What started out as a birthday celebration, turned horrific in a moment.
It was Oct. 5, 2003, and
Christy Hopkins, now 51, had just come home from an evening celebrating her birthday with friends. Her teenage son was sleeping in his bedroom as she began to get ready for bed. What she didn't know was that a man was waiting outside her bedroom's balcony door. Before she knew it, he was inside her bedroom, and he raped her.
After the attack, a Castle Rock Police detective and victim advocate met her at the hospital.
"That night is such a blur, but I remember their being there gave me a feeling of security," Hopkins said. Her attacker was caught within hours, was convicted and remains in jail.
The victim advocate was at the hospital to ensure Hopkins' rights were protected, and that the hospital treated her well and according to proper procedure. The support that night was invaluable, but the support from the Castle Rock Police Department Victims Assistance Unit continued long after the attack. In fact, the support continues now, some six years later.
When asked how she would have handled the attack without help of Victims Assistance, she remarked, "I don't even want to imagine that."
The day after the attack, Victims Assistance Coordinator
Carole Malezija began working with Hopkins, guiding her through court hearings, recommending therapists, and providing anything else that made the pain of the attack something she could handle. Her attacker is up for parole soon, and Malezjia will be there to help Hopkins as she testifies against the man's release.
While what happened that October has changed her life and the crime still affects her daily, Hopkins doesn't shy away from opportunities to talk about what happened to her. She hopes her story will help teach others to be more aware of their surroundings and to incorporate safety measures.
"But I'm still growing from what happened, and probably always will," Hopkins said.
The Victims Assistance Unit needs volunteers like the one who met Hopkins at the hospital the night of the attack. The volunteers help victims of crime as well as other traumatic events, such as the death of a loved one or losing a home to fire.
Since this work requires a special type of person who values confidentiality and understanding, potential volunteers go through an intensive interview process and background check. Afterward, they begin the 40 hours of training required for certification. Though they eventually work independently, the group is a team lending strong support for each other under myriad of circumstances. The team covers shifts so one member is on-call and available to the community 24 hours each day. Training will begin Sept. 10.
"The work is challenging, but very rewarding," Malezija said. "We look for people who create a healthy balance between positive and negative elements in their lives and who truly wish to help others."
If you are interested in learning more about how you can become a volunteer, contact Malezija by Aug. 21 at 303-663-6110 or
cmalezija@CRgov.com.
Angela Copeland is community relations manager for the Town of Castle Rock.