BETTENDORF, Iowa – Kelly McReynolds was raped at gun point and now shares her story of survival to help other victims and survivors of sexual violence.
“He told me if I screamed he would blow my brains against the wall,” says Kelly McReynolds as she remembers the night a man broke into her house, changing her life forever.
“He talked the entire time he raped me and tried to convince me I liked what was happening,” says Kelly.
Kelly shared her survival story to hundreds at the ‘Rising Up’ Against Sexual Violence Luncheon in Bettendorf, Iowa on October 7, 2016.
“At that moment my life flashed before my eyes. I knew I had to do whatever I could to survive,” says Kelly.
Kelly lived but her friend didn't. Just a few weeks after Kelly was raped, the same man did the same thing to another woman. Killing her and her two year old son then setting her apartment on fire to try and cover his tracks.
“She had a smile that would light up the room. Her coworkers used to call her mighty mouse,” says Kelly as she remembers Angel Herman.
Kelly went on to get her master's degree and now works as a sexual assault therapist through Family Resources.
“Kelly has the perspective of a survivor. She does understand the place in terms of trauma that's occurred,” says Mary Macumber-Schmidt, President of Family Resources.
Kelly now dedicates her life's work to helping others heal.
“Everyone in our community knows someone who is a survivor of sexual assault,” added Macumber-Schmidt.
“This is everyone's issue. It's not a woman issue or man issue. It’s everyone's issue and it effects all of us in some shape or form," says Kelly.
Kelly is also a speaker for RAINN the rape, abuse and incest national network which is the world’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.
For more information on Family Resources, click here.