Domestic violence survivor | Deborah Hartnett - S.O.S. Podcast #47

This next episode of Stories of Service is going to be unlike any of my previous podcasts. This one is only in audio format as my guest was not comfortable sharing her story on camera. 

Her experience is a chilling reminder of the dark reality of domestic violence, lax laws protecting victims, and how to keep on going in the face of so much suffering. 

Meet Deborah Hartnett. On June 21, 1999, her life changed forever when her husband of 30 years held her up at gunpoint. As her life flashed before her eyes, all she could think about was taking care of her two kids and her Boxer dogs. For three decades, she endured unrelenting abuse from her ex-husband to which she felt there was no way out. Her graphic description of his physical and emotional abuse is harrowing and a stark reminder to us all to not be a bystander when we suspect this abuse is going on. 

She broke free that day when the SWAT team stormed into their home and arrested her ex. Deborah later testified in court against her abuser, but sadly he did not face consequences commiserate with the trauma she works through to this very day. 

This is the first time she’s shared her story in a podcast, and I am so honored to help her do so. Her goal is to hopefully inspire just one person to break free of their abuser and better recognize early on the signs of domestic violence. 

If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence, please reach out to someone who can help. You are never alone, and there are ways to stop the cycle. 

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