE HAT, THE BOOTS, AND SOME MATCHES.
WHEN WE SEARCHED HIS VEHICLE,
SEVERAL BOTTLES WERE FOUND INSIDE,
THE SAME TYPE OF SODA BOTTLE THAT HE USED,
SOME MATCHES, LIGHTER, AND GASOLINE.
FINALLY, AFTER 13 HOURS ON THE RUN,
OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO TRACK DOWN ROGER.
WE FOUND ROGER IN A VACANT HOME
ABOUT 25 MINUTES AWAY FROM WHERE THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE.
HE DIDN'T PUT UP A FIGHT. HE KNEW HE WAS CAUGHT.
BUT DURING HIS INTERVIEW WITH POLICE,
ROGER DENIED SETTING YVETTE ON FIRE.
MEANWHILE, WITH THIRD-DEGREE BURNS COVERING 60% OF HER BODY,
YVETTE WOULD ENDURE 15 SURGERIES.
3 MONTHS LATER, ON JANUARY 9, 2006,
YVETTE FINALLY LEFT THE HOSPITAL.
WHEN I LEFT THE HOSPITAL,
I WAS AFRAID TO LEAVE
BECAUSE THE GASOLINE WAS IN THE CAR,
BUT I LEFT SEVERAL MONTHS EARLIER THAN THEY EXPECTED.
THAT APRIL, YVETTE'S DIVORCE WAS GRANTED
AND ROGER HARGRAVE'S TRIAL BEGAN.
HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY.
YVETTE TESTIFIED,
BUT HER PHYSICAL APPEARANCE ALONE TOLD THE COURTS HER STORY.
SHE DID A GREAT JOB.
SHE LOOKED HIM IN THE EYE, AS IF TO SAY,
"YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY WITH THIS.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE A SLAP ON THE WRIST FOR YOU."
ON APRIL 28th,
ROGER WAS CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER,
ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER, AND ASSAULT,
BUT HE STILL SHOWED LITTLE REMORSE.
ROGER JUST DID NOT THINK ABOUT HOW I FELT.
I THINK THAT HE WAS TRYING TO BLAME THINGS
THAT WAS GOING WRONG IN HIS LIFE ON ME.
IN JUNE 2006,
ROGER HARGRAVE WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.
TODAY, YVETTE LIVES HER LIFE AS A BLESSING,
EVEN AS SHE'S ENDURED MORE THAN 35 SURGERIES
TO REPAIR THE PHYSICAL TRAUMA FROM THAT FATEFUL DAY.
I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK AT ME AS NORMAL
AND FOR MYSELF TO FEEL AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE.
BUT THE EMOTIONAL SCARS STILL LINGER.
IT JUST DOESN'T GO AWAY.
I HAVE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
IT'S AN EVERYDAY STRUGGLE FOR ME TO EVEN GET UP,
GET OUT OF BED, GO IN MY KITCHEN TO COOK DINNER
BECAUSE I'M NEAR THE FIRE.
DESPITE ALL THAT SHE'S ENDURED,
YVETTE SPEAKS PUBLICLY ABOUT HER ORDEAL,
BRAVELY SHARING HER STORY.
SHE'S STRONG.
SHE DOES A GREAT JOB.
IT'S SUCH AN AMAZING STORY THAT I'M HAPPY FOR HER
TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALWAYS TELL IT.
I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A VOICE.
SEEKING HELP IS THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO
SO YOU CAN GO FORWARD WITH YOUR LIFE.