Contact information: | Please tell us who you are and give us a way to contact you. We will not share your information. |
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Date Created | May 15, 2024 |
First Name | Shirley Hellenthal |
Email OR Phone Number | 740-606-6118 |
Zip Code (we want to match where you live with your members of Congress) | 43160 |
Tell us a little about yourself or your loved one: | |
Q1: What was your situation when you or your loved one first started experiencing elder abuse, neglect, and/or fraud? (What was your/their living situation like, were you/they struggling with any health issues, etc.?) | My name is Shirley Hellenthal i am a victim and survivor of Elder Domestic Violence, Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation rape felonious assault, Theft in the amount of more than $ 300.000 having endured life threatenig medical conditions and losing more than 65% of my mobility core strength rendered helpless in defending myself, being kept isolated not being provided proper nutrition to maintain healthy bone and tissue. this was all a result of his physical and emotional abuse, neglect, rapes, sexual assault by my husband Kenneth Hellenthal him refusing to provide for me at times, emergent medical care, attending to my immediate needs of personal hygeine, hunger, medical treatment. while residing in his home as his wife for 2 and a half years. "not having a will i was worth more to him dead than alive.!" Him constantly intimidating and threatening me to do as i was told or he was filing for a divorce, kicking me to the curb, while continuing to demand i support him financially. refusing me any financial assistance. goods or services i was in need of to sustain my life from the dates of April 28, 2020 through September 23.2021 placing me in life threatening situations of taking me outside in sub zero weather wearing only a thin pair of pajams's and robe in my wheel chair in the snow and leaving me set for more than 30 minutes him leaving the premises to. him knowing i had two doors to try to get my wheelchair through in order to get back in the house. knowing i did not have very little use of the whole right side of my body and it was easy for me to slip out of my wheelchair to the floor due to the lack of my core strength and overall strength of arms and legs. He would leave me alone in a locked house for several hours through the day without providing me with any food or anything to drink. only to return if i had fallen from trying to transfer form bed to my chair or just fallen out of my chair to the floor he would grab me by my arm and shove me back in my chair then inform me i could do more for myself if i would just try, he didn't have time to babysit me. meantime if i didn't do exactly what he wanted he wanted i was repremanded for not doing as i was told. I have lost more than three fourths of everything i have worked for my entire life and including my life from suffering from chronic hypertension, tachycardia, angina, and chronic stage III Kidney disease, in danger of having a heart attack of which i have suffered two, or a stroke, and acute renal failure. i have documentation to these facts. I will soon to be 75 years old in June of this year. not being afforded by local law enforcement, Adult Protective serivces, or the prosecutors. my victims rights or my civil rights under law. I have never been allowed to give a victim's impact statement or bring forward any of the pictures, medicial documentation as to the facts of my situation. only he has been interviewed and allowed to give statement after i had filed reports with these agencies. since october of 2020 i have been sent back and forth between my counties agencies to file reports and give my documentation to no avail. |
