(Judy Malinowski. Picture credit: The Sun)
Judy Malinowski has been on my mind a lot this week. I had made a note quite a while ago that I wanted to write about her case on my blog but for some reason I decided that this week would be that time to briefly share her story on here.
What happened to Judy is truly horrific, heartbreaking and traumatic. I was surprised to learn that quite a lot of people didn't know her story so that was another reason why I felt it was important to share it.
I have included some court footage as well as some news reports and interviews you may be interested to watch about Judy's case and from Judy herself at the end of this post.
Before I begin, I have to warn you that I will be sharing some disturbing details and pictures in this post so please keep that in mind before reading further.
Judy's story is so heartbreaking that it's hard to know where to begin. Having spent time researching her case I was left with a feeling of admiration for this beautiful brave woman but also a deep anger at what had happened to her and for all the suffering she went through in her life.
Having just battled ovarian cancer in her late 20s, she developed an addiction to pain medication which is quite a common thing for a lot of people who've been through such a traumatic time like that and the toll that it takes on the body is horrific. When she could no longer get access to the pain medication she turned to heroin. Judy had her problems with substance abuse but this didn't stop her from being the loving, caring mother that she always was to her two daughters and her family.
Judy was always trying to find ways to work through her addictions. It was during a stressful time in her life that she met Michael Slager, he was to be nothing but bad news and the relationship between the pair was toxic.
On the 2nd of August 2015, Judy went to a gas station in Gahanna, Ohio. Michael Slager was there also. An argument ensued between the pair and Judy threw a cup of soda over him after he had been calling her derogatory names. Michael was furious and the pair struggled with Judy falling to the ground. Michael walked away for a second and then came back, showering Judy in petrol (gasoline) as she tried to get up from the ground, some of the petrol got into her throat and it burned.
The next minute (as he was continuing to call her derogatory names) Michael set Judy on fire. She was begging him to help her but he just stood there, emotionless with what Judy later described as ''emotionless black eyes''.
Witnesses called for an ambulance and the police and they did what they could to put the flames out, one officer even used a fire extinguisher. It was a miracle that Judy was still alive at this point but one cannot imagine the sheer horror, the pain that she must have been feeling.
Judy's body was covered in third and fourth degree burns (90%), Her beautiful thick blonde hair was completely burned off along with her eyelashes and eyebrows. Doctors had to put her into a induced coma.
Nobody thought that she'd make it but by some miracle she managed to hang on for two years, it was a hard two years and it brings tears to my eyes when I think of everything she went through not only at the time she was horrendously attacked but in the 700 days that followed. Judy had to endure 59 operations and was in the hospital constantly.
Her amazing family, her mother and daughters stayed by her side throughout those 700 days.
Michael Slager (can't even bare to type this monster's name) was sentenced to 11 years originally which I believe was an absolute disgrace of a sentence for all that he had done to Judy.
When Judy sadly passed away on the 27th of June 2017. She was just 33 years old.
Michael Slager was charged with murder. He is now spending the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole.
During the investigation, Michael claimed that the fire had been an accident and that he had tried to put the flames out himself but witnesses dispute his claims and said that he and Judy were arguing beforehand. The witnesses described the attack so Michael's lies didn't stand up in court.
In 2017, Gov. John Kasich signed a new legislation Judy's Law in Judy Malinowski's name to ensure that anyone who purposefully intends to disfigure another individual will serve the maximum sentence possible.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post, see you in the next one x
Further reading & sources:
Judy Malinowski | Find A Grave
Judy Malinowski | Newspaper Article
Judy Malinowski | Newpaper Article
Judy Malinowski Deposition (Video)
Judy Malinowski | News Report (Video)
Michael Slager | News Report (Video)
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