FL - Woman sues police after being forced to apologize to her adoptive father who raped her for years - Polk County, 2012

[Clearsky]

She Was Allegedly Made to Apologize to Her Rapist. Now She's Suing Police: 'Dear Dad, I'm Sorry for My Actions'

Taylor Cadle is suing the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Florida on allegations that they made her apologize to her adoptive father, who raped her for years.

people.com

Taylor Cadle, 22, alleged in a lawsuit that Polk County Sheriff's Office personnel, including Sheriff Grady Judd and investigator Melissa Turnage, accused her of lying to investigators, forcing her to write apology notes to her adoptive father who had been raping her for years. According to suit, Taylor was the victim.

The adoptive father, Henry Cadle, has since been convicted of sexual battery of a child between the ages of 12 and 18, committed by a custodian, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

 

[Twick]

So, the sheriff’s office says this is a “publicity stunt”. Do they mean that she was not abused, in which case they convicted her stepfather unjustly? It’s got to be one or the other.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Horrific!! This child had to solve her own case! Did they provide her with victim advocate or attorney or counselor? 100% agree with her filing her suit. I don’t even want to read the details of her humiliation or abuse.

Snip
Taylor was returned to Henry's custody and secretly recorded his abuse of her the following month. She showed officers the photographic evidence, per the lawsuit, which resulted in his arrest and conviction, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

 

[bootsinmass]

Horrific!! This child had to solve her own case! Did they provide her with victim advocate or attorney or counselor? 100% agree with her filing her suit. I don’t even want to read the details of her humiliation or abuse.

Almost certainly, they did not

I'm familiar with Polk County and Sheriff Judd. The area is quick to blame victims of sexual abuse, even when they don't outright call them liars. This was true even more so in the 2000s and 2010s, but those beliefs still run deep in the area.

PCSO has a terrible track record IME of handling those cases. I knew individuals who refused to report to PCSO because they feared the humiliation and the rejection would only escalate their abuse. They already suspected this is how LE would treat them.

All my support to the survivor, and here's to hoping this leads to real change in Polk county.

 

[worm]

They should compensate her for the hard work of solving the case for them.

 

[sunspun]

What was she able to catch on tape to prove she was being abused?

 

[bootsinmass]

What was she able to catch on tape to prove she was being abused?

She recorded the abuse itself.