Q2: What would you like to share about your story? | My primary care physician had been trying to place me in a skilled nursing rehab facility since September of 2020 when i had lost my ability to balance and walk without assistance after having lost more than 50 pounds in less than 5 months and my blood work was reading as being malnutritioned. i was scheduled for nerve blocks by my pain managment doctor on november 24, 2020 and was not able to receive the treatment due to experiencing severe tremors and being in a state of anxiety, fear, and panic and trauma. stating to THE DOCTOR i had been forceably raped on November 17,2020. 20 minutes after being served with papers of a fault based divorce against me. social workers from the hospital failing to recognize the seriousness of my situation AND A STATE OF TRAUMA sent me back home with him to endure another whole year of sexual assaults, abuse and neglect. my primary care physician finally managed to order home health care beginning on December 03,2020 to provide me with the care i desperately needed and hopefully curtail his abuse with health professionals keeping him under a watchful eye. i was beginning to be fed more often. but he was still leaving me alone for periods of time unattended. and he would not cooperate with requests for handicap equipment and daily involvement of essential care i needed, or he made himself unavailable for them to talk to. this information is documented by the nurses and physical therapists that were in and out of the home numerous times throughtout the week....on June 12th he stormed into my room and informed me that all home health was to stop. there was not another nurse, physical therapist, home health aide, friend or otherwise to step foot in his house. there was to be no one but him to come or go was that understood! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR! THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING MY SITUATION HAD ALL BEEN DURING THE COVID OUTBREAK SO IT WAS EASY FOR HIM TO KEEP ME ISOLATED FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY. i HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT FOR INTERVENTION OF ANY KIND AND CRISIS HOTLINES by PHONE SINCE JUNE OF 2020 AS THIS WAS MY ONLY SOURCE OF COMMUNICATION . ON SEPTEMBER 16 2021 I MADE CONTACT WITH OUR LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCY IN GIVING THEM ALL MY INFORMATION AND THEY BECAME INVOLVED IN TRYING TO FIND A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO GET ME OUT OF THE HOME. There were no handicap facilities within a 50 mile radius of Fayette County or in the county itself. but they would keep trying. there still were no vacancies in skilled nursing facilities at this time. on or about september 19, 2021 he tried to force me to have oral sex but i was unable to hold myself upright on the edge of the bed so he undressed me and masturbated himself until he ejaculated on my pubic area....September 20,2021 he took me outside in my wheelchair after building a fire in the fire ring stating i needed some fresh air and asked me if i would like to roast hogs. I DIDN'T NOTICE HE HAD REMOVED THE FOOT RESTS OFF MY CHAIR UNTIL HE ROLLED ME RIGHT UP TO THE FIRE TILL THE WHEELS WERE TOUCHING THE RING AND THEN HE LEFT ME THERE. ME SCREAMING MY HEAD OFF TO COME BACK AND HELP ME. THE LONGER I SAT THE HOTTER THE FIRE BECAME. I FINALLY MANAGED TO WORK MY TOES GRADUALY UP THE SIDE OF THE FIRE RING LIFTING MY LEFT LEG TILL I GOT MY FOOT ON THE TOP EDGE OF THE RING AND WITH MY HANDS ON THE WHEELS OF MY CHAIR WAS ABLE TO SHOVE MYSELF BACKWARD. I HAD TRIED TO JUST ROLL MYSELF BACKWARD BUT FOR SOME REASON THE GRASS WAS WET AND I COULDN'T GET TRACTION TO ROLL. STILL SCREAMING FOR HIM TO HELP ME. i MANAGED TO ROLL MYSELF BACK TO THE DECK STEPS AND HAD TRANSFERRED MYSELF TO THE SECOND OF FOUR STEPS HE CAME FLYING OUT OF THE HOUSE AND ASKED WHAT I THOUGHT I WAS DOING GRABBED ME BY THE RIGHT ARM LIFTING ME OFF MY FEET AND SHOVED ME BACK INTO MY SEATED WALKER SITTING ON THE DECK. IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS BACK ON THE DECK I SAW THE GARDEN HOSE LAYING IN THE YARD. CLOSE TO THE FIRE RING. STATING HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING NICE FOR ME I DIDN'T APPRECIATE ANY THING HE TRIED TO DO FOR ME. SEPTEMBER 23. 2021 I HAD SOILED MY BED FROM HAVING LOST CONTINENCE FROM DAMAGING MY LUMBAR SPINE FROM FALLS AND LACK OF PROPER NUTRITION NEEDING SURGERY. I COULDN'T ALWAYS FEEL OR SENSE WHEN I HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. I HAD ASKED HIM TO PLEASE HELP ME SHOWER AND TO CHANGE MY BED. HE INFORMED ME HIS BACK HURT IT WAS HARD FOR HIM TO BEND OVER AND HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME. WE BOTH HAD QUEEN SIZE BEDS AND HE CHANGED HIS SHEETS AND DID HIS LAUNDRY EVERY WEEK. I HAVE PICTURES TO THAT FACT. SO LIKE SO MUCH OF THE TIME I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF. I FELL WHEN TRANSFERRING MYSELF FROM MY SEATED WALKER TO THE SHOWER. I ONLY HAD PARTIAL STRENGTH OF MY LEG AND IT WOULD ONLY BRIEFLY HOLD ME TILL I COULD PIVOT TO TRANSFER FROM MY CHAIR TO THE TOILET, OR TOILET BACK TO IT OR FROM IT TO THE SHOWER BY USING HAND GRIPS AND MY SEATED SHOWER CHAIR. BUT THEIR WERE TIMES IT JUST WOULDN'T HOLD ME UP AND I WOULD FALL. ESPECIALLY WHEN I WOULD HAVE MUSCLE SPASMS AND TREMORS. HE KNEW THIS. I TRIED ONLY TO ATTEMPT TO SHOWER OF AN EVENING WHEN I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE IN THE HOUSE. HE WOULD BE SITTING IN THE FAMILY ROOM AND HEAR ME FALL AND YELL AT ME, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT IN THERE? ALMOST NEVER GETTING UP TO CHECK ON ME. HE STATED TO THE DEPUTY SHERIFF HE HEARD A THUD THAT MORNING. hE THOUGHT I MIGHT BE USING A WALKER. I WAS MEAN AND ANGRY WITH PEOPLE ALL THE TIMES AND I WOULDN'T LET HIM HELP ME. THESE WERE ALL LIES. HE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS MEAN AND ANGRY AND REFUSED TO HELP ME. I HAVE WITNESSES WHO HAVE SEEN HIM PUSH ME IN MY WHEELCHAIR OR WALKER WHEN I HAVE BEEN ASKING HIM TO PLEASE STOP HE PUSHED ME TO FAST AND IT MADE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH AND TOLD HIM I COULD DO IT MYSELF. JUST LEAVE ME ALONE. I HAVE WITNESSES THAT HAVE HEARD HIM YELL AT ME. I HAVE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE WITNESSED THE SAME TREATMENT AND OBSERVED HIM JUST SITTING OFF TO THE SIDE LISTENING TO THEIR FORMS OF DIAGNOSIS OF CHRONIC HYPERTENSION FLUCTUATING AND IRREGULAR AND EXCESSIVE HEART RATE IN CONSTANT DANGER OF HAVING A STROKE OR HEART ATTACK OF WHICH I HAVE HAD TWO. HIM JUST SITTING THERE WITH HIS ARMS FOLDED ACROSS HIS CHEST NOT ONCE OPENING HIS MOUTH ASKING WHAT HE COULD DO OR NEEDED TO DO TO HELP ME GET WELL, THEM OBSERVING HIS LACK OF EMPATHY OR CARING. THEM TOO WITNESSING HIM SHOVING ME AROUND IN MY WHEEL CHAIR AND ME TELLING HIM TO STOP BUT DOING IT ANYWAY PRETENDING TO BE THE DUTIFUL CARING HUSBAND. HAH! THESE WITNESSES WILLING TO TESTIFY IN COURT WITHOUT BEING COURT ORDERED BUT NEVER CALLED TO GIVE THEIR TESTIMONY. I COULDN'T AFFORD DEPOSITIONS SO MY ATTORNEY TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO WAIVE MY RIGHTS TO WITNESSES. SORRY, LOST FOCUS AND GOT AWAY FROM WHERE I WAS SEPTEMBER 23. 2021. I CALLED MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN, AND STATED I WAS AFRAID HE WAS GOING TO KILL ME. AND THEY CALLED ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT TO DO A WELL CHECK OF AN ELDER DISABLED PERSON NEEDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE 200'S OVER 1 00'S AND MY HEART RATE WAS OVER 100 THE NURSE STAYED ON THE PHONE WITH ME UNTIL THE DEPUTY SHERIFF ARRIVED. WHEN THE DEPUTY ENTERED THE HOME THROUGH THE BACK DOOR HAVING COME THROUGH THE GARAGE. HE MADE VERBAL CONTACT WITH ME WHILE COMING DOWN THE HALL BEFORE ENTERING MY BEDROOM . HIS WORDS WERE GEORGE HELLENTHAL, HOW DO YOU KNOW HIM? HE WASN'T THERE TO DISCUSS HOW I KNEW MY FATHER IN LAW. THAT PUT ME ON DEFENSE IMMEDIATELY AS TO WHAT MY HUSBAND HAD BEEN INFORMING ME FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. IT WOULD NOT DO ME ANY GOOD TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. HIS FATHER HAD SERVED ON THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS. I WOULDN'T BE BELIEVED. THE DEPUTY CONTINUED THAT PATH OF CONVERSATION. ON MY AFFILIATION TO MY HUSBANDS FATHER STANDING OVER ME GLARING DOWN AT ME. I BLATANTLY LOOKED HIM SQUARE IN THE EYES AND TOLD HIM MY HUSBAND HAS LET ME KNOW ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASSION IT WOULD NOT DO ME ANY GOOD TO TELL YOU ANYTHING. DEPUTY HAVENS ASSURED ME HE HAD TAKEN SWORN OATH TO UPHOLD THE LAW TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. AND BEGAN TO ASK ME QUESTIONS AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON. i INFORMED HIM I WAS BEING PHYSICALLY AND VERBALLY ABUSED BY MY HUSBAND ON A DAILY BASIS. THAT I WAS NOT BEING FED ON A REGULAR OR DAILY BASIS THE PROPER NUTRIENTS THAT I HAD BEEN RECEIVING HOME HEALTH CARE FROM DECEMBER OF 2020 UNTIL JUNE OF 2021 WHEN MY HUSBAND HAD ORDERED ALL HEALTH CARE STOPPED. i INFORMED HIM I HAD BEEN GIVEN A BAG OF POPCORN AT 8 p.m. THE NIGHT BEFORE AND HAD NOT HAD ANYTHING TO EAT THAT DAY. HE WOULD LEAVE ME ALONE IN THE HOME FOR HOURS THROUGH THE DAY WITHOUT ANYTHING TO EAT OR DRINK. I DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO WALK ANY DISTANCE AND HAD BEEN USING A SEATED WALKER AND WHEELCHAIR TO AMBULATE FOR OVER A YEAR. THERE WERE DIRTY CLOTHES PILED IN DIFFERENT PLACES THROUGHOUT MY BEDROOM, INCLUDING PILED KNEE HIGH IN MY BATHROOM. THERE WAS TRASH ALL OVER THE FLOOR UNDER THE SIDE TABLE NEXT TO MY BED. THE DEPUTY ASKED ME IF I NEEDED FOR HIM TO CALL EMS WHICH I REPLIED YES,.......WAS HE BLIND. HE STAYED IN MY BEDROOM UNTIL THEY ARRIVED THEY ASKED IF I COULD WALK AT ALL THEY WEREN'T SURE IF THEY COULD GET THE COT IN MY ROOM IF I COULD WALK 25 FEET, I INFORMED THEM I HAD BEEN CONFINED TO BED I COULD POSSIBLY TRY BUT IT WOULD ONLY BE WITH ASSISTANCE FROM BOTH OF THE EMS ATTENDANTS AND I WOULD POSSIBLY HAVE TO STOP AND REST PERIODICALLY. I HAD NO CORE STRENGTH AND ONLY MINIMAL USE STRENGTH IN MY LEFT LEG. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION MEANING UNSTABLE UNCONTROLLABLE AND ESSENTIAL TO LIFE. DECONDITIONING MEANING LACKING MUSCLE MASS NEEDED FOR STRENGTH AND STAMINA ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING MYSELF WITH DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES. NEEDING TO BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM THE HOME DUE TO BEING IN AN PHYSICALLY AND VERBALLY UNSAFE LIVING ENVIRONMENT. IT WAS MEDICAL STAFF, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES WITH THE HOSPITAL, AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCY DETERMINATION I WOULD BE PLACED IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AT THE HOLIDAY INN HOTEL BEING THE ONLY ACCOMIDATION THAT WAS SAFE AND WAS HANDICAP ACCESSABLE WITH A ROLL IN SHOWER UNTIL A ROOM BECAME AVAILABLE AT A SKILLED NURSING REHAB FACILITY THEN I WOULD BE TRANSFERRED THERE. |
Q3: What do you wish people knew about elder abuse, neglect, and fraud? | THAT YOU CAN HAVE KNOWLEDGE OR BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS AND STILL NOT KNOW ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THAT PERSON. THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE AGENCY'S IN OPERATION TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AND SERVICE TO ELDER PERSONS OR PERSONS OF ANY AGE FOR THAT MATTER. THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE AGENCIES MAY NOT ALWAYS TAKE THEIR JOBS SERIOUSLY IN PERFORMING THE DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR POSITIONS OR THEY HAVE TAKEN SWORN OATH TO PROVIDE. EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED THE PROTECTION UNDER LAW OR FROM YOUR LOCAL AGENCIES. PLEASE, UNDERSTAND YOU ARE IMPORTANT IF TO NO ONE ELSE OTHER THAN YOURSELF. DO NOT GIVE UP. BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN RISE ABOVE ALL THAT YOU HAVE ENDURED. EVERYONE IN THESE POSITIONS HAS SOMEONE THEY HAVE TO ANSWER TO. DON'T BE AFRAID TO RESEARCH AND EXPLORE EVERY POSSIBLE AVENUE IN OBTAINING HELP FOR YOURSELF. HAVE FAITH IN GOD THAT YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO HIM AND IS GIVING YOU LIFE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD FOR A PURPOSE. AND BE HUMBLE HE IS PROVIDING YOU WITH BREATH TO DO SO. FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AT HAND. RESEARCH, RESEARCH RESEARCH. DON'T LOSE FAITH BELIEVE YOU ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. KEEPING IN MIND IF THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING TO YOU OR HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU MORE THAN LIKELY THEY HAVE HAPPENED OR ARE HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE. DON'T BE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP AND OUT ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO NO LONGER HAVE A VOICE BECAUSE THEY LOST THEIR BATTLE WITH THEIR OFFENDER. |
Q4: What are your hopes for the future? | I PRAY FOR GOD TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ME THE COURAGE AND HEALING TO OVER COME MY AFFLICTIONS AND GIVE ME THE STRENGTH AND THE VOICE TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEX CRIMES, AND ELDER ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION. BEING AFFORDED THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE REACHING OUT TO LEGISLATURE, IN CHANGING LAWS, TO INSURE THAT THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION IS PROVIDED TO THOSE IN THE AREAS OF CARRYING OUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES OF THEIR DUTIES IN PROVIDING COMMUNITY SERVICES TO ALL IN NEED. THAT THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN PROVIDING THESE SERVICES ARE HELD TO ACCOUNT IF THEY CHOSE TO IGNORE THAT TRAINING AND EDUCATION OR PROTOCOL SET IN PLACE TO BE FOLLOWED ACCORDING TO THE LAW. I HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH ALL OF MY CONTACT INFORMATION REQUESTED. I PRAY YOU WILL REACH OUT AND CONTACT ME. I HAVE ANSWERED YES TO ALL QUESTIONS INCLUDING GIVING RECORDED DISCLOSURE OF MY STORY TO MEDIA, AND OR POD CAST. IN JUNE OF 2023 I REQUESTED TO BE HEARD BY GIVING WRITTEN STATEMENT TO THE OHIO 135TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON HOUSE BILL 161 EXEMPTION OF THE SPOUSE RAPE LAW IN OHIO . AGAIN IN APRIL OF 2024 I REQUESTED TO GIVE WRITTEN STATEMENT BEFORE THE SENATE PASSING HOUSE BILL 161 INTO LAW. I AM PROUD AND EXCITED TO SAY THAT ON MAY 11, 2024 THAT THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OHIO THE HONORABLE MIKE DEWINE SIGNED HOUSE BILL 161 INTO OHIO LAW. IT IS NO LONGER LEGAL FOR A HUSBAND TO RAPE HIS WIFE, OR COMMIT ANY KIND OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR OFFENSIVE SEXUAL ACT AGAINST HIS SPOUSE OR ANYONE IN THE STATE OF OHIO. SINCE THEN I HAVE SET UP AN ACCOUNT TO BE NOTIFIED OF ALL LEGISLATURE BEING BROUGHT BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AM WILLING TO GIVE STATEMENT AND TESTIMONY NEEDED IN MAINTAINING THE SAFETY AND NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY ARE BEING MET . PLEASE CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW WHERE MY SERVICES MIGHT BE NEEDED.... I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON. THANK YOU |
Can our staff follow up with you about your story? | Yes |
Are you interested in sharing your story further? (We can contact you about speaking with local media, elected officials, or recording your story for a video or podcast) | Yes |
Can we use your name in telling your story? | Yes |
Is there anything else you would like to add? | WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED IN MY RESEARCH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PROVIDES SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR IDENTIFYING VICTIMS OF ELDER ABUSE, NEGLECT AND EXPLOITATION THIS TRAINING AND EDUCATION IS REFERENCED AS E.A.G.L.E.S. |