Letter to the Editor

Editorial highlighted important message

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Hello, Mountain Home News readers,

There are those who believe “some things should never be said.” That is their choice.

I, for one, feel it’s time to finally disclose factual events and occurrences that occurred to my two sisters and I when we were young, little girls.

When I read the front page of the April 16 edition of the Mountain Home News and saw the photo of Terry Stoner of Hammett (yes, I can say his name since it’s public information) regarding his arrest for the possession of child pornography, I saw this happened thanks to the assistance of the Idaho attorney general, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Elmore County deputies.

Suddenly, I became sick both literally and figuratively.

I also wanted to applaud and commend Mountain Home News Editor Brian Orban for his well-stated article in the April16 edition titled, “Remember: It should never hurt to be a child.”

Thank you, Mr. Orban.

I am truly saddened to know a child died from the physical abuse he had to endure. It’s hitting close to home, ladies and gentlemen.

I am also saddened to read about how some members of your family (your mom and both of your uncles) also dealt with abuse, Mr. Orban. Unfortunately, it happened to my family as well. As children, we were raised to “be seen and not heard.”

Boy, if that wasn’t a crock of you know what. But we had no other choice because we were told to “do as you are told.”

It involved my two beautiful sisters and our maternal step grandfather. It went on for several years. I was always the first one selected while my baby sister, Donna Marie, was forced to watch.

Donna Marie was also drugged and gang raped by three Hell’s Angels, who were later found guilty of these charges and sent to prison.

As hard as she tried, however, Donna wasn’t able to overcome her trauma. Donna Marie took her own life at the age of 54.

I love you, Donna Marie. Rest in peace. I am so sorry.

As parents, it’s our duty, obligation and unspoken responsibility to protect our children. Although you, too, may have been a victim of abuse, you also have the ability to stop this vicious cycle.