News from the victum-witness assistant at the DA’s office tonight: Deborah Green found guilty on 7 of 8 counts! This was trial #1 for Deborah regarding kidnapping, abusing, sexually penetrating, and causing great bodily harm to a child, M.G. (The second trial will be regarding the death of the 12 year old boy Enoch.)
I had the pleasure of meeting M.G., now 20 years old, and her adoptive mother. They rushed from the courthouse in Grants to the airport in Albuquerque to meet us before our flights. We were so excited, finally we can put a face to her name. Then a beautiful young African-American woman steps off the escalator, strong and tender. Sarah throws her arms around her, tears flooding her eyes. Then it’s Julie’s turn, then mine.
M.G has come a long way since Child Protective Services took her away from the Greens 12 years ago, and she is now strong and determined to chase her own dreams. I think the saying “if it doesn’t break you it’ll make you strong” is mostly true. For her it took a loving, supportive, pro-active family, plus multiple painful surgeries and years of psychological therapy. Monsters may lurk outside her bedroom window for years yet to come, but M.G. chooses to live, to be strong, and to create a life that is meaningful to her. Her goal: to become a pediatrician. She’s been accepted into and is studying pre-med! I can’t tell you how happy that makes us feel!
“A weaker person would not have survived,” Judge James Sanchez told the victim. “That means you can continue on being strong.”
