This episode contains descriptions of violence.

Listener discretion is advised.

Yes, we were a victim that night and we were victimized again in the courtroom,

but am I going to stay a victim for the rest of my life?

That is not an option.

Michelle Renee didn't have an easy childhood. Her dad was abusive and she was desperate

to leave the house. There were times where, you know, we were separated and taken away from our parents.

There were times we didn't have water and electricity.

I grew up in a very, very challenging home.

I decided, you know, everything with my parents parents I ran away at 15 and I got a job at

Burger King and I've been working ever since and I just never really dealt with

my childhood I kind of just pushed it aside and never really dealt with it and thought I'm just

going to move, you know, just steamroll straight ahead. Little did she know that the

coping skills she used with her dad would be put to the test one late November night in 2000.

This is I survived, the podcast where we talk to women who've lived through the worst things

imaginable and all the tragic,

messy, and wonderful things that happen after survival.

I'm Caitlin Van Mall. It started out as a very normal day rushing out the door, getting my daughter to school, getting to work, and one thing really stood out during the day is a gentleman came in that just seemed odd.

And that was really the only thing that stood out and after he left I didn't think anything else about it.

Michelle's daughter, seven-year-old Bria, also enjoyed a very typical day.

I was at school and then I was like an open house thing for my school that night.

When they got home that night, they would only have a few more minutes of normalcy before

...