Inside the Horrifying Story of a 13-Year-Old Who Was Stalked by Teacher’s Aide Before Going Missing
Source: https://people.com/
Twenty-nine years ago, a Wisconsin 13-year-old named Jessyca Mullenberg was kidnapped by Steven Oliver, a teacher’s aide she knew well. On September 16, 1995, he tricked her into a one-on-one trip, which turned into a three-month ordeal. Her disappearance left her family and small-town community terrified and uncertain about her safe return.
Oliver, who was a teacher’s aide at Jessyca’s grade school, gradually built a relationship with her over several years before the kidnapping. He created a creative writing club at the school and became suspiciously close to Jessyca, even following her to different schools and eventually moving across the street from her father.
On the day of the kidnapping, Oliver lured 13-year-old Jessyca away by claiming he was taking her to meet with a publisher interested in her writing. Her parents immediately suspected Oliver when she disappeared.
After falling asleep in his car, Jessyca woke to find herself bound with ropes, with Oliver threatening her and her family if she sought help. He drove to Kansas City, then flew with her to Houston, where he posed as her father and kept her captive in hotel rooms for approximately three and a half months.
During this time, Oliver worked as a hotel painter while subjecting Jessyca to daily physical and sexual abuse. The breakthrough in the case came when a hotel manager recognized Oliver and Jessyca from an episode of “America’s Most Wanted” and alerted the FBI, leading to her rescue and reunion with her family. In June 1997, Oliver was convicted of kidnapping and interstate transportation of a minor for illegal sexual purposes, receiving a 40-year prison sentence.
Now known as Jessyca Christianson, she has become a strong advocate for sexual abuse awareness, sharing her story with students and parents to highlight the signs of potential abuse. In a 2017 speech, she expressed regret for not understanding concepts like grooming and appropriate boundaries, believing that knowledge could have changed her situation. Nearly 30 years later, Jessyca is married with two teenage children. She encourages anyone affected by sexual abuse to seek help, providing a resource for support.
In conclusion, when it comes to leaving children with adults, trust should be the highest priority, even if you’ve known them for a long time. Familiarity does not always guarantee safety; people can change, and hidden behaviors may emerge over time. It’s essential to assess not just the history you have with someone, but also their current actions, attitudes, and interactions with children.
Always prioritize open communication with your child, educating them about boundaries and the importance of speaking up if they feel uncomfortable. Remember, it’s okay to be cautious and to trust your instincts. Protecting your child’s safety should always come first.
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