A girl (b. 1994) was sexually abused and beaten by her mother’s cousin, Robert Johnson, and his wife Marie Johnson, from the time she was 13 until she ran away from their home at age 18. The girl was homeschooled by the Johnsons, who also had four biological sons.
The girl went to live with the Johnsons after her mother died in 2007. The sexual abuse began within days and continued at least twice a week until the girl’s grandmother helped her escape in 2012. The Johnsons taught Sunday School and used Old Testament passages to justify their actions. Rob Johnson forced the girl to call him ‘master’ and wear a ring to show she ‘belonged’ to him, telling her that “having sex with him and Marie made her part of the family.” Marie beat the girl if she refused the couple’s sexual demands.
The abuse came to light when the girl, inspired by support from other abuse survivors, decided to report it to police in August 2015. The Johnsons were charged with sexual assault of a child.
Date: August 11, 2015
Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida
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