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'Rape in America is an epidemic': Brave rapevictim speaks up about her ordeal to helpothers after she was attacked by man outsideher dorm 'because he was bored'

Taylor Walker, 22, was attacked by Tyrone Batts, 26, last year in a carparkHe pounced as she approached her car at Vanderbilt University, TennesseeWhen the attack was over he kissed her on forehead and stole her moneyShe is now working as an advocate for rape victims and is training as lawyerShe says while you 'never recover' from rape, you can 'create a new normal''Im past the point of feeling shameful about it [because] it's not my fault'

By Matt Blake

PUBLISHED: 18:25 GMT, 13 September 2013 | UPDATED: 11:18 GMT, 15 September 2013

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A brave rape victim has spoken out about her horrific ordeal in a bid to help others after she was attackedby a man because 'he was bored'.

Student Taylor Walker, 22, was walking through her dormitory carpark at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville,Tennessee, on a Friday evening in March 2012 when 25-year-old Tyrone Batts pounced from the shadowsas she approached her car.

As he forced her inside the vehicle and raped her she thought of reaching for the pepper spray in herhandbag. But she couldn't move.

'The big responses are fight or flight,' she told The Tennessean. 'But a huge one during rape is freeze. It’sjust the most powerless thing ever.'

Ordeal: Taylor Walker, a 22-year-old Vanderbilt graduate, has spoken out about herhorrific rape in a bid to help others after she was attacked by a man because 'he was

bored'

But it wasn't until the ordeal was over that Batts did something that chilled her to her core.

'He kissed me on the head before he left,' she said. 'That was just the craziest thing. Like, you just did thatand you’re going to act like this is a tender moment?'

He then demanded she give him the $22 in her purse and skulked off into the night.

When Batts was arrested he allegedly told police he approached her because 'he was bored'.

More staggering still, he also claimed the encounter was consensual and that Miss Walker has 'given him alook' before he came over.

Attack: Miss Walker was walking through a carpark at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville,

Tennessee, on a Friday evening in March 2012 when Tyrone Batts, 25, pounced from theshadows as she approached her car

'It's just the most powerless thing ever': As Batts forced Miss Walker inside the vehicleand raped her she thought of reaching for the pepper spray in her handbag. But she

couldn't move

At the time of the assault, Batts was already on bail for aggravated robbery and attempted rape in 2001.And before the weekend was through, police claim, he would attack and rob three more women in thecarparks of three nearby hospitals.

He has pleaded not guilty and awaits hearings on all of the charges having been transferred to a mentalhealth clinic to determine if he is capable of standing trial.

In the aftermath of the attack, Miss Walker became unrecognisable to herself. She became too terrified togo outside and became a recluse, imprisoned by her own fear. She says she stopped dressing up orwearing make up because, thereafter, she simply 'didn't care' about her appearance.

But now the law graduate says she has turned a corner after a year of therapy to help handle her anxietyand gradually return to a normal life.

Fighting back: Miss Walker, a law graduate, has now become an advocate for rapevictims and is soon to train as a lawyer to 'put the needs of victims first' in a country

where, she says, rape is an 'epidemic'

Trying to help others: Miss Walker says that, while she may never 'recover' from theordeal, she is on the way to creating 'a new normal' and wants to share her experience

with others 'less lucky' than her

'I do not remember who I was before the rape,' she said. 'I do not remember who that girl was.'

Now she says, while she may never 'recover' from the ordeal, she is on the way to creating 'a new normal'and wants to share her experience with others 'less lucky' than her.

'I’m past the point of feeling shameful about it,' she said. 'Because it’s not even my shame to carry.

'For me, it would almost be dishonest not to come forward and say who I am. I want people to know,number one, that I have nothing to hide. And it’s not my fault.'

She has now become an advocate for rape victims and is soon to train as a lawyer to 'put the needs ofvictims first'.

'Rape and sexual assault [in America] is an epidemic,' she added. 'In order for a victim of any sort of crimeto heal they need each step along that process to be the best it can be.

'That means we need to have good police officers, we need good hospital staff, you need to have goodattorneys that understand, and you need to have counselors. And all of those need to work together.'

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wastintime, Someplace somewhere USA, 1 month ago

She is a brave woman to speak out like this. These crimes against women need to stop worldwide.

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ch8ra, California, 1 month ago

I am glad they did not show the attacker's image. She should not have to associate with a perp when she is fighting for suchbrave cause.

28267

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