WINK News – Survivor speaks out at Shelter from the Storm

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – A domestic violence victim shared her amazing story of survival to help other women on Thursday.

“I knew I was going to die.”

Susan Still was in an abusive relationship with her husband for 24 years, “when he threatened my son that was just a line for me.”

One day, 11 years ago, her husband made their oldest son of three videotape nearly an hour of both physical and mental abuse. “My ex-husband is in prison now, he received a sentence of 36 years.”

More than 400 people listened to Still’s story during the Shelter from the Storm Luncheon.

“When we all work together with this large of a group and all of its residents we can absolutely stop domestics violence.” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk tells WINK News putting an end to the domestic violence epidemic is no easy task.

Every day someone is arrested for the crime in Collier County, “it says that we in law enforcement are taking the right and proper action.”

Sheriff Rambosk said that’s because victims are becoming more comfortable with reporting the abuse. “Thats what’s important to us and enable us to make the arrests that we need to make.”

He also said victims seeking help through The Shelter for Abused Women & Children is making a difference.

“It can totally make a difference in whether a family thrives, or a person thrives, or whether they don’t,” said Still.

Even though the sheriff said arrests are made daily, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Domestic Violence reports in Collier County are at their lowest in 20 years.