Escape from the Dungeon

About the Book

This is a story of psychological terror brought on by the hands of my mother. I am the second oldest of 16 children and the stories I am about to describe relays what it was like to live under the terror and reign of our mother. The abuse started about 35 years ago in 1970 and who knew there would be 16 direct victims and many other people affected by her manipulations when all was said and done. Hind sight is truly 20/20 and I think if things were handled differently with the 1987 felony child abuse charges in Waukesha County, there wouldn't be this tale to tell today in 2005.

There are two distinct time periods in this story: the 17 years prior to 1987 and the 18 years after 1987. You will find parallels in both sections that I still can't believe today andI was part of the situation from the beginning and a catalyst for this coming to light. What you will see is a very large break in the system but above all, the master manipulation that would rival the greatest minds. By manipulating her children, the social workers, the lawyers, the prosecutors, mom got off with nothing in 1987 when she was facing 18 counts of felony and misdemeanor child abuse charges, $180,000 in fines and 30 years in prison. Her ability to walk away from that without a scar only enabled her psychotic manipulating mind and that allowed mom to abuse again without fear for the next 18 years. It is heartbreaking to live with the fact that these actions have been addressed in the past and she ended up inflicting the same thing on my brothers and sisters as soon as the Department of Social Services stepped out of the situation in the late 80's.

About the Author

Jennifer Stephens is the 2nd oldest of 16 children and was part of this abusive situation from the very beginning. Jennifer has spent her entire life striving to succeed in spite of the foundation that was laid by her abusive mother. She is currently a Major in the United States Army and has spent the last 14 years taking care of soldiers and her two children Blakely and Samantha. MAJ

Jennifer Stephens entered the military in September 1991. In 1994 she went to Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA where she was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps and 1998 MAJ Stephens went to Schofield Barracks where she served in the 524th Corps Support Battalion in the 45th Corps Support Group (Forward) through May of 2000 supporting 600 troops. She then served as the 545th Transportation (Harbormaster) company commander where she had three detachments assigned to her: 545th Harbormaster, 605th Transportation Logistic Support Vessel (LSV 2) and the 193rd Transportation (LSV 5). She was responsible for all Army vessel operations in the Pacific Theater. MAJ Stephens then worked as a Active Component/Reserve Component (AC/RC) liaison with the 336th Transportation Group at Fort Sheridan, Illinois where she spearheaded the USARC exercise Nationwide Move '02 transporting troops and equipment spanning 18 states and over 1,000,000 miles and she earned the Army Transportation Officer of the Year award. Currently MAJ Stephens is working at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater where she heads up the ROTC program for students.

She has Bachelor's Degree in International Business and Finance from the University of Louisville, KY, and a Masters in Business Administration and Global Management from the University of Phoenix, AZ. MAJ Stephens is also currently in the Concord School of Law earning her Juris Doctor degree.

She continues to fight the fight for those who cannot fight for themselves and will continue to be vigilant in her child abuse efforts. Jennifer hopes to be in public office one day where she can make a difference for women's rights, single parent programs, military and veteran's affairs